The likelihood of a Capital Investment Bill is a truly up in the air question. On the first-hand Republicans have been quite hostile to Bonding Bills in the odd-number years, because this is off cycle. Secondly, with Sen Tom Bakk (I-03, Cook), former DFL Majority and Minority Leader, as the Chair of the Capital Investment Committee, he is known to be a wheeler and dealer and sometimes a veritable magician. Because he appears to being given wide latitude from Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-09, Nisswa), much of the negotiating is in Bakk’s hands.

To this end, it is expected he would be able to put up a bill that carry the requisite 60% support in his chamber and it will not derive a long and drawn-out debate from House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-31A, Crown) because he and Bakk are fishing buddies. But there is another important player and that is House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-36B, Brooklyn Park) who could decline to entertain the bill if it seems to be too cozy of a situation for the two minority players.

As we have seen, in response to the 2020 last minute Bonding Bill, the Republican projects were not as ready for primetime, because they had not been fully vetted and when House Republican Lead Rep Dean Urdahl (R-18A, Grove City) was called upon to offer up Republican projects, they weren’t quite ready and hence, the need for the technical corrections bill this session.

So, at this point it’s a 50/50 proposition and the likely reason certain projects are already parked in other bills.