SF1483 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Minnesota Zoo new animal hospital and asset preservation bond issue and appropriation
Related bill: HF1162
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
Provide funding for capital improvements at the Minnesota Zoo, including the construction of a new animal hospital, and for asset preservation and site improvements. The funding is to come from state bonds.
Main Provisions
- An appropriation of 21,475,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the Minnesota Zoological Board for capital improvements at the Minnesota Zoo.
- Of this amount:
- 17,675,000 is for designing, constructing, furnishing, and equipping a new animal hospital building at the Minnesota Zoological Garden.
- 3,800,000 is for capital asset preservation improvements and betterments to infrastructure and exhibits at the Minnesota Zoo, to be spent under the rules of Minnesota Statutes section 16B.307.
- A special allowance under 16B.307 lets the asset preservation funds be used to replace buildings that are in poor condition or outdated and no longer support the Zoo’s work, and to build or renovate trails and roads on the Zoo site.
Financial Mechanism
- Bond Sale: The Commissioner of Management and Budget must sell and issue bonds up to 21,475,000, under the terms and effects specified by Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and by the Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7.
Allocation and Compliance
- The appropriation is to be spent for capital improvements at the Minnesota Zoo, with the asset preservation funds allowed broader use for replacement of deteriorated buildings and site infrastructure as described.
- Spending must follow the referenced statutes and constitutional provisions.
Significant Changes or Flexibilities
- The asset preservation portion has a broader flexibility than usual, permitting replacement of buildings and construction/renovation of trails and roads if needed to support the Zoo’s operations.
Effective Stakeholders
- Minnesota Zoological Board
- Minnesota Zoo (Minnesota Zoo/ Minnesota Zoological Garden)
- State of Minnesota (bond proceeds fund, management and budget, and bond sale authorities)
Relevant Terms - bond proceeds fund - Minnesota Zoological Board - Minnesota Zoo / Minnesota Zoological Garden - capital improvements - new animal hospital building - design, construct, furnish, and equip - capital asset preservation - infrastructure and exhibits - Minnesota Statutes §16B.307 - asset preservation - replace buildings - trails and roads - bond sale - Minnesota Statutes §§16A.631–16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI §§4–7
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2025 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 17, 2025 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Capital Investment | |
| March 10, 2025 | Senate | Action | Author added | ||
| March 04, 2026 | Senate | Action | Author stricken | ||
| Senate | Action | See |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes section 16B.307 to govern asset preservation spending associated with the Minnesota Zoo appropriation, permitting asset preservation funds to be used to replace buildings and to construct and renovate trails and roads; the bill does not modify 16B.307 itself.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "16B.307",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill requires the bond sale for the appropriation to be conducted in the manner prescribed by Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675; the bill does not modify these statutes.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "16A.631 to 16A.675",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee