South Dakota State University is one step closer to getting $20 million in state funds after receiving the green light from senators on the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday morning.
House Bill 1210 will now move to the Senate floor, with seven senators who voted in favor and one excused.
If approved, the funds would contribute to a proposed $28.5 million bioproducts laboratory at SDSU's research park, where students and private researchers would develop new ways to use natural South Dakota products, such as corn and soybeans, as bioproducts.
Funding for the bioprocessing facility is not included in Gov. Kristi Noem's proposed state budget, according to a statement from the Bureau of Finance and Management. However, the legislative budget process involves adopting revenue estimates and reviewing existing and proposed expenses from Noem.