ST. PAUL - Minnesota will celebrate the re-opening of the state Capitol building next year, with a goal of $400,000 being raised from private sources.
The Senate voted 62-0 Wednesday in favor of allowing the Minnesota State Capitol Preservation Commission to work with a mostly private committee to raise money for the celebration, expected to be in September 2017.
Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, said his bill "provides a legal pathway" to raise private funds.
The Capitol was completed in 1905 at a cost of $5 million. The multi-year renovation that is to end next year costs about $310 million.
During the final renovation phase, now going on, the Capitol is closed to the public other than the House chambers, which remain open for a limited number of people during the legislative session that ends May 23.
