A bill to provide $40 million to finish the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum passed the Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1651 uses money from the state’s Unclaimed Property Fund to complete the long-delayed project. It passed by a vote of 30-17 after a lengthy debate, The Tulsa World reported.

“Our plan enables us to complete this world-class facility without further indebting the state,” Sen. Kyle Loveless (R) said in a press release. “By paying cash and ending the state’s annual financial stake in the agency, we can keep our commitment to the project in a fiscally responsible way. This will allow the state to efficiently repay bonds, remove recurring expenses from the budget, and begin realizing a return on its investment in the museum.”

The bill now heads to the House, where it has the support of all 29 Democrats. The chamber is controlled by Republicans.

The museum has already received $97 million in state funds, nearly $15.7 million in federal funds and $8 million from other sources

Get the Story:
House Democrats announce support for American Indian Museum (The Oklahoman 3/6)
Funding for American Indian museum advances from Oklahoma Senate (The Tulsa World 3/5)

An Opinion:
Editorial: Time to finish work on cultural center (The Norman Transcript 3/6)

Related Stories:
Oklahoma lawmakers weigh $40M for delayed Indian museum (05/21)
Bill transfers Oklahoma Indian museum to another state agency (03/13)
Audit released of American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma (10/18)