See more of the story

A bill to provide compensation for survivors of the I-35 W bridge collapse passed its first committee this morning.

A proposal by Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, would set up a 911-style compensation fund where bridge survivors would not be subject to a $300,000 state liability cap. The overall fund would contain a set amount of money, however.

The bill passed unanimously in the House Government Operations Committee and was referred to the House Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee for a hearing Feb. 18.