Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the state’s $237 million bonding bill Thursday.

The legislation includes $48.3 million in funding for six University projects, including a Translational Research Facility to be constructed adjacent to the Lions Research Lab Building by 2005.

The facility will house more than 200 employees of the Medical School and College of Pharmacy and will be used to translate basic science research into new cures and treatments.

Both the House and Senate signed off on funding for the research facility and five other University projects last year, but Gov. Jesse Ventura vetoed the requests.