BEND, Ore. (AP) -- A bill to provide money for the expansion of Oregon State University's branch campus in Bend has passed its first legislative test.

The bill would create bonds to pay for the expansion to a former pumice mine. The Bulletin newspaper reports it cleared the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on Tuesday afternoon.

The bill asks for $69.5 million, much more than the $20 million Gov. Kate Brown included in her proposed budget.

The bill now goes to the state House Ways and Means Committee and on to more subcommittees before a final dollar amount is decided, likely in June.

State Sen. Tim Knopp is a sponsor of the bill. He called Tuesday's vote a big step in the future of Central Oregon.

-- The Associated Press