Public school capital improvement projects could get a $90 million annual boost if a State Educational Facilities Special Fund is approved by the Legislature.

A bill creating the fund cleared the House today and now heads to the Senate.

House minority members who opposed the bill argued that the money would be funneled into a special fund that didn't have enough transparency.

However, according to Rep. Sharon Har, who represents Kapolei, the bill is needed in areas that have problems getting schools built.

"It's not about earmarking funds. It's about giving private developers the ability to build schools in partnership with the state," she said.

House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegan noted that another bill that passed the House today could also facilitate the construction of new schools. That bill creates a Facilities Alignment Commission to establish criteria for selecting which schools will be constructed, expanded, consolidated or closed.