Education Bills in Focus: Weekly Review
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Education Bills in Focus: Weekly Review

Last Week in Summary

Last Friday was the deadline for lawmakers to move their policy bills through committees in both chambers, or they will probably be sidelined for the rest of the legislative session. The next deadline arrives this Friday, when appropriation and finance bills face the same challenge. The effects of a divided House are clearly reflected in the slimmed down policy bills coming out of some committees.

The possibility for a bonding bill this session is still alive, some legislators are pushing for one after failing to get a bonding bill over the finish line last session. Local governments and trade unions are urging lawmakers to pass the bill this year to begin new projects. In the Senate, Chair Pappas has proposed a $1.3 billion bill. While the House co-chairs have been working on a $700 million version. Bonding bills tend to be used as negotiation fodder later in session, so it’s hard to predict whether it will be successful or not.

House Education Finance

House Ed. Finance heard HF 1161, a bill that reduces voter-approved school district referendum levies by providing additional state aid. Districts with a larger amount of seasonal and recreational “cabin” property could have their referendum levies reduced by up to 50 percent. Testifiers from affected districts urged the need for tax relief for their year long residents. There was no discussion or questions after testimonies, and the bill was laid over.

Members had a lengthy discussion about HF 2201, which limits free school meals to students from families with income at 500 percent or less of the federal poverty guidelines ($156,000 for a family of four). This change to Minnesota’s school meals program is estimated to save $85 million per year in state aid. Many testified against the bill, fearing that this bill would roll back the efforts of Universal School Meals and leave kids hungry. Chair Kresha (R-Little Falls) reminded the committee that this is a finance committee, and his intent is not for this to be a political bill, rather to access dollars that may be left on the table.

Lastly, the committee heard HF 51, the MREA priority bill that would allow roof projects to be levied “above the line” as part of a school’s long-term facilities maintenance program. The bill was introduced with only a few minutes left in committee, so testifiers were extremely brief, and there was no discussion from members before the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

House Education Policy

Tuesday’s Ed. Policy committee heard a thorough walkthrough of HF 1306, which is the MDE bill that will serve as a vehicle for the committee’s policy bill. The committee walked through the DE1 Amendment, public testimony, and member discussion. Members shared positive remarks about their committee working so bipartisanly on bills. On Wednesday, the committee met for the last (very short) time and the DE1 Amendment was adopted and sent to the House General Register.

The only item of substance in the House omnibus Education Policy omnibus bill is the inclusion of our proposal to make the short call substitute pilot project permanent, along with striking the mandate to pay this class of substitute teachers a $200 daily rate of pay. 

If passed, districts will be able to apply to PELSB for permission to add short call subs that meet the following requirements:

  • The candidate holds a minimum of an associate’s degree or equivalent and has or will receive​ substitute training from the school district or charter school; 
  • Or the candidate holds a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and has been employed as​ an education support personnel or paraprofessional within the district or charter school for​ at least one academic year 
  • And the school district has obtained the results of a background check​ 

The post Labor Day school start day is rumbling around again. The Education Policy Committee also advanced HF 1124 that would permanently change the school start date requirement to September 1 for all school years going forward.

Senate Education Finance

On Tuesday, Senate Ed. Finance heard provisions from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It was a brief presentation going over the A2 amendment, touching on things such as the early childhood special education services being transferred back to MDE.

MDE then did a walkthrough of the amendments on SF 2255. Things such as eliminating nonpublic pupil transportation aid starting in 2026, closing QComp, and reducing the special education transportation reimbursement were discussed. Sen. Gustafson (D-Vadnais Heights) questioned equity in funding for charter schools, and stood strongly against cuts to charter schools. Senators from both parties agreed the proposal was unbalanced. Sen. Kreun (R-Blaine) said he hoped the approach they take on this will be far better than what was presented.

Senate Ed. Finance met on Wednesday and heard over 20 testimonies, including several from rural superintendents, on SF 2255, all of them focusing on the Governor’s proposed education cuts. Testifiers shared personal stories explaining the dire situation their school finances are in, and asked senators for their support. School district testifiers focused on problems associated with eliminating QComp, nonpublic transportation aid, special education transportation cuts, while noting their appreciation for the Governor maintaining the basic formula allowance inflator.

Senate Education Policy

Senate Ed. Policy met on Wednesday for the Omnibus markup. Members had a discussion of amendments to the committee omnibus bill and passed it out of committee.Chair Cwodzinski moved to strike several controversial provisions from the bill, including an August 30th school start date for the next few school years, a prohibition on building school facilities near landfills and a proposal by Sen. Farnsworth (GOP Hibbing) to strike Algebra II as a high school graduation requirement. The amendment passed. Another amendment was added by Sen. Alice Mann (DFL Edina) that will ban cell phones in K-8 schools and in the classrooms of 9-12 schools. Sen. Abeler (GOP Anoka) attempted several amendments aimed at teacher licensure flexibility, but none were adopted.

Education Committees & Schedules

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