Week 1 – Schools, Safety and the 2026 Session

The Week in Review

The Legislature returned for the 2026 session on Tuesday, February 17. It was a somber day of honoring Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, including moving speeches by Governor Walz; Senate Majority Leader, Erin Murphy; House Speaker, Lisa Demuth, and House DFL Leader, Zach Stephenson. They spoke of Hortman’s indefatigable energy, incredible sense of duty and responsibility, consistent civility when working across the aisle, and the lasting legacy she leaves on her community and future leaders. Audience members for the invitation-only event included the Hortman’s children, Colin and Sophie, and other special guests. Senator John Hoffman was also honored as he returned to the Capitol after surviving the horrendous gun violence event in June 2025.   

House and Senate Committees began convening on Wednesday and Thursday, with the top issue in Education being the impact of Operation Metro Surge activities in and around schools across the state.

Senate Education Finance

On Wednesday, committee members heard testimony from more than 20 key stakeholders in education about the impact of Operation Metro Surge on their students, schools, and communities. Superintendents, principals, teachers, school social workers, education and disability advocates, and parents spoke with great emotion about impacts ranging from significantly decreased school attendance, shifts to virtual learning, increased mental health and basic needs concerns, loss of special education services, staff and teacher workloads and burnout, short- and long-term loss of revenue through compensatory aid, and more. All of which, they argue, results in profound academic disruption, and immediate and future learning loss. 

Bill Adams, Superintendent of Willmar Public Schools, delivered striking testimony, communicating the impact data on his district. He noted that absences amongst their 4,000 students spiked to a high of 1,214 following the detainment of one of their students who is legally present in the country. The impact, he shared, are being seen both on families of color in his district, which is the eighth most diverse in the state, and on white families who have been keeping their children at home out of the fear and anxiety raised by ICE activity surrounding their schools. 

Testifiers asked that schools be given clarity about policies and procedures related to federal agent activity in and near their schools, flexibility around testing and compliance requirements, restoration of the prior compensatory aid formula, and increased funding for mental health support. 

DFL Committee Members thanked the testifiers for sharing their stories and expressed a commitment to work together with all members of the committee to make schools more safe, secure, and financially stable. Republican Committee Members expressed concern that they were not given time to bring forward counter perspectives, such as the insights of and gratitude for law enforcement and what they have accomplished through Operation Metro Surge. Chair Kunesh (DFL-Fridley/New Brighton) welcomed the opportunity for future testifiers on this topic. While no legislation was moved forward during this committee hearing, the day’s testimony laid the groundwork for future debates on issues of education finance through this legislative session. 

Senate Education Policy

The Senate Education Policy Committee opened the year on with a celebratory recognition of Education Minnesota’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, Linda “Wally” Wallenberg, an English Language Arts teacher at Eden Prairie High School – now in her 50th year of teaching and one of five finalists for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year award.

The bulk of the Wednesday’s committee was focused on a comprehensive agency update from PELSB by Executive Director Dr. Yelena Bailey. Key priorities of their current work include streamlining teacher licensure, literacy work, and rulemaking. In terms of licensure, they are working on narrowing to fewer licenses without compromising quality or content knowledge, and working groups are providing feedback in special education, science, and arts licensure areas to move this forward and meet student and workforce needs. A legislative report on PELSB’s literacy efforts will be available on August 1 and will include guidance for districts on teacher preparation and a literacy rubric. Finally, PELSB recently completed updates to school counseling rules and are currently in the final stages of rulemaking on computer science, early childhood, ethnic studies, and American Indian history language and culture renewal requirements. 

PELSB’s update also featured the 2025 Supply & Demand of Teachers in Minnesota: A Biennial Report. Two bills were presented as a result of this report. Sen. Kunesh (DFL-Fridley/New Brighton) presented SF3625 to the committee, a bill to modify educator licensing and standards provisions. Speaking in support of the bill were PELSB, MASA, Western Governors University, EdAllies, and Educators for Excellence MN. Rep. Duckworth (R-Lakeville) offered a friendly amendment which would add language about early literacy field experience. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote, and the bill was passed and referred to the committee on State and Local Government.

Sen. Alice Mann (DFL-Edina/Bloomington) presented SF3626, a bill that would establish an interstate teacher mobility compact. This bill would facilitate the mobility of teachers across the member states, with the goal of supporting teachers through a new pathway to licensure. Once again, PELSB, MASA, and WGU voiced their support for the bill. MASA’s Valerie Dosland noted that this compact would serve as another option to ensure that districts can hire licensed teachers, fill positions more quickly, maintain meaningful standards, and support special education and other difficult-to-fill positions. The bill was passed and referred to the committee on State and Local Government.

House Education Policy

Co-Chair Jordan (DFL-Minneapolis), who chaired today’s hearing, presented HF3435, which would limit access to school sites for federal officials. An author’s amendment (DE1), which clarified the language to “officials engaged in immigration enforcement,” was adopted. Then, like the Senate Ed Finance committee hearing earlier in the day, the House Ed Policy committee invited educational leaders from across the state to share testimony about the impact of Operation Metro Surge on students, families, schools, and districts. 21 school administrators, parents, education organizations, students, and legal counsel shared their stories. Testimonies were equally as powerful in the House as they were in the Senate and notably included the voices of many young people. All testifiers spoke in support of HF3435. 

Next, Co-Chair Bennett (R-Albert Lea) presented the DE2 Amendment, which would significantly change the bill to allow general counsel at MDE to work with the Attorney General to issue guidance to schools regarding immigration enforcement. She reasoned that schools do not need more mandates, and this would allow them greater flexibility. MDE’s Adosh Unni was asked to offer clarification, and he noted that the statute already establishes the Attorney General’s authority here. Rep. Jordan asked members to vote no on the amendment, citing schools’ direct request for clearer policy guidance on this matter. A roll call vote split 7-7 along party lines and the amendment was not adopted.  

Discussion resumed with DFL members thanking testifiers, speaking to the bravery of students and teachers, both in sharing their stories with the committee and in what they have been experiencing. They urged support for the bill, noting their responsibility to pass laws that protect students in schools across the state. Rep. Bennett also thanked testifiers, acknowledging that there is a problem, but stating that this bill would not solve the problem, and may put schools in legal jeopardy. Rep. Jordan countered that ICE has been active in school parking lots, and this bill would directly address that problem, which is what schools have asked for.  A roll call vote once again split 7-7 along party lines and the bill failed to advance.  

Rep. Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis) presented HF3409, a bill to codify in state law the right to a free public education regardless of a child’s immigration or citizenship status. An author amendment (A1) was adopted, and testimony was heard in support of the bill from seven people, including a superintendent, directors of parent and immigrant organizations, and four students from elementary to high school levels. Due to the extensive list of testifiers for both bills, HF3409 ran out of time and was laid over for a future date.

House Education Finance

House Education Finance heard presentations on the impact of Operation Metro Surge on Minnesota’s Students and School Communities. Testimony from 29 people, including superintendents, principals, teachers, school psychologists and counselors, cooks, parents, school board members, and patrol volunteers illuminated the impact on their students, staff, and schools. Bill Adams, Superintendent of Willmar Public Schools, once again offered his testimony. Given the purview of this committee, testifiers asked members to consider the funding needs that schools will face in the wake of the federal government’s activities in our state, including funding for the increased need for trauma-informed mental health supports, cultural liaisons, disability and special education services, ML/EL services, world language teachers, paraprofessionals, food distribution and transportation shifts, the technology gap, and more. After testimony the committee had reached its time limit and adjourned for the week.

The Week Ahead

House Education Finance

The House Education Finance committee, with Co-Chair Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls) holding the gavel, will be discussing four bills addressing school safety funding (HF3492, HF3493, HF3494, HF3495), and will hear an update from the Attendance Pilot Project Participants, as well as presentations by MDE on Pupil Measurements, and Student Support Personnel on Student Mental Health.

House Education Policy

This week, House Education Policy will continue debate on HF3409 regarding denial of education based on immigration status, will hear a presentation by Sandy Hook Promise on the current state of gun violence in schools, and will discuss two new bills regarding anonymous threat reporting systems (HF3487) and requirements for firearms permitted on school property (HF3401). 

Senate Education Finance

Senate Education Finance will hear updates from COMPASS (Collaborative Minnesota Partnerships to Advance Student Success) & MTSS (Minnesota Multi-Tiered System of Supports), the Student Attendance Pilot Program, and Minnesota Counties.

Senate Education Policy

This week, Senate Education Policy will hear a presentation on School Trust Lands and then will discuss a related bill (SF3594). They will hear an annual report from The Minnesota P-20 Education Partnership (MNP20) and then discuss a bill establishing a Dual Enrollment Task Force (SF2769), and another proposing to prohibit cell phone use in schools (SF0508).

Join MREA Advocacy Briefings

MREA’s Advocacy Briefings, held Mondays at 10 am, are the best way to stay informed about weekly developments at the Capitol, including updates on MREA’s priorities and platform issues. Members can register today to join the MREA Advocacy Briefings.