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Week 6 – Legislature Hits Key Policy Deadline

By March 28, 2026No Comments

Week 6 – Legislature Hits Key Policy Deadline

The Week in Review

Last week marked a pivotal moment at the Minnesota Capitol as the Legislature reached its policy committee deadline, the point by which policy bills must advance out of all relevant policy committees to remain viable for the remainder of session. Activity across the four education committees reflected both progress and growing uncertainty—particularly in the House—while setting the stage for the next phase focused on education finance.

Topline Takeaways:

  • The Senate successfully advanced an omnibus education policy bill (SF 3870) to the Senate Floor.
  • The House Education Policy Committee did not reach agreement on an omnibus bill, raising real questions about whether a House policy bill will move forward this session.
  • Several House committees experienced tied votes, reflecting the chamber’s evenly divided partisan split
  • The Legislature enters Easter/Passover recess, returning April 7 with a shift toward budget and finance negotiations.
  • Uncertainty remains around whether formal budget targets will be set, or if leadership will pursue supplemental budget bills.

Senate Education Policy

Senate Education Policy met twice last week, first to review a draft of and then to “mark up” an omnibus education policy bill. Key provisions included in SF 3870 are:

  • Codify McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into MN Statutes
  • Codify Plyer vs Doe immigrant student protections into MN Statutes
  • Explicit clarification that an AI model cannot be considered a “qualified teacher”
  • Non-voting, student voice and representation required for school board meetings
  • Interstate teacher mobility compact, PELSB and Paraprofessional changes
  • CPR and AED training required by 27-28 school year for all coaches, assistant coaches
  • Civic Seal can be earned by students
  • Requirements to provide supports and interventions to bullying student
  • READ Act: annual literacy screener added to grades 4-12 for those non-proficient
  • Small schools can consider reducing Boards from 6 to 5
  • Cell phones and smart watches, smart glasses; banned from classrooms
  • eBooks procurement requirements by public libraries
  • School Trust Lands Director job/duties amended
  • Integration of cursive writing into future language arts standards
  • Adjustments to PSEO notification timelines
  • Students are allowed to carry an opiate antagonists (e.g., naloxone)
  • Enhanced crisis planning requirements for students with disabilities

Senate Education Finance

Senate Education Finance continued to hear individual bills, including SF 3982 (Boldon), a grant appropriation for Rochester Public Schools’ school-based mental health program; SF 3983 (Boldon), a requirement for Anonymous Reporting Systems; SF 4414 (Clark), expanding the allowable uses of Operating Capital revenue to include utility costs; SF 3761 (Farnsworth),allowing schools to levy for swimming pool operating costs; SF 3186 (Maye Quade), modifications to how Literacy Incentive Aid is distributed; SF 4344 (Weber), a fund transfer authorization provision for the Ivanhoe Independent School District (# 403). 

SF 3186 modifying literacy incentive aid distribution is concerning as it would shuffle more dollars into the urban core at the expense of most rural school districts. Advocates for the bill argue the money should follow the need, but those with concerns note all schools have literacy gains to be made and operate under the same training requirements and mandates.

House Education Policy

House Education Policy will meet on Tuesday with Co-Chair Rep. Bennett (R-Albert Lea) holding the gavel. The committee reviewed four bills, including HF751 (Robbins), a requirement for parental notification of adverse incidents; HF3550 (Bennett), a measure that would allow school districts to implement local health education standards; and HF3764 (Nadeau), a requirement for anonymous reporting systems and reporting.

On Wednesday, Co-Chair Rep. Jordan (D-Minneapolis) had the committee review five additional bills. These include HF 60 (Clardy), which modifies teacher licensure requirements to include professional development on dyslexia; HF 3067 (Jordan), defining the qualifications for paraprofessionals; HF 3730 (Jordan), which would modify K-12 education policy as well as charter school policy and state agency policy; HF 3638 (Hill), which modifies provisions for educator licensing and standards and rulemaking authority for paraprofessional credentials; and HF3401 HF 3401 Introduction – 94th Legislature (2025 – 2026)(Greene), which modifies the circumstances when firearms are permitted on school property, and uniform storage requirements for firearms permitted on school property.

House Education Finance

Under Co-Chair Rep. Kresha’s gavel (R-Little Falls) the committee heard an update from Little Falls schools on their Aviation/Transportation simulator project, funded by state grant dollars. Individual bills were also heard including HF 3650  (Mueller), which establishes a student career pathways framework; HF 1791 (Scott), authorizing school districts to offer career and technical education postsecondary scholarships and postsecondary grants; and HF 3489 (Bennett), establishing grooming as a criminal offense. 

A slate of four bills dealing with PSEO and Dual Enrollment will be heard informationally as well. These include HF 4231 (Keeler), which would establish participation options for student eligibility for postsecondary enrollment; HF 4232 (Keeler), a requirement for postsecondary institutions to notify a pupil’s school of the pupil’s grades, and number of college credits granted each school year for postsecondary course enrollment; HF 4269 (Knudsen), which would direct the Office of the Legislative Auditor to evaluate the postsecondary enrollment options program and report on their findings; and HF 4270 (Knudsen), which would modify payments to postsecondary institutions and schools for the postsecondary enrollment options.

Lastly, HF3490 (Myers) opting Minnesota into the Federal Scholarship-Granting-Organizations (SGO) federal tax credit program was brought up for a vote. The bill was previously reviewed on March 10. With the DFL still characterizing the SGO federal tax credit program as a voucher program, the bill failed to pass on a 12-12 party-line vote. 

On Thursday, under the gavel of Co-Chair Rep. Youakim (D-Hopkins), the committee reviewed four bills. HF 4213 (Youakim) is a technical, but needed bill, funding the state budget forecast adjustments to all state education programs; HF 4198 (Youakim) provides grant funding for student mental health programs, featuring the Campfire organization and calls for getting young people outside and off of their screens; HF 3930 (Hill) would fund teacher retention strategies and activities in the state’s COMPASS program; and HF 3585 (Keeler) will establish an Interagency Council on Student Attendance.

The Week Ahead

The week ahead is all quiet at the Minnesota Capitol as the legislature is gone for their traditional spring break. They return on Tuesday, April 7 with six weeks remaining until the State’s Constitution forces their adjournment.