Legislative Update Sessions
Virtual MASE Legislative Updates with Valerie Dosland
To keep members informed on legislative developments, MASE lobbyist, Valerie Dosland, will be providing members with regular legislative updates during the session. These updates will cover key issues advancing of interest to MASE and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and share concerns and information.
Remaining 2025 Dates
All sessions are 10 - 11 am!
Thursday, May 22 | Zoom Link | Add to Calendar
Legislative Update Summaries
Session update – week of May 5, 20250
Senate Back to Full Capacity with New Member Sworn In
Tuesday was only the fifth day of the 2025 session with all 201 legislators present. That follows the swearing-in of GOP Sen. Keri Heintzeman, which returned the Senate to a narrow 34-33 DFL majority.
Budget Talks Inch Forward as Session Deadline Looms
Both the House and Senate have advanced most of their budget bills, and some conference committees are now working through the differences.
The House education finance and policy bills are still unresolved, however. The proposed repeal of summer unemployment insurance for unlicensed school staff remains the biggest sticking point. Until they resolve this issue, it is unlikely any education bill, finance or policy, will advance. Additionally, progress on a broader budget agreement has been slow, and at this point, it’s looking unlikely that the legislature will wrap up on time.
Seclusion Amendment Faces Opposition — Your Voice Matters
The recent amendment to SF1740, the Senate Education Policy bill extending the prohibition on the use of seclusion through grade 6 but allowing its use with explicit parental consent as part of the IEP is facing significant opposition.
Disability rights advocates strongly oppose the proposal, and with the current tie in the House, its passage may be challenging. However, it is important that legislators hear directly from you if your program uses this tool. There is considerable misinformation circulating about the use of seclusion, and legislators need to understand how strictly it is regulated, how seriously schools take its use, and the impact of limiting this tool in managing crisis situations.
It is important that key decision-makers understand all sides of the issue. Click here to send a message to those legislators responsible for finalizing the education bills. Thanks for your advocacy!
Important Dates
May 19: Constitutional adjournment
June 30: State fiscal year-end
Archive
MASE session update - week of January 24, 2025
Senate Moves Forward as House Remains Stalled
Since last Friday’s MN supreme court ruling, affirming that 68 members are indeed needed for a quorum, no progress has been made toward a resolution on how to convene the House. The main point of contention is the House DFL’s concern over an effort to block the seating of Rep. Brad Tabke, as well as an outstanding special election that could result in a 67-67 tie, potentially requiring a power-sharing agreement. The timeline for the House to reconvene remains uncertain, with no movement expected until DFL and Republican leaders reach a consensus.
Meanwhile, the Senate continues its daily business, with committee hearings and floor sessions proceeding without significant political drama. While the balance of power shifted back in favor of the DFL following the January 28 special election, the possibility of maintaining the power-sharing agreement remains.
Senate Committee hearing updates
Education Policy
The committee spent a day hearing from school district leaders from around the state their ideas and concerns regarding state laws affecting the teacher supply. Issues raised include challenges with the tiered licensure system, out-of-field permission limitations, posting requirements, and PSEO. One of the testifiers included MASE tri-chair Nicole Woodward, from St. Croix River Education District who testified on the need for more flexibility on out-of-field permission limitations and posting requirements. She provided excellent testimony!
The committee also heard SF482, a bill to extend the short-call substitute teacher pilot program to 2027. There was a lengthy discussion about the challenges posed by the required $200 daily rate, which made it difficult for districts to apply for the program. An amendment was adopted to change the rate to $175 for districts in the seven-county metro area and $150 for all other districts. The bill was passed and sent to the Education Finance Committee.
Education Finance Committee
The committee heard testimony from school district leaders from around the state about the impact of mandates passed in the last two years and about funding challenges that lay ahead for school districts.
The committee also received an update on the Student Attendance Pilot and an overview of the Student Attendance and Truancy Legislative Study Group Report.
The committee also heard and laid over for further discussion, SF133, legislation to expand the allowable uses for student support personnel aid to include costs for transportation, equipment, supplies, personnel training, and efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Important Dates
March 6: Updated state budget forecast
March 31: Eid break
April 11 (starting at noon) – April 21 (returning at noon): Easter/Passover break
May 19: Constitutional adjournment
Bills Introductions of Interest
Note: This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list but instead a list of bills aligned with MASE’s legislative platform, other bills that are likely to be heard, or that you might hear about locally.
SF 676: Requiring notice of violent school incidents; prohibiting retaliation for reporting.
SF 507: Requiring districts to adopt policies and processes to assist parents who require language assistance; requiring reasonable accommodation for parents of children with disabilities.
SF 771: Modifying the Read Act; canceling appropriations; providing for education innovation; modifying innovation zone provisions; modifying P-TECH approval process; recodifying and reorganizing education innovation; establishing an Office of Achievement and Innovation in the Department of Education; modifying equity, diversity, and inclusion appropriation; requiring the commissioner to establish a school performance report system; authorizing certain fund transfers for fiscal years 2025 through 2029; authorizing a school board to not comply with certain recently enacted state laws or rules.
SF 801: Modifying provisions for teachers licensed in another state to teach in Minnesota.
SF 844: Modifying the allowed uses of student support personnel aid for school districts and charter schools with declining enrollment.
