With the April 17 budget bill deadline, the House and Senate have different approaches to advancing education funding bills. In the House, the Education Finance Committee did not receive a budget target and failed to advance an education budget bill. In contrast, while the Senate did not receive a specific budget target, the Education Finance Committee still moved a budget bill forward, which received unanimous support.
As we head into the last month of the legislative session, it is unclear how, or if, the legislature will reach agreement on education funding.
Committee Updates:
Senate Education Finance Committee
The committee heard one last bill, SF4677, before moving its omnibus education finance bill. This legislation proposed changes to statutes related to the use of seclusion in setting 3 and 4 special education settings, aligned with the Seclusion Working Group recommendations. No action was taken on the bill, but it was a good discussion on the issue. Nicole Woodward, MASE Legislative Committee Tri-chair, testified on behalf of MASE.
The committee also advanced its education finance bill this week, appropriating $75 million in one-time aid to schools. The bill's two key spending areas include a one-year compensatory hold-harmless provision and one-time school safety aid.
Key provisions of interest to MASE include:
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School safety aid—public schools: Appropriates $38 million in FY27. Aid is provided to school districts, charter schools, intermediate districts and other cooperative units, and Tribal contract schools. Aid equals $44 per the number of pupils enrolled on October 1, 2025. Click here to see district runs.
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Special education teacher pathway program: Authorizes a transfer of up to $20 million in FY27 from Grow Your Own funding to the special education teacher pathway program.
House Education Finance Committee
Jennifer Danielson, Executive Director of Student Services, South St. Paul Public Schools and MASE member, presented to the committee on how schools assess students for disabilities. It was a great overview for the committee.
The committee also heard the last few finance bills before the April 17 deadline.
HF4114 eliminates the automatic $250 million reduction in special education cross-subsidy aid if the Blue Ribbon Commission cannot find the commensurate savings. Nicole Woodward, MASE Legislative Committee Tri-chair, testified on behalf of MASE.
The committee passed the bill unanimously, advancing it to the Ways and Means Committee, which was a welcome show of bipartisan support. That said, the vote was symbolic as the bill's high cost makes it unlikely to advance this session.
The committee was very divided on their approach to school safety. HF3493, the Republican proposal, would have directed additional safety funding to public school districts, charter schools, cooperative school districts, and non-public schools, and included a provision allowing K-3 dismissals for up to three days. HF4893, the DFL proposal, would have provided an additional $4 million for student support personnel aid, would have required every school district to develop a formal safety plan, use anonymous tip reporting systems, and require safe storage of guns on school property.
With the committee split evenly, neither bill had the votes needed to advance. The sticking point came down to funding for non-public schools and guns on school property, leaving both proposals stalled despite broad agreement that school safety deserves action this session.
Important Dates
May 18, 2026: Adjournment of Legislative Session
Helpful Links
For updates on activities at the House of Representatives, visit the House Session Daily website.
For updates on activities at the Senate, visit Senate Media Services.
To follow committee hearings, visit the Combined Committee Schedule.
To watch House committee and floor sessions, visit the House of Representatives YouTube Channel.
To watch Senate committee and floor sessions, visit the Senate YouTube Channel.
Current list of Legislative Retirements
