MASA Legislative Updates

As the legislature convened for the 2026 session, which began Tuesday, it did so with a volatile mix of narrow majorities, election-year politics, and deepening partisan divides. With the House still tied and the razor-thin margins in the Senate, bills will need bipartisan support to move forward.

The mood at the Capitol is also more somber than usual. Legislators are still grappling with the aftermath of last year’s murder of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband and the violent attack that seriously injured Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. In response, security is tightened, with weapons screenings now in place in the MN Senate Building and the State Capitol.

While the two-year budget was already set, the state faces difficult budget challenges ahead. The November budget forecast showed a $2.4 billion surplus this fiscal year but a projected $3 billion deficit next year. Leaders say affordability, fraud, shifting federal funding, and fallout from the recent immigration enforcement surge all require attention, along with gun control and school safety. Many of these issues, however, fall along sharp partisan lines.

Given the narrow margins, budget uncertainty, heightened tensions, and election-year politics, legislators are cautioning not to expect much this session.

On Thursday, when DFL co-chair Representative Sydney Jordan held the gavel, the committee heard HF3435 which limits access to school buildings to immigration enforcement unless presented with a judicial warrant. The bill failed on a roll-call vote along party lines.

The committee also began taking public testimony on a bill to codify in state law the right to free public education regardless of a child’s immigration or citizenship status. No action was taken on the bill, and the committee is expected to continue discussion next week.

Both House and Senate Education Finance committees held their first hearing on the impact of immigration enforcement in schools. Committee members heard testimony about how federal immigration enforcement operations have disrupted student learning and student well-being. Testimony from superintendents, special education directors, principles, teachers, and other school staff in areas most impacted focused on the spikes in absenteeism, heightened fear among students and families, and challenges meeting academic and emotional needs as federal agents conducted enforcement near campuses, bus stops, and school events.

In the committee’s first hearing, members heard two bills brought forward by PELSB.

SF3625 is the PELSB policy bill that includes a provision to allow Tier 2 licensed candidates to enroll in any approved teacher preparation program, whether it is in Minnesota or another state. The bill also updates educator license renewal rules to require at least five hours of training in student mental health, wellness, and identifying threats to self or others.

The committee also heard legislation to allow Minnesota to enter into the Teacher Mobility Compact. If passed, teachers holding a compact eligible license can apply for licensure in another member state and receive the closest equivalent license without submitting additional materials, taking state-specific exams, or completing additional coursework.

Senate Elections Committee 

This week, the committee heard SF1310, which modifies the notice that must appear on the ballot and in other materials mailed to taxpayers when a school district asks for voter approval on levy and bond referenda. The bill passed and was sent to the Education Policy Committee.

This is not a comprehensive list of all bills introduced. It focuses on key legislation aligned with legislative priorities and bills that may be of interest or concern to school districts.

S.F. No. 3571: Clarifying referendum ballot language by correcting an obsolete reference to school district referendum by petition.

S.F. No. 3593: A bill for an act relating to state government; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 8; modifying the permanent school fund to calculate distributable earnings

S.F. No. 3611: Limiting access to school sites.

S.F. No. 3625: Modifying provisions for educator licensing and standards.

S.F. No. 3626: Establishing an interstate teacher mobility compact.

S.F. No. 3667: Authorizing student support personnel aid to be used for costs of certain licensed special education teachers.

S.F. No. 3708: Modifying average daily membership and pupil units for certain students who are not residents of Minnesota and who are enrolled in online instruction in a Minnesota school.

S.F. No. 3713: Increasing safe schools revenue to school districts; providing safe schools aid to charter schools and cooperative units; appropriating money.

S.F. No. 3717: Modifying crisis management policy requirements.

H. F. 3371, Increasing local optional revenue for school districts with limited referendum revenue authority.

H. F. 3372, Modifying disciplinary dismissals for students in early learning programs.

H. F. 3401, Modifying circumstances when firearms are permitted on school property; establishing uniform storage requirements for firearms permitted on school property.

H. F. 3409, Prohibiting denial of an education based on immigration status.

H. F. 3435, Limiting access to school sites.

H. F. 3451, Providing anonymous threat reporting system grants to schools; requiring a report; appropriating money.

H. F. 3490, Authorizing scholarship-granting organizations.

H. F. 3492, Authorizing the commissioner of education to award school safety facility grants to schools to enhance safety for students and staff.

H. F. 3493, Increasing safe schools revenue; making safe schools revenue available to charter schools, cooperative units, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools.

H. F. 3511, Increasing funding for school safety; increasing local optional aid for schools; limiting state-paid free school lunches to families with incomes at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty guidelines; appropriating money.

H. F. 3550, Allowing school districts to implement local health education standards.

Advocacy is a vital part of shaping policies that impact you and your organization. Click here for a short video (less than 5 minutes) on why advocacy matters and tips to help you communicate your priorities, build strong relationships with legislators, and make a real impact throughout the legislative session and beyond.

Feb. 17, 2026: Start of Legislative Session

March 20, 2026: Eid Break

March 27, 2026: First and Second Committee Deadlines

March 27-April 7, 2026: Easter/Passover Break

April 17, 2026: Third Committee Deadline

May 18, 2026: Adjournment of Legislative Session

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