Legislative Update 04.11.25

Legislative Update

Friends,

As some of you are aware, we reached the first and second legislative deadlines last week and this week we’re wrapping up committee negotiations. Today, we reached the third and final legislative deadline. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this jargon, today is the final day for bills to move forward. If a bill hasn’t made it out yet, it will have to wait until the next legislative session.

Working Together on Our Shared Interests

I went into this legislative session with a firm commitment to listening to those who would be most affected by the legislation being considered and incorporating feedback from bipartisan sources so I can deliver on solutions that are best for Minnesotans and our communities.

I authored 24 bills that focused on education, investing in our communities, supporting teachers, job creation and placement, and the elimination of wasteful and sometimes fraudulent programs. These bills are meant to serve everyone. That’s why I’m here, that’s why I ran for office, and that’s why I continue to work hard every day -- for everyone.

That being said, there are serious issues with the Democrats’ proposals that do not serve ANYONE—especially when it comes to education. Watch this breakdown here.

Supporting Educators Through Pension Reform

On Tuesday, I stood alongside fellow legislators and educators from across Minnesota at a press conference to call for meaningful action on teacher pension reform. Our message was clear: educators deserve better.

I presented three bills currently under consideration that aim to give teachers the retirement security they’ve earned through decades of service:

• HF 2318 – Allows teachers to retire at age 62 with 30 years of service without reduced benefits. This bill is estimated at $77 million annually and funded by a 1% increase in employer contributions.
• HF 2329 – Expands the Special Early Retirement option to teachers at age 60 with 30 years of service. This would cost about $33 million annually and includes a three-year COLA delay to help manage costs.
• HF 1582 – Establishes a career rule, allowing teachers to retire at age 60 with 30 years of experience. This would cost $240 million annually.

Last biennium, Minnesota had a historic $18 billion budget surplus: a rare opportunity to invest in educators who have dedicated their lives to serving our students. Pension reform could have and should have been addressed then. Instead, the Democrat majority prioritized new government spending over honoring the promises made to teachers.

The good news is that we can still get this done without raising taxes and without adding new spending. Two funding reprioritization options include:

• Redirecting funds from Q-Comp, a program the governor himself proposed eliminating, which would free up approximately $73 million annually.
• Implementing means-testing for the universal school meal program (as proposed in Rep. Andrew Myers’ bill), which would maintain support for families in need while freeing up an estimated $112 million per year.

Both of these approaches unlock tens of millions in sustainable funding—enough to support long-overdue improvements to the teacher pension system.

HF 2318 and HF 2329 are still alive and were presented before the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement (LCPR) this week. Both have a real chance to be included in the final end-of-session legislation.

We must continue to push forward because investing in our educators is investing in the future of Minnesota.

Thank You, Westwood Elementary!

 A big thank you to the students and staff from Westwood Elementary for visiting the Capitol! It was a pleasure to meet with such bright young minds and dedicated educators. Your energy and curiosity made my day!

Veterans Day on the Hill

On Wednesday, I had the honor of attending Veterans Day on the Hill. It was incredible to see so many veterans show up to make their voices heard and advocate for the issues that matter most to them. These men and women are not only heroes, they're role models. Their courage, leadership, and continued service to our communities inspire us all. I'm committed to working on their behalf and I'm proud to represent their interests at our Capitol. We've made a lot of progress on veterans issues but there's still a long way to go. 

Let's Continue to Work Together

Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-5185 or by email at rep.ben.bakeberg@house.mn.gov. 

Have a great weekend!