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Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Finance

THIRTEENTH MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 25, 2025

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION


Education Finance Committee

MINUTES

Representative Kresha, Chair of the Education Finance Committee, began the meeting at 1:00PM, on March 25, 2025, in Room 120 of the Capitol Building. A quorum was present.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
KRESHA, Ron, GOP Chair
YOUAKIM, Cheryl, DFL Chair
BAKEBERG, Ben, GOP Vice Chair
CLARDY, Mary Frances, DFL Vice Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam
BAHNER, Kristin
BENNETT, Peggy
DIPPEL, Tom
ENGEN, Elliot
GREENE, Julie
HILL, Josiah
HUDSON, Walter
JOHNSON, Pete
LEE, Liz
KNUDSEN, Krista
LAWRENCE, Bryan
MUELLER, Patricia
PEREZ-VEGA, Maria Isa
QUAM, Duane
REHM, Lucy
REHRAUER, Kari
RYMER, Max
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
VIRNIG, Bianca

Representative Johnson moved the minutes of March 23, 2025, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF827 (DOTSETH) - CONSOLIDATION TRANSITION AID INCREASED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

Chair Kresha moved the bill before the committee.

Representative Dotseth presented on HF827.

Testifiers:
Mary Carlson, Wrenshall Board of Education Chairperson
Laura Nilsen, Carlton Board of Education Chairperson

Chair Kresha laid over HF827 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

HF1258 (DOTSETH) - SCHOOL DISTRICTS AUTHORIZED TO COOPERATE AND SHARE EXPENSES TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AN ICE ARENA.

Representative Dotseth moved the bill before the committee.

Representative Dotseth presented on HF1258.

Testifiers:
Dr. Michael Cary, Superintendent, Cloquet Public Schools (Remote)

Chair Kresha laid over HF1258 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

HF2387 (ALLEN) - SCHOOL FOOD WASTE REDUCED, FREE SCHOOL MILK PROVIDED WITHOUT THE NEED TO TAKE FULL SCHOOL LUNCH, AND MONEY APPROPRIATED.

Chair Kresha moved the bill before the committee.

Representative Allen presented on HF2387.

Representative Hicks presented on HF2387.

Testifiers:
Beth Giese, Superintendent, Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools
Sami Rajab, Assistant Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Department of Education

Chair Kresha laid over HF2387 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

HF2016 (GREENE) - GENERAL EDUCATION REVENUE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE SAFE SCHOOLS AID FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Representative Greene moved the bill before the committee.

Representative Greene presented on HF2016.

Testifiers:
Joey Cienian, Executive Director, Minnesota Association of Charter Schools
Tony Simmons, Executive Director, High School for the Recording Arts
Leah Jones, Executive Director, LIFE Prep (Remote)
Carrie Bakken, Program Coordinator, Avalon (Remote)

Chair Kresha laid over HF2016 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

HF2534 (BENNETT) - MINIMUM SHARE OF GENERAL EDUCATION FUNDING TRANSFERRED TO AN AREA LEARNING CENTER INCREASED.

Representative Bennett moved the bill before the committee.

Representative Bennett presented on HF2534.

Testifiers:
Dan Armagost, Executive Director, Southern Minnesota Education Consortium

Chair Kresha laid over HF2534 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

HF2388 (BAKEBERG) - LOCAL OPTIONAL AID AND LEVY REPLACED WITH BASIC SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE, BASIC SUPPLEMENTAL AID AMOUNT INCREASED, AND MONEY APPROPRIATED.

Representative Bakeberg moved the bill before the committee.

Representative Bakeberg presented on HF2388.

Testifiers:
Joey Cienian, Executive Director, Minnesota Association of Charter Schools


Chair Kresha laid over HF2388 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:29PM.





Representative Ron Kresha, Chair




Jynell Boulka, Committee Legislative Assistant


More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF827 (Dotseth) - Consolidation transition aid increased for school districts.
  • HF1258 (Dotseth) - School districts authorized to cooperate and share expenses to operate and maintain an ice arena.
  • HF2387 (Allen) - School food waste reduced, free school milk provided without the need to take full school lunch, and money appropriated.
  • HF2388 (Bakeberg) - Local optional aid and levy replaced with basic supplemental revenue, basic supplemental aid amount increased, and money appropriated.
  • HF2534 (Bennett) - Minimum share of general education funding transferred to an area learning center increased.
  • HF2016 (Greene) - General education revenue modified to include safe schools aid for charter schools.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

00:44 - HF827 (Dotseth) Consolidation transition aid increased for school districts.
18:12 - HF1258 (Dotseth) School districts authorized to cooperate and share expenses to operate and maintain an ice arena.
24:55 - HF2387 (Allen) School food waste reduced, free school milk provided without the need to take full school lunch, and money appropriated.
56:31 - HF2016 (Greene) General education revenue modified to include safe schools aid for charter schools.
1:12:11 - HF2534 (Bennett) Minimum share of general education funding transferred to an area learning center increased.
1:21:40 - HF2388 (Bakeberg) Local optional aid and levy replaced with basic supplemental revenue, basic supplemental aid amount increased, and money appropriated.
Runs 1 hour, 29 minutes.

I. Call To Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
IV. Bills May Be Taken in Any Order

• HF827 (Dotseth) - Consolidation transition aid increased for school districts.
• HF1258 (Dotseth) - School districts authorized to cooperate and share expenses to operate and maintain an ice arena.
• HF2387 (Allen) - School food waste reduced, free school milk provided without the need to take full school lunch, and money appropriated.
• HF2388 (Bakeberg) - Local optional aid and levy replaced with basic supplemental revenue, basic supplemental aid amount increased, and money appropriated.
• HF2534 (Bennett) - Minimum share of general education funding transferred to an area learning center increased.
Bill Added to the Agenda:
• HF2016 (Greene) - General education revenue modified to include safe schools aid for charter schools.

V. Adjournment

Testimony: Individuals wishing to testify and/or submit written testimony, including handouts on the scheduled bills should contact both Polly Cerkvenik, via email at polly.cerkvenik@house.mn.gov and Jody Withers via email at jody.withers@house.mn.gov by 2:00 PM on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Amendments: Bill Authors or Committee Members wishing to present an amendment must submit amendments via email to both Polly Cerkvenik, via email at polly.cerkvenik@house.mn.gov and Jody Withers, via email at jody.withers@house.mn.gov by 12:00 PM (Noon) on Monday, March 24, 2025.