Minnesota Senate Bill SF3548

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/17/26
• Refer: 2/17/26
• Refer: 3/11/26
• Refer: 3/23/26

Caption

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and automated external defibrillator training for coaches requirement provision

Summary

SF 3548 would require all middle school and high school athletic coaches and assistant coaches employed by a school district or charter school to obtain and keep current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). The requirement would begin in the 2027-2028 school year, and after the initial training, coaches would need refresher training at least once every two calendar years. The training must follow national, evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. The bill also provides civil liability protection for coaches who perform CPR or use an AED in the course of their employment. A coach would not be liable for damages arising from that emergency response unless the conduct involved gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. The measure amends Minnesota Statutes section 121A.241 by adding a new subdivision focused on coach training and emergency response protections.

Impact

The bill would add a new statewide training mandate for school-employed athletic coaches and assistant coaches in middle and high school athletics, affecting both school districts and charter schools. It would create an ongoing compliance obligation tied to CPR and AED certification and would likely require schools to track training status and arrange periodic retraining. It also expands statutory liability protection for coaches who render emergency aid, reinforcing existing emergency-response protections in the education context.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee testimony, amendments, or recorded votes, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill’s introduction and referral to the Senate Education Policy Committee. Based on the bill’s subject matter, the measure appears aimed at student safety and emergency preparedness, which typically draws favorable attention, but the official record provided does not show a broader debate.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of concern, if raised in later hearings, could include the cost and logistics of training all affected coaches, the burden on schools to ensure ongoing compliance, and the scope of the liability shield. The bill’s liability provision may also prompt discussion about where ordinary negligence ends and gross negligence begins in emergency-response situations.