Transcript Highlights:

• Right, the student teacher stipend program is meant to basically provide Right, the student teacher stipend
• program is meant to basically provide student teachers with compensation while they're doing their student
• been historically left out, particularly first-generation students, low-income students, and students
• Thank you for your time. all dual enrollment students, including adult dual enrollment students.
• We want to make sure the students have enough of We want to make sure the students have enough instruction

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. On dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 investment to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, along with changes to make regional occupational centers eligible, add funding for justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, support teacher professional development, and reduce daily instructional minute requirements for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding as not clearly addressing implementation barriers, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Committee members and public commenters generally supported the expansion, with some asking for technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee also reviewed a $40 million one-time Proposition 98 proposal for reading difficulty screener implementation and related trailer bill language that would require screening after 91 school days for kindergarten and 46 school days for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align with evidence from preliminary data; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the funding and the general approach but acknowledged the need for local support and training. Several committee members and public witnesses raised concerns that the proposed timing restrictions were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the delay as a way to improve accuracy and avoid misidentification. For special education, Finance proposed ongoing Proposition 98 increases to adjust for COLA and enrollment changes and to raise the statewide special education base rate to $99 per ADA, equalizing rates across SELPAs. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be funded for less than the Governor’s figure. CDE and multiple local education representatives strongly supported the increase, citing rising special education enrollment, cost pressures, and large local funding gaps. The committee also heard a brief overview of the school facilities proposal, which continues $1.5 billion in Proposition 2 bond funding for the School Facility Program; OPSC reported significant remaining bond authority but also substantial pending demand, and explained that natural disaster school rebuilding draws from the broader new construction and modernization pools. Finally, the committee reviewed Commission on Teacher Credentialing proposals, including the already-funded $300 million Student Teacher Stipend Program, new state operations resources for misconduct investigations and grant administration, and a $250 million one-time continuation of the Teacher Residency Grant Program. CTC said its grants management system is ready and that it expects better data tracking; public testimony broadly supported the educator workforce investments and urged continued funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and additional support for rural and leadership pipeline programs. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• in student outcomes?
• What is, in the mind of a student, the first roadblock that a student sort of offers up to an advisor
• All students benefit from pre-K, but it is especially beneficial to students with disabilities.
• Post-secondary training for students who are 18 to 22 years of age costs $25,000 per student.
• About 19% of our students are special education students.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> agency um starting with the student agency um starting with the student parents<00:03:05.080><c>
• </c> assistance for post-secondary students assistance for post-secondary students um<00:37:44.119><c
• The majority of students file what is known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA
• FAFSA so those are the two ways students FAFSA so those are the two ways students in<00:58:14.920><c>
• </c> year 24 we had about 506 students year 24 we had about 506 students awarded<00:58:48.280><c> via

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> expand financial aid increase student expand financial aid increase student support<00:01:12.720
• </c> financial aid ensuring more students financial aid ensuring more students receive<00:01:53.159><
• </c> diverse needs of Minnesota's student diverse needs of Minnesota's student population<00:02:09.360
• </c> and universities and several student and universities and several student voices<00:04:25.919><c
• The average State Grant is about $6,100 a student. The lowest-performing students in the state.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in this bill than charter students at what I read at $289 per student.
• Or loss of a student.
• as emergent bilingual students, who are pregnant, students in the foster system, students who are homeless
• bilingual students, and over 17,000 special education students now.
• $50 a student.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it's about how the staff can support the student during that time. students and students behavior
• Um, we students and students behavior.
• </c> student during that time. student during that time.
• </c> staff and student? staff and student?
• Our students need a range students are.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the student.
• ID number, just like students in neighborhood public schools. ...would get a student ID number, just
• like students in neighborhood public schools, so that when the student moves back and forth, we're able
• If you're trying to find out where a student is to make sure that the resources that student needs are
• And you may have a student who is an autistic student, who shows up in one of our scholarship programs

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The committee first heard the proposed Pre-K-12 education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, totaling $34.7 billion. The chair highlighted major increases for the FEFP, including $29.6 billion for public schools and K-12 scholarships, a $984 million year-over-year increase, along with higher per-FTE funding, $4 billion for the Family Empowerment Scholarship, $431.4 million for VPK, funding for school safety, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, school hardening, Jewish day school security, and an education enrollment stabilization fund. With no public comment, the committee adopted a motion for staff technical corrections and then approved the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered SB 1402 on dropout retrieval programs. The bill expands eligibility so any individual who has withdrawn from high school may enroll in dropout retrieval services and clarifies how school grades are calculated for virtual instruction providers that offer those services. An amendment clarifying the grading calculation was adopted, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up SPB 7030 on educational scholarship programs, a broad measure addressing school choice funding and administration. The bill would fund the Family Empowerment Scholarship as a separate categorical, expand the education stabilization fund, create fall and spring application windows, require a single scholarship application and more documentation, assign student IDs, standardize payment timing to monthly installments, require continued eligibility verification, and add Level 2 background checks for providers receiving state funds. Members raised questions about background-check enforcement, payment timing, data sharing, and the impact on homeschool and private-school families. Public testimony included support from school-choice advocates and concerns from private-school representatives about added regulatory burdens and deadlines. The committee adopted the bill as a committee bill and reported it favorably, with Senator Osgood voting no. Finally, the committee considered SB 508 on the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, which requires private schools to disclose in writing what accommodations, modifications, and services they will provide to students with existing plans such as IEPs, EEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans before enrollment. An amendment was adopted to require public schools to consult with private schools about equitable services. Testimony was mixed: supporters said the bill would give parents needed information for informed choice, while private-school representatives said the language could be burdensome and vague. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, our students are 20% E, 60% students of color, and 60% students who qualify for free and
• For example, our students are 20% E, 60% students of color, and 60% students who qualify for free and
• For example, our students are 20% E, 60% students of color, and 60% students who qualify for free and
• For example, our students are 20% E, 60% students of color, and 60% students who qualify for free and
• c> with</c> on students of color, students with on students of color, students with disabilities,<02:

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Student Teacher Stipend Program is meant to basically provide student teachers with compensation
• been historically left out, particularly first-generation students, low-income students, and students
• , including adult dual enrollment students.
• I'm here today to represent our 66,000 students.
• a 120% increase for our students who are deaf or hard of hearing, a 92% increase in students with multiple

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. For dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund proposal to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, add flexibility for regional occupational centers, support justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, and allow funds for teacher professional development, along with a reduction in required instructional minutes for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding, saying it did not address a clear implementation barrier, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Members and public commenters largely supported the expansion, with some urging additional technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee then discussed the reading difficulty screener proposal, which includes $40 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund for implementation costs and statutory changes that would delay formal screening until the 91st day for kindergarten and the 46th day for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align screening with sufficient exposure to instruction; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the investment but cautioned about the timing restrictions, and several members and public witnesses argued the proposed deadlines were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the structured timeline as a way to improve accuracy and reduce misidentification. On special education, Finance presented a proposal to increase the statewide base rate to $99 per ADA through a $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund augmentation, plus COLA and a negative growth adjustment. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be achieved with less funding; CDE strongly supported the increase, citing rising enrollment and local cost pressures, and district and SELPA representatives described large local funding gaps and growing expenditures. The committee also reviewed school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance and the Office of Public School Construction describing $1.5 billion in proposed bond spending, existing balances for new construction and modernization, and the use of bond authority for natural disaster recovery, including projects related to recent fires. For the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the committee heard about the Student Teacher Stipend Program, the Golden State Teacher Grant, state operations funding for misconduct investigations and SB 848 implementation, and a $250 million proposal to extend the Teacher Residency Grant Program; CTC supported the proposals and highlighted new data systems and technical assistance, while public testimony broadly backed the investments and urged continued or additional funding for teacher recruitment, literacy screening support, and special education.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> were not understanding that if a student were not understanding that if a student is<00:03:21.400
• </c> conversation um about the the student conversation um about the the student report<00:08:01.120>
• </c> available through the student available through the student information<00:08:31.960><c> system<
• </c> just again saying that if a if a student just again saying that if a if a student is<00:09:38.279
• </c><00:22:17.600><c> are</c> students miss school our students are students miss school our students

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And the area that deals with manufactured housing, which we have in the past called mobile homes, I've
• As far as the taxability, and these are mobile units, these are set on, most generally, we set on slabs
• As far as the taxability, and these are mobile units, these are set on, most generally, we set on slabs

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They talk, uh, Dan Walsh talked about condo owners; you mentioned it also mobile home owners could do
• ><01:59:54.639><c> also</c> condo owners you mentioned it also condo owners you mentioned it also mobile
• :59:56.719><c> could</c><01:59:57.040><c> do</c><01:59:57.119><c> it</c><01:59:57.520><c> and</c> Mobile

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , but especially rural students, it's like $445, $450 ahead as opposed to $600 for brick-and-mortar students
• So if we get rid of IDLA, how are rural students going to access class class are rural students going
• I hold—I'm passing out now news media articles about students doing that, student walkouts and protests
• Students doing that, student walkouts and protests in Iowa during school hours, and just the last 45
• First, school administrators do not have the ability to police student behavior once a student leaves

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to students who left the campus.
• to students who left the re-enrolled hundreds of students through targeted outreach to students who
• or students in different ways.”
• I believe that the programs we do offer for high school students are free to the students.
• Benefits to students and student success and retention. Multiple efforts there.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Flora Yang, and I'm a second-year medical school student and a former undergraduate student
• </c> I'm a second year medical school student I'm a second year medical school student and<00:07:54.360
• ><00:07:55.960><c> body</c> and a former undergraduate student body and a former undergraduate student
• , because of our students.
• , because of our students.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here as a working mother with three students, one of them being a high school student, and I'm also
• You know, we recognize that our low-income students, our English learners, our foster students, and,
• One of our biggest populations of students that have these pressing needs are special education students
• ... ...to try to recognize our special education students as a deserving group of students that deserve
• Resources to our special education students, more funding for our special education students, but that

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're student athletes.
• They're either student athletes or former student athletes that were suing for additional rights.
• They're student athletes.
• But I'm a former student athlete.
• student athletes alike.

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the study reflected this very well that the students conducted, the graduate workers' student organizations
• Most importantly, HB 120 protects student dignity, particularly for students with disabilities who are
• Unfortunately, that puts students in a tough situation where the Dean of Students' office cannot help
• And for Student Services, this is the official student body that represents what the students need at
• Thank you, as the Student Associated Student Body President, for being here. I do have problems.

Bills: SB106 , SB171 , SB179

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: graduate scholarship, higher education funding, New Mexico, appropriation, financial aid, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, Northern New Mexico State School, SB179, Senate Bill 179, UNM, University of New Mexico, medical Spanish, Spanish-language curriculum, health sciences, health professions education, language access, bilingual healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> $860 so significant savings to students $860 so significant savings to students and<00:16:26.440
• </c><00:16:51.120><c> are</c> investment most of these students are investment most of these students
• </c><00:18:14.080><c> students</c><00:18:14.440><c> leaving</c> College Bound students students leaving
• </c> through the College Board student through the College Board student students<00:22:28.720><c> who
• </c> student again I if I'm a nursing student student again I if I'm a nursing student I<00:40:55.920

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Public Higher Education Study Committee held an organizational meeting and received an update from the university and community college systems on implementation of recommendations from the governor’s higher education task force. The systems said the task force report contained about 40 recommendations, and they have focused first on operational items while continuing to work on larger policy issues, including better alignment of public higher education with workforce and economic development needs. The committee also discussed reporting requirements under the amended law and whether quarterly reports are required or whether annual updates are sufficient unless the committee requests more. A major topic was expanding Early College and dual-enrollment opportunities. The chancellors reported strong growth in Early College participation, significant student and family savings, and state scholarship support that they described as producing a strong return on investment. They said the goal is to build clearer pathways so students can earn college credit, reduce debt, and stay in New Hampshire for postsecondary education. They also noted ongoing work to simplify admissions and transfer processes, including about 100 transfer pathways between the systems, direct-admit efforts for community college and university students, and continued development of transfer equivalency tools. Members pressed the systems and the Department of Education on direct outreach to high school students, especially juniors, so students would know they are eligible for direct admission and other opportunities. The main obstacle discussed was access to student contact information, with officials saying the issue may involve contract limits with the College Board and possibly statutory constraints on sharing data. Department of Education staff said they are meeting with the systems and vendors to determine what changes are needed. Committee members urged faster action so students and families can receive letters or other notices about in-state options, affordability programs such as Granite Guarantee, and pathways to community college and university enrollment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Low-income students significantly trail high-income students across Minnesota.
• students.
• </c> stratification of students by race. stratification of students by race.
• ><c> students.
• </c> students need to acquire. Thank you. students need to acquire. Thank you.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 29 was heard in committee as a proposal to suspend adoption of the revised social studies standards, push implementation to 2030-31, repeal the requirement to embed ethnic studies across all standards, and cancel related appropriations. The bill sponsor argued Minnesota schools should focus on basic academic achievement and that ethnic studies requirements add burdens and distract from reading, math, and science. The chair moved the bill to the Committee on Education Finance after opening the hearing and then took extensive public testimony. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters of HF 29, including Katherine Kersten, Deanna Moose, Kendall Qualls, Hillary Swanson, and Diane Smith, argued the ethnic studies framework is ideological, overly focused on race, insufficiently transparent, and costly in professional development time; several said it would divide students or burden teachers. Some supporters also claimed the standards or framework promote activism, critical race theory, or racial stratification. Opponents, including Mark Westfall, Crystal Johnson, Jim Grathwol, Marcus Penny, Claude Sigman, and Courtney Major, said the standards are inclusive, research-based, and designed to help students understand multiple perspectives, civic life, and the contributions of diverse Minnesotans. They emphasized that ethnic studies can improve engagement, critical thinking, and representation, and that teachers should be trusted to implement the standards. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal action noted was the chair’s motion to re-refer House File 29 to the Committee on Education Finance.