Transcript Highlights:

• . schools. schools.
• </c> insult to our schools. insult to our schools.
• </c> outside of our schools. outside of our schools.
• </c> previous school year. previous school year.
• and charter schools.

Bills: HF4213, HF4198, HF3930, HF3585, HF3451

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• Charter School build Minneapolis public Charter School build Minneapolis public schools<01:06:39.039>
• school system between charter education school system between charter schools<01:12:50.239><c> and</c
• The charter chartered public schools.
• Charter schools are by schools face.
• an equivalent aid for charter schools<01:37:30.239><c> of</c><01:37:30.480><c> just</c><01:37:30.719

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• It is my hope that we can find a way to retain unemployment aid for our school hourly workers.
• We made some reductions and reallocations in order to create the basic supplemental aid for our school
• The school can extend that job through the summer, tapping into their basic supplemental aid, and that
• Our student support professional aid was meant to bring more counselors, psychologists, school nurses
• My school district, where I live, does the summer school for the school districts around it, so their

Bills: HF1049

Keywords: school library aid, education finance, school districts, charter schools, funding eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• It is my hope that we can find a way to retain unemployment aid for our school hourly workers.
• aid for our school retain unemployment aid for our school hourly<00:04:48.320><c> workers.
• We made some reductions and reallocations in order to create the basic supplemental aid for our school
• aid for our school basic supplemental aid for our school district.<00:07:20.720><c> This</c><00:07:20.880
• Um, our student support professional aid that was meant to get more counselors, psychologists, school

Bills: HF1049

Keywords: school library aid, education finance, school districts, charter schools, funding eligibility, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• done</c><00:21:49.440><c> in</c> and Charter Schools would be done in and Charter Schools would be done
• Paul Public Schools.
• Paul School District.
• Paul schools for 21 years.
• can</c><01:24:28.239><c> do</c><01:24:28.520><c> this</c> schools and school districts can do this schools

Bills: HF29, HF921, HF922, HF1048, HF1049

Keywords: railroad, infrastructure, transportation funding, environmental remediation, capital investment, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, just clarifies that the uh library aid is for school districts that are independent or special school
• Uh, just clarifies that the uh library aid is for school districts that are independent or special school
• Uh, just clarifies that the uh library aid is for school districts that are independent or special school
• Uh, just clarifies that the uh library aid is for school districts that are independent or special school
• Uh, just clarifies that the uh library aid is for school districts that are independent or special school

Bills: HF1048, HF1049, HF745, HF2210

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• Charter public schools have been excluded because it is a levy aid, but their safety needs are just as
• chartered Public Schools Public Schools chartered Public Schools need<00:57:42.559><c> funds</c><00:
• ><c> in</c> 173 Charter Public Schools operating in 173 Charter Public Schools operating in Minnesota
• ><c> 60</c> members Charter Schools enroll about 60 members Charter Schools enroll about 60 or<00:59:
• and charter public schools.

Bills: HF827, HF1258, HF2387, HF2388, HF2534, HF2016

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just a public school requirement at this point. But are charter schools public schools?
• have a charter school next door, right?
• That applies to charter schools.
• If you have a charter school, which I have numerous charter schools that are under $5,000.
• schools, charter schools wanted to be left alone.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Public Charter Schools Association, wishing you a happy National Charter Schools Week, and I'm testifying
• In the interim, we invite you to visit your local public charter schools.
• That in that same time period, do you mean charter schools or all schools statewide?
• hold for charter schools.
• And while charter schools now receive dedicated state funds for facilities... ...Public schools haven't

Bills: HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:47.560><c> school</c><00:04:47.919><c> that</c> of Revenue and any charter school that of
• to Safe School Aid.
• Aid to save<00:30:12.840><c> school</c><00:30:13.120><c> aid</c><00:30:14.080><c> I</c><00:30:14.159
• aid I would also like to save school aid I would also like to remind<00:30:15.000><c> the</c><00:30:
• aid. we're talking about are the School we're talking about are the School nurses<01:02:16.400><c> the

Bills: HF56, HF780

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• She has been a very stable force in Elgin public schools.
• schools and virtual charter schools.
• school board?
• If there's some reason that we want to move this to the charter school, I'd be happy to talk with you
• the flexibility to award more than one grant to one of those three schools.

Bills: SB514, SB346, SB1593, SB1782, SB1366, SB1497, SB366, SB1895, SB2048, SB2005, SB2006, SB710, SB1480

Keywords: SB514, school choice, charter school, virtual charter school, OSSAA, extracurricular activities, interscholastic activities, athletics, homeschool, other means of education, alternative education, student eligibility, student transfer, district policy, public school district, adjacent district, blended learning, virtual learning, school sports, academic eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• and virtual charter schools.
• Charter School Board? Thank you for that question.
• However, a charter school doesn't have that; they've got a state charter board.
• My goal is to make sure that charter schools get a fair shot at either buying or leasing property and
• Currently in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Public Schools already leases buildings to five charter

Bills: SB514, SB346, SB1593, SB1782, SB1366, SB1497, SB366, SB1895, SB2048, SB2005, SB2006, SB710, SB1480

Keywords: SB514, school choice, charter school, virtual charter school, OSSAA, extracurricular activities, interscholastic activities, athletics, homeschool, other means of education, alternative education, student eligibility, student transfer, district policy, public school district, adjacent district, blended learning, virtual learning, school sports, academic eligibility

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met for deadline week and first recognized guests and updates, including a report from Senator Devers on the Elgin school bus crash and recognition of 2025 Teacher of the Year Melissa Yvonne and visiting students from UCO and Darnaby Elementary. The committee then took up a series of education bills, with several authors explaining that some measures were work in progress and striking title on those bills to continue negotiations. Among the measures advanced were SB 514, clarifying alternative education programming through charter and virtual charter schools; SB 346, expanding school-to-school notification requirements about allegations or investigations involving teachers; SB 1593, updating outdated statutory references for the OSU-Tulsa board; SB 1366, using the Teacher Empowerment Fund to reward top teachers; SB 1497, correcting graduation standards to comply with IDEA and clarify alternate diplomas; SB 366, creating a process for charter schools to be notified about district facilities and lease or purchase opportunities; SB 1895, requiring districts to report whether they participate in the Community Eligibility Provision and why not; SB 2048, allowing the statewide charter school board to pay travel-related expenses for conferences and training; SB 710, allowing multiple grants under the Teach Forward teacher-prep program; and SB 1480, creating a pilot youth apprenticeship program. Most of these bills passed on bipartisan votes, often after questions about implementation, fiscal impact, or scope. Two of the more debated measures were SB 1782, which would end new tenure plans for higher education employees and move new hires to five-year contracts, and SB 2005, which would restructure the OSSAA board. SB 1782 passed 6-4 after extended debate over constitutional authority, academic freedom, recruitment, and litigation risk, with supporters arguing it would increase flexibility and accountability and opponents warning about legal and retention concerns. SB 2005 failed 4-6 after members split over whether the legislature should intervene in OSSAA governance; supporters said the association was not responsive enough to member schools and families, while opponents argued the issue should be left to the organization and that the bill risked government overreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we support uh extending safe schools revenue or safety aid for public charter schools.
• revenue or safety aid for uh schools revenue or safety aid for public<01:11:37.040><c> charter</c><01
• Charter schools receive less funding because they can't levy, and they don't receive safety aid.
• I respectfully ask you to support safety aid funding for public chartered school students.
• </c> aid funding for PO public chartered aid funding for PO public chartered school<01:26:57.679><c>

Bills: HF3492, HF3493, HF3494, HF3495, HF3602

Keywords: school safety, grants, education funding, Northern Lights Express, security improvements, rural schools, safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, safe schools aid, school security, mental health support, Tribal schools, cybersecurity, funding, mental health, evidence-based plans, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, the legislature passed a one-time safe school supplemental aid for all school districts in charter
• In 2019, the legislature passed a one-time safe school supplemental aid for all school districts in charter
• In 2019, the legislature passed a one-time safe school supplemental aid for all school districts in charter
• In 2019, the legislature passed a one-time safe school supplemental aid for all school districts in charter
• We can't charter school safety aid now.

Bills: HF3653, HF2717, HF3451, HF3857

Keywords: education finance, safe schools revenue, school safety, charter schools, funding, safe schools, school security, school levy, pupil units, safe schools aid, cooperative units, intermediate school district, school resource officer, peace officer liaison, sheriff liaison, drug abuse prevention, gang resistance education, violence prevention, suicide prevention, mental health services

Summary: The committee first adopted the March 3rd minutes by voice vote after Representative Lee moved them and there was no discussion. Members then reviewed hearing rules on decorum, safety, and participation before taking testimony from Dr. James Densley and Dr. Jillian Peterson of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University. The presenters summarized research on mass shootings and K-12 school shootings, drawing on a database of homicides in school settings from 2000 to 2025 and a smaller set of 15 K-12 mass shooting cases. They said school shooters are usually insiders, most often current or former students, and typically young males. They described common patterns including a noticeable crisis before attacks, perpetrators viewing the shooting as a final act, studying prior shooters online, and “leakage” in which most tell someone in advance. They also emphasized that many perpetrators use unsecured firearms from family members and argued that prevention should combine reporting systems, behavioral threat assessment, counseling, mentoring, secure storage, and other layered interventions rather than rely on a single solution. The presenters also discussed broader violence trends in the Twin Cities, saying much school violence is spillover from community violence and that pandemic-era disruptions and weakened trust in institutions contributed to serious violence. They cited a national survey finding that exposure to gun violence is associated with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and fear of public spaces, especially among young people. During member questions, Representative Wam asked for clarification on the data set and the rural/small-town share of the survey sample.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if a school district has denied a charter school application, they appealed to the state board of
• charter school application, but we have made it in this body.
• If the school board denied the charter school's application to operate within the district, that charter
• So once the charter took it over, there would be no requirements for that the charter school would be
• I don't see that there's the same consideration given for a public school district if a charter school

Bills: SB1627, SB227, SB366, SB1193, SB1433, SB1450, SB1481, SB1749, SB1810, SB1812, SB1921, SB1948, SB2044, SB2178, SB169, SB1877, HB1409, SB1266, SB1432

Keywords: criminal code cleanup, duplicate statutes, statutory consolidation, repealer bill, emergency clause, Title 21 crimes, Title 47 DUI, child abuse reporting, child neglect, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, sex offenses, rape, stalking, domestic abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, sex trafficking, gang-related offense, eluding police

Transcript Highlights:

• So if a school district has denied a charter school application, they appeal to the State Board of Education
• So for clarification, the local school district can deny or refuse that charter school application, but
• the charter school's application to operate within the district, that charter school can go outside
• the leasing or selling of property in that local school district.
• I don't see that there's the same consideration given for a public school district if a charter school

Bills: SB1627, SB227, SB366, SB1193, SB1433, SB1450, SB1481, SB1749, SB1810, SB1812, SB1921, SB1948, SB2044, SB2178, SB169, SB1877, HB1409, SB1266, SB1432

Keywords: criminal code cleanup, duplicate statutes, statutory consolidation, repealer bill, emergency clause, Title 21 crimes, Title 47 DUI, child abuse reporting, child neglect, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, sex offenses, rape, stalking, domestic abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, sex trafficking, gang-related offense, eluding police

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized several guests, doctors, nurses, pages, student shadows, and visitors in the gallery. Members also adopted a motion to request the House’s consent for the Senate to adjourn for more than three days, with Senator Hicks opposing the motion because of the number of bills still available for consideration. The motion passed. The chamber then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1627, a cleanup measure to eliminate duplicate criminal code sections and clarify the law for legal research, passed 45-0 and was advanced as an emergency. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation on oil and gas means of production, drew extensive questioning and debate over possible revenue impacts, county assessors, schools, and economically at-risk wells; it passed 37-9. Senate Bill 366, which gives charter schools a first right of refusal to buy or lease public school buildings sold or leased by districts, also generated debate over local control and lack of resale guardrails, and passed 40-6 as an emergency. Later, Senate Bill 1193 to remove general fund carryover caps for school districts passed 46-0 as an emergency after supporters argued it would reduce “use it or lose it” spending and allow more local flexibility, while opponents questioned fiscal effects and accountability. Senate Bill 1433, the Guidance Transparency Act requiring agencies to publicly disclose guidance documents in a searchable database, passed 37-7 after concerns about attorney-client privilege, administrative burden, and whether guidance could function like law. Senate Bill 1450, expanding relief from fines, fees, and court costs for certain people in the criminal justice system, was advanced and passed unanimously; Senate Bill 1481, increasing minimum recess time for K-5 students from 20 to 40 minutes, was advanced as an emergency measure; Senate Bill 1810, allowing expert testimony in human trafficking cases, passed 45-0; Senate Bill 1812, requiring school districts to make benchmark testing information available to parents, passed 46-0 as an emergency; Senate Bill 1921, increasing OSBI background-check fees, passed 39-7; and Senate Bill 1948, updating fireworks laws and limiting county restrictions on private outdoor consumer fireworks displays, was taken up with significant safety and local-control questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We connect public charter school stakeholders from the 17 Alabama public charter schools with policymakers
• like... charter schools with policymakers like yourselves.
• , we would have to create a charter school or charter board for every school.
• Charter schools were originally sold to the public as schools that would have flexibility with curriculum
• thus... district-wide charter schools, thus providing curriculum flexibility for schools and teachers

Bills: HB332, HB166, SB336, HB447, HB244

Keywords: computer science, K-12 education, public schools, graduation requirement, digital literacy, coding, programming, STEM, artificial intelligence, AI, computational thinking, technology education, computer literacy, high school credit, middle school, elementary school, teacher training, professional development, distance learning, virtual school

Transcript Highlights:

• a charter commission.
• to school to school.
• schools and virtual charter schools.
• In fact, I had a conversation with Rebecca Wilkinson who is on the statewide charter school board.
• , once during middle school, once during high school.

Bills: SJR47, SB1491, SB1579, SB1806, SB1552, SB483, SB63, SB137, SB346, SB514, SB1344, SB1360, SB1380, SB1437, SB1189, SB1217, SB1221, SB1262, SB1272, SB1325, SB1339, SB201

Keywords: voter ID, elections, constitutional amendment, Oklahoma, proof of identity, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, county home rule charter

Transcript Highlights:

• If A school district receives either foundation aid or salary incentive aid or receives neither foundation
• aid nor salary incentive aid pursuant to section 18.
• No, the minimum salary schedule applies to every single school district, so all schools have the discretion
• And so I think I've had a number of school leaders come to me and say, 'Hey, I've been in a school for
• We have good schools, and they're doing really well.

Bills: SJR47, SB1491, SB1579, SB1806, SB1552, SB483, SB63, SB137, SB346, SB514, SB1344, SB1360, SB1380, SB1437, SB1189, SB1217, SB1221, SB1262, SB1272, SB1325, SB1339, SB201

Keywords: voter ID, elections, constitutional amendment, Oklahoma, proof of identity, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, county home rule charter

Transcript Highlights:

• Charter Act.
• to school to school.
• schools and virtual charter schools.
• In fact, I had a conversation with Rebecca Wilkinson, who is with the statewide charter school board,
• And then you’re getting at once during elementary school, one during middle school, one during high school

Bills: SJR47, SB1491, SB1579, SB1806, SB1552, SB483, SB63, SB137, SB346, SB514, SB1344, SB1360, SB1380, SB1437, SB1189, SB1217, SB1221, SB1262, SB1272, SB1325, SB1339, SB201

Keywords: voter ID, elections, constitutional amendment, Oklahoma, proof of identity, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, county home rule charter

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, a ceremonial recognition of two Elgin High School students, Clayton Raoul and Leon Anderson, and bus driver Kevin McDonald for their heroic actions during a March 2 bus crash. A citation was read honoring their selfless efforts to evacuate injured students and assist first responders. The chamber also introduced several student pages and recognized visiting groups in the gallery, including Impact Oklahoma and the Ardmore Leadership Group. The Senate then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1491, requiring appointed presidential electors to take the same oath as other electors, advanced and passed. Senate Bill 1579, which requires assessors to mail taxpayers a statement of rights when property valuations increase, also advanced and passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1806, extending foster care eligibility to age 21 for those who opt in and meet program requirements, drew supportive debate about helping youth transition to adulthood; it advanced and passed as an emergency measure. A lengthy debate followed on Senate Bill 1552, which would allow certain large counties to pursue home rule charters through a voter-approved process. Supporters argued it would give populous counties more flexibility and local control, while opponents raised concerns about unequal treatment, population-based governance, rural representation, and possible constitutional issues. The bill advanced and then passed 26-18. Senate Bill 483, authorizing county-run relocation assistance programs funded by private donations for voluntarily relocating individuals, especially homeless persons, also prompted extensive questions about liability, trafficking concerns, accountability, and whether it could shift people between jurisdictions; it advanced and passed 39-6. Finally, Senate Bill 63, raising school board member stipends from $25 to $190 per meeting under permissive language, advanced over concerns about cost and then moved to final passage, with debate beginning at the end of the transcript.