Policy Deadlines Fast Approaching
Self-imposed policy bill deadlines loom large and land next Friday, March 27 at 5pm. The week of March 23 will be a flurry of activity in the many policy committees as legislators make last minute attempts to advance their individual policy proposals. With the tie in each State House committee, bipartisanship is the name of the game in order to advance in the House process. The Senate DFL has a majority, but it will be interesting to see what they decide to roll out in an omnibus education policy bill that will be initially reviewed on Monday the 23rd.
A proposal (SF3750) to repeal an onerous storm shelter requirement in the state’s building code for southern MN schools has advanced in the Senate. However, it appears the American Institute of Architects continues to object to repealing this mandate and will be the cause of further delay and lack of advancement in the legislative process.
Walz proposes a deeper cut to Special Education
The anticipated supplemental budget plan from the Governor was released on Tuesday, March 17. After an improved budget forecast was announced at the end of February, school officials had raised their hopes about a reversal on the massive $250M special education cut scheduled for fiscal years 2028-29 or perhaps a more modest one-time infusion of state aid to hold districts harmless on compensatory aid as the MDE task force on the subject continues to work on the matter until next October. Instead, school officials and legislators were caught flat footed when Governor Walz recommended another $50M be cut from the state’s special education cross-subsidy aid. Stunning, tone deaf and dead-on arrival, but it definitely sent a message that the Governor just is interested in school finance as he leaves his tenure in office.
Constitutional Amendment to improve Permanent Schol Trust Fund Distributions Advances
With hope fading fast for a positive supplemental budget target for education, attention turns to a proposed (HF 3900/SF 3593) Constitutional Amendment that would modernize the Permanent School Trust fund, allowing the state to distribute upwards of 5% of annual growth to public school students. The current constitutional language is very limiting on how much of the fund’s growth can be distributed each year, an amount closer to 2.5% of the annual growth. With bi-partisan support in both chambers, the proposal continues to advance towards full floor debate in the House and Senate. Should the legislation pass, it does not go to the Governor’s desk for a signature into law or a veto. Instead, the Secretary of State certifies the legislation and prepares a question for the November general election ballot. It would then be on all of us school advocates to promote passage of the question and a solid 50+% “yes vote” is necessary. Those casting ballots and leaving the question blank are counted as no votes.
