Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Education Finance

TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Thursday, March 12, 2026

STATE OF MINNESOTA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION

EDUCATION FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair of the Committee on Education Finance, called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM on March 12, 2026 in Room 120 of the Capitol.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members Present:
YOUAKIM, Cheryl, DFL Chair
KRESHA, Ron, GOP 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

Members Excused:
ENGEN, Elliot

A quorum was present.

Representative Lee moved that the minutes of March 3, 2026 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3790 (Greene); Lease levy authority restored for space necessary for graduation ceremonies.

Rep. Greene moved that HF3790 be laid over for further consideration.

Representative Greene presented HF3790.

Testimony on HF3790:
? John Morstad, Executive Director of Finance and Operations, Osseo Area Schools
? Aanya, Student, Minnesota Youth Council
? Sami Rajab, Government Relations, Minnesota Department of Education

Rep. Greene renewed the motion that HF3790 be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.

HF3654 (Greene); Local optional revenue program renamed, program funding increased, and money appropriated.

Rep. Greene moved that HF3654 be laid over for further consideration.

Rep. Greene presented HF3654.

Testimony of HF3654:
? Mert Woodard, Director of Business Services, Edina Public Schools
? Paul Bourgeois, Director of Finance and Operations, Minnetonka Public Schools

Rep. Greene renewed the motion that HF3654 be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.

HF3470 (Virnig); Independent School District No. 197, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan fund transfer authorized.

Rep. Virnig moved that HF3470 be laid over for further consideration.

Rep. Virnig presented HF3470.

Testimony on HF3470:
? Dr. Peter Olson-Skog, Superintendent, District 197
? Sarah Larsen, School Board Chair, District 197

Rep. Virnig renewed the motion that HF3470 be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.

HF 1099 (Sencer-Mura); Share of unreimbursed special education aid paid by the resident school district to a charter school reduced, state portion of special education aid for unreimbursed charter school expenditures increased, and money appropriated.

Rep. Sencer-Mura moved that HF1099 be laid over for further consideration.


Rep. Sencer-Mura moved the DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Rep. Sencer-Mura presented HF1099 as amended.

Testimony on HF1099 as amended:
? Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools
? Dr. Liz Keenan, Associate Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools
? Natasha Doktor, Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools
? Joey Cienian, Executive Director, Minnesota Association of Charter Schools
? Carina Aleckson, Parent
? Trista Schulze, Parent

Rep. Sencer-Mura renewed the motion that HF1099 as amended be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.

HF3371 (Rehrauer); Local optional revenue increased for school districts with limited referendum revenue authority, and money appropriated.

Rep. Rehrauer moved that HF3371 be laid over for further consideration.

Rep. Rehrauer presented HF3371.

Testimony on HF3371:
? Sara Paul, Superintendent, North Branch Area Public Schools
? Charlotte, Student
? Grace, Student
? Karsten Anderson, Superintendent, Saint Francis Area Schools
? Dr. Brett Wedlund, Executive Director, Nova Classical Academy

Rep. Rehrauer renewed the motion that HF3371 be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:41 pm.



__________________________________________ Representative Cheryl Youakim, Chair

_________________________________________ Isabel Anderson, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF3790 (Greene) - Lease levy authority restored for space necessary for graduation ceremonies.
  • HF3654 (Greene) - Local optional revenue program renamed, program funding increased, and money appropriated.
  • HF3371 (Rehrauer) - Local optional revenue increased for school districts with limited referendum revenue authority, and money appropriated.
  • HF3470 (Virnig) - Independent School District No. 197, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan fund transfer authorized.
  • HF1099 (Sencer-Mura) - Share of unreimbursed special education aid paid by the resident school district to a charter school reduced, state portion of special education aid for unreimbursed charter school expenditures increased, and money appropriated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:29 - HF3790 (Greene) Lease levy authority restored for space necessary for graduation ceremonies.
24:35 - HF3654 (Greene) Local optional revenue program renamed, program funding increased, and money appropriated.
41:32 - HF3470 (Virnig) Independent School District No 197, West St Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan fund transfer authorized.
49:38 - HF1099 (Sencer-Mura) Share of unreimbursed special education aid paid by the resident school district to a charter school reduced, state portion of special education aid for unreimbursed charter school expenditures increased, and money appropriated.
1:22:06 - HF3371 (Rehrauer) Local optional revenue increased for school districts with limited referendum revenue authority, and money appropriated.
Runs 1 hour, 41 minutes.


 I. Approval of Minutes

II. HF3790 (Greene) Lease levy authority restored for space necessary for graduation ceremonies.

III. HF3654 (Greene) Local optional revenue program renamed, program funding increased, and money appropriated.

IV. HF3371 (Rehrauer) Local optional revenue increased for school districts with limited referendum revenue authority, and money appropriated.

V. HF3470 (Virnig) Independent School District No. 197, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan fund transfer authorized.

VI. HF1099 (Sencer-Mura) Share of unreimbursed special education aid paid by the resident school district to a charter school reduced, state portion of special education aid for unreimbursed charter school expenditures increased, and money appropriated.

VII. Adjournment 

Agenda items may be added or changed.

Viewing: This hearing may be viewed via the House webcast schedule page. All events are closed captioned with automatically generated captions. 

Testimony: Individuals wishing to testify and/or submit written testimony including handouts, 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 Wednesday, March 11th. 

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 Wednesday, March 11th.