Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Finance

TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 24, 2026

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION


Education Finance Committee

MINUTES

Representative Kresha, Chair of the Education Finance Committee, began the meeting at 1:01PM, on March 24, 2026, in Room 120 of the Capitol Building. A quorum was present.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

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

Representative Bennett moved the minutes of March 17, 2026, as corrected, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Little Falls Community Schools presented an Aviation and Transportation Grant Update:
Eric LeBlanc, Teacher (remote)
Mark Diehl, Executive Director of Operations (remote)
Peter Masterjohn, Teacher (remote)

HF3489 (BENNETT) - FIELD TRIP POLICY ESTABLISHED, REPORTING TO LICENSING BOARDS REQUIRED, AND CRIMINAL OFFENSE OF GROOMING ESTABLISHED.

Representative Bennett moved that HF3489 be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.

Representative Bennett presented on HF3489.

Testifiers:
Hannah LoPresto, Survivor
Chad Clausen, Detective, Eagan Police Department
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Department of Education

Chair Bennett renewed the motion that HF3489 be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3490 (MYERS) - SCHOLARSHIP-GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS AUTHORIZED.

Chair Kresha moved HF3490, as amended, be re-referred to the Taxes Committee.

Representative Youakim requested a roll call.

The results are as follows:

AYES
KRESHA
BAKEBERG
ALTENDORF
BENNETT
DIPPEL
ENGEN
HUDSON
KNUDSEN
LAWRENCE
MUELLER
QUAM
RYMER

NAYS
YOUAKIM
CLARDY
BAHNER
GREENE
HILL
JOHNSON
LEE
PEREZ-VEGA
REHM
REHRAUER
SENCER-MURA
VIRNIG

On a vote of 12 AYES and 12 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Chair Kresha laid over HF3490, as amended for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

HF3650 (MUELLER) - STUDENT CAREER PATHWAYS FRAMEWORK ESTABLISHED, AND REPORT REQUIRED.

Representative Mueller moved that HF3650 be re-referred to the Higher Education Committee.

Representative Mueller moved the A26-0139 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Mueller presented on HF3650, as amended.

Testifiers:
Laken, Student
Hibak, Student
John Fanning, Education Partnerships Coalition
Christine Noel, Director of Government Affairs, Education Credit Management Organization Group
Kate Lynne Snyder, Education Minnesota
Josiah Litant, Executive Director, Minnesota P-20 Education Partnership, Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Wendy Robinson, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Representative Youakim requested a roll call.

Chair Mueller renewed the motion that HF3650, as amended, be re-referred to the Higher Education Committee.


The results are as follows:

AYES
KRESHA
BAKEBERG
ALTENDORF
BENNETT
DIPPEL
ENGEN
HUDSON
KNUDSEN
LAWRENCE
MUELLER
QUAM
RYMER

NAYS
YOUAKIM
CLARDY
HILL
JOHNSON
LEE
PEREZ-VEGA
REHM
REHRAUER
VIRNIG

ABSTAIN
BAHNER
GREENE
SENCER-MURA

On a vote of 12 AYES, 9 NAYS, and 3 ABSTAIN, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Chair Kresha laid over HF3650, as amended, for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

HF1791 (SCOTT) - SCHOOL DISTRICT AUTHORIZED TO OFFER CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION POSTSECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS AND POSTSECONDARY GRANTS.

Representative Lawrence moved HF1791 before the committee.

Representative Scott presented on HF1791.

Representative Lawrence presented on HF1791.

Testifiers:
Steve Kalina, Minnesota Precision Manufacturers Association
Trever Quesnell, Taylor Machine
Erik Trost, St. Francis High School
Naomi, Student

Chair Kresha laid over HF1791 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or further consideration at a later date.

The following bills were heard as informational only:

HF4231 (KEELER) - STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS PARTICIPATION ESTABLISHED.

HF4232 (KEELER) - POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY A PUPIL'S SCHOOL OF THE PUPIL'S GRADES, AND NUMBER OF COLLEGE CREDITS GRANTED EACH SCHOOL YEAR FOR POSTSECONDARY COURSE ENROLLMENT LIMITED.



HF4269 (KNUDSEN) - OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR DIRECTED TO EVALUATE THE POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS PROGRAM, AND REPORT REQUIRED.

HF4270 (KNUDSEN) - PAYMENTS TO POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOOLS FOR THE POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS PROGRAM MODIFIED.

Representative Knudsen presented.

Representative Keeler presented.

Testifiers:
Joe Nathan, Teacher
Aaron Nelson, Principal, Pequot Lakes High School
Josh Haag, Principal, Moorhead High School

The meeting was adjourned at 2:46 PM.




Representative Ron Kresha, Chair




Jynell Boulka, Committee Legislative Assistant




















More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF4231 (Keeler) - Student eligibility for postsecondary enrollment options participation established.
  • HF4232 (Keeler) - Postsecondary institutions required to notify a pupil's school of the pupil's grades, and number of college credits granted each school year for postsecondary course enrollment limited.
  • HF4269 (Knudsen) - Office of the Legislative Auditor directed to evaluate the postsecondary enrollment options program, and report required.
  • HF4270 (Knudsen) - Payments to postsecondary institutions and schools for the postsecondary enrollment options program modified.
  • HF1791 (Scott) - School district authorized to offer career and technical education postsecondary scholarships and postsecondary grants.
  • HF3489 (Bennett) - Licensing boards reporting required, criminal offense of grooming established, criminal penalties provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF3650 (Mueller) - Student career pathways framework established, and report required.
  • HF3490 (Myers) - Scholarship-granting organizations authorized.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

00:49 - Little Falls aviation/transportation grant update.
12:18 - HF3489 (Bennett) Field trip policy established, reporting to licensing boards required, and criminal offense of grooming established.
25:16 - HF3490 (Myers) Scholarship-granting organizations authorized.
30:52 - HF3650 (Mueller) Student career pathways framework established, and report required.
1:17:35 - HF1791 (Scott) School district authorized to offer career and technical education postsecondary scholarships and postsecondary grants.
1:30:51 - Discussion of PSEO bills:.
-- HF4231 (Keeler) Student eligibility for postsecondary enrollment options participation established.
-- HF4232 (Keeler) Postsecondary institutions required to notify a pupil's school of the pupil's grades, and number of college credits granted each school year for postsecondary course enrollment limited.
-- HF4269 (Knudsen) Office of the Legislative Auditor directed to evaluate the postsecondary enrollment options program, and report required.
-- HF4270 (Knudsen) Payments to postsecondary institutions and schools for the postsecondary enrollment options program modified.
Runs 1 hour, 45 minutes.

Little Falls Aviation/Transportation Grant Update

HF3650 (Mueller) - Student career pathways framework established, and report required.

HF1791 (Scott) - School district authorized to offer career and technical education postsecondary scholarships and postsecondary grants.

HF3489 (Bennett) - Field trip policy established, reporting to licensing boards required, and criminal offense of grooming established.

PSEO Discussion: These bills will be heard information only. No formal action. Invited Testimony Only
- HF4231 (Keeler) - Student eligibility for postsecondary enrollment options participation established.
- HF4232 (Keeler) - Postsecondary institutions required to notify a pupil's school of the pupil's grades, and number of college credits granted each school year for postsecondary course enrollment limited.
- HF4269 (Knudsen) - Office of the Legislative Auditor directed to evaluate the postsecondary enrollment options program, and report required.
- HF4270 (Knudsen) - Payments to postsecondary institutions and schools for the postsecondary enrollment options program modified.

ITEM ADDED:
- HF3490 (Myers) - Scholarship-granting organizations authorized.
- - - This bill was heard and amended on March 10, 2026, and laid over. The Chair will bring up HF3490, as amended, for further consideration. Additional testimony will not be taken.


Testimony: Individuals wishing to testify and/or submit written testimony, including handouts on HF1791, HF3489, HF3650 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 Monday, March 23, 2026.

Testimony on HF4231, HF4232, HF4269, HF4270 is invite only. These bills are being heard Information Only. Action will be taken on these bills.

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 Monday, March 23, 2026.