STATE OF MINNESOTA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE THIRTY FIRST 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 April 16th, 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
GANDER, Steve
GORDON, Jimmy
GREENE, Julie
HILL, Josiah
JOHNSON, Pete
LEE, Liz
KNUDSEN, Krista
LAWRENCE, Bryan
MUELLER, Patricia
PÉREZ-VEGA, María Isa
QUAM, Duane
REHM, Lucy
REHRAUER, Kari
RYMER, Max
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
VIRNIG, Bianca
A quorum was present.
Representative Rehm moved to approve the minutes from April 14th, 2026. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Presentation on Special Education Evaluation and Identification.
• Jennifer Danielson, Executive Director of Student Services, South St. Paul Public Schools
Co-Vice Chair Clardy assumed the gavel at 1:27 pm.
HF4893 (Youakim); Student support personnel aid allowances modified, and money appropriated.
Co-Chair Youakim moved that HF4893 be re-referred to the committee on Ways and Means.
Co-Chair Youakim moved the H4893DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Testimony on HF4893 as amended:
• Anushka, Student
• Alvi, Student
• Kate Lynne Snyder, Lobbyist, MN School Counselors Association, Education Minnesota
• Ann Weiss, Executive Director, Minnesota of Independent Schools
• Alexandra Fitzsimmons, Senior Policy Director, Children’s Defense Fund
• Sarah Bernhardt, School Psychologist
Co-Chair Youakim renewed the motion that HF4893 as amended be re-referred to the committee on Ways and Means.
Representative Hill requested a roll call.
The clerk took the roll:
AYES:
YOUAKIM, Cheryl, DFL Chair
CLARDY, Mary Frances, DFL Vice Chair
BAHNER, Kristin
GREENE, Julie
HILL, Josiah
JOHNSON, Pete
LEE, Liz
PÉREZ-VEGA, María Isa
REHM, Lucy
REHRAUER, Kari
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
VIRNIG, Bianca
NAYS:
KRESHA, Ron, GOP Chair
BAKEBERG, Ben GOP Vice Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam
BENNETT, Peggy
DIPPEL, Tom
GANDER, Steve
GORDON, Jimmy
KNUDSEN, Krista
LAWRENCE, Bryan
MUELLER, Patricia
QUAM, Duane
RYMER, Max
With 12 Ayes and 12 Nays, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Co-Chair Youakim re-assumed the gavel at 2:36 pm.
Presentation on Governor's K12 Education Budget
• Commissioner Willie Jett, Minnesota Department of Education
The meeting was adjourned at 2:42 pm.
__________________________________________ Representative Cheryl Youakim, Co-Chair
__________________________________________ Representative Ron Kresha, Co-Chair
__________________________________________ Representative Ban Bakeberg, Co-Vice Chair
__________________________________________ Representative Mary Frances Clardy, Co-Vice Chair
__________________________________________ Representative Pam Altendorf
__________________________________________ Representative Kristin Bahner
__________________________________________ Representative Peggy Bennett
__________________________________________ Representative Tom Dippel
__________________________________________ Representative Steve Gander
__________________________________________ Representative Jimmy Gordon
__________________________________________ Representative Julie Greene
__________________________________________ Representative Josiah Hill
__________________________________________ Representative Pete Johnson
__________________________________________ Representative Krista Knudsen
__________________________________________ Representative Bryan Lawrence
__________________________________________ Representative Liz Lee
__________________________________________ Representative Patricia Mueller
__________________________________________ Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega
__________________________________________ Representative Duane Quam
__________________________________________ Representative Lucy Rehm
__________________________________________ Representative Kari Rehrauer
__________________________________________ Representative Max Rymer
__________________________________________ Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura
__________________________________________ Representative Bianca Virnig
_________________________________________
Isabel Anderson, Committee Legislative Assistant