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

Education Policy

EIGHTEENTH MEETING

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

STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION


EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Representative Peggy Bennett, of the Education Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:01 PM, on February 24, 2026, in Room G23 of the State Capitol Building. A quorum was present

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
BENNETT, Peggy, Republican Chair
JORDAN, Sydney, DFL Chair
MUELLER, Patricia, Republican Vice Chair
HILL, Josiah, DFL Vice Chair
BIERMAN, Robert
DIPPEL, Tom
FALCONER, Alex
FOGELMAN, Marj
GORDON, Jimmy
GOTTFRIED, David
GREENE, Julie
KEELER, Heather
LAWRENCE, Bryan
ROACH, Drew


Vice-Chair Mueller moved the minutes of February 18, 2026, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Vice-Chair Mueller assumed the gavel at 3:03PM.

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

Chair Bennett moved the HF 3489 be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy.

Chair Bennett moved the HF3489A1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair Bennett presented on HF3489 as amended.

Testifiers:
Hannah LoPresto, Victim Advocate
Chad Clausen, Detective, Eagan Police Department
Deb Corhouse, Attorney, Education Minnesota

Chair Bennett renewed the motion that HF3489, as amended, be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Bennett assumed the gavel at 3:22PM.

The Minnesota Department of Education presented proposed Statewide Health Standards and Implementation of Social Studies Standards and Ethnic Studies Course Offering.

Presenters:
Bobby Burnham, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Teaching and Learning
Adosh Unni, Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Department of Education



Testifiers:
Micheal McCarthy, Member, Fixing Stillwater Schools
Katherine Kersten, Senior Policy Fellow, American Experiment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:14PM.





Representative Peggy Bennett, Chair




Morgan Maiden, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF3489 (Bennett) - Field trip policy established, reporting to licensing boards required, and criminal offense of grooming established.
  • HF3550 (Bennett) - School districts allowed to implement local health education standards.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:13 - HF3489 (Bennett) Field trip policy established, reporting to licensing boards required, and criminal offense of grooming established.
22:36 - Department of Education presentation.
-- Proposed statewide health standards.
40:23 - Department of Education.
-- Implementation of social studies standards & ethnic studies course offering presentation.
Runs 1 hour, 14 minutes.

Presentations by Minnesota Department of Education

- Proposed Statewide Health Standards

- Implementation of Social Studies Standards & Ethnic Studies Course Offering

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

HF3550 (Bennett) - School districts allowed to implement local health education standards.

Testimony: Individuals wishing to testify and/or provide written testimony/handouts on the posted bills should contact both Wilson Lee via email at wilson.lee@house.mn.gov and Jody Withers via email at jody.withers@house.mn.gov by 3:00 PM on Monday, February 23, 2026. Testimony on the MDE presentations will be limited and at the discretion of the Co-Chair holding the gavel.

Amendments: Bill Authors and Committee Members wishing to present an amendment must submit amendments via email to both Wilson Lee via email at wilson.lee@house.mn.gov and Jody Withers at jody.withers@house.mn.gov by 2:00 PM on Monday, February 23, 2026.