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Minnesota House of Representatives

Education Policy

THIRTY FIRST MEETING

2023-2024 Regular Session - Wednesday, March 13, 2024

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY FIRST MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION


EDUCATION POLICY MINUTES

Representative Laurie Pryor, Chair of the Committee on Education Policy, called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM on March 13, 2024 in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members Present:
PRYOR, Laurie, Chair
HILL, Josiah, Vice Chair
BENNETT, Peggy, Republican Lead
BAKEBERG, Ben
BERG, Kaela
FEIST, Sandra
FRAZIER, Cedrick
KEELER, Heather
KNUDSEN, Krista
LEE, Liz
MUELLER, Patricia
URDAHL, Dean
YOUAKIM, Cheryl

A quorum was present.

Representative Berg moved that the minutes from March 12, 2024, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3682 (Kotyza-Witthuhn); requiring state academic standards in health education; requiring rulemaking; appropriating money.

Representative Berg moved that HF3682 be re-referred to the committee on education finance.

Representative Berg moved the H3682A4 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn presented HF3682 as amended.

Testimony on HF3682 as amended:
• Janett Jimenez, Intern, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
• Pogi del Rosario, Prevention Program Coordinator, Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Sheldon Berkowitz MD, Pediatrics Specialist, Children’s Minnesota
• Aila, Student, Minneapolis

Representative Berg renewed the motion that HF3682 as amended be re-referred to the committee on education finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF4363 (Rep. Hassan) - requiring mental health instruction starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Representative Frazier moved that HF4363 be laid over for further consideration.

Representative Hassan presented HF4363.

Testimony on HF4363:
• Aisha , Student, School District 196

Chair Pryor renewed the motion that HF4363 be laid over for further consideration. The bill was laid over.

HF4008 (Huot); requiring cardiac emergency response plans; appropriating money.

Representative Lee moved that HF4008 be re-referred to the committee on education finance.

Representative Lee moved the H4008A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Huot presented HF4008 as amended.

Testimony on HF4008 as amended:
• Paul Weirtz, State Government Relations Director, Minnesota American Heart Association
• Dale Wakasugi, Cardiac Arrest Survivor, Minnesota

Representative Lee renewed the motion that HF4008 as amended be re-referred to the committee on education finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3372 as amended (Clardy); increasing and indexing English learner program revenue; supporting innovative English learner program revenue; supporting innovative English learner programs; creating a statewide English learner parent and community advisory council; encouraging local advisory councils; establishing micro-credentials for teachers and administrators of English learners; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating money.

Chair Pryor moved that HF3372 as amended be re-referred to the committee on education finance.

Chair Pryor renewed the motion that HF3372 as amended be re-referred to the committee on education finance. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Vice Chair Hill assumed the gavel at 4:18.

HF4611 as amended (Pryor); directing the commissioner of education to amend rules relating to regional libraries.

Chair Pryor moved that HF4611 as amended be laid over for further consideration.

Chair Pryor renewed the motion that HF4611 as amended be laid over for further consideration. The bill as amended was laid over.

Vice Chair Hill recessed the meeting at 4:27 pm.

The meeting was reconvened at 6:02 pm in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

HF4083 (Youakim); clarifying speech and press rights of student journalists in grades 6 through 12.

Representative Youakim moved that HF4083 be re-referred to the general register.

Representative Youakim moved the H4083A2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Youakim presented HF4083 as amended.

Testimony on HF4083 as amended:
• Jeff Kocur, Publications Advisor, Hopkins High School
• Jessica Wagner, Publications Advisor, Owatonna High School
• Stella McHugh, Pony Express Editor-in-Chief, Stillwater High School
• Bella Lapos, Pony Express Editor-in-Chief, Stillwater High School
• Yoni Zacks, The Spectrum Managing Editor, The Blake School
• Dr. Terence Morrow, Director of Legal and Policy Services, Minnesota School Boards Association
• Roger Aronson, Lobbyist, Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals

Chair Pryor renewed the motion that HF4083 as amended be re-referred to the general register. The bill as amended was laid over.

HF4373 (Rep. Frazier); prohibiting book banning by public libraries and school libraries; creating a private right of action and providing for attorney general enforcement.

Representative Frazier moved that HF4373 be re-referred to the committee on judiciary finance and civil law.

Representative Frazier moved the H4373DE2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Frazier presented HF4373 as amended.

Testimony on HF4373 as amended:
• Karlton Laster, OutFront, Minnesota
• Kendra Redmond, OutFront, Minnesota
• Jay Belsito, Organizer, Gender Justice
• Dr. Terence Morrow, Director of Legal and Policy Services, Minnesota School Boards Association
• Megan Arriola, Legislative Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Education

Representative Frazier renewed the motion that HF4373 as amended be re-referred to the committee on judiciary finance and civil law. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3546 (Berg); modifying sexually transmitted infections and diseases program requirements.

Representative Berg moved that HF3546 be laid over for further consideration.

Representative Berg moved the H3546A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Berg presented HF3546 as amended.

Testimony on HF3546 as amended:
• Dr. Elizabeth Bard-Henke, Obstetrician-gynecologist, Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Chair Pryor renewed the motion that HF3546 as amended be laid over for further consideration. The bill as amended was laid over.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 pm.


__________________________________________
Representative Laurie Pryor, Chair


__________________________________________
Isabel Anderson, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF3546 (Berg) - Sexually transmitted infections and diseases program requirements modified.
  • HF3682 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) - State academic standards required in health education, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.
  • HF4008 (Huot) - Cardiac emergency response plans required, and money appropriated.
  • HF4083 (Youakim) - Student journalists in grades 6 through 12 speech and press rights clarified.
  • HF4363 (Hassan) - Mental health instruction required starting in 2026-2027 school year.
  • HF4373 (Frazier) - Book banning prohibited, public library bill of rights established, eligibility requirements modified for various library state aids, and private right of action created and attorney general enforcement provided.
  • HF3372 (Clardy) - Microcredential for teachers and administrators of English learners established, student support personnel aid for area learning centers provided, fully funded alternative programs and English learner programs task force established, rulemaking authorized, report required, and money appropriated.
  • HF4611 (Pryor) - Commissioner of education directed to amend rules relating to regional libraries.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:02 - HF3682 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) State academic standards required in health education, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.
41:59 - HF4363 (Hassan) Mental health instruction required starting in 2026-2027 school year.
58:46 - HF4008 (Huot) Cardiac emergency response plans required, and money appropriated.
1:09:36 - HF3372 (Clardy) English learner program revenue increased and indexed, innovative English learner programs supported, statewide English learner parent and community advisory council created, local advisory councils encouraged, microcredentials established, and money appropriated.
1:18:23 - HF4611 (Pryor) Commissioner of Education directed to amend rules relating to regional libraries.
The committee recessed.
Runs 1 hour, 27 minutes.

House TV Video:
View Archive

00:14 - HF4083 (Youakim) Speech and press rights of student journalists in grades 6 through 12 clarified.
40:01 - HF4373 (Frazier) Book banning by public libraries and school libraries prohibited, and private right of action created and attorney general enforcement provided.
1:05:42 - HF3546 (Berg) Sexually transmitted infections and diseases program requirements modified.
Runs 1 hour, 22 minutes.

HF4611 as amended (Rep. Pryor) A bill for an act relating to libraries; directing the commissioner of education to amend rules relating to regional libraries.

HF3372 as amended (Rep. Clardy) A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing and indexing English learner program revenue; supporting innovative English learner program revenue; supporting innovative English learner programs; creating a statewide English learner parent and community advisory council; encouraging local advisory councils; establishing microcredentials for teachers and administrators of English learners; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating money.

HF3682 (Rep. Kotyza-Witthuhn) A bill for an act relating to education; requiring state academic standards in health education; requiring rulemaking; appropriating money.

HF4363 (Rep. Hassan) A bill for an act relating to education; requiring mental health instruction starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

HF3546 (Rep. Berg) A bill for an act relating to education; modifying sexually transmitted infections and diseases program requirements.

HF 4008 (Rep. Huot) A bill for an act relating to education; requiring cardiac emergency response plans; appropriating money.

HF4083 (Rep. Youakim) A bill for an act relating to education; clarifying speech and press rights of student journalists in grades 6 through 12.

HF4373 (Rep. Frazier) A bill for an act relating to libraries; prohibiting book banning by public libraries and school libraries; creating a private right of action and providing for attorney general enforcement.

Agenda items may be added or changed.

Notes:
AMENDMENTS: Amendments must be emailed to the committee administrator by 12pm (Noon) Tuesday.

HANDOUTS: Handouts MUST BE IN PDF FORMAT and emailed to the committee administrator before 4p.m., Tuesday. If you are bringing hard copies to the committee, please bring 40 copies and check-in with the committee administrator before distribution.

TESTIFYING: Testimony is limited. The number of testifiers and length of time permitted is at the discretion of the chair, and is subject to change. Remote testimony is available. Written testimony is encouraged and is accounted as official committee record - to be distributed to committee members and public. If you would like to testify or submit written testimony (in PDF format), please email the committee administrator by 4pm, Tuesday.

For any other questions or concerns, please reach out to the Committee Administrator at wilson.lee@house.mn.gov or 651-296-1913.
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