School employee health insurance provided, minimum starting salary for nonlicensed school personnel increased, paraprofessional paid orientation and professional development provided, and money appropriated.

This bill requires Minnesota schools to provide paid orientation and professional development for paraprofessionals, Title I aides, and other instructional support staff, with at least eight hours annually required starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The legislation mandates that schools consult with employee representatives when planning training and establishes a reimbursement system to cover the cost of these training hours through the state commissioner of education. Additionally, the bill updates qualifications for paraprofessionals to include options such as two years of college credits, an associate degree, or passing a state-approved assessment, while also providing temporary funding for test preparation and additional training in fiscal year 2026.