HF 60 modifies Minnesota teacher licensure requirements by adding dyslexia training as a mandatory component for license renewal. The bill requires all licensed teachers renewing their licenses under sections 122A.181-122A.184 to complete two hours of free professional development on dyslexia, covering its effects on reading skills, instructional needs, and related health comorbidities. This training must be provided by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board with input from dyslexia specialists, and teachers must complete it once - either during initial licensure or upon renewal. The requirements apply to all renewing teachers and take effect for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2027. The bill also updates renewal conditions for Tier 1 and Tier 2 licenses to include this dyslexia training.
This bill requires Minnesota state agencies to pay certain interns at least $15 per hour. It applies specifically to interns who qualify for federal Pell Grants based on financial need and are enrolled full-time (nine semester credits or equivalent) in school. The law excludes interns already eligible for unpaid positions under federal labor rules. It defines "state intern" broadly to include those working in executive, legislative, or judicial branch roles. The policy directly affects student interns in state government positions meeting these financial and enrollment criteria.
HF 168 creates an advance homestead credit for qualifying seniors in Minnesota, allowing them to receive 50% of their prior year's homestead tax refund upfront. Seniors who already qualified for the standard homestead credit can apply for this advance, which is applied directly to their first-half property tax payment each year. The state reimburses counties and school districts for the tax reductions by October 31 (for non-school districts) or through the Department of Education (for school districts). This policy, effective for 2027 property taxes, aims to ease annual tax burdens for eligible seniors by providing earlier access to their refund amount.
HF 32 prohibits Minnesota health insurance companies from requiring co-payments for mental health services provided to children under 18. This applies to all standard health plans and includes a specific provision for high-deductible plans, which must limit co-payments to the minimum level needed to maintain tax-advantaged health savings account benefits. The law directly affects children receiving mental health care and their insurers, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for these services. It takes effect January 1, 2026, applying to health plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.
HF 3119 establishes minimum pay standards for Minnesota teachers and certain unlicensed school staff starting July 1, 2026. It sets teacher compensation thresholds at $60,000-$100,000 annually (based on education and experience) and a $25 hourly wage floor for unlicensed staff who regularly interact with students. The bill requires annual inflation adjustments using the Consumer Price Index, beginning in 2030, and creates state aid programs to help school districts cover these costs. School districts, charter schools, and other public education entities directly affected must meet these standards or receive state funding to do so.
HF 2804 modifies Minnesota law to allow grandparents or great-grandparents to seek court-ordered visitation with a minor child. It creates a new process where petitioners must prove they have a "substantial established relationship" with the child, visitation is in the child's best interests, and it won't harm the parent-child relationship. The bill requires courts to consider factors like prior contact and the child's benefit from maintaining the relationship, while prohibiting consideration of time apart between the grandparent and child. This change applies retroactively to cases filed on or after January 1, 2022, and repeals the previous, more restrictive provisions.
HF 2646 converts the "Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota" into the "Age-Friendly Minnesota Council" to coordinate state efforts for older adults. The bill establishes a 15-member council including state agency representatives and public members to address disparities affecting older Minnesotans in greater Minnesota, communities of color, and Indigenous communities. Key provisions require the council to review grants, identify barriers to age-friendly services, promote equity, and make policy recommendations to state agencies and the legislature. The bill also codifies existing grant mechanisms and appropriates funds to support these coordinated efforts across state government, communities, and businesses.
HF 1775 requires Minnesota criminal justice agencies, including courts, prosecutors, and jails, to collect detailed data on every criminal case. This includes defendant demographics (age, race, gender), charges, bail terms, and case outcomes like verdicts or sentences. The collected data must be sent to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which will create a public online dashboard to display the information. The bill also appropriates funds to support this data collection and dashboard development, making criminal justice case data publicly accessible.
HF 3289 modifies Minnesota's wetland replacement requirements by changing the ratio for agricultural land. It specifies a 1:1 replacement ratio (one acre restored for each acre drained) for wetlands on agricultural land or in areas over 80% agricultural, down from the previous 2:1 ratio required for nonagricultural land. This directly affects developers, farmers, and landowners seeking permits to drain or fill wetlands in agricultural zones. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 103G.222 and 103G.2243 to establish this new standard, clarifying that restored wetlands from previously drained areas may be used for replacement. The change aims to streamline requirements for agricultural land while maintaining wetland protection principles.
This bill grants drivers for transportation network companies, such as rideshare services, the right to form labor unions and negotiate collective bargaining agreements. It directly affects drivers working for large companies that meet specific ride volume thresholds and establishes a new legal framework for these negotiations. Key provisions include defining who qualifies as an active driver, setting rules to prevent companies from creating their own driver groups, and designating state agencies to oversee the certification of unions and handle disputes. The legislation also creates a new chapter in the state statutes to regulate these relationships and authorizes the state to impose fines for violations.
This bill expands Minnesota's Safe Schools revenue program to include charter schools, cooperative units, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools, which currently receive funding only through school districts. Starting in fiscal year 2027, eligible schools will receive aid calculated at a rate of $36 per adjusted pupil unit to support specific safety initiatives. The funds must be used for designated purposes such as hiring school safety liaisons, implementing drug and gang prevention programs, enhancing physical security, providing licensed mental health support, and upgrading cybersecurity. The legislation also clarifies how school districts within cooperative units can contribute to these safety efforts and sets reporting requirements for nonpublic schools to receive the new aid.
This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $2,300,000 in state bonds to fund the rehabilitation of the Gateway State Trail. The funds will be used by the commissioner of natural resources to construct and equip improvements on trail sections located in the cities of St. Paul, Maplewood, North St. Paul, and Oakdale. The legislation directs the commissioner of management and budget to sell the bonds and transfer the proceeds to the natural resources commissioner for these specific trail upgrades. This measure takes effect the day after it is officially enacted.
