Legislative Update

Friends,

We’re coming down the final stretch of session, with about a month left to get meaningful work across the finish line. This week, I had a bill move forward that speaks directly to the challenges our schools are facing right now.

Earlier this week, my bill, HF 4114, passed out of committee. This legislation repeals a mandatory reduction in special education funding that was put in place by Governor Tim Walz and legislative Democrats. You can watch my comments below:

Under current law, schools are being told to prepare for a significant cut to special education funding if projected savings from a state commission don’t materialize. That puts districts in an impossible position. They’re forced to budget around uncertainty, knowing that if the numbers don’t come through, the shortfall lands directly on their classrooms.

HF 4114 puts a stop to that. It removes the automatic cut and ensures these decisions are made through the legislative process. Our districts need stability, not more unpredictability.

On Tuesday, House Republicans held a press conference to roll out a comprehensive school safety plan focused on real concerns we’ve heard directly from superintendents, teachers, students, and parents across Minnesota.

Watch here:

This proposal is built around practical steps that can make an immediate difference. It increases support for school safety across public, nonpublic, and Tribal schools so every student is protected, no matter where they learn. It expands access to student mental health resources, recognizing that early intervention can prevent crises before they happen. It gives schools more flexibility to implement anonymous threat reporting systems and strengthen safety plans in ways that fit their specific needs. And it includes discipline reforms that restore order in the classroom and protect teachers, staff, and students.

These are not controversial ideas. In fact, many of them have had support on both sides in the past.

On Thursday, we brought this plan to the House floor through an urgency motion so we could take immediate action. Every House Democrat voted it down.

I think it’s very clear that we have a mandate from the public to address school safety during this legislative session, and we only have about 30 days to make that a reality.

I take this very seriously as both a legislator and somebody who is in these schools every day.

I have and will continue to have tough conversations because I think that is necessary if we want solve problems. Unfortunately, we are seeing a complete focus from the other side of the aisle on banning guns from everyone, thus limiting the ability of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their family. 

I’m frustrated, and I know many of you are too. We want action to keep our kids safe and have brought forward a package of bills that are focused on a layered approach and chosen based on a clear set of criteria. They need to be effective at solving the problem, they need to contain provisions that are requested by educators and families, they need to respect law abiding citizens, and they need to be able to pass.

Like I said, these aren’t controversial bills. Many have received bipartisan support in the past, and some were authored by Democrats.

Rather than join in a good faith effort to deliver on our promises to the public, Democrats have chosen to focus on messaging bills in an election year. They know these proposals cannot achieve the support needed to pass, and yet that is where their focus remains.

Even if you agree with the sentiment behind those proposals, you have to recognize the reality of the situation. Bipartisanship takes two parties, and right now we are the ones extending our hand.

Just two years ago, Democrats had full control of state government. If they truly wanted to pass these policies, there was nothing stopping them. The truth is, they choose not to pass these bills because they did not have support within their own caucus.

I won’t use the safety of our kids as a political bargaining chip.

With the time we have left this session, I think it’s important to be honest about this behavior.  Regardless, I will continue to act in good faith and pursue solutions that are effective, practical, and capable of getting across the finish line.

We have a responsibility to do so.

Sincerely,

Please Contact Me

Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-5185 or by email at rep.ben.bakeberg@house.mn.gov.

Have a great weekend!