House passes K-12 education finance bill after heated debate over unemployment insurance and literacy rules

The Minnesota House passed House File 2433, a K‑12 education finance bill, by a 93‑41 roll call after extended debate over funding priorities, literacy policy and a provision that would end unemployment insurance eligibility for hourly school workers after the summer of 2028.

Rep. Joakim, sponsor of the bill, told the chamber the measure "reflects a compromise" intended to fund schools while protecting core programs. He said the bill includes a $40,000,000 allocation for the REED Act in the first biennium and keeps the general education formula linked to inflation.

The bill would create a basic supplemental aid (BSA) option to give districts more flexibility over certain earmarked funds, reallocate some library and other funds into broader-use buckets, slow growth in school support personnel aid (SSPA), and capture about $2,000,000 of Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) dollars that otherwise would have reverted to the general fund. It also includes a compensatory revenue task force to review the…