Committee hears HF2210 to fund summer unemployment for hourly school workers; bill laid over

A Minnesota House committee considered House File 2210, a bill to add one-time state funding and a future local levy option to cover unemployment insurance claims for hourly school employees during summer terms, and laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an education finance package.

Representative Sandra Ream, sponsor of HF2210, told the committee the measure builds on a 2023 change that extended unemployment insurance to hourly school workers and the special revenue fund created to reimburse districts. “The 2023 legislature appropriated $135,000,000 for this purpose,” Ream said, and HF2210 would appropriate $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $70,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 to cover remaining and projected summer costs.

The bill would also authorize school districts to include summer-term unemployment costs in a local unemployment insurance levy beginning in fiscal year 2028. Ream asked the committee to take testimony and said she intended to lay the bill over “for possible education bill” inclusion.

The Minnesota Department of Education urged support for the aid as a stability measure. “This aid is being utilized and…