House motion to advance HF 3493 to extend safe-school aid to charters, nonpublic and tribal contract schools fails on 67-67 tie
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Summary
A motion to recall House File 3493 — to make safe-school revenue available to charter, nonpublic and tribal contract schools — failed 67-67 after lawmakers debated the lack of an appropriation and a fiscal note. Supporters called the proposal a student-safety measure; opponents urged fiscal vetting.
Representative Lawrence moved on the House floor to recall House File 3493 from the Committee on Education Finance, give it a second reading and place it on the general register; the motion failed on a 67-67 tie.
The bill would extend safe-school revenue — funding that pays for items including licensed counselors, school nurses, security upgrades such as laminated glass and public-address systems, emergency communications and cyber-security measures — to students in charter schools, nonpublic schools and tribal contract schools, lawmakers said.
Representative Lawrence argued the measure closes gaps in current law that leave students who attend those school types without access to safety funding. “It’s the students that are gonna benefit from this aid,” Lawrence said, urging colleagues to “be bold” and vote to put the bill on the general register.
Opponents said the House should not advance the motion before fiscal impacts are known. Representative Frazier, who identified himself as a Ways and Means co-chair, objected to moving the bill without a specified appropriation and without a fiscal note or a Senate companion, and he requested a roll call vote. “There’s a blank appropriation here,” Frazier said, arguing the measure needs vetting in Ways and Means.
Representative Schultz questioned the scope of the bill and pressed for numbers. Lawrence replied with floor estimates for the groups affected — she cited roughly 70,000 students in nonpublic settings and roughly 70,000 in charter schools — which Schultz summarized as about 140,000 students who could be affected. Schultz also referenced the per-student figure discussed on the floor, saying the bill would provide about $36 per nonpublic student.
Other members framed the debate in broader political terms. Representative Altendorf accused Democrats of blocking ideas in committee and referenced comments about a shooter manifesto while urging members to support the safe-schools proposal. Representative Nisgaah called for “political courage” and asked colleagues to “light up the board green,” saying every Minnesota student deserves safety regardless of school choice.
After debate, the House was placed under call and the clerk completed a roll for members participating remotely. The clerk reported a final tally of 67 ayes and 67 nays; the motion therefore did not prevail and House File 3493 was not placed on the general register during this proceeding.
The transcript does not specify an appropriation amount, the complete roll call list, or a legislative next step; proponents and opponents indicated the bill’s fiscal implications and a fiscal note remain unresolved.