Minnesota Lawmakers Seek Reversal of Special Education Cuts

Last updated: April 22, 2026

A bill introduced by Rep. Ben Bakeberg aims to repeal a 2025 law that mandates $250 million in automatic special education cuts by October 2026. The bill advanced unanimously in the House Education Finance Committee on April 14 and would extend the Blue Ribbon Commission’s timeline.

TL;DR

A bill aims to repeal a 2025 law mandating $250 million in special education cuts.
The Blue Ribbon Commission needs more time to find alternative solutions.
The bill advanced unanimously in the House Education Finance Committee.
School districts warn that the cuts will affect every student's access to programming and resources.

Background

The 2025 law established a Blue Ribbon Commission to find $250 million in special education cuts by October 2026, with reductions set to take effect in July 2027. However, the commission says it needs more time to complete its work.

MN lawmakers seek reversal of special education cuts. What does this mean for students and families? #specialeducation #educationpolicy Tweet Now Follow Learning Success

Impact on Schools

School districts warn that the cuts will affect every student’s access to programming and resources. Hollee Saville, vice chair of the St. Michael-Albertville School Board, testified that her son, who received early childhood special education, is now a high school honor roll student enrolled in college classes.

Author Quote "

Quote: ‘Taking away resources from a group of our most vulnerable students is not how we move this state forward into full inclusion.’ Attribution: Rep. Kim Hicks, DFL-Rochester

Not applicable - no significant bias identified

Legislative Response

Rep. Kim Hicks, DFL-Rochester, co-presented the bill with Rep. Ben Bakeberg, stating that taking away resources from vulnerable students is not how to move the state forward. Committee Co-Chair Rep. Cheryl Youakim, DFL-Hopkins, called the bill a ‘message statement’ to signal disapproval of the original mandated cuts.

Key Takeaways:

Special Education Cuts: A 2025 law mandates $250 million in automatic special education cuts by October 2026.
Blue Ribbon Commission: The commission needs more time to complete its work and find alternative solutions.
Legislative Response: A bill introduced by Rep. Ben Bakeberg aims to repeal the law and extend the commission's timeline.

Next Steps

The bill will proceed to the House Ways and Means Committee. If passed, it would eliminate the automatic deduction beginning in the 2028-2029 biennium and instead have the Legislature identify enacted provisions recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission.

As the state faces a projected budget deficit, lawmakers must balance the need for fiscal responsibility with the need to support vulnerable students. The Learning Success All Access Program offers a free trial that includes a personalized Action Plan, which can help parents and educators develop targeted strategies to support students with special needs.