Unemployment dispute slows education bill in Minnesota House

Democrats claw back education funding bill over end to unemployment benefits for school workers - Austin Daily Herald

By Dana Ferguson The fate of a bill funding public schools is up in the air after Democrats pumped the brakes on it on Wednesday. All DFL members of the House Rules Committee objected to advancing the bill to a floor vote, raising concerns about a provision that would end unemployment insurance benefits for hourly school workers like bus drivers, custodians and classroom paraprofessionals. The coverage for those workers was a key achievement for…

Unemployment dispute slows education bill in Minnesota House

Republicans propose phasing out unemployment benefits insurance for hourly school workers like bus drivers, school lunch workers and teacher aides. Democrats are fighting the plan and voted down a proposal to bring that issue to the House floor in the education finance bill.

Democrats claw back education funding bill over end to unemployment benefits for school workers - Albert Lea Tribune

By Dana Ferguson, Minnesota Public Radio News The fate of a bill funding public schools is up in the air after Democrats pumped the brakes on it on Wednesday. All DFL members of the House Rules Committee objected to advancing the bill to a floor vote, raising concerns about a provision that would end unemployment insurance benefits for hourly school workers like bus drivers, custodians and classroom paraprofessionals. The coverage for those work…

Area lawmakers provide session check-in as budget bills move through process

MANKATO — Health care access for Minnesota’s immigrant community and unemployment insurance for hourly school workers have been just two holdups as lawmakers negotiate health and education budget bills weeks out from the end of the session.

Minnesota lawmakers dispute unemployment insurance mandate for hourly school workers

ST. PAUL — Minnesota lawmakers are arguing over whether to mandate unemployment insurance for hourly school workers. In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill requiring schools to provide unemployment insurance for hourly school workers like bus drivers, nutrition staff and paraprofessionals who are unable to find temporary work in the summer. Legislators at the time appropriated $135 million in state funds to help schools pay for these b…

Minnesota House considers repealing unemployment for hourly school workers in 2029

Just two years after Minnesota became the first state to extend unemployment insurance to school bus drivers, cafeteria workers and teachers’ aids, Democratic legislators are considering eliminating the benefit after summer 2028 to reach a budget deal with Republicans. The…