Session Update: Bill Restricting Peacetime Governor's Authority Over Schools Clears Senate

Coming just one day after Governor Walz announced that public middle and high schools can begin planning to reopen for in-person instruction, the Senate passed a bill to remove the governor’s authority to restrict schools during a peacetime emergency. The measure, SF 2, passed on a vote of 40-27 Thursday, February 28.

Senator Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, the bill’s author, said the measure places the decision-making at the local level and is necessary to prevent lengthy statewide school closures in the future. “The damage from keeping our kids locked out of schools by a governor fiat has been incredibly dangerous to our children, our families, our economy. It is essential that these important decisions rest with those who are most affected, those closest to the situation who know the issues the best,” she said.

Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent said the bill is not a serious proposal, because it is not supported by a number of organizations. “This is not about opening schools. This is not about keeping kids safe. This is not about working together to solve a historic problem… This is about trying to score political points against the governor,” she argued.