From Rebecca Delahunt, Director of Public Policy & Renee Carlson, General Counsel, True North Legal
We wanted to share key updates with you on three legislative matters that have been progressing at our state Capitol in the last few weeks. It is a privilege to fight for your values in public policy every day during legislative session.
Homeschooling Targetedd
Last Thursday, the Senate adopted a troubling amendment to the Education Policy Omnibus Bill (SF 1740) that would redefine homeschooling and disqualify certain Minnesotans from educating their children at home.
This amendment bans parents—and even entire households—from homeschooling if anyone in the home has ever been convicted of a felony, gross misdemeanor, or certain misdemeanors under MN Statute 245C.15, subd. 1. Although this section includes serious crimes, the amendment targets parents who have served their sentences and have been awarded custody again. No opportunity was given for public testimony—this language was added directly on the Senate floor, bypassing committee hearings and silencing Minnesota families.
Why This Matters
If this amendment became law, children would lose the right to homeschool if someone else in the home has a past conviction.
Current law is clear: parents who have committed serious crimes and lost custodial rights already cannot homeschool their children
The vague language leaves serious questions about enforcement and feasibility.
No specific data has been offered to justify claims that abusive parents are using homeschooling to hide abuse.
The amendment disregards current legal safeguards that already protect children and determine parental custody.
Homeschooling families would be penalized without due process, despite existing legal protections and consequences for criminal behavior.
No state requires blanket background checks for all homeschoolers. This amendment could impact shared educational models like co-ops, microschools, and multi-generational teaching—hurting the very flexibility that allows homeschooling to thrive.
Take Action
This amendment is not about protecting kids, it’s about targeting homeschool families. If the state truly wants to help children succeed, it should expand—not restrict—learning options that are working for families.
Note: if you used our system to take action earlier this week, you will not be able to send another message.
Child Tax Credit
Minnesota Family Council supports the legislative efforts of H.F. 2339 / S.F. 2508 to extend the phaseout threshold for the child tax credit in Minnesota. With authorship from members of both parties, these bills expand the phaseout threshold for Minnesota's child tax credit by 20 percent for all filers. It has been calculated that more than 200,000 additional children of Minnesota families will qualify for this credit, should the phaseout threshold be extended.
Minnesota families are facing years of high inflation and fluctuating markets. Current economic factors could make couples unsure of having children at all. Tax relief for Minnesotans who are raising the next generation is good public policy for the state of Minnesota.
Vaccine Exemptions Targeted
Legislative bills H.F. 3239 / S.F. 3439 would eliminate the state's conscientious exemption for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The bills were introduced on April 24th and 25th, respectively, after the legislature's committee hearing deadlines. Current state law, Minnesota statute 121A.15, subdivision 3, outlines medical and conscientious exemptions from immunization requirements.
These bills dictate that the statutory conscientious objection would not apply to immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) for children enrolling or enrolled in a childcare facility, certified license-exempt childcare center, preschool, prekindergarten program, or elementary or secondary school. These schooling lists also include nonpublic schools and home school.
While neither of these bills have received a hearing, reports are circulating that proponents could attempt to insert these bills as amendments into existing bills which are moving through the legislature. Minnesota Family Council supports the statutory conscientious objection of this vaccine and will oppose legislative efforts to limit parental rights to choose whether their children will get the MMR vaccine.
