Senate committee hears bill to restore funding for school counselors, nurses and mental‑health staff

Saint Paul — The Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee on March 18 heard testimony on Senate File 4505, a bill introduced by Senator Muhammad to restore funding for student support personnel in public schools.

Senator Muhammad told the committee that the 2023 Legislature made a “historic commitment” to hire school nurses, social workers, counselors and mental‑health experts but that staffing shortfalls persist. "We know our school systems are thousands of mental‑health professionals short," he said, urging renewed funding to improve student outcomes and safety.

Marcus, a high school counselor at 2 Rivers High School, described the day‑to‑day pressures that leave counselors unable to be proactive. "When student needs are high like they have been this year, my work is more reactive than proactive every day. I have to prioritize," he said, testifying in support of the bill.

Becca Dryden, a parent organizer with Minneapolis Families for Public Schools, said children have endured pandemic disruptions, social unrest and other traumas and "this generation of kids needs mental‑health support." Allison Salzman, another Minneapolis parent, added that school‑based services remove logistical barriers such as transportation, insurance and scheduling that limit access to private care.

Representatives of Education Minnesota and other education groups urged full funding for licensed personnel statewide. Education Minnesota’s witness said strong relationships with school staff and stable housing are key predictors of academic success and called for predictable state support for licensed personnel.

During questions, senators raised distributional concerns. Senator Farnsworth asked whether the bill’s changes primarily affect larger schools, noting that many small schools may see little change under the proposal. Committee staff agreed to follow up with district‑level calculations. A senator offered an A1 amendment to add local flexibility for small districts that cannot recruit licensed staff; sponsors said they would work together on the language.

Committee members thanked the witnesses and laid Senate File 4505 over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill; there was no final floor vote on the bill at this hearing. The measure’s sponsor and supporters said the proposal aims to stabilize access to counselors, nurses and school mental‑health professionals while lawmakers consider broader funding priorities.

The committee is expected to take further action on education funding measures during the session.