Minnesota House repasses bill amending REACH Act to add literacy, disability-access and veterans diploma provisions

The Minnesota House on a 134-0 vote repassed House File 4492 as amended by the Senate, adopting technical changes to the REACH Act, adding disability-access language and requirements intended to bolster early-literacy training for teacher candidates, and including a provision to grant high-school diplomas to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars who missed diplomas because of their service.

Representative Mueller, speaking in support of the motion, said the measure packages several REACH Act provisions and technical fixes and emphasized changes intended to improve accessibility. “The most important changes are some of the disability access language that will help make the REACH Act more available and accessible and usable for those who are part of the deaf and hard of hearing community,” Representative Mueller said.

Why it matters: Lawmakers said the bill aims to sharpen Minnesota’s literacy law and close gaps in implementation. Representative Clardy described her provision as focused on teacher preparation: “This bill is very important… we want to make sure our teachers when they come out of school are prepared to teach literacy,” she said, explaining the measure would require university teacher-preparation programs to include hands-on, science-based student-teaching in reading instruction.

Representative Jordan framed the package as both a literacy fix and a veterans measure, saying it “refines literacy law, including the REACH Act in Minnesota and provide[s] high school diplomas to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars who did not have the opportunity to receive a high school diploma due to their service.” Jordan also thanked staff and stakeholder negotiators for reaching the agreement.

Procedural notes: Representative Bliss moved that the House concur with the Senate amendments to House File 4492; the motion prevailed and the bill proceeded to third reading as amended by the Senate. The clerk later called the roll, and the clerk announced 134 ayes and 0 nays; the bill was repassed as amended and its title was agreed to.

Next steps and context: Sponsors and supporters said the bill also incorporates language requested by the dyslexia community and provisions to increase transparency around instructional materials review. Representative Mueller noted the Minnesota Department of Education had not completed some phase-two tasks, which had delayed earlier implementation steps; the bill’s changes are intended to address remaining gaps in rollout and teacher preparation. After concluding the business on the floor, Representative Niska moved a recess to call the Speaker and the House stood in recess.

Votes at a glance: Motion to concur with Senate amendments on House File 4492 — mover: Representative Bliss; outcome: approved; announced tally: 134 ayes, 0 nays.