HF 4492 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Read Act modified, early literacy field experiences required for teacher candidates, high school diploma established for veterans, and rulemaking required.

This bill creates a permanent Commanders Task Force to advise Minnesota's governor, legislature, and Department of Veterans Affairs on issues affecting veterans and their families. The task force will be made up of elected leaders from eight specific veteran service organizations operating in Minnesota, including the American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans. Members will meet regularly, elect their own leadership, and serve as a communication bridge between state government and veteran organizations without receiving state compensation. The group will focus on providing recommendations related to veterans' services and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Issues: ✓ Veterans

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Mar 18, 2026 Signed May 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

1st Unofficial Engrossment → 1st Engrossment · 3 edits · May 18, 2026

MINOR

The bill title was updated from '1st Unofficial Engrossment' to '1st Engrossment,' reflecting its official status in the legislative process. The posting date was corrected to May 27, 2026, and the repealed statute reference was standardized to 'H4492-1' for consistency.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was changed from '1st Unofficial Engrossment' to '1st Engrossment,' indicating the document is now the official version.

The posting date was updated from May 17, 2026, to May 27, 2026.

The repealed statute reference was changed from 'ueh4492-1' to 'H4492-1' to remove a likely typo or unofficial prefix.

Introduction → 1st Unofficial Engrossment · 7 edits · May 17, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was updated from its introduction to the first unofficial engrossment, reflecting significant substantive changes to the Read Act and the creation of a new high school diploma provision for veterans. The most critical addition is a new diploma option for veterans who could not complete high school due to military service, which was entirely absent in the introduction. Additionally, the bill expanded literacy screening requirements to include students in grades 4-12 who are not reading at grade level and introduced mandatory early literacy field experiences for future teachers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from focusing primarily on early literacy (K-3) to include screening and intervention for older students (grades 4-12) who are not reading at grade level. It also added a completely new article establishing a high school diploma for veterans.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new high school diploma provision for veterans who were unable to complete high school due to military service, allowing them to receive a diploma based on their knowledge and experience gained during service.

REQUIREMENT

Extended mandatory literacy screening requirements to include students in grades 4 through 12 who are not reading at grade level, ensuring they receive evidence-based interventions.

Established a new requirement for teacher preparation programs to include a supervised early literacy field experience for candidates entering programs in the 2027-2028 school year or later.

Added a requirement for school districts to use school library media centers to complement students' foundational reading skills starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

TIMELINE

Adjusted professional development deadlines, moving the initial training deadline for certain staff to July 1, 2026, and adding a new exemption for educators first enrolled in teacher preparation programs on or after June 1, 2026.

SCOPE

Removed the establishment of the 'Commanders Task Force' to advise on veterans' issues, which was present in the introduction but replaced by the specific high school diploma provision in the engrossment.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Parent' to mean a student's parent or legal guardian within the context of the Read Act amendments.

Floor votes · House May 4, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 27, 2026

Signed into law

Governor's action Approval 05/27/26

executive

May 27, 2026

Introduced

Secretary of State, Filed 05/27/2026

lower

May 27, 2026

Signed into law

Governor approval 05/27/2026

executive

May 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third reading Passed as amended

upper

May 17, 2026

Introduced

Special Order: Amended

upper

May 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill was repassed as amended by the Senate

lower

May 17, 2026

Introduced

Motion to concur with Senate amendments

lower

May 17, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate with amendment

lower

May 5, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

May 5, 2026

Introduced

Received from House

upper

May 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill was passed

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Veterans and Military Affairs Division

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors