2026 Minnesota Amendment 1
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November 3, 2026
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| Elections in Minnesota |
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2026 Minnesota Amendment 1 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. If passed, it would increase funding for public schools in Minnesota by amending article XI of the Minnesota Constitution, allowing schools to use more of the permanent school fund annually. Currently, only 2.5% of the fund is used annually. The amendment would raise that amount to 4.5%.[1] It would come into effect on July 1, 2027.[2][3]
A majority of voters must vote 'yes' for the amendment to be passed. A blank vote is counted as a 'no'.[3] The bill was chiefly authored by State Senator Mary Kunesh, a DFLer.[2] In the Minnesota House of Representatives, it was authored by Republican Spencer Igo. In the House, the bill passed unanimously.[4] The bill received opposition in the Minnesota Senate, passing 43-24. Republican Zach Duckworth said he would have liked to see the amendment have more safeguards, and believes its passage is financially unhealthy for the fund in the long term.[5]
The amendment has received support from school boards and educators. Its critics say that since the fund is partially funded by the mining and logging industry, it could allow these industries to expand in the state to the detriment of the environment. Supporters argue that no land use changes are expected.[6] The bill has formal support from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.[7]
The text on the ballot reads: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?"[3]
Polls
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Yes | No | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 State Fair Poll[8] | August 26 – September 6, 2026 | 9605 | 77.7% | 11.7% | 10.5% |
Results
[edit]| Choice | |
|---|---|
| For | |
| Against | |
| Total |
References
[edit]- ↑ "The 2026 Constitutional Amendment: What Cities Need to Know". Minnesota League of Cities. September 1, 2026. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
- 1 2 Jones, Grant (August 2, 2026). "Minnesota school funding amendment headed to November ballot". KTTC. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "2026 Proposed Constitutional Amendment – What You Need to Know". League of Women Voters. September 11, 2026. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
- ↑ Fitzgerald, Kilat (August 28, 2026). "MN constitutional amendment vote: Educators aims to increase Permanent School Fund". FOX 9. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
- ↑ Murphy, Mary (September 21, 2026). "November ballot question: More money for schools without hiking taxes?". Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 23, 2026.
- ↑ Harding, Loretta (September 9, 2026). "Amendment asks voters to boost school funding". White Bear Press. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Information on the Constitutional Amendment 1 - November 2026 Election". Senate District 50 DFL. September 4, 2026. Retrieved September 17, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 State Fair Poll Results" (PDF). Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
