Grant program to include firearms safety, trap shooting, archery, hunting, and angling in school physical education courses established; and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Davis and 3 co-sponsors

Establishes a state grant program to integrate firearms safety, trap shooting, archery, hunting, and fishing into Minnesota K-12 physical education curricula.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Policy

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Purpose and Intent

HF 3539 proposes establishing a grant program to integrate firearms safety, trap shooting, archery, hunting, and angling into school physical education (PE) courses. The bill sets out the framework for funding and implementing these activities within K-12 schools, aiming to expand opportunities related to outdoor sports and firearms safety as part of PE curricula. The measure was introduced and referred to the Education Policy committee on February 19, 2026. The listed sponsors include Representatives Mike Wiener, Drew Roach, Jimmy Gordon, and Ben Davis.

Key Provisions

Grant Program Creation: Establishes a state grant program to support incorporating outdoor sports and firearm safety activities into school PE classes.

Covered Activities:

Firearms safety education
Trap shooting
Archery
Hunting
Angling (fishing)

Curriculum Integration: Grants would presumably be used to develop, pilot, or expand PE lessons that include the above activities, aligning with school standards and safety guidelines.

Funding and Administration: The bill designates that money would be appropriated to support the program (specific funding amounts, grant terms, eligibility criteria, and administrative responsibilities would be defined in the bill’s text or through implementing rules).

Targeted Use: Aimed at K-12 schools within Minnesota; potential recipients likely include school districts, charter schools, or other approved educational entities, subject to program rules.

Who Is Affected

Students: K-12 students in Minnesota would gain access to PE modules that incorporate firearms safety and outdoor sports.

Schools and Districts: School districts, charter schools, and possibly other eligible entities would be eligible to apply for grants to implement or expand these activities within PE.

Educators and Programs: Physical education teachers and program coordinators could receive training or resources funded by the grants to deliver these activities safely and effectively.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Intro and Referral: Introduced and referred to the Education Policy committee on February 19, 2026.

Next Steps: The bill would move through committee discussion, potential amendments, and floor action. If advanced, it would require approval by the Minnesota Legislature and signature by the governor to become law.

Implementation Timeline: Specific timelines (grant cycles, year-by-year implementation, and application deadlines) would be defined in the bill’s provisions and any accompanying fiscal notes or administrative rules.

Notes

The summary reflects the information available from the bill’s title and action history. Detailed elements such as funding levels, eligibility criteria, grant duration, reporting requirements, safety protocols, teacher training, and alignment with state education standards would be specified in the full text of HF 3539 and any fiscal/descriptive documents accompanying the bill.

The policy area intersects education programming with outdoor sports and firearm safety, raising considerations around safety training, community impact, and equipment/facility availability within schools.

Bill