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SF 5218

License processing fee prohibition for a lifetime substitute teaching license application

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Dahms

The bill removes the $57 processing fee for lifetime substitute teaching licenses in Minnesota, while allowing required background study fees to continue.

Referred to Education Policy
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Bill Summary · SF 5218

Summary of SF 5218 (2025-2026) – Minnesota

Bill at a glance

  • Title: License processing fee prohibition for a lifetime substitute teaching license application
  • Jurisdiction: Minnesota
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Status: Introduced and referred to Education Policy (as of 04/27/2026)
  • Sponsor: Senator Dahms (co-sponsor: Gary Dahms)

Purpose and intent

The bill amends Minnesota law to eliminate the processing fee for applications seeking a lifetime qualified substitute teaching license (short-call or long-call). It preserves the requirement for a background study fee (if applicable) and keeps other existing licensure fee provisions largely intact.

Key provisions and changes

  • Current baseline (unchanged except as noted):
    Under existing law, applicants submitting any licensure application to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) must pay a processing fee of $57, with certain administrative rules around refunds, nonrefundable status for applicants who do not qualify, and potential waivers/reductions if applying for multiple licenses simultaneously. Fees are deposited into the state treasury and are handled by the appropriate board.
  • What changes with SF 5218:
    • Prohibition on processing fee for lifetime substitute licenses: The bill prohibits the processing fee for an applicant seeking a lifetime qualified short-call or long-call substitute teaching license.
    • Background study: The board may require payment for any required background study under Minnesota Statutes section 122A.18, subdivision 8 (unchanged by the bill, but still applicable).
  • Effective date: The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • Applicants for lifetime substitute teaching licenses: Directly benefit from the removal of the $57 processing fee.
  • PELSB and the state treasury: Administrative operations continue; the background study and any other applicable fees remain in effect. The policy direction shifts only the processing fee exemption for lifetime substitute licenses.
  • Other licensure applicants: No change to their processing fee requirements or refund rules unless they are applying for multiple licenses (where waivers/reductions may still apply per existing rules).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative posture: Introduced and referred to the Education Policy committee on April 27, 2026.
  • Implementation timeline: If enacted, the bill’s provisions become effective on July 1, 2026.

Practical impact and considerations

  • The cost barrier for teachers seeking a lifetime substitute license is reduced, which could streamline hiring and deployment of long-term substitutes.
  • Districts and educator staffing agencies may experience easier access to substitute pool credentials.
  • The continuation of background study costs ensures regulatory safeguards remain in place while removing the processing fee for this specific license category.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to current law text or simulate potential downstream budgetary impacts based on typical application volumes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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