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HF 5018

School safety plans enhanced, anonymous threat reporting system established, circumstances when firearms are permitted on school property modified, additional student support personnel aid provided, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kristin Bahner and 11 co-sponsors

Creates a statewide anonymous threat reporting system and evidence-based school safety plans to improve threat reporting, response, and safety across Minnesota schools.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Finance
#appropriations #educationandeducationdepartment #firearmsanddangerousweapons #publicsafetydepartment #safety
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Bill Summary · HF 5018

Summary of HF 5018 (Minnesota, 2025-2026)

HF 5018 proposes a broad set of school-safety enhancements, including stronger crisis planning, an anonymous threat reporting system, changes to firearms on school property, increased funding for student support personnel, and related reporting and administrative provisions. The bill also authorizes an appropriation for additional student support personnel aid in fiscal year 2027.

1) Purpose and intent

  • Improve school safety and threat response through integrated planning, reporting, and support personnel.
  • Establish an official framework for an anonymous threat reporting system (statewide or local) and require schools to implement evidence-based safety plans.
  • Clarify and modify circumstances under which firearms may be on school property.
  • Provide financial support to schools for student support personnel to address safety, mental health, and related needs.
  • Require systematic reporting and accountability for adoption of evidence-based safety practices.

2) Key provisions and changes

A. Crisis management policy and integration with school safety planning

  • Updates to crisis management policy (Sec. 1):
    • Requires a crisis management policy to address violent crisis situations.
    • Policy must include regular drills: at least five lockdown drills, five fire drills, and one tornado drill.
    • Encourages integration with a new, mandatory school safety plan under section 121A.036 where practical.

B. School safety plans (121A.036)

  • Establishes the School Safety Center within the Department of Public Safety.
    • Duties:
    • Develop an evidence-based model school safety plan.
    • Create criteria to determine whether a plan is evidence-based.
    • Compile and publish a report listing districts/charter schools that have adopted evidence-based plans, due to the legislature by December 1, 2028, and every two years thereafter.
    • Functions:
    • Provide consulting to K-12 schools on safety plans.
    • Coordinate with the Education Department's mental health initiatives.
  • Model plan requirements:
    • The Safety Center, in collaboration with the Department of Education, must maintain an evidence-based model plan to prevent human-caused safety incidents.
    • The model plan must be posted no later than September 1, 2026.

  • Definition of “evidence-based” aligned with Section 121A.036 (and updated criteria for evidence quality).

  • Local adoption:

    • By August 1, 2028 (and annually thereafter), districts/charters that have not adopted an evidence-based plan must submit one to the School Safety Center.
    • Nonpublic schools encouraged to develop their own safety plans and consult with the Center.

C. Anonymous threat reporting system (121A.0361)

  • Creation of Anonymous Threat Reporting System requirements:

    • Starting July 1, 2028, districts/charter schools must use the DPS statewide system or implement a local system that meets defined requirements.
    • Local system requirements include:
    • 24/7 anonymous reporting via mobile app and crisis center.
    • Crisis centers staffed by personnel with evidence-based counseling/training.
    • Prompt forwarding of reports to appropriate school-based teams.
    • Coordinated response with 911 and law enforcement when needed.
    • Training and certification of school-based teams to receive reports.
    • Public awareness, education, and ongoing student-violence prevention training.
    • Compliance with data privacy laws (Ch. 13; FERPA).
    • Third-party local systems must provide:
    • Educational website and a toll-free anonymous tips hotline.
    • Districts/charter schools must form a school-based team at each site (minimum three employees) and report system details to the Education Commissioner.
    • Pre-enactment local systems may continue temporarily but can be updated with Center guidance.
    • Nonpublic schools may implement local systems but are not bound by all provisions.

  • Statewide option:

    • If a district does not implement a local system, it must inform stakeholders about DPS’s statewide system (website postings, student handbook inclusion, annual parent notice).

  • DOE role:

    • Publish a list of third-party providers of compliant systems (free or low-cost options) and provide annual reports on adoption status by January 15 of each year beginning 2029.

  • Funding:

    • Allow funding from public/private sources to support the anonymous threat system.

D. Student support personnel aid (Sec. 4)

  • Adjusted formulas for initial and cooperative student support personnel aid (2025-2027 schedules and allowances) to increase funding levels.
  • Cap on fund balance for aid allocations, ensuring funds are used for intended student support personnel purposes.

E. Firearm possession on school property (Sec. 5)

  • Modifies penalties related to possession on school property and clarifies exceptions:
    • General rule: possessing a dangerous weapon on school property is a felony (up to 5 years, $10,000 fine).
    • Replicas/BB guns have separate, lower-tier penalties.
    • New stricter rule for carrying a firearm on school property by those authorized to carry a firearm (misdemeanor, with specific on-site handling/storage requirements).
    • New storage and security standards for firearms when not actively in use (unloaded, locked in a secure container, stored out of sight in a vehicle trunk or secure location).
    • Clarifies “school property” to include school buildings, grounds, school buses, and certain school-event areas (including competitive event venues under SHSL with posted notices).

F. Appropriation for additional student support personnel aid (Sec. 6)

  • An appropriation of an unspecified amount in FY 2027 to fund additional student support personnel aid.

3) Affected entities

  • Minnesota school districts and charter schools (including nonpublic schools encouraged to participate).
  • School boards and administrators responsible for crisis management and safety planning.
  • Students, families, school personnel (through reporting systems and safety trainings).
  • Department of Public Safety (School Safety Center) and Department of Education (policy alignment and reporting).
  • Law enforcement and 911 dispatch centers (visible in coordinated response provisions).
  • Third-party vendors providing anonymous threat reporting systems (if schools contract with external providers).

4) Procedural and timeline highlights

  • Model crisis management policy: updated to align with new school safety planning requirements.
  • School Safety Plans:
    • Model plan posted by DPS no later than 9/1/2026.
    • Evidence-based model plan and criteria development with ongoing updates.
    • Local adoption reporting to DPS starting 8/1/2028, with biannual progress.
  • Anonymous Threat Reporting System:
    • Local implementation required by 7/1/2028 if not using statewide DPS system.
    • Ongoing system requirements, training, and reporting to the Education Commissioner.
    • Annual reporting starting 2029 on adoption status.
  • Firearm-related changes:
    • Penalties, storage rules, and exceptions defined; effective upon enactment or as specified within the bill (section-specific effective dates not explicitly stated beyond general effective dates).
  • Funding:
    • New and adjusted aid formulas for student support personnel, with a FY 2027 appropriation to support increased aid.

If you’d like, I can pull out a one-page brief with bullets for policymakers or a stakeholder-friendly FAQ addressing common questions (e.g., “What changes for gun possession on campus?”, “How does the anonymous threat system work?”, “What funds are available for districts?”).

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

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