HF1827 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Service animal support allowed in schools.
Related bill: SF256
AI Generated Summary
The bill, H.F. No. 1827, proposes to establish provisions in Minnesota Statutes chapter 125A to ensure that students with disabilities have the right to access and use service animals in schools. Key components of the bill include:
Student Rights: Schools cannot deny a student access to their service animal if it is part of their individualized education program (IEP). The student has the right to make decisions about their service animal in an educational setting.
Definitions:
- Service animal: A trained dog or other animal that assists an individual with a disability.
- Related services: Includes services that support students with disabilities in utilizing service animals.
School Responsibilities:
- School districts must ensure policies allow students to use their service animals, following federal regulations (28 C.F.R. § 35.136).
- If a student has a paraprofessional, they must assist with tasks related to the service animal, such as tethering, providing water, issuing commands, and escorting the student as needed.
- School staff must collaborate with service animal trainers to effectively handle and support the animal.
Service Animal Control:
- The service animal must be under the control of its handler, using a harness, leash, or other tether unless the student’s disability prevents this.
- Schools cannot untether a student’s service animal without parental or student consent (if the student is an adult).
Care and Supervision:
- The school is not responsible for taking care of the service animal (e.g., feeding, grooming, toileting, or veterinary care).
Handler Responsibilities:
- The student with a disability is presumed to be their own service animal handler. The school cannot require a third-party handler.
Policy Updates:
- By August 1, 2025, all schools must update policies to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and allow service animals in school settings.
In summary, this bill strengthens the rights of students with disabilities to use their service animals in school and sets clear responsibilities for school districts to support this access while maintaining compliance with federal law.
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 03, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Education Policy |
| March 05, 2025 | House | Floor | Action | Authors added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicit clarification that service animals are a related service."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill ensures that service animal support is recognized as a related service in individualized education programs under section 125A.08.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "125A.08",
"subdivision": ""
}
]