Minnesota ballot

Minnesota voters will decide Constitutional Amendment 1, titled "Increasing funding to school districts," which would rewrite article XI, section 8 of the state constitution governing the permanent school fund. The Legislature placed it on the ballot in 2026 Laws of Minnesota, Chapter 114. Under the amendment the fund would be managed as a perpetual resource to provide annual distributions to school districts while preserving its purchasing power, replacing the current rule that only the fund's net interest and dividends are distributed; the accompanying law, which takes effect only if voters approve, sets the yearly distribution at 4.5% of the fund's average value over the prior three fiscal years starting July 1, 2027. Leaving the question blank counts as a no vote.

A yes vote: Article XI, section 8 would be amended so the permanent school fund is invested and managed as a perpetual financial resource designed to provide annual distributions to school districts while preserving the fund's purchasing power, with the distribution policy set by law and reasonable administrative costs payable from the fund. Under 2026 Minn. Laws ch. 114, which takes effect only if the amendment passes, the yearly distribution would be 4.5 percent of the fund's average net asset value over the preceding three fiscal years, beginning July 1, 2027 (fiscal year 2028 aid).

A no vote: Article XI, section 8 stays as it is: the fund is invested to secure the maximum return consistent with its perpetuity, its principal remains perpetual and inviolate, and only the fund's net interest and dividends are distributed to school districts. A blank vote on the question counts as a no.