HF519

This legislative bill changes the rules for public schools in Minnesota that want to use American Indian mascots. Under the new bill, a school can request an exemption to use these mascots by writing to all 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations in Minnesota and the Tribal Nations Education Committee before September 1, 2023. If any of these Tribal Nations or the committee opposes the request by December 15, 2023, the exemption is denied. Schools that are denied the exemption must stop using the mascots by September 1, 2026. However, if there is no American Indian Tribe in the same county as the school objecting to the mascot, the school can still use it.