Bill HF4655, SF4703

Session 2024

Bill Introduced By
Kinsley Keeling
Winona Area Public Schools
House

House Author
Kinsley Keeling

A bill for an act relating to

Bird hatching banned in schools.

Committee Hearing

Path	Committee	Action
1	Environmental and Agriculture Committee	Passed
2	Education Committee	Passed
3	General Legislation Committee	In Committee
4	Health and Human Services Committee	No Action Taken
5	Rules Committee	No Action Taken

Legislative Action

	Action
House	No Action Taken
Senate	No Action Taken
Governor	No Action Taken

Select Amendment

1.1         A bill for an act
1.2         relating to education; banning bird hatching in schools;amending Minnesota
1.3         Statutes 2022, sections 123B.02, by adding a subdivision; 124E.03, by adding a
1.4         subdivision.
1.5         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6         Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 123B.02, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.7         to read:
1.8                        Subd. 25.Bird hatching ban. A school board must prohibit a bird hatching project as
1.9         part of a lesson or experimental study in a class or program, including a community education
1.10       program under section 124D.19, or in any cocurricular activity, or extracurricular activity.

1.11       EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

1.12       Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 124E.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to
1.13       read:
1.14                      Subd. 10.Bird hatching ban. A charter school is subject to and must comply with
1.15       section 123B.02, subdivision 25, as though it were a district.

1.16       EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.

Author
Kinsley Keeling
Winona Area Public Schools
House

Essay

Kinsley Keeling
Model Legislature 2024
HF 4655 Pro-Con Essay
Pro-Con Essay: Bill HF 4655
Bill HF 4655 is trying to ban bird hatching projects in public and charter schools.
By banning bird hatching and supporting this bill, animal cruelty can be prevented
in schools, inaccurate life-cycle education can be reduced and disease transmission
can be avoided. Karen Davis, President of United Poultry Concerns illustrated this
by stating, “hatching projects encourage children to view baby animals as
disposable objects and cute little toys instead of fellow creatures requiring a
lifetime of care and commitment.” While this project may seem like an engaging,
hands-on experience for teachers and students, it can be misleading as the natural
life-cycle of a chicken includes a hen supporting egg through chick development
rather than artificial incubation that is subject to human error. Davis also has
concerns that schools are not equipped or qualified to perform veterinary care
when chicks are sick and/or deformed. Reports have shown sick birds being
flushed down toilets, thrown into dumpsters and released without understanding
how to survive in the wild. Representative Samantha Vang and author of the bill
claims: “What can be a cute and educational project, it can be a serious health risk
to the animals, children, adults, wildlife and livestock.” Many suggest, there are
alternative learning methods available such as live streamed brooder boxes, field
trips to local farms, egg candling demonstrations and charting simulated egg
development.
Passing this bill to ban bird hatching in schools, would limit opportunities for
students living in urban settings to experience the hatching process. Out of 217
surveyed agriculture teachers, 210 respondents hatched eggs in their classroom.
Sarah Bendson, a kindergarten teacher in Verndale, Minnesota also hatches birds
in her classroom every April. She commented on how much her students enjoyed
learning about life cycles through these hands-on hatching experiences. Bendson
went on to explain how all the chickens hatched in her classroom are returned to
the farmer who provided them with the eggs. Supporters of bird hatching in
schools, like Riley Joyor from the Litchfield FFA chapter, argue that incubating
birds in school settings is important for education purposes. Joyor claims that
"...kids are learning where their food comes from and responsibility by taking care
of these animals." Passing this bill would eliminate future opportunities even when
schools are handling bird hatching experiences responsibly.
Pros
https://www.fox9.com/news/mn-lawmakers-consider-classroom-egg-hatching-ban
https://www.upc-online.org/hatching/
180515_classroom_hatching_projects_an_overview.html
Cons
https://www.agweek.com/news/policy/proposed-ban-on-bird-hatching-in-minnesota-
schools-gets-amendment-following-outcry
https://www.fox9.com/news/mn-lawmakers-consider-classroom-egg-hatching-ban

Title	Audience	Status	Created Sort ascending
Vote in Education Committee on HF4655 SF4703	Education Committee	Closed	11/22/2024 - 10:12am
Vote in Environmental and Agriculture Committee on HF4655 SF4703	Environmental and Agriculture Committee	Closed	11/22/2024 - 9:59am
Vote in Environmental and Agriculture Committee on HF4655 SF4703	Environmental and Agriculture Committee	Closed	11/22/2024 - 9:14am