HF2431

HF2431 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota, and Mayo Clinic funding and policy-related changes provided; scholarship and student aid programs modified; student financial aid, institution eligibility, institutional licensure provisions, student loan programs, and institutional grant programs provided; and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF2483

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to fund various Minnesota higher education institutions, including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic. It seeks to improve financial aid programs, support various student assistance initiatives, and enhance institutional eligibility and licensure standards.

Main Provisions

Appropriations and Funding:
- Significant funding is allocated through 2026 and 2027 to institutions for student grants, scholarships, and various educational programs.
- Establishes funds for specific initiatives such as child care grants, work-study, tribal college assistance, and intervention programs for college attendance.
Scholarships and Student Aid:
- Modifications to scholarship programs, including Indian scholarships and emergency assistance for postsecondary students.
- The "North Star Promise" initiative is included to fund scholarships, with additional provisions to manage administrative and promotional costs.
Grant Programs and Institutional Support:
- Creation and refinement of grant programs aimed at improving institutional facilities and student services, such as free course materials and mental health support.
- Grants for students in shortage teaching areas to encourage higher participation in high-need sectors.
Policy Changes:
- Institutions must comply with state and federal accreditation and regulatory requirements, ensuring consistent administrative and financial standards.
- Enhancements need to be made for sexual assault reporting and prevention, including funding for support coordinators.
Innovative Programs and Initiatives:
- New initiatives include the "Hunger-Free Campus" designation, aiming to address food insecurity on campus.
- The introduction of "Inclusive Higher Education" programs supports underrepresented groups in obtaining degrees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Institution Eligibility Requirements:
- Tightens and reorganizes eligibility criteria for state student aid, emphasizing Pell Grant participation.
- New provisions for changing ownership of institutions and their impact on eligibility.
Assigned Family Responsibility Modification:
- Adjusts the percentage of parental contribution responsibility for students, potentially increasing access to financial aid by lowering the familial financial burden.
Establishment of New Grants and Programs:
- Creation of numerous new grant programs requiring institutional matching and cooperative partnerships, particularly targeting food insecurity and student emergency needs.

Relevant Terms

Higher Education
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
University of Minnesota
Mayo Clinic
Student Grants and Scholarships
Hunger-Free Campus
North Star Promise
Indian Scholarships
Institutional Compliance
Sexual Assault Reporting
Food Insecurity
Financial Aid
Pell Grant

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 16, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Higher Education Finance and Policy

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This section pertains to educational benefits for dependents and spouses of public safety officers killed in the line of duty.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "299A.45"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Discusses the American Indian scholarship program.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136A.126"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Refers to tribal college assistance grants.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136A.1796"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Refers to the intervention for college attendance program.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136A.861"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This section addresses the spinal cord and traumatic brain injury grant account in the special revenue fund.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136A.901"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Related to campus sexual assault reporting policies.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136A.15"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Addresses eligibility criteria for social equity applications in the legal cannabis industry.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "342.17"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Relates to workforce development scholarships.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136F.38"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Pertains to the implementation of Z-Degrees aimed at reducing student out-of-pocket costs.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136F.305"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Relates to the Hunger-Free Campus designation.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "135A.137"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Details grants for fostering independence in higher education.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "136A.1241"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Concerns the implementation of sexual assault policies at educational institutions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "135A.15"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines metropolitan counties for the purposes of state education funding.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.121"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Relates to contribution rates for retirement plans in higher education.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "354B.23"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Addresses unemployment insurance aid applicable to educational institutions.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "268.193"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Defines assigned family responsibilities for student aid calculation.",
      "modified": [
        "Changes in percentages for calculating assigned family responsibility."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "136A.101"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Covers tuition waivers at the University of Minnesota Morris.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "137.16"
  }
]