Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF2090 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to higher education; increasing the default living and miscellaneous
3	3	1.3 expenses allowance for the state grant program; establishing a new State Grant
4	4	1.4 Plus scholarship to supplement state grant awards; creating grant programs within
5	5	1.5 the Office of Higher Education; creating working groups; requiring reports;
6	6	1.6 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 136A.121,
7	7	1.7 subdivision 6; 136A.1465, subdivision 5; proposing coding for new law in
8	8	1.8 Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.
9	9	1.9BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
10	10	1.10 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.121, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
11	11	1.11 Subd. 6.Cost of attendance.(a) The recognized cost of attendance consists of: (1) an
12	12	1.12allowance specified in law for living and miscellaneous expenses, and (2) an allowance for
13	13	1.13tuition and fees equal to the lesser of the average tuition and fees charged by the institution,
14	14	1.14or a tuition and fee maximum if one is established in law. If no living and miscellaneous
15	15	1.15expense allowance is established in law, the allowance is equal to 115 121 percent of the
16	16	1.16federal poverty guidelines for a one person household in Minnesota for nine months. If no
17	17	1.17tuition and fee maximum is established in law, the allowance for tuition and fees is equal
18	18	1.18to the lesser of: (1) the average tuition and fees charged by the institution, and (2) for
19	19	1.19two-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and fees charged at a public
20	20	1.20two-year institution, or for four-year programs, an amount equal to the highest tuition and
21	21	1.21fees charged at a public university.
22	22	1.22 (b) For a student registering for less than full time, the office shall prorate the cost of
23	23	1.23attendance using the ratio of the number of credits the student is enrolled in to the number
24	24	1.24of credits for full-time enrollment.
25	25	1Section 1.
26	26	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25
27	27	State of Minnesota
28	28	This Document can be made available
29	29	in alternative formats upon request
30	30	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
31	31	H. F. No. 2090
32	32	NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
33	33	Authored by Frazier03/10/2025
34	34	The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Higher Education Finance and Policy 2.1 (c) The recognized cost of attendance for a student who is confined to a Minnesota
35	35	2.2correctional institution shall consist of the tuition and fee component in paragraph (a), with
36	36	2.3no allowance for living and miscellaneous expenses.
37	37	2.4 (d) For the purpose of this subdivision, "fees" include only those fees that are mandatory
38	38	2.5and charged to full-time resident students attending the institution. Fees do not include
39	39	2.6charges for tools, equipment, computers, or other similar materials where the student retains
40	40	2.7ownership. Fees include charges for these materials if the institution retains ownership. Fees
41	41	2.8do not include optional or punitive fees.
42	42	2.9 Sec. 2. [136A.1212] STATE GRANT PLUS SCHOLARSHIP.
43	43	2.10 Subdivision 1.Establishment.A scholarship program, known as the State Grant Plus
44	44	2.11scholarship, is established for students eligible under this section. The commissioner shall
45	45	2.12administer this program and may establish guidelines and procedures necessary for the
46	46	2.13program's implementation.
47	47	2.14 Subd. 2.Eligibility.In an academic term, a student is eligible for a scholarship under
48	48	2.15this section if the student:
49	49	2.16 (1) is eligible for and receives a state grant award under section 136A.121 for the same
50	50	2.17academic term;
51	51	2.18 (2) is enrolled in at least one credit at a Minnesota public, Tribal, or private nonprofit
52	52	2.19postsecondary institution that is an eligible institution under section 136A.101, subdivision
53	53	2.204; and
54	54	2.21 (3) is not eligible to receive a North Star Promise scholarship under section 136A.1465.
55	55	2.22 Subd. 3.Award amount.(a) The amount of an eligible student's scholarship award
56	56	2.23under this section is 25 percent of the amount of the student's state grant award under section
57	57	2.24136A.121.
58	58	2.25 (b) If the commissioner determines that the amount appropriated for scholarships under
59	59	2.26this section is insufficient to make full awards to all eligible students, the percentage under
60	60	2.27paragraph (a) may be uniformly reduced.
61	61	2.28 (c) The commissioner must fully allocate the entire appropriation for scholarships under
62	62	2.29this section. If the commissioner determines that the amount appropriated is more than
63	63	2.30sufficient to make full awards to all eligible students, the percentage under paragraph (a)
64	64	2.31may be uniformly increased. The increase may be made in either year of the biennium and
65	65	2.32may be made one or more times. In making the determination that there are more than
66	66	2Sec. 2.
67	67	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25 3.1sufficient funds, the office shall balance the need for sufficient resources to meet the projected
68	68	3.2demand for scholarships with the requirement of fully allocating the appropriation for
69	69	3.3scholarships under this section.
70	70	3.4 Subd. 4.Administration; duration of scholarship.(a) The commissioner shall make
71	71	3.5scholarship awards to eligible students who apply for and receive a state grant award under
72	72	3.6section 136A.121.
73	73	3.7 (b) Each scholarship is for a period of one semester. A scholarship may be renewed if
74	74	3.8the eligible student continues to meet the conditions of eligibility.
75	75	3.9 (c) Scholarships may be provided to an eligible student for up to the equivalent of four
76	76	3.10full-time semesters of enrollment for the completion of a certificate or an associate degree
77	77	3.11and up to the equivalent of eight full-time semesters of enrollment for the completion of a
78	78	3.12bachelor's degree.
79	79	3.13 (d) The maximum total time a student is eligible to receive the scholarship under this
80	80	3.14section is a total of eight full-time semesters of enrollment or the equivalent. A semester,
81	81	3.15or equivalent term, in which the student earns a North Star Promise scholarship under section
82	82	3.16136A.1465 counts toward the maximum time for which a student is eligible for a scholarship
83	83	3.17under this section. In addition, the commissioner may determine a time frame by which the
84	84	3.18recipient of a scholarship under this section must complete the degree program for which
85	85	3.19the recipient has received the scholarship.
86	86	3.20 (e) The scholarship must be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is
87	87	3.21enrolled.
88	88	3.22 Subd. 5.Report required.By February 15 each year, the commissioner must submit a
89	89	3.23report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
90	90	3.24jurisdiction over higher education on the details of the State Grant Plus scholarship, including
91	91	3.25summary data on scholarship awards at each eligible Minnesota postsecondary institution
92	92	3.26showing:
93	93	3.27 (1) the total number of students who received a scholarship in the prior academic year
94	94	3.28and this number as a percentage of the institution's total undergraduate enrollment;
95	95	3.29 (2) average and total scholarship award amounts;
96	96	3.30 (3) relevant demographic data on scholarship recipients, including but not limited to
97	97	3.31race and ethnicity, first generation college student status, and gender; and
98	98	3.32 (4) enrollment, retention, degree completion, and other relevant student outcome data
99	99	3.33on scholarship recipients.
100	100	3Sec. 2.
101	101	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25 4.1 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
102	102	4.2Scholarships under this section shall be awarded beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.
103	103	4.3 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
104	104	4.4 Subd. 5.Duration of scholarship authorized; scholarship paid to institution.(a)
105	105	4.5Each scholarship is for a period of one semester. A scholarship may be renewed provided
106	106	4.6that the eligible student continues to meet the conditions of eligibility.
107	107	4.7 (b) Scholarships may be provided to an eligible student pursuing the completion of a
108	108	4.8certificate or an associate degree who has not previously received the scholarship for four
109	109	4.9full-time semesters or the equivalent. Scholarships may be provided to an eligible student
110	110	4.10pursuing the completion of a bachelor's degree who has not previously received the
111	111	4.11scholarship for eight full-time semesters or the equivalent. The maximum for which a student
112	112	4.12is eligible is a total of eight full-time semesters or the equivalent. A semester, or equivalent
113	113	4.13term, in which the student earns a State Grant Plus scholarship under section 136A.1212
114	114	4.14counts toward the maximum for which a student is eligible for a scholarship under this
115	115	4.15section. Courses taken that qualify as developmental education or below college-level shall
116	116	4.16be excluded from the limit.
117	117	4.17 (c) A student is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility
118	118	4.18if the student withdraws from enrollment:
119	119	4.19 (1) for active military service because the student was ordered to active military service
120	120	4.20as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5b or 5c;
121	121	4.21 (2) for a serious health condition, while under the care of a medical professional, that
122	122	4.22substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term; or
123	123	4.23 (3) while providing care that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the
124	124	4.24term to the student's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.
125	125	4.25 (d) The scholarship must be paid directly to the eligible institution where the student is
126	126	4.26enrolled.
127	127	4.27 Sec. 4. APPROPRIATION; FAFSA COMPLETION GRANTS.
128	128	4.28 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
129	129	4.29general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for competitive grants
130	130	4.30to nonprofit organizations to increase the percentage of Minnesota's high school seniors
131	131	4.31completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a onetime
132	132	4.32appropriation.
133	133	4Sec. 4.
134	134	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25 5.1 (b) No later than December 15, 2026, and no later than December 15, 2027, the
135	135	5.2commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
136	136	5.3committees and divisions with jurisdiction over higher education and E-12 education on
137	137	5.4grants awarded by this appropriation. The report must include the applicants receiving grants
138	138	5.5under this section, the amount of each grant, and the purposes for which the grant funds
139	139	5.6were used. The report must also include any relevant findings, results, and outcomes of the
140	140	5.7grant program, the program's impact on the FAFSA completion goal under Minnesota
141	141	5.8Statutes, section 136A.096, and other information which the commissioner deems significant
142	142	5.9or useful.
143	143	5.10 Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION; COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO INCREASE PELL
144	144	5.11GRANT ELIGIBLE STUDENT RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES.
145	145	5.12 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
146	146	5.13general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for competitive matching
147	147	5.14grants to eligible institutions under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.101, subdivision 4,
148	148	5.15to increase retention and graduation rates of federal Pell grant eligible students. This is a
149	149	5.16onetime appropriation.
150	150	5.17 (b) In awarding grants under paragraph (a), the commissioner shall give preference to
151	151	5.18applications from institutions with the highest rates of federal Pell grant eligible students
152	152	5.19enrolled, and shall prioritize applications providing faculty and student support staff with
153	153	5.20professional development opportunities centered on culturally validating pedagogy and
154	154	5.21leadership.
155	155	5.22 (c) No later than December 15, 2026, and no later than December 15, 2027, the
156	156	5.23commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
157	157	5.24committees and divisions with jurisdiction over higher education and E-12 education on
158	158	5.25grants awarded by this appropriation. The report must include the institutions receiving
159	159	5.26grants under this section, the amount of each grant, and the purposes for which the grant
160	160	5.27funds were used. The report must also include any relevant findings, results, and outcomes
161	161	5.28of the grant program, the program's impact on the retention and graduation rates of federal
162	162	5.29Pell grant eligible students, and other information that the commissioner deems significant
163	163	5.30or useful.
164	164	5Sec. 5.
165	165	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25 6.1 Sec. 6. APPROPRIATION; MULTILINGUAL AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT
166	166	6.2COMMUNICA TIONS AND MATERIALS.
167	167	6.3 $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
168	168	6.4fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to increase access to the office's
169	169	6.5communications, materials, and other resources by non-English-speaking people in
170	170	6.6accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 15.441, and to create or expand the office's
171	171	6.7culturally relevant communications, materials, and other resources for diverse populations
172	172	6.8in the state. This is a onetime appropriation.
173	173	6.9 Sec. 7. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA EDUCATION EQUITY PARTNERSHIP.
174	174	6.10 $90,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $90,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
175	175	6.11general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for the Minnesota
176	176	6.12Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP).
177	177	6.13 Sec. 8. APPROPRIATION; WORKING GROUP ON HIGHER EDUCATION
178	178	6.14FINANCIAL STABILITY.
179	179	6.15 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
180	180	6.16of the Office of Higher Education to establish a working group to make recommendations
181	181	6.17to the legislature regarding comprehensive, long-term strategies for sustainable and successful
182	182	6.18state funding of higher education financial aid programs and public postsecondary institutions
183	183	6.19in Minnesota.
184	184	6.20 (b) The working group shall consist of: the commissioner of the Office of Higher
185	185	6.21Education or a designee; the executive director of the P-20 education partnership or a
186	186	6.22designee; student representatives nominated by the Student Advisory Council under
187	187	6.23Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.031; the executive director of the Minnesota Education
188	188	6.24Equity Partnership (MnEEP) or a designee; the president of the Minnesota Private College
189	189	6.25Council or a designee; the chancellor of the Minnesota State College and Universities system
190	190	6.26or a designee; the president of the University of Minnesota or a designee; a representative
191	191	6.27selected by the Tribal Nations Education Committee; and any other P-20 partnership members
192	192	6.28the commissioner considers relevant for the working group.
193	193	6.29 (c) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education shall convene the first meeting
194	194	6.30of the working group by July 1, 2025. The members of the working group shall elect one
195	195	6.31member to serve as chair. The working group shall meet with a frequency sufficient to
196	196	6.32complete the report required under paragraph (d).
197	197	6Sec. 8.
198	198	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25 7.1 (d) By July 1, 2026, the working group must report to the chairs and ranking minority
199	199	7.2members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over higher education
200	200	7.3with recommendations for how the legislature can best provide stable, sustainable financing
201	201	7.4of state higher education programs and institutions for the foreseeable future. The working
202	202	7.5group expires upon completion of the report.
203	203	7.6 Sec. 9. APPROPRIATION; P-20 EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WORKING GROUP
204	204	7.7ON HIGHER EDUCATION ATTAINMENT GOAL.
205	205	7.8 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
206	206	7.9of the Office of Higher Education for the P-20 education partnership to establish a working
207	207	7.10group to recommend updates to the legislature regarding the state's higher education
208	208	7.11attainment goal under Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.012.
209	209	7.12 (b) The working group shall consist of: the commissioner of the Office of Higher
210	210	7.13Education or a designee; the executive director of the P-20 education partnership or a
211	211	7.14designee; student representatives nominated by the Student Advisory Council under
212	212	7.15Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.031; the executive director of the Minnesota Education
213	213	7.16Equity Partnership (MnEEP) or a designee; the president of the Minnesota Private College
214	214	7.17Council or a designee; the chancellor of the Minnesota State College and Universities system
215	215	7.18or a designee; the president of the University of Minnesota or a designee; a representative
216	216	7.19selected by the Tribal Nations Education Committee; and any other P-20 partnership members
217	217	7.20the commissioner considers relevant for the working group.
218	218	7.21 (c) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education shall convene the first meeting
219	219	7.22of the working group by August 15, 2025. The members of the working group shall elect
220	220	7.23one member to serve as chair. The working group shall meet with a frequency sufficient to
221	221	7.24complete the report required under paragraph (d).
222	222	7.25 (d) By January 15, 2026, the working group must report to the chairs and ranking minority
223	223	7.26members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over higher education
224	224	7.27with recommendations for updating the state's higher education attainment goal under
225	225	7.28Minnesota Statutes, section 135A.012. The working group expires upon completion of the
226	226	7.29report.
227	227	7.30 Sec. 10. APPROPRIATION; STATE GRANT PLUS SCHOLARSHIP.
228	228	7.31 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the
229	229	7.32general fund to the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education for the State Grant Plus
230	230	7.33scholarship program under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1212.
231	231	7Sec. 10.
232	232	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25 8.1 (b) The base for this appropriation for fiscal year 2028 and later is $......., plus an
233	233	8.2additional percentage of that amount equal to the annual percentage increase, if any, in the
234	234	8.3resident undergraduate tuition and fees charged at the Minnesota public postsecondary
235	235	8.4institution with the highest resident undergraduate tuition and fees among all Minnesota
236	236	8.5public postsecondary institutions.
237	237	8Sec. 10.
238	238	REVISOR VH/KR 25-0294202/25/25