1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to higher education; limiting the North Star Promise scholarship's eligibility
1.3 conditions to students enrolled in programs in high-demand industries and
1.4 occupations; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, subdivisions
1.5 2, 10, by adding a subdivision.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, subdivision 2, is amended to
1.8read:
1.9 Subd. 2.Conditions for eligibility.A scholarship may be awarded to an eligible student
1.10who:
1.11 (1) has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the state
1.12aid application;
1.13 (2) has a family adjusted gross income below $80,000;
1.14 (3) is a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or is 17 years of age or over
1.15and has met all requirements for admission as a student to an eligible college or university;
1.16 (4) has not earned a baccalaureate degree at the time the scholarship is awarded;
1.17 (5) is enrolled in at least one credit per fall, spring, or summer semester;
1.18 (6) is enrolled in a program or course of study that applies to a degree, diploma, or
1.19certificate in an eligible program of study under subdivision 2a;
1.20 (7) is not in default, as defined by the office, of any federal or state student educational
1.21loan;
1Section 1.
REVISOR VH/ES 25-0467103/18/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2634
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Bakeberg03/24/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Higher Education Finance and Policy 2.1 (8) is not more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or
2.2enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement or, if the applicant
2.3is more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or enforced
2.4by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, but is complying with a
2.5written payment agreement under section 518A.69 or order for arrearages;
2.6 (9) has not been convicted of or pled nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving
2.7fraud in obtaining federal Title IV funds within the meaning of Code of Federal Regulations,
2.8subtitle B, chapter VI, part 668, subpart C; and
2.9 (10) is meeting satisfactory academic progress as defined in section 136A.101, subdivision
2.1010.
2.11 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.12to read:
2.13 Subd. 2a.Eligible programs of study.(a) Eligibility for the North Star Promise
2.14scholarship program is limited to students pursuing programs of study in industries and
2.15occupations that are in demand in Minnesota.
2.16 (b) The office shall determine in-demand industries and occupations based on employment
2.17data provided by the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The
2.18determination shall be based on the top 20 industries and occupations with the highest
2.19projected employment growth or the highest number of job openings in the state. The office
2.20shall review the list of in-demand industries and occupations at least once every three years.
2.21The office may adjust the list as needed to reflect updated employment data from the
2.22Department of Employment and Economic Development.
2.23 (c) The office shall approve programs of study that lead to employment in in-demand
2.24industries and occupations. The office shall review and update the list of approved programs
2.25at least once every three years to ensure alignment with current labor market data.
2.26 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
2.27 Subd. 10.Report.The commissioner of higher education shall submit a preliminary
2.28report by September 1, 2025, and an annual report beginning February 15, 2026, to the
2.29chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
2.30higher education, on the details of the program, including the:
2.31 (1) the status of the scholarship fund; and
2.32 (2) a list of all currently eligible programs of study under subdivision 2a; and
2Sec. 3.
REVISOR VH/ES 25-0467103/18/25 3.1 (2) (3) North Star Promise participation data aggregated for each eligible institution to
3.2show the:
3.3 (i) number of eligible students who received scholarships in the prior academic year;
3.4 (ii) average and total award amounts;
3.5 (iii) summary demographic data on award recipients;
3.6 (iv) total number of students enrolled in eligible institutions in the prior academic year;
3.7 (v) retention rates of participating students; and
3.8 (vi) number of eligible students who graduated with a degree and, for each eligible
3.9student, the number of consecutive semesters and nonconsecutive semesters attended prior
3.10to graduation; and
3.11 (vii) eligible programs of study under subdivision 2a in which scholarship recipients
3.12were enrolled.
3.13 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
3.14 This act is effective the day following final enactment and applies to scholarship awards
3.15beginning in the fall term of the 2026-2027 academic year.
3Sec. 4.
REVISOR VH/ES 25-0467103/18/25