Student aid reporting requirements modified, additional accommodations for parenting students required, American Indian Scholars program eligibility modified, and reports required.

A bill for an act

relating to higher education; modifying student aid reporting requirements; requiring

additional accommodations for parenting students; modifying American Indian

Scholars program eligibility; requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024,

sections 135A.121, subdivision 2; 136A.053; 136A.091, subdivisions 2, 9;

136A.121, subdivision 2; 136A.1215, subdivision 5; 136A.1241, subdivision 8;

136A.125, subdivision 2; 136A.1274, subdivision 4; 136A.1275, subdivision 4;

136A.1465, subdivision 10; Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section

135A.1582, subdivisions 1, 2, 3; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section

124D.09, subdivision 10a.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 135A.121, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Eligibility.

To be eligible each year for the program a student must:

(1) be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at the

University of Minnesota or a Minnesota state college or university;

(2) be either (i) a
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Minnesota
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resident
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for resident tuition purposes
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student as defined in

section 136A.101, subdivision 8,
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who is an enrolled member or citizen of a federally

recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation, or (ii) an enrolled member or

citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation, regardless of resident tuition status;

(3) have not (i) obtained a baccalaureate degree, or (ii) been enrolled for 12 semesters

or the equivalent, excluding courses taken that qualify as developmental education or below

college-level; and

(4) meet satisfactory academic progress as defined under section
136A.101, subdivision

10.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 135A.1582, subdivision 1, is amended

to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have

the meanings given.

(b) "Parenting student" means a student enrolled at a
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public college or university
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postsecondary institution
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who is the parent or legal guardian of or can claim as a dependent

a child under the age of 18.

(c) "Pregnancy or related conditions" has the meaning given in Code of Federal

Regulations, title 34, section 106.2.

(d) "Postsecondary institution" means an institution governed by the Board of Trustees

of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities or a private postsecondary institution that

offers in-person courses on a campus located in Minnesota and is an eligible institution as

defined in section
136A.103
. Institutions governed by the Board of Regents of the University

of Minnesota are requested to comply with this section.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 135A.1582, subdivision 2, is amended

to read:

Subd. 2.

Rights and protections.

(a) A postsecondary institution may not require and

the University of Minnesota is requested not to require a pregnant or parenting student,

solely because of the student's status as a pregnant or parenting student or due to issues

related to the student's pregnancy or parenting, to:

(1) take a leave of absence or withdraw from the student's degree or certificate program;

(2) limit the student's studies;

(3) participate in an alternative program;

(4) change the student's major, degree, or certificate program; or

(5) refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity, or program at the
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college or university
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postsecondary institution
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.

(b) A postsecondary institution shall provide and the University of Minnesota is requested

to provide reasonable modifications to a pregnant student, including modifications that:

(1) would be provided to a student with a temporary medical condition; or

(2) are related to the health and safety of the student and the student's unborn child, such

as allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from substances, areas, and activities

known to be hazardous to pregnant women or unborn children.

(c) A postsecondary institution must and the University of Minnesota is requested to,

for reasons related to a student's pregnancy, childbirth, or any resulting medical status or

condition:

(1) excuse the student's absence
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for a reasonable period of time as determined to be

medically necessary by a student's treating health care provider insofar as to not compromise

the fundamental outcomes of the academic course, program, or activity. If the postsecondary

institution has a medical leave or temporary disability policy that provides a longer period

of leave, the policy must be made available to students affected by pregnancy and related

conditions
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;

(2) allow the student to make up missed assignments or assessments;

(3) allow the student additional time to complete assignments in the same manner as the

institution allows for a student with a temporary medical condition;
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and
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(4) provide the student with access to instructional materials and video recordings of

lectures for classes for which the student has an excused absence under this section to the

same extent that instructional materials and video recordings of lectures are made available

to any other student with an excused absence
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.
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; and
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(5) ensure the benefits and services provided to students affected by pregnancy are no

less than those provided to students with temporary medical conditions.

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(d) A postsecondary institution must and the University of Minnesota is requested to

allow a pregnant or parenting student to:

(1) take a leave of absence
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; and
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for a reasonable period of time as determined to be

medically necessary by a student's treating health care provider or the health care provider

of the parenting student's child insofar as to not compromise the fundamental outcomes of

the academic course, program, or activity. If the postsecondary institution has a medical

leave or temporary disability policy that provides a longer period of leave, the policy must

be made available to students affected by pregnancy and related conditions and to parenting

students;
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(2) if in good academic standing at the time the student takes a leave of absence, return

to the student's degree or certificate program in good academic standing without being

required to reapply for admission
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.
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; and
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(3) obtain reasonable modifications, including an excused absence for parenting students

to attend to their child's health care needs, unless the modification would compromise the

fundamental outcomes of the academic course, program, or activity.

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(e) If a postsecondary institution provides early registration for courses or programs at

the institution for any group of students, the institution must provide and the University of

Minnesota is requested to provide early registration for those courses or programs for

pregnant or parenting students in the same manner.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 135A.1582, subdivision 3, is amended

to read:

Subd. 3.

Policy on discrimination.

Each postsecondary institution must adopt and the

University of Minnesota is requested to adopt a policy for students on pregnancy and

parenting discrimination. The policy must:

(1) include the contact information of the Title IX coordinator who is the designated

point of contact for a student requesting each protection or modification under this section.

Contact information must include the Title IX coordinator's name, phone number, email,

and office;

(2) be posted in an easily accessible, straightforward format on the
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college or university's
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postsecondary institution's
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website; and

(3) be made available annually to faculty, staff, and employees of the
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college or university
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postsecondary institution
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.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.053, is amended to read:

136A.053 CONSOLIDATED STUDENT AID REPORTING.

(a) The commissioner of the Office of Higher Education shall report annually beginning

February 15, 2026, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees

with jurisdiction over higher education, on the details of programs administered under

sections
136A.091

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to
136A.1276
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,
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136A.121, 136A.1215, 136A.1241, 136A.125, 136A.126,

136A.1274, 136A.1275,
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136A.1465
, and
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136A.231
to
136A.246
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136A.233
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, including the:

(1) total funds appropriated and expended;

(2) total number of students applying for funds;

(3) total number of students receiving funds;

(4) average and total award amounts;

(5) summary demographic data on award recipients;

(6) retention rates of award recipients;

(7) completion rates of award recipients;

(8) average cumulative debt at exit or graduation; and

(9) average time to completion.

(b) Data must be disaggregated by
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aid
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program, institution, aid year, race and ethnicity,

gender,
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income,
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socioeconomic status,
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family type,
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dependency status,
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and any other factors

determined to be relevant by the commissioner
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, as available
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. The commissioner must report

any additional data and outcomes relevant to the evaluation of programs administered under

sections
136A.091
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to
136A.1276
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,
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136A.121, 136A.1215, 136A.1241, 136A.125, 136A.126,

136A.1274, 136A.1275,
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136A.1465
, and
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136A.231
to
136A.246
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136A.233
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as evidenced

by activities funded under each program.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.091, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Eligibility.

To be eligible for a program stipend, a student shall:

(1) be a resident
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of Minnesota
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student under section 136A.101, subdivision 8
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;

(2) attend an eligible office-approved program;

(3) be in grades 3 through 12, but not have completed high school;

(4) meet income requirements for free or reduced-price school meals; and

(5) be 19 years of age or younger.

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.091, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Report.

Annually, the office shall submit a report
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to the legislative committees

with jurisdiction over higher education finance regarding the program providers, stipend

recipients, and program activities. The report shall include information about the students

served, the organizations providing services, program goals and outcomes, and student

outcomes
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in accordance with section 136A.053
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.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.121, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Eligibility for grants.

(a) An applicant is eligible to be considered for a grant,

regardless of the applicant's sex, creed, race, color, national origin, or ancestry, under sections

136A.095
to
136A.131
if the office finds that the applicant:

(1) is a resident
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of the state of Minnesota
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student under section 136A.101, subdivision

8
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;

(2) is a graduate of a secondary school or its equivalent, or is 17 years of age or over,

and has met all requirements for admission as a student to an eligible college or technical

college of choice as defined in sections
136A.095
to
136A.131
;

(3) has met the financial need criteria established in Minnesota Rules;

(4) is not in default, as defined by the office, of any federal or state student educational

loan;

(5) is not more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or

enforced by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement or, if the applicant

is more than 30 days in arrears in court-ordered child support that is collected or enforced

by the public authority responsible for child support enforcement, but is complying with a

written payment agreement under section
518A.69
or order for arrearages; and

(6) has not been convicted of or pled nolo contendere or guilty to a crime involving

fraud in obtaining federal Title IV funds within the meaning of Code of Federal Regulations,

subtitle B, chapter VI, part 668, subpart C.

(b) A student is entitled to an additional semester or the equivalent of grant eligibility

if the student withdraws from enrollment:

(1) for active military service after December 31, 2002, because the student was ordered

to active military service as defined in section
190.05, subdivision 5b
or 5c;

(2) for a serious health condition, while under the care of a medical professional, that

substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term; or

(3) while providing care that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the

term to the student's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1215, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Reporting.

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By February 15 of each year, the commissioner of higher education

must submit a report on the details of the program under this section to the legislative

committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy. The report must

include the following information, broken out by postsecondary institution:

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Annually, the

office must submit a report in accordance with section 135A.053.

new text end

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(1) the number of students receiving an award;

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(2) the average and total award amounts; and

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(3) summary demographic data on award recipients.

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Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1241, subdivision 8, is amended to read:

Subd. 8.

Report.

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(a)
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Annually,
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the office
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shall prepare an anonymized report to be

submitted annually to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the legislative committees

with jurisdiction over higher education that contains:
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new text begin
must submit a report in accordance

with section 136A.053.
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(1) the number of students receiving foster grants and the institutions attended; and

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(2) annual retention and graduation data on students receiving foster grants.

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(b) The report required under this subdivision may be combined with other legislatively

required reporting. If submitted as a separate report, the report must be submitted by January

15.

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Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.125, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Eligible students.

(a) An applicant is eligible for a child care grant if the

applicant:

(1) is a resident
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of the state of Minnesota
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student under section 136A.101, subdivision

8,
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or the applicant's spouse is a resident of the state of Minnesota;

(2) has a child 12 years of age or younger, or 14 years of age or younger who is disabled

as defined in section
125A.02
, and who is receiving or will receive care on a regular basis

from a licensed or legal, nonlicensed caregiver;

(3) is income eligible as determined by the office's policies and rules, but is not a recipient

of assistance from the Minnesota family investment program;

(4) has not received child care grant funds for a period of ten semesters or the equivalent;

(5) is pursuing a nonsectarian program or course of study that applies to an undergraduate,

graduate, or professional degree, diploma, or certificate;

(6) is enrolled in at least one credit in an undergraduate program or one credit in a

graduate or professional program in an eligible institution; and

(7) is in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress.

(b) A student is entitled to an additional semester or equivalent of grant eligibility and

will be considered to be in continuing enrollment status upon return if the student withdraws

from enrollment:

(1) for active military service after December 31, 2002, because the student was ordered

to active military service as defined in section
190.05, subdivision 5b
or 5c;

(2) for a serious health condition, while under the care of a medical professional, that

substantially limits the student's ability to complete the term; or

(3) while providing care that substantially limits the student's ability to complete the

term to the student's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1274, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Reporting.

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By February 15 of each year, the commissioner must submit a

report on the details of the program under this section to the legislative committees with

jurisdiction over E-12 and higher education finance and policy. The report must include the

following information:

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Annually, the office must submit a report in accordance with section

136A.053. Additionally, the report must be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority

members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over E-12 finance and policy.

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(1) the number of eligible applicants and the number of teacher candidates receiving an

award, each broken down by postsecondary institution;

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(2) the total number of awards, the total dollar amount of all awards, and the average

award amount; and

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(3) other summary data identified by the commissioner as outcome indicators.

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Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1275, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Reporting.

deleted text begin

(a) By February 1 of each year, the commissioner must submit a

report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with

jurisdiction over E-12 and higher education finance and policy. The report must include the

following information:

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Annually, the office must submit a report in accordance with section

136A.053. Additionally, the report must include

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(1) the total number of awards, the total dollar amount of all awards, and the average

award amount;

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(2) the number of eligible applicants and the number of student teachers receiving an

award, each broken down by postsecondary institution;

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(3)
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the licensure areas and school districts in which the student teachers taught
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;
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and
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must

be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with

jurisdiction over E-12 finance and policy.
new text end

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(4) other summary data identified by the commissioner as outcome indicators, including

how many student teachers awarded a rural teacher grant were employed in a rural school

district after graduation.

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(b) By July 1 of each odd numbered year, the commissioner must update and post on

the office's website a list of licensure shortage areas eligible for a grant under this section.

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Sec. 14.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Report.

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The commissioner of higher education shall submit a preliminary

report by September 1, 2025, and an annual report beginning February 15, 2026, to the

chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over

higher education, on the details of the program, including the:

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Annually, the office must

submit a report in accordance with section 136A.053.

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(1) status of the scholarship fund; and

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(2) North Star Promise participation data aggregated for each eligible institution to show

the:

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(i) number of eligible students who received scholarships in the prior academic year;

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(ii) average and total award amounts;

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(iii) summary demographic data on award recipients;

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(iv) total number of students enrolled in eligible institutions in the prior academic year;

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(v) retention rates of participating students; and

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(vi) number of eligible students who graduated with a degree and, for each eligible

student, the number of consecutive semesters and nonconsecutive semesters attended prior

to graduation.

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Sec. 15.
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REPEALER.
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Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 124D.09, subdivision 10a,

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is repealed.

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APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-05994

124D.09 POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS ACT.

Subd. 10a.

Statewide concurrent enrollment evaluation.

The Office of Higher Education and the Department of Education shall collaborate in order to provide annual statewide evaluative information on concurrent enrollment programs to the legislature. The commissioners of the Office of Higher Education and the Department of Education, in consultation with stakeholders, including students and parents, must determine what student demographics and outcomes data are appropriate to include in the evaluation, and will use systems available to the office and department to minimize the reporting burden on postsecondary institutions. The commissioners must report by December 1, 2021, and each year thereafter, to the committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over early education through grade 12 and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.