Postsecondary pregnant and parenting students priority registration requirement provision

A bill for an act

relating to higher education; requiring postsecondary institutions to provide priority

registration for pregnant and parenting students; making technical changes;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 135A.1582, subdivisions

1, 2.

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

Section 1.

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 public college or university who

is the parent or legal guardian of or can claim as a dependent a child under the age of 18.

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(c) "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.

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

Regulations, title 34, section 106.2.

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(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.

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(e) "Priority registration" means an opportunity to register for courses before the opening

of general registration for the majority of undergraduate students.

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Sec. 2.

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

college or university.

(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;

(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; and

(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.

(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; and

(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.

(e)
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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.
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A public postsecondary institution must

provide proactive priority registration to pregnant and parenting students. The public

postsecondary institution must:

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(1) automatically assign eligible pregnant and parenting students a registration

appointment time that occurs no later than the earliest general undergraduate registration

period offered by the public postsecondary institution;

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(2) ensure that priority registration is granted without a separate petition, discretionary

approval, or case-by-case determination beyond verification of parenting status;

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(3) provide written and electronic notice to all enrolled students at least once per academic

year describing the rights and protections afforded under this subdivision, including the

availability of priority registration;

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(4) provide direct written and electronic notice to each student who self-identifies or is

verified as a pregnant or parenting student informing the student of the student's eligibility

for priority registration and how to register; and

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(5) publish detailed information regarding parenting student rights, including priority

registration procedures, on the public postsecondary institution's public website and in the

student handbook.

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