This bill proposes the elimination of the North Star Promise scholarship program and reallocates its unencumbered funds to the state grant program. It amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, specifically sections 136A.053 and 136A.84, while repealing section 136A.1465, which pertains to the North Star Promise. The amendments include the requirement for the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education to report annually on various metrics related to student aid programs, excluding the North Star Promise, and to provide information about eligibility for financial aid based on FAFSA and state financial aid application completion.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that any unencumbered balance in the North Star Promise special revenue fund account will be transferred to the general fund and appropriated to the state grant program for fiscal year 2026. The effective date for these changes is set for March 1, 2026, for the reporting requirements, while the provisions regarding the transfer of funds and the repeal of the North Star Promise will take effect the day following final enactment, impacting scholarship awards starting in the fall 2025 term.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 136A.053, 136A.84, 136A.1465