This bill proposes significant updates to Minnesota's higher education laws, focusing on enhancing protections for students, particularly in the areas of sexual misconduct and support for pregnant and parenting students. It establishes comprehensive grievance procedures for sexual misconduct cases, ensuring impartial investigations and equitable support for all parties involved. The bill also mandates timely reporting of grievance outcomes and prohibits retaliation against participants. Additionally, it introduces new definitions and protections for pregnant and parenting students, emphasizing reasonable accommodations and anti-discrimination policies related to their status.

Furthermore, the legislation establishes a grant program dedicated to research on spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries, with funding allocated equally between the two areas. It broadens the eligibility criteria for grant applicants to include various types of institutions and ensures that appropriated funds remain available until fully utilized. The bill also includes provisions for renumbering certain statutes and repealing outdated laws, streamlining the legislative framework for higher education and related funding initiatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 135A.15, 135A.1582, 136A.246, 136A.87, 136A.901