This bill establishes the Student Basic Needs Advisory Council in Minnesota, which will consist of 12 members, including eight non-student representatives and four student representatives from various higher education organizations. The council's primary responsibilities include advising the commissioner on a biennial basic needs assessment, implementing recommendations from previous reports, and identifying best practices to address housing and food insecurity among postsecondary students. The council will also monitor relevant policy changes, propose legislative and policy changes, and perform other advisory tasks as requested by the commissioner. The council is set to expire on June 30, 2033, and will report biennially to the legislature on its findings and recommendations.

Additionally, the bill mandates a biennial basic needs assessment to be conducted by the commissioner, focusing on food and housing insecurity among students at all postsecondary institutions in Minnesota. This assessment will be tailored to specific populations and will include questions adapted from established surveys. The advisory council may assist in the design and implementation of this assessment, and the commissioner is authorized to seek private and federal funding to support the council's activities. The first meeting of the council is required to be convened by January 31, 2026, following the appointment of its members by December 31, 2025.