This bill seeks to improve higher education support in Minnesota by revising student aid reporting requirements, enhancing accommodations for parenting students, and modifying eligibility criteria for the American Indian Scholars program. Notably, the bill expands eligibility for the American Indian Scholars program to include students recognized by American Indian tribes or Canadian First Nations, irrespective of their resident tuition status. It also mandates that postsecondary institutions provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant and parenting students, such as excused absences for medical needs and access to instructional materials during those absences.

Additionally, the bill introduces new annual reporting requirements for the Office of Higher Education, which will now focus on various metrics related to student aid programs, including demographic data and retention rates, while replacing previous reporting obligations with a more streamlined framework. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, subdivision 10, by changing the reporting timeline and removing detailed requirements regarding scholarship fund status and North Star Promise participation data. Furthermore, it repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 124D.09, subdivision 10a, which previously required collaboration between the Office of Higher Education and the Department of Education for annual evaluations of concurrent enrollment programs, thereby reducing the reporting obligations for these agencies.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 135A.121, 136A.053, 136A.091, 136A.121, 136A.1215, 136A.1241, 136A.125, 136A.1274, 136A.1275, 136A.1465, 124D.09