The proposed amendments to Senate Bill No. aim to enhance student financial assistance programs in North Dakota by introducing new subsections and sections related to student financial assistance grants, dual-credit tuition scholarships, and the scholars program. Key features of the bill include the establishment of a skilled workforce student loan repayment program fund and a skilled workforce scholarship fund, both of which will be continuously appropriated to the state board of higher education. The bill outlines eligibility criteria for applicants, such as residency requirements and the necessity to work in high-demand occupations within the state or within fifty miles of its borders. It also introduces provisions for supplemental state grant awards based on family income and sets limits on the total amount of financial aid that can be awarded.

Significant changes include the insertion of language that allows the state board of higher education to issue scholarships and grants that do not exceed the total cost of attendance when considering all financial aid sources. The bill specifies that individuals who provide or direct matching funds, or are closely related to those individuals, are ineligible for scholarships or grants. Additionally, it mandates the state board to provide biennial reports to the legislative management detailing the program's performance. The bill also amends the North Dakota scholarship program, maintaining scholarship amounts for full-time students and introducing provisions for students in registered apprenticeship programs. An appropriation of $2,000,000 is included for supplemental student financial assistance grants for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 15-10-38.1, 15-10-38.2, 15-63-05, 15.1-21-02.6
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Magrum: 15-10-38.1, 15-10-38.2, 15-63-05, 15.1-21-02.6
Adopted by the House Education Committee: 15-10-38.1, 15-10-38.2, 15-63-05, 15.1-21-02.6
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Committee: 15-10-38.1, 15-10-38.2, 15-63-05, 15.1-21-02.6