The proposed bill seeks to improve student financial assistance programs in North Dakota by introducing new subsections and sections that focus on student financial assistance grants, dual-credit tuition scholarships, and the scholars program. Key features of the bill include the creation 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 sets forth eligibility criteria for applicants, including residency requirements and maximum grant and scholarship amounts. Importantly, it prohibits individuals from receiving grants if they are related to those providing matching funds, promoting transparency in the distribution of financial aid.

Additionally, the bill establishes that no scholarship or grant may exceed the total cost of attendance as determined by the institution, considering all financial aid sources. It introduces a supplemental state grant for students with a family income of no more than $80,000, which will be awarded each semester or quarter. The North Dakota scholarship program is also detailed, providing $750 per semester for full-time students and $500 for each quarter or clock-hour term, with specific eligibility requirements such as maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.75. The bill allocates $12,200,000 for supplemental student financial assistance grants for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, and mandates the state board of higher education to monitor compliance and report on the effectiveness of these initiatives.

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