SF 1978

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 02/28/2025 10:39 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; providing that undocumented noncitizens are ineligible
for state financial aid programs; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section
136A.1465, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 136A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [136A.099] STATE-FUNDED FINANCIAL AID TO UNDOCUMENTED
NONCITIZENS PROHIBITED.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, noncitizens of the United States who are
undocumented or otherwise not lawfully present in the United States must not receive from
the commissioner any payment, grant, loan, subsidy, or other form of financial aid or
assistance funded by state tax revenue.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and
applies to financial aid awards beginning in the fall term of the 2025-2026 academic year.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 136A.1465, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

The following terms have the meanings given:

(1) "eligible student" means a resident student under section 136A.101, subdivision 8,
new text begin clauses (1) to (8) or (10), new text end who is enrolled in any public postsecondary educational institution
or Tribal college and who meets the eligibility requirements in subdivision 2;

(2) "gift aid" includes:

(i) all federal financial aid that is not a loan or pursuant to a work-study program;

(ii) state financial aid, unless designated for other expenses, that is not a loan or pursuant
to a work-study program;

(iii) institutional financial aid, including a grant, scholarship, tuition waiver, fellowship
stipend, or other payment, unless designated for other expenses, that is not a loan or pursuant
to a work-study program; and

(iv) all private financial aid that is not a loan or pursuant to a work-study program.

Financial aid from the state, public postsecondary educational institutions, and Tribal colleges
that is specifically designated for other expenses is not gift aid for purposes of the North
Star Promise scholarship.

(3) "other expenses" includes books, required supplies, child care, emergency assistance,
food, and housing;

(4) "public postsecondary educational institution" means an institution operated by this
state, or the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota;

(5) "recognized cost of attendance" has the meaning given in United States Code, title
20, chapter 28, subchapter IV, part F, section 1087ll;

(6) "Tribal college" means a college defined in section 136A.1796, subdivision 1,
paragraph (c); and

(7) "tuition and fees" means the actual tuition and mandatory fees charged by an
institution.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment and
applies to scholarship awards beginning in the fall term of the 2025-2026 academic year.
new text end