SF 4297
1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/18/2026 09:14 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to higher education; requiring postsecondary institutions to clearly notice
deadlines for full reimbursement of tuition; creating student complaint process;
authorizing investigations and remedial action by the Office of Higher Education;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136A.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[136A.1469] NOTICE OF TUITION REFUND DEADLINE DURING
ADD-DROP PERIOD.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Add-drop period" means the period of time at the beginning of an academic term
where a student may choose to add or remove courses from the student's schedule, during
which the institution will not mark the student as withdrawn from any removed course.
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(c) "Deadline" means a designated date and time on an institution's academic calendar.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Applicability. new text end
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(a) This section applies to the following postsecondary
institutions:
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(1) institutions governed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities; and
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(2) private postsecondary institutions that offer in-person courses on a campus located
in Minnesota and are eligible institutions as defined in section 136A.103, subdivision 1,
paragraph (a), that are participating in the federal program under Title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, Public Law 89-329, as amended.
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(b) Institutions governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota are
requested to comply with this section.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Notice of deadlines. new text end
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(a) A postsecondary institution must disclose the deadline
for a student to receive a full tuition refund if a student chooses to drop a course during the
add-drop period of a given academic term.
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(b) The disclosure must be, at a minimum:
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(1) placed in a conspicuous location in bold type on the institution's website;
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(2) made through a direct written communication at the time of registration; and
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(3) in the student handbook or academic catalog of the institution.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Internal complaints; appeal. new text end
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(a) A postsecondary institution must create a
procedure for students to lodge a complaint alleging failure to comply with this section and
for institutional review and investigation of lodged complaints.
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(b) A student who believes an institution has violated the requirements of this section
must first submit the student's complaint to the institution. A student may appeal an
institutional finding of compliance by filing a complaint with the Office of Higher Education
in the manner prescribed in section 136A.147.
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Sec. 2.
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[136A.147] ADD-DROP COMPLAINTS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Authority. new text end
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The Office of Higher Education has the authority to review
and take appropriate action on student complaints from schools covered under the provisions
of section 136A.1469.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Complaint. new text end
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A complaint must be in writing, be signed by a student, and state
how the school's policies and procedures or section 136A.1469 were violated. Student
complaints shall be limited to complaints that occurred within six years from the date the
concern should have been discovered with reasonable effort and after the student has utilized
the school's internal complaint process. The office shall not investigate grade disputes,
student conduct proceedings, disability accommodation requests, and discrimination claims,
including Title IX complaints.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Investigation. new text end
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The office shall initiate an investigation upon receipt of a
complaint within the authority of subdivision 2. A school involved in an investigation shall
be informed of the alleged violations and the processes of the investigation. A school
involved in an investigation shall respond to the alleged violations and provide requested
documentation to the office. Upon completion of an investigation, the office shall inform
the school and the student of the investigation outcome.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Penalties. new text end
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(a) If violations are found, the office may require remedial action
by the school or assign a penalty under paragraph (b). Remedial action may include student
notification of violations, adjustments to the school's policies and procedures, and tuition
or fee refunds to impacted students.
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(b) The commissioner may assess fines for violations of section 136A.1469. Each day's
failure to comply with section 136A.1469 shall be a separate violation and fines shall not
exceed $500 per day per violation.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Appeals. new text end
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Any order requiring remedial action by the school or assigning a
penalty under this section is appealable in accordance with chapter 14. The request for an
appeal must be made in writing to the office within 30 days of the date the school is notified
of the action of the office. The court shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees in a
contested chapter 14 hearing to the office if:
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(1) the office substantially prevails on the merits in an action brought under this section;
and
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(2) the school has a net income from student tuition, fees, and other required institutional
charges collected from the last fiscal year of $1,000,000 or greater.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Disclosure. new text end
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Schools must disclose on their website, student handbook, and
student catalog the student complaint process under this section to students.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Private information. new text end
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Student complaint data are private data on individuals,
as defined in section 13.02, subdivision 12. The office may disclose student complaint data
to law enforcement officials or in connection with a legal or administrative proceeding
commenced to enforce a requirement of law.
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