Purpose

The bill would stop state-funded payments, grants, or any financial aid funded by state tax revenue from going to undocumented noncitizens or people not lawfully present in the United States. It also requires programs that give aid based on Minnesota residency to verify the recipient’s status.

Main Provisions

• Prohibition on aid to undocumented or not-lawfully-present noncitizens: No state agency or political subdivision may provide any payment, grant, or other form of financial aid funded by state taxes to these individuals.
• Residency-based programs covered: The prohibition applies to programs that require the recipient to show they live in Minnesota.
• Status documentation requirements: For programs that provide aid, the administering state agency or political subdivision must require the recipient to prove they are either:
  • a citizen or national of the United States, or
  • an alien lawfully present in the United States.
• Targeted programs: The bill references MinnesotaCare and the North Star Promise scholarship program as examples of programs that would be affected.
• Legal basis and changes: The bill would amend specific Minnesota statutes and add new provisions in Minnesota law to implement these rules, with language that overrides conflicting laws where applicable.

Effects on Existing Law

• Adds a statewide rule prohibiting state-funded aid to undocumented noncitizens, aligning eligibility with lawful status.
• Introduces a formal requirement for status verification for aid recipients, tying eligibility to US citizenship, US nationality, or lawful presence.
• Represents a change to how residency-based aid programs (like health coverage or college scholarships) determine who can receive state-funded assistance.

Implementation Considerations

• Administrative process: State agencies and local governments would need processes to collect and verify status documentation from aid recipients.
• Scope and definitions: The rule applies specifically to programs funded by state tax revenue and that require Minnesota residency, which may affect multiple programs beyond the named examples.
• Compliance and enforcement: Agencies would need to ensure strict adherence to the new status verification and denial of aid to ineligible individuals.

Significance

• This bill narrows access to certain state-funded benefits and scholarships for undocumented immigrants.
• It emphasizes the alignment of state financial aid programs with immigration status requirements and residency proof.

Relevant Terms undocumented noncitizens not lawfully present in the United States state-funded payments state tax revenue state agency political subdivision Minnesota residency documentation citizen or national of the United States alien lawfully present in the United States MinnesotaCare North Star Promise scholarship program Minnesota Statutes (specific sections 136A.1465, 256L.04, and chapter 16A)