SF3943 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Student aid reporting requirements modifications, parenting students additional accommodations requirements provision, American Indian Scholars program eligibility modifications provision
Related bill: HF4252
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill makes broad updates to higher education law to improve how programs are funded and reported, adds protections and accommodations for pregnant and parenting students, updates eligibility for certain state aid programs, and strengthens reporting to the Legislature. It also repeals a prior option-enrollment act.
Main Provisions
Definitions and eligibility related to parenting and pregnancy
- Defines “parenting student” as a student who is the parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 (or a dependent child under 18).
- Defines “pregnancy or related conditions.”
- Expands which postsecondary institutions are covered (including public state institutions and certain private institutions with on-campus offerings).
Accommodations and protections for pregnant and parenting students
- Institutions may not force a leave, restrict study, require changes to major, or deter course participation solely because of pregnancy or parenting status.
- Institutions must provide reasonable modifications similar to those offered for temporary medical conditions. Examples include safe accommodations related to health and safety, excused absences for medical needs, and the ability to make up missed work.
- If a medical leave or disability policy exists, it should be available and applicable to pregnancy-related issues and parenting needs.
- Students may take a medically necessary leave and return in good academic standing, without reapplying for admission if they were in good standing when leaving (with conditions to protect degree progress).
- Institutions must allow early or flexible registration for pregnant or parenting students on the same basis as other student groups.
Policy on discrimination and accessibility
- Each institution must adopt a policy addressing pregnancy and parenting discrimination, including a Title IX coordinator’s contact information.
- Policy details must be easy to find on the institution’s website and shared annually with faculty and staff.
Reporting requirements for student aid and programs
- The Office of Higher Education must provide annual, detailed public and legislative reports on many student aid programs, including:
- Funds appropriated and expended
- Applicants, recipients, and award amounts
- Demographic data (race/ethnicity, gender, income, family type, dependency status, etc.)
- Retention, completion, debt, and time-to-completion metrics
- Data must be disaggregated by program, institution, and other relevant factors, with a view toward evaluating outcomes and program effectiveness.
- Several existing aid programs and reporting sections are updated to include these reporting requirements or align with the new framework.
American Indian Scholars and related programs
- Changes to eligibility or reporting related to American Indian Scholars programs and associated financial aid reporting.
Foster grants, child care grants, and teacher candidate grants
- Reporting and eligibility criteria for foster grants, child care grants, and teacher candidate grants are updated, including data on awards, eligibility, and program outcomes.
North Star Promise and other scholarship programs
- Reporting and participation data for North Star Promise (and related scholarship programs) must be provided, including status, enrollment, and outcomes.
Repeal of a prior act
- Repeals a preexisting statute related to the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act.
Administration and compliance
- The University of Minnesota is specifically requested to comply with new protections and reporting requirements, in addition to other public postsecondary institutions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expanded protections for pregnant and parenting students, including guaranteed accommodations, medical leave options, and access to instructional materials and recordings when absence is excused.
- New or strengthened duties for institutions to adopt and publish clear pregnancy/parenting discrimination policies with accessible Title IX contact information.
- System-wide, annual, and annualized multi-year reporting requirements for a broad set of student aid programs, including detailed demographic, outcome, and financing data.
- Revisions to eligibility and reporting for multiple aid programs (child care grants, foster grants, teacher candidate grants, etc.) to align with the new reporting framework and outcome metrics.
- Repeal of a prior enrollment-options-related statute, removing that specific framework from the code.
Implementation Considerations
- The Office of Higher Education will play a central role in collecting, compiling, and reporting data to legislative committees, with data disaggregated by multiple demographic and program factors.
- Institutions must balance providing accommodations with preserving the fundamental outcomes of courses and programs.
- Compliance is expected from both the University of Minnesota and other eligible postsecondary institutions.
Relevant Terms - parenting student - pregnant student - pregnancy-related conditions - reasonable modifications - excused absence - medical leave - good academic standing - early registration - Title IX coordinator - discrimination policy - postsecondary institution - University of Minnesota - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities - American Indian Scholars program - foster grants - child care grants - North Star Promise - consolidated student aid reporting - data disaggregation - retention - completion - average award - total award - grant eligibility - licensure areas - rural teacher grant - teacher candidates - licensure shortage areas - data reporting to legislature - higher education finance and policy - preexisting enrollment options act (repealed)
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Higher Education on: March 17, 2026 15:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 26, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 26, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Higher Education |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Eligibility criteria including: student must be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate/diploma/degree program at a Minnesota public institution; must be a Minnesota resident for resident tuition purposes or an enrolled member/citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation or a member/citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation regardless of resident tuition status; must not have already obtained a baccalaureate degree or have been enrolled for 12 semesters or equivalent; must meet satisfactory academic progress."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 135A.121 subdivision 2 to define eligibility for a program.",
"modified": [
"Replaces prior text to specify the program's eligibility criteria."
]
},
"citation": "135A.121",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Annual reporting on programs administered under sections 136A.091 to 136A.1276 and related sections, including: total funds appropriated and expended; total number of students applying for funds; total number of students receiving funds; average and total award amounts; summary demographic data on award recipients; retention, completion, and debt metrics; and data disaggregated by aid program, institution, aid year, race/ethnicity, gender, income, socioeconomic status, family type, dependency status, and other relevant factors.",
"Authority to report any additional data/outcomes relevant to program evaluation."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.053 to establish consolidated student aid reporting requirements.",
"modified": [
"Expands and formalizes reporting requirements and data granularity."
]
},
"citation": "136A.053",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Residency: Minnesota resident as defined in 136A.101 subdivision 8.",
"Attendance at an eligible Office-approved program.",
"Eligibility age/education status: in grades 3 through 12 but not yet high school completion.",
"Income eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals.",
"Age limit: 19 years of age or younger."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.091 subdivision 2 to define eligibility for a program stipend.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies and codifies stipend eligibility criteria."
]
},
"citation": "136A.091",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Annual reporting by the office to legislative committees on program providers, stipend recipients, and program activities; alignment with section 136A.053 for data on student outcomes."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.091 subdivision 9 to add a reporting requirement.",
"modified": [
"Adds formal annual reporting duties."
]
},
"citation": "136A.091",
"subdivision": "subdivision 9"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Residence: Minnesota resident; or the applicant's spouse is a resident.",
"Has a child (12 years or younger, or 14 if disabled) who is receiving or will receive care from a caregiver.",
"Meets financial need criteria; not a MFIP recipient.",
"Has not received child care grant funds for ten semesters or the equivalent.",
"Is pursuing a nonsectarian program applicable to an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree, diploma, or certificate program.",
"Is enrolled in at least one credit in an eligible program and is in good academic standing with satisfactory progress."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.121 subdivision 2 to specify grant eligibility.",
"modified": [
"Includes provisions for active military service after December 31, 2002; health conditions; and caregiving scenarios as additional eligibility considerations."
]
},
"citation": "136A.121",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"By February 15 of each year, the commissioner must submit a report on program details to legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy; and annual reporting under 135A.053.",
"Report contents include the number of students receiving awards, average/total award amounts, and summary demographic data on award recipients."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.1215 subdivision 5 to address reporting.",
"modified": [
"Explicitly ties reporting cadence to February 15 and links to 135A.053 requirements."
]
},
"citation": "136A.1215",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Annually prepare an anonymized report detailing the number of students receiving foster grants and the institutions attended; and annual retention and graduation data for such students.",
"The report may be combined with other required reporting; if submitted separately, due by January 15."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.1241 subdivision 8 to address foster grants reporting.",
"modified": [
"Expands reporting scope and specifies anonymized data for foster grants."
]
},
"citation": "136A.1241",
"subdivision": "subdivision 8"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Residency: Minnesota resident or spouse residents.",
"Child eligibility: child under 12 (or under 14 if disabled) receiving care from a caregiver.",
"Income eligibility per policy; not a recipient of MFIP.",
"No grant funds received for ten semesters (or equivalent).",
"Program focus: nonsectarian undergrad/grad/professional study.",
"Enrollment: at least one credit in an undergraduate or one credit in graduate/professional program; good academic standing and progress."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.125 subdivision 2 to define eligibility for child care grants.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies continuing eligibility with provisions for military service-related interruptions and health conditions to care for a family member with serious health conditions."
]
},
"citation": "136A.125",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"By February 15 each year, the commissioner must submit a report on program details to legislative committees with jurisdiction over E12 and higher education; include data per 136A.053.",
"Chairs and ranking minority members must be provided with the annual report; data elements include: number of eligible applicants and teacher candidates by postsecondary institution; total awards and average amount; licensure areas and school districts; and other outcome indicators."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.1274 subdivision 4 to address reporting.",
"modified": [
"Specifies reporting to both E12 and higher education committees and expands data elements."
]
},
"citation": "136A.1274",
"subdivision": "subdivision 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"By February 1 of each year, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members on E12 and higher education finance and policy; includes: total number of awards, total/dollar amounts, average award; number of eligible applicants and student teachers by postsecondary institution; licensure areas and school districts; and other data as determined by the commissioner."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.1275 subdivision 4 to address reporting on teacher candidate grants.",
"modified": [
"Adds annual reporting and expands data elements and dissemination to committees."
]
},
"citation": "136A.1275",
"subdivision": "subdivision 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"A preliminary report by September 1, 2025, and annual reports beginning February 15, 2026 to legislative committees; includes status of the scholarship fund and North Star Promise participation data aggregated for each eligible institution, including: number of eligible students receiving scholarships; average and total award amounts; demographic data; total enrollment; retention; and graduation metrics."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 136A.1465 subdivision 10 to require scholarship program reporting.",
"modified": [
"Adds a phased reporting schedule and detailed North Star Promise metrics."
]
},
"citation": "136A.1465",
"subdivision": "subdivision 10"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [
"Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 124D.09 subdivision 10a."
],
"summary": "Repealer: Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 124D.09 subdivision 10a repealed.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "124D.09",
"subdivision": "subdivision 10a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Definitions include: Parenting student; Parenting-related definitions; pregnancy/related conditions per CFR reference; postsecondary institution; and inclusion of institutions governed by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; compliance request for University of Minnesota."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 135A.1582 subdivision 1 – Definitions.",
"modified": [
"Establishes foundational definitions for pregnancy and parenting protections in higher education policy."
]
},
"citation": "135A.1582",
"subdivision": "subdivision 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Rights and protections for pregnant or parenting students, including prohibition on requiring leave/withdrawal solely due to pregnancy/related conditions; requirement to provide reasonable modifications similar to accommodations for temporary medical conditions; and other protections (e.g., leave, make-up work, access to materials).",
"Obligations to provide reasonable accommodations and early registration for pregnant/parenting students where applicable."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 135A.1582 subdivision 2 – Rights and protections.",
"modified": [
"Codifies specific accommodations and protections to support pregnant/parenting students."
]
},
"citation": "135A.1582",
"subdivision": "subdivision 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Each postsecondary institution must adopt a policy for pregnancy and parenting discrimination, including the Title IX coordinator contact information (name, phone, email, office) and posting requirements.",
"Policy must be posted on the institution’s website and made available annually to faculty, staff, and employees."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 135A.1582 subdivision 3 – Policy on discrimination.",
"modified": [
"Requires explicit discrimination policy and public-facing disclosure."
]
},
"citation": "135A.1582",
"subdivision": "subdivision 3"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee