Purpose

The bill directs the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to convene a workgroup by August 15, 2026. The goal is to review the current health insurance eligibility for adjunct faculty and develop recommendations for expanding eligibility opportunities.

Main Provisions

• Establishment: A workgroup must be formed by August 15, 2026 to examine adjunct faculty health insurance eligibility and propose ways to expand access to health coverage.
• Membership: The workgroup must include at minimum representatives from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system office, and representatives designated by the Inter Faculty Organization and by the Minnesota State College Faculty.
• Duties: The workgroup will identify barriers that prevent adjunct faculty from qualifying for employer-sponsored health coverage and develop specific policy and budgetary recommendations to expand health insurance access for adjunct faculty members.
• Report: By December 15, 2027, the Board of Trustees must submit a report with the workgroup’s findings and recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education finance and policy.
• Expiration: The workgroup is set to expire on February 14, 2028.

Significance and Potential Impact

• This bill creates a formal process to study and potentially expand health insurance eligibility for adjunct faculty, including recommendations on policy and funding. It does not immediately change eligibility, but directs a study and possible future changes, with a defined sunset.

Timeline Overview

• Formation deadline: August 15, 2026
• Reporting deadline: December 15, 2027
• Sunset/expiration: February 14, 2028

Key Stakeholders Involved

• Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system office
• Inter Faculty Organization
• Minnesota State College Faculty

Budgetary Note

• The workgroup must include development of budgetary recommendations as part of its purpose, signaling consideration of how expanded health insurance access would be funded.

Relevant Terms - Board of Trustees - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities - adjunct faculty - health insurance eligibility - employer-sponsored health coverage - workgroup - Inter Faculty Organization - Minnesota State College Faculty - report - higher education finance and policy - policy and budgetary recommendations - expiration / sunset date - August 15, 2026 - December 15, 2027 - February 14, 2028