SF4964

1. Purpose

2. This bill aims to remove certain nondiscrimination and faith-statement requirements on eligible institutions and enrollment options, and to amend related provisions about concurrent enrollment and funding.

3. Main Provisions

4. Amends Minnesota Statutes to redefine and broaden eligible institutions for postsecondary courses offered to high school students, and to remove mandatory faith statements and related discriminatory admission criteria.

5. Requires that eligible institutions must not require a faith statement from a secondary student enrolling in a postsecondary course, and must not base admission decisions on a student’s race, creed, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs or affiliations.

6. Defines “course” as a course or program.

7. Defines “concurrent enrollment” as nonsectarian courses in which an eligible pupil (as determined by subdivisions 5 or 5b) earns both secondary and postsecondary credits, taught by a secondary teacher or a postsecondary faculty member, and offered at a high school.

8. Establishes that school districts, charter schools, or Tribal contract schools are eligible to receive concurrent enrollment program aid under section 124D.091 for these courses.

9. Section 2 creates a one-time appropriation from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to cover fees and expenses awarded to a plaintiff in Loe v. Jett (Case No. 23CV1527). The Minnesota Department of Education must pay these fees and expenses on behalf of all defendants if ordered, and the appropriation remains available until June 30, 2026.

10. Key Definitions (as used in the bill)

11. Eligible institution: Minnesota public postsecondary institutions; private nonprofit two-year trade and technical schools granting associate degrees; opportunities industrialization center; accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; or private residential two-year or four-year liberal arts degree-granting colleges or universities located in Minnesota.

12. Course: a course or program.

13. Concurrent enrollment: nonsectarian courses described above.

14. Significant Changes to Law

15. Removes or relaxes restrictions requiring faith statements or basing admissions on protected characteristics for institutions offering eligible postsecondary courses.

16. Expands the list of eligible institutions to include additional types of organizations and accreditations.

17. Tightens the requirement that concurrent enrollment courses taught at high schools be nonsectarian.

18. Adds a one-time state payment to cover specific litigation-related fees (Loe v. Jett), funded from the general fund.

Relevant terms eligible institution concurrent enrollment nonsectarian faith statement admission decision race creed ethnicity disability gender sexual orientation religious beliefs affiliations Minnesota Statutes 124D.09 section 124D.091 Loe v. Jett Case No. 23CV1527 general fund commissioner of education fees and expenses postsecondary credits secondary credits high school section 124D.091 opportunities industrialization center accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education