Certain North Star Promise scholarship program eligibility requirements modifications and North Star Promise scholarships funding amounts modifications
Summary
SF4692 makes two main changes to Minnesota’s North Star Promise scholarship program. First, it revises eligibility rules beginning with the fall 2026 academic term by changing how family income is treated for scholarship purposes. The bill keeps the general family adjusted gross income cap at below $80,000, but removes that income test for students attending a state college or a Tribal college. It also clarifies definitions used in the program, including what counts as gift aid and what qualifies as other expenses such as books, supplies, child care, emergency assistance, food, and housing.
Second, the bill updates the state funding transfer for North Star Promise scholarships and related higher education programs. It amends the fiscal year 2026 and 2027 transfer amounts into the scholarship account, with the North Star Promise line item shown as $49.5 million in fiscal year 2026 and an unspecified amount in fiscal year 2027 in the introduced text. The bill also carries forward or updates transfers for several other higher education-related accounts, including spinal cord and traumatic brain injury grants, dual training, large animal veterinarian loan forgiveness, agricultural education loan forgiveness, and inclusive higher education grants.
Impact
The bill would amend Minnesota Statutes section 136A.1465 governing the North Star Promise scholarship and also revise a 2025 special session appropriations transfer law. Its practical effect is to broaden access to North Star Promise for students at state colleges and Tribal colleges by eliminating the family income eligibility test for those institutions, while leaving the income cap in place for students at other public postsecondary institutions. It also adjusts state fund transfers supporting the scholarship program and several related workforce, health, agriculture, and inclusive education accounts.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text, the measure appears generally supportive of student access and affordability, especially for community/technical college and Tribal college students, and it also maintains or increases funding commitments for higher education-related programs. The overall tone of the legislation is expansionary rather than restrictive.
Contention
The most likely point of contention is the selective removal of the income eligibility test only for students attending state colleges and Tribal colleges, while keeping it for students at other public postsecondary institutions. Supporters may view that as targeted access expansion, while critics could see it as creating unequal treatment across institutions or as increasing program costs. Another possible issue is the funding level and the use of general fund transfers, particularly the large North Star Promise transfer and the broader set of earmarked transfers included in the same section.
Similar To
Income eligibility requirements for the North Star Promise scholarship program modified, and funding amounts for North Star Promise scholarships modified.
Income eligibility requirements for the North Star Promise scholarship program modified, and funding amounts for North Star Promise scholarships modified.
Income eligibility requirements for the North Star Promise scholarship program modified, and funding amounts for North Star Promise scholarships modified.
North Star Promise Program in-state residency and work requirement imposition provision, and North Star Promise scholarships limited to students enrolled in programs of study that lead to employment in high-demand industries and occupations provision
North Star Promise scholarship program eliminated, and unencumbered balances in the North Star Promise special revenue fund account appropriated to the state grant program.
In-state residency and work requirement for recipients of North Star Promise scholarships imposed, and scholarships limited to students enrolled in programs of study that lead to employment in high-demand industries and occupations.