[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6617042,"mediaKeyId","2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557","parentId",2844036,"title","Metro State seeks authorization for applied doctorate in cybersecurity; committee lays bill over","audioSeconds",507,"startMs",2759000,"endMs",3266000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557&start=2759&end=3266","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557/thumbnail_2759000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6617042/Minnesota/Metro-State-seeks-authorization-for-applied-doctorate-in-cybersecurity-committee-lays-bill-over","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617042-e8e45a1f3fb68240d356bcfab0f97965/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198852&Signature=klBgENdJ9g38Y-dnkd-r-erfuFOd7t4VgrK9A-6rWAKVgxhqWZlefJuA9tbSsSEsTb1X77SOUN47wyHvPuqoR-eK--OKdrz76pNs6jEPwXjaEky131IKtB7XgeGEIHp5qU01urpORWm8hh2A~3-PCrfgTWE2h~lSXJj~pTJqDA~NaB7a87Tzp2ia703SDaQ0F9Nfuuv~Esg~M0fLKWUU44zWKM44ImARq7gX97Evh43E2XRC2uFYLxr5wkdCuqEvBXZ~vu1s6VfOvnk1iq1SrWMxKVFQuZHZQSdF6L2LXYwYIa5MxYTuq2vsbtiF-gaDRXIXn1M~2IBfBsMEgoU19w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-04-02T00:53:56.237Z","article","Members considered House File 2,610, a request to authorize Metropolitan State University to offer an applied doctoral degree in cybersecurity. Representative Hansen introduced the bill at the request of Minnesota State University and invited Metro State President Ginny Arthur to present.

Arthur told the committee Metro State currently operates recognized cybersecurity undergraduate and graduate programs and is designated by the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and Operations. She said Metro State receives federal and private grants to support workforce development, runs a cybersecurity clinic that provides hands‑on assistance to small businesses and municipal governments, and has facilities and recent appropriations (including a secure operations center) to support doctoral‑level applied research.

Arthur cited national and state workforce statistics: an estimated 460,000 unfilled cybersecurity roles nationally and about 5,700 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in Minnesota. She argued an applied doctorate would help produce doctorally‑qualified faculty for regional institutions and support industry upskilling. Committee members, including Representative Knorr and Representative Scott, praised the program and underscored the importance of cybersecurity education in protecting state institutions and businesses.

The committee laid HF 2,610 over for possible inclusion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 4/1/25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee considered House File 2,610, a measure to authorize Metropolitan State University to offer an applied doctorate in cybersecurity.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6617045,"Amendments adopted to tie North Star Promise aid to post‑graduation Minnesota residency/work in HB 2241 debate",1197,3315000,4512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557&start=3315&end=4512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557/thumbnail_3315000.jpg","/articles/6617045/Minnesota/Amendments-adopted-to-tie-North-Star-Promise-aid-to-postgraduation-Minnesota-residencywork-in-HB-2241-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617045-9342da9fd810f52a99829e4f306b72be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198852&Signature=Ma1CoKBRPZadD9UDe7LuyxqenHk02hgYPfQoa2lDDNYb~3em74TWz~Xv93JzApWuzSgKdhZmmyvOpEANH1ZQu-iz3TXMOzMAUaXnXj0z2yl~FA8Mx21HvSr1~cZd5igIohQOXwSi10aO7CmnMMs6f0iOfy8PMZWKvxDJBQUBGVp6LV0bF2vt8zNcHeyXj05iJ90k74d~RIJYcYSZ3LsFwkb3GgXvkpbUW3ck6E5pWx39kY0p5zyDo2vElRp0xoTOSssyrz3nP0PC4UycmLCfCKsrnp3qK2YD5TkwPTqpDKHQleFQnrvs~WwgrVWiR5GIV8r4~LfZ2ut~HFCMC0-Jug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members considered House File 2,241, a bill that conditions North Star Promise tuition on recipients remaining employed in Minnesota for a period after graduation equal to the duration of aid received. Representative Peggy Scott introduced the bill and managed two committee amendments during the hearing.

The A3 amendment — adopted by voice vote — clarified that the residency/employment requirement would match the duration of aid received (for each year of free tuition the recipient would be required to remain in Minnesota for one year). Representative Scott described the change as \"skin in the game\" for taxpayers who fund the scholarship. Representative Coulter and others questioned the amendment's phrasing because the bill text refers to \"academic terms,\" which can vary across institutions, and raised concerns about consistency and enforceability.

The A2 amendment — also adopted — created exceptions for students who become disabled or who otherwise experience extreme hardship and could not meet residency or employment requirements; proponents said it prevents punitive outcomes for life events such as severe injury. Representative Hicks framed A2 as protecting students who try college but do not finish, or who become disabled during their studies.

Student leaders and advocates testified against the residency/work requirement. Shay Horning, director of state government affairs for the University of Minnesota undergraduate student government, said the requirement would impose barriers and be difficult to enforce; Karina Valaida, a student parent, said students face unpredictable life events and should not be \"forced to take degrees in subjects that they are not interested in.\"

Committee members debated both the policy merits and operational questions: Representative Novotny suggested explicit military or National Guard deployment waivers; Representative Kolzer and Representative Coulter raised questions about how to measure \"employment\" and whether part‑time work would qualify. A House staff adviser noted the bill's language includes only a general \"be employed\" requirement and does not define minimum hours, which creates enforcement ambiguity.

After discussion and adoption of the two amendments (A3 and A2), the committee laid HF 2,241 over for possible inclusion. Members signaled willingness to continue work on clarified waiver language, measurement of employment, and definitions of academic terms as the bill moves forward.","House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee members adopted two amendments to House File 2,241, a bill that would require North Star Promise recipients to remain employed in Minnesota for a period after graduation equal to the years of aid they received.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6617037,"NRRI seeks recurring state support to expand national‑lab partnerships and industry transition work",391,5054000,5445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557&start=5054&end=5445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557/thumbnail_5054000.jpg","/articles/6617037/Minnesota/NRRI-seeks-recurring-state-support-to-expand-nationallab-partnerships-and-industry-transition-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617037-93c818388670f6af19abd79f84498e6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198852&Signature=ggPxhXkuQxXrTLLGVozwtM6~AMLllQoGm8wCmdIDMy5i6Nr-raowscsmBablih5RKW8y13tXIjXdSlRdsiikUbKJdmltUn9d1VLyfVHeaQScu1IMvNJ0Mu-4jyDP8daKqbOhOltl66dU8w-vSw0dncS6foE6nzKOv5kaQBgeuetSpiVCHzqBLR3lFOI2-B14BJhsmb8yHQz18jxB0EY5-dT-E53t0ysQl8OfOLtwNvnmiAfiBK0nO5HuXjcQcM8izCHNhO4Q7CDGDlr9W2EL~QiR4ExBfZjgrUh-oikkZckl8wCAKvDx02AiLm79~-YOPSU2PNHwW92HoY~ZvpV~Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee heard from Rolf Wieberg and other NRRI representatives on House File 2,520, which requests recurring investment in the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) to upgrade facilities, increase staff capacity, and enable partnerships with national laboratories and industry.

Wieberg said NRRI's mission — combining economic development of natural resources with stewardship of ecosystems — positions Minnesota to lead on industrial transformations that touch iron and steel, fuels, fertilizers, cement, and forestry products. He described ongoing negotiations with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and other national labs and said federal partners and industry are interested in Minnesota capabilities. Wieberg asked for recurring appropriation to prepare NRRI facilities and staff to host and partner with national labs.

Representative Scribe (bill sponsor) and Representative Scrubba (committee member representing northern Minnesota) emphasized NRRI's return on investment for the state, the need to modernize lab facilities that have not substantially changed since the early 1990s, and the potential to attract larger federal investments. Scrubba noted NRRI work on materials and processes (for example, uses of olivine and biochar) that support decarbonization and clean industrial production.

Committee members laid HF 2,520 over for possible inclusion.","NRRI representatives told the committee that recurring state investment would enable the institute to upgrade facilities, add research staff, and host national‑lab partnerships to accelerate clean industrial transitions in Minnesota.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6617032,"Bill to require institutions link employment outcomes to degree pages advances without opposition",168,5568000,5736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557&start=5568&end=5736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557/thumbnail_5568000.jpg","/articles/6617032/Minnesota/Bill-to-require-institutions-link-employment-outcomes-to-degree-pages-advances-without-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617032-9664c0ec4ebacb7ec12b1757b9839093/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198852&Signature=BXBbroaAPVQGgSylNY5Wab6WP6IYREzYrcLTBseF7iBDOFNHf-RDcs--qUeprxuIhqzQfkQE8xcQ3eJsfKFa8DdAJbq9Me94wgJrBhZHOeGzASFAHC~~JJtSA637gO2I~I19wJcbVZLAWRENQlUDNl~hk1w3ArRSRiX7m4xMMdTrFPgz5isXH7bpPdvAedZSfgwdQMYgrIr1564RUPvpE8CdrSItcg0p47uFPnA7HFjkasG0JAypCc-dsrs5ofS1qHxWwI8y0eGkLOu1WxZvlw-c7Rs8Wj0YaNOGL1bVqIK0983~pDIuUhdyfXSm72kA0rR25vZ~SWoafDApyCSRnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Knudson presented House File 26,49, a transparency bill that would require higher education institutions to make employment outcome information accessible from degree program webpages. Knudson said the data (for example, U.S. Census or other federal data already collected) exist and the bill does not impose new data‑collection burdens on institutions; it simply requires easier access for students making post‑secondary decisions.

Committee members asked technical questions. Chair Liebling noted the bill includes an audit provision; members confirmed a fiscal note had been completed and the amendment adopted harmonized language with the Senate. Representative Cleaver thanked the sponsor for advancing a pragmatic transparency tool. The committee laid HF 26,49 over for possible inclusion.","House File 26,49 would require public higher education institutions to post employment outcome information (Census/available data links) on degree program web pages to help prospective students assess return on investment. The committee adopted the Senate language and laid the bill over for possible inclusion.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6617049,"Committee hears debate over narrowing North Star Promise to top 20 high‑demand fields",2507,109000,2616000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557&start=109&end=2616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2844036-42415fbfef57a6f83e95acf2c2ff7557/thumbnail_109000.jpg","/articles/6617049/Minnesota/Committee-hears-debate-over-narrowing-North-Star-Promise-to-top-20-highdemand-fields","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617049-b56d2f963a8be8bbf91af7af748ce8b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198852&Signature=cEOBvWDf~StaNKagKUZiF~231nVF-msachWefs8J9NbR7FHmxzmbElplqoGTyiYdyohCiUTKZVIPVFdM7bHfm1lyNoYhZUybBxr09XS6SAMp3hEwhC1Fwk9MpFciktIbv0DtinWERPk13CWPLlrSZxZK~GWq9Btt6M7nRSTs8-Z9M-aVltkNdJG3ofPaiJkwvrat3ikBJ6WF8m~t4L8rLWM81gVu6yoYVvbmohR7100tlgURywgLY49B6f218RRHQEdjSMuq3~EhEoC1Auzzl8D3zL7PcIKyYzvg5AG-DLSAH6ZMNZPANviiVDEZS6NR6liasGhUmn16HiYQK7cfOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee members heard more than an hour of testimony and questioning on House File 2,634, a bill that would narrow eligibility for the North Star Promise scholarship to students pursuing programs in the top 20 industries and occupations identified by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE).

Proponents, including local chamber leaders and the Minnesota Chamber Federation, said the proposal would better align state tuition investments with workforce needs and retain graduates in Minnesota. Brad Grama, president of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce, told the committee that border communities face talent loss to neighboring states and argued the policy would help keep Minnesota employers supplied with trained workers. Christie Ransom, president and CEO of the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce, said Winona has 499 open jobs and called the proposal a data‑driven way to channel public dollars into programs that lead to local employment.

Opponents — including student leaders, higher‑education advocates and North Star Promise supporters — warned the bill would complicate the program and reduce enrollment gains the scholarship has produced. Mike Dean, executive director of Northstar Prosperity, said the North Star Promise'''s simple \"free college\" message has driven enrollment increases and argued restricting majors would reverse those gains. Student testifiers described the scholarship as transformative: Jessica Rose Sander, a University of Minnesota freshman, said HF 2,634 would \"narrow our choices and force students into specific high demand fields without giving them the guidance or flexibility we need.\" Shay Horning, an undergraduate student government leader, urged rejection of HF 2,634 and related proposals that add residency or work requirements.

Committee members questioned practical and technical issues raised by OHE staff. Wendy Robinson, assistant commissioner at OHE, told the panel that producing a fiscal note is difficult because the exact \"top 20\" list is not defined in the bill and program audit data on students' declared majors and program changes are incomplete. Robinson said many career pathways map to multiple degree programs (for example, registered nursing can include BSN, RN and LPN pathways) and some high‑demand jobs do not require college degrees, complicating eligibility rules and cost projections.

Several legislators pressed on enforcement and operational details. Representative Hansen and Representative Hicks asked how OHE would track students who change majors, how often eligibility would be rechecked, and whether institutions or OHE would need additional staff to monitor enrollments. Representative Birkbeck, the bill author, said she would be open to technical amendments such as requiring industry certifications for some pathways and emphasized the measure's goal of matching taxpayer dollars to jobs.

The committee did not take a final vote on the bill but laid HF 2,634 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus package.

Ending: Committee members signaled continued interest in workforce alignment but also concern about administrative complexity and impacts on students. OHE staff said additional work is needed to define the eligible list, estimate costs and design feasible reporting; members left the provision open for amendment and further negotiation.","Lawmakers, business groups and students debated House File 2634, which would limit North Star Promise eligibility to programs aligned with DEED/OHE'identified high‑demand industries and require periodic review of the list. Supporters cited workforce needs; opponents said the change would restrict access and add complexity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Metro State seeks authorization for applied doctorate in cybersecurity; committee lays bill over

Amendments adopted to tie North Star Promise aid to post‑graduation Minnesota residency/work in HB 2241 debate

NRRI seeks recurring state support to expand national‑lab partnerships and industry transition work

Bill to require institutions link employment outcomes to degree pages advances without opposition

Committee hears debate over narrowing North Star Promise to top 20 high‑demand fields