[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6582366,"mediaKeyId","3102430-7515b59a9a41f5ffc19720d957315d41","parentId",3102430,"title","House panel places omnibus higher education budget bill on general register after bipartisan compromise to shore up state grant program","audioSeconds",1290,"startMs",65900,"endMs",1356795,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3102430-7515b59a9a41f5ffc19720d957315d41&start=65&end=1356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3102430-7515b59a9a41f5ffc19720d957315d41/thumbnail_65900.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6582366/Minnesota/House-panel-places-omnibus-higher-education-budget-bill-on-general-register-after-bipartisan-compromise-to-shore-up-state-grant-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582366-eda8c7686d0eae487f8909358b5c93a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198430&Signature=ZV6k9lGzwcSjSq4L4tKXHxQq89gAsrVhBmT4Bn8o2GcA7MF24sB9xYWd4NptxYfwCbb1El~9t4nKqMur165PUcZ93XUHgOjqx5hL8ITpDQ--Zp6~w3v4oYMjCa6EDsIXvYq19vSRqNDP5sEFyCIwGMQACgXLIc~50HX9GJT1HemMyFLFhpgLggRqmZBXtG8ufdu3dc~XQ5AIuNnQmiQuDG-bWjVsm-VSedTfwevHxFsmXQ7CSR8-ubzyYvEiniK23-RLGvhQLrNRdXu5bEeqbzwTmZxkwY0haU7eBVG6dZJ2pd3WnP2m4eet6UxqrZo7~aXHSCyvnRPniuJk7VqrjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-04-23T22:52:05.517Z","article","The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee on April 23 voted to place House File 2,431, the omnibus higher education budget bill, on the general register after adopting a DE4 amendment and a technical A2 amendment.

The amendment package reflects a bipartisan compromise from the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee and aims to close a roughly $239 million shortfall in the state grant program by changing eligibility and funding levers, co-chairs said.

Key provisions in the DE4 as amended include a cap that limits state grant coverage to match tuition increases at Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota to 1 percent; treating the negative Student Aid Index (resulting from recent FAFSA changes) as zero for assigned family responsibility calculations; reducing the credit limit for state grant coverage from 180 credits to 120 credits; eliminating four Office of Higher Education programs while continuing funding for 38 others; cuts to parts of the University of Minnesota–Mayo Clinic partnerships (including Mayo Medical School and Mayo family medicine residency funding); and redirecting ALS research grant funds previously routed to the University of Minnesota back to the Office of Higher Education.

“By bringing this number to 0, we are then cutting off that fraud,” Representative Barrack said, describing why the committee treated negative Student Aid Index values as zero. The co-chairs said the change also preserves the core state grant program for students who most need it.

Co-chair Wolgamott described the DE4 as a negotiated compromise. “This bill reflects the success of that accomplishment,” he said, noting he preferred other approaches but supported the package as a bipartisan result. Co-chair Rehrig said the committee had conducted deep dives into residency and nonprofit budgets and that some appropriations were cut after reviewing audits and salaries.

Fiscal staff told the committee the higher education committees received a target of no change from the February forecast for both the 2026–27 biennium and the 2028–29 tails. The chairs said they reallocated approximately $33 million to $35 million back into the state grant program but that a remaining gap of roughly $62 million would have to be addressed in negotiations with the Senate.

Members raised program-specific concerns during member discussion. Representative Gomez urged preservation of the student parent support initiative, noting the program’s role in preventing downstream costs to other public systems; she noted the bill cuts that program to a lower base and sets it to zero in fiscal 2028. Other members praised preservation of fostering independence grants and urged continued support for family medicine residency programs to maintain physician training capacity in rural areas.

The committee adopted the A2 amendment to the DE4 as technical fixes, then adopted the DE4 as amended by voice votes. The chair then moved that House File 2,431 as amended be placed on the general register; members responded by voice vote and the motion prevailed. Nonpartisan staff were authorized to make necessary technical corrections to reflect the committee’s actions.

Discussion: the bill will now proceed to floor action and to conference as negotiations continue with the Senate to close the remaining gap.

Ending: Chairs said they expect further work in conference committee and thanked committee staff for review of audits and program budgets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Ways and Means Committee 4/23/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee on April 23 voted to place House File 2,431, the omnibus higher education budget bill, on the general register after adopting amendments that the chairs described as a bipartisan compromise to address a $239 million shortfall in the state grant program.","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},6582356,"Committee lays over omnibus state government finance bill after adopting technical revenue and drafting corrections",2012,2269410,4281815,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3102430-7515b59a9a41f5ffc19720d957315d41&start=2269&end=4281","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3102430-7515b59a9a41f5ffc19720d957315d41/thumbnail_2269410.jpg","/articles/6582356/Minnesota/Committee-lays-over-omnibus-state-government-finance-bill-after-adopting-technical-revenue-and-drafting-corrections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582356-4499a68861670db7c7486fe808078413/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198430&Signature=EtK0FQ4hpTRFnqiC9jGR6ccmuBxWMBocj2M-uwgj48eAzjv2NxeYqDLTlDp54taPTKnsKZ6HXoUa5qQCTICLfb5Ju3ZVSA3q~I~yzU4n0jmHfS2pH1o82OxAQkiA~ssG-M2qdbRQMhUHyfsRHyX5ZR5S4KD8PLOBkvQPZ-2Jer7bdpi~vardAFgJBhXJwURnGnublMiSdRM9B6m~oNX2JV8EFmHHKMWudNhUfxmidpb85mHbhDSfIV~N1Qc8HBe-01-2~FUKnxNgHpc3AFecrl4erpeeCHJcCBNCX9gFnHQxWLE9o598ElwCv9GzUfzv~t9nLkFXoXcu-sbxsriRpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways and Means Committee on April 23 adopted an A4 amendment to House File 2,783, the omnibus state government finance bill, and laid the bill over for further action pending combination with an elections bill.

Committee chairs said the finance bill provides funding for constitutional officers, the legislature and approximately 30 state agencies, and contains provisions intended to prevent waste, fraud and abuse. Chairs highlighted inclusion of a business filing fraud prevention provision, a healthy aging subcabinet, changes to certified public accountant standards, lottery retail provisions, transit assistance funding, and a provision to permit minority leads to request fiscal notes under certain conditions.

Co‑chairs said the committee added four positions to the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to help with investigations; they said the bill aimed to spread cuts fairly across major agencies in light of targets but preserved certain fraud‑fighting and direct services where possible.

Members asked about several items: rental office‑space savings and plans to consolidate staff into state‑owned buildings; a one‑year extension for the St. Anthony Falls cut wall study (no new appropriation was added, the deadline was extended because work was delayed by weather); and changes to medical assistance fraud penalties. On the latter, counsel explained the new statutory language increases the maximum penalty for the most severe medical assistance fraud offenses to up to 20 years in prison when the fraud exceeds $35,000, replacing an earlier statute with a lower maximum term.

Members also discussed the advisory council on infrastructure, which the bill repeals, and asked whether that repeal removed a useful coordination mechanism for local infrastructure asset management; chairs said the repeal was part of compromise negotiations and could be revisited in conference.

The A4 amendment (technical revenue corrections and internal cross‑reference fixes) was adopted by voice vote. The committee laid HF 2,783 as amended over to be combined with the elections bill at a later time; nonpartisan staff were authorized to make technical adjustments as needed.

Ending: Chairs said the bill will return to committee in amended form when combined with the elections bill and thanked nonpartisan and partisan staff for work on technical and revenue corrections.","The Ways and Means Committee on April 23 adopted an A4 technical amendment and laid over House File 2,783, the 2025 state government finance bill, to be combined with the elections bill. The bill funds constitutional officers and roughly 30 agencies, includes anti‑fraud measures and changes to reporting and program deadlines.",{"_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},6582361,"House committee places omnibus transportation bill on general register after amendments addressing trunk highway funding and e-bike rebates",909,1357495,2266715,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3102430-7515b59a9a41f5ffc19720d957315d41&start=1357&end=2266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3102430-7515b59a9a41f5ffc19720d957315d41/thumbnail_1357495.jpg","/articles/6582361/Minnesota/House-committee-places-omnibus-transportation-bill-on-general-register-after-amendments-addressing-trunk-highway-funding-and-e-bike-rebates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582361-1c533d4b99ba66c022e34355ae37cd01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198430&Signature=LqnO3I7rYbyMgBMvg2VbYpRy9ugizpofHbebJSIsmlUAjFh7NeTPX4jP9xU3TiQW0UvAW8gt-J1egPsAga-qQbrcaTbfq5dIoIrHwjkr2lRdouh9qPB5TNkIjwDN~nLLB1kdYY-t22JFa3Mp9THrzma8ZhlcGXg-yMBw6ALESCT4fdKb2MVs7PzQp~GF1Aa9QM1R8QSokAaku3VVCetbLZcDZQcgMbjthGEvY6HMor4l3Gtdf9jvnO3IHCpP7BVeeR7ER4edZovA4wXqi5eXXdqSYZjSJPnxigmNuKe34-lPzwTtkuS2egg4QfbGV5juK6vJXaFKhe~ghqrpniUbyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways and Means Committee on April 23 approved House File 2,438, the omnibus transportation finance bill, for placement on the general register after adopting an A21 (co‑author) amendment that corrected technical drafting issues and implementation details.

Committee authors said the bill aims to make roads safer, improve maintenance planning and protect key programs while reducing pressure on future bonding. Chair Kosnick and co‑chair Cagle described a package that they said contains both Republican and Democratic priorities, including funding for EV infrastructure, protection of Metro Mobility, safe routes to schools and an air‑traffic control tower at the Duluth airport.

The A21 amendment clarified trunk highway fund balance language to align with MnDOT guidelines; corrected a debt‑service figure; realigned Department of Public Safety communications reductions to the proper office; adjusted implementation details for an e‑bike rebate (including verifying income after a lottery to reduce administrative burden); and removed an appropriation for armor towers that will be pursued in the public safety bill instead of the transportation bill.

Chair Kosnick told the committee MnDOT projects a roughly $1.1 billion per‑year maintenance funding gap to maintain the state’s current road system and that the bill includes measures intended to reduce the bonding committee’s demand by more than $100 million. “By building smarter, investing a little bit more early on, we can double the life of the programs,” he said in describing a resilient pavement provision meant to be material‑neutral (suitable for either asphalt or concrete).

Members queried provisions on the North Star commuter rail line and greenhouse gas implementation. Chairs said the bill did not include direct action to continue North Star operations; MnDOT and the Met Council had been publicly working on whether to terminate North Star operations and reallocate service by bus. On greenhouse gas planning, the bill pauses project‑by‑project implementation and delays broader portfolio rollout for 12 months; chairs said the pause shifts the portfolio readiness date and delays some project impacts by up to three years to allow more time to examine mitigation and offset mechanisms.

The committee adopted the A21 co‑author amendment by voice vote and advanced HF 2,438 as amended to the general register by voice vote. Nonpartisan staff were authorized to make technical adjustments to reflect the committee’s intent.

Ending: Chairs said they expect further stakeholder engagement as the bill moves to the floor and into conference negotiations.","The House Ways and Means Committee on April 23 placed House File 2,438, the omnibus transportation finance bill, on the general register after adopting a co‑author amendment addressing technical corrections, trunk highway fund balance, debt-service amounts and the e‑bike rebate implementation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House panel places omnibus higher education budget bill on general register after bipartisan compromise to shore up state grant program

Committee lays over omnibus state government finance bill after adopting technical revenue and drafting corrections

House committee places omnibus transportation bill on general register after amendments addressing trunk highway funding and e-bike rebates