Minnesota House passes higher-education finance bill after heated debate over North Star Promise eligibility

The Minnesota House on a recorded vote passed House File 2431, the Higher Education Finance and Policy bill, as amended, by 120-14 after extended debate and multiple roll-call votes on amendments.

The bill, described on the House floor by Representative Zach Wolgamott, author of the measure, and co-chair Representative Marion Rarick, funds higher-education priorities and addresses large shortfalls in the state grant program. "I am proud to present to you House File 2431, the higher education finance and policy bill," Wolgamott said on the House floor.

Why it matters: members said the package balances holding harmless the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State while filling part of a $239,000,000 shortfall in the state grant program that the committee identified. Lawmakers debated eligibility for the North Star Promise program, restorations for rural medical training and workforce programs, and targeted supports for foster youth, student parents and paramedic training.

Most significant floor votes and outcomes

- Amendment A9 (moved by Representative Schultz): Sought to restrict eligibility for the North Star Promise program by excluding people without lawful immigration status. The House recorded a roll-call vote; there were 66 ayes and 67 nays. The amendment did not prevail.

- Subsequent amendment (moved as the Coulter amendment, explained on the floor by Representative Ginny Coulter): Sought to restore funding for several targeted programs including large-animal veterinarian loan forgiveness, agricultural-education loan forgiveness, a paramedic scholarship, the student parent support initiative and additional support for the Fostering Independence Grant (FIG) program, and proposed removing for-profit colleges from the state grant program. The transcript records floor debate, a call of the House and a recorded roll call on the amendment; the transcript does not include an explicit tally for that amendment in the excerpt provided.

- Final action: On third reading the House passed the bill "as…