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

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.