SF 4297 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Postsecondary institutions clearly noticing deadlines for full reimbursement of tuition requirement provision

This bill requires Minnesota postsecondary institutions to clearly communicate deadlines for full tuition refunds during the add-drop period, where students can remove courses without being marked as withdrawn. It applies to state colleges and universities, private institutions with Minnesota campuses participating in federal aid programs, and encourages University of Minnesota schools to comply. Institutions must display refund deadlines prominently on their websites, share them directly with students during registration, and include them in student handbooks. The bill also establishes a formal complaint process allowing students to report violations, with the Office of Higher Education empowered to investigate complaints and impose penalties including fines of up to $500 per day per violation or require schools to take corrective action.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 9, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction 1st Engrossment · 6 edits · Mar 12, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment version, incorporating significant new provisions to create a formal student complaint process and empower the Office of Higher Education to investigate and penalize institutions that fail to meet tuition reimbursement deadlines. The changes expand the bill's scope by adding a new section that defines specific complaint procedures, investigation protocols, and financial penalties for non-compliance.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from solely requiring institutions to notice tuition deadlines to also establishing a regulatory framework for student complaints and enforcement actions by the state.
REQUIREMENT

Added a new section creating a formal written complaint process for students alleging violations of tuition reimbursement deadlines.

Changed the deadline for student communication from before the add-drop period to the time of registration.

Updated the reference for appealing institutional findings to a new statute section.

Required schools to publicly disclose their complaint process on websites, handbooks, and catalogs.

ENFORCEMENT

Granted the Office of Higher Education authority to investigate complaints and require remedial actions or assign fines.

Established a daily fine cap of $500 per violation for institutions failing to comply with tuition deadline requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Judiciary and Public Safety
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Higher Education
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors