Higher Education

This bill requires public colleges and universities in Minnesota to award college credit to high school students who achieve specific scores on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams. Under the new rules, students must receive at least three credits for a score of three or higher on an AP exam, while IB exams require four or higher for three credits on standard levels and four or higher for five credits on higher levels. The legislation applies only to public institutions and sets a future effective date for exams taken on or after January 1, 2026.

This bill requires the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to select one university as the state's flagship institution by January 1, 2027. To qualify, the chosen campus must demonstrate a clear strategic plan, strong potential for economic and intellectual growth, consistent enrollment increases, and a commitment to receiving priority funding for capital projects. Once designated, the flagship university would gain the ability to request autonomy from certain system-wide rules and restrictions. The legislation directly impacts the state's higher education system by establishing specific criteria for this special status and altering how resources and authority are distributed among institutions.

SF 3120 establishes a statewide program creating automatic savings accounts ("MinneKIDS accounts") for Minnesota children under 18 born on or after July 1, 2026. The state commissioner will open these accounts within 90 days using birth data, notify parents annually about options to opt out or qualify for additional seed deposits (up to $500 for low-income households), and manage investments. Funds in these accounts - held by the state until used for higher education - remain forfeitable if unused by age 26. The bill also creates grants for local partners to help implement the program and requires annual reporting.

This bill allocates $131 million from the state's general fund to support Minnesota's state grant program for higher education in fiscal year 2027. The funding is designated as a one-time appropriation and will be managed by the commissioner of the Office of Higher Education. This measure directly affects students receiving state financial aid and the institutions administering the grant program. The legislation provides additional resources without specifying how the funds will be distributed among recipients.

This bill limits the governor's ability to appoint individuals to fill vacancies on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. It requires the governor to appoint only candidates recommended by the joint legislative committee if the legislature does not elect someone to fill the vacancy. The law affects the appointment process for board members and strengthens the role of the legislative committee in selecting candidates. This change ensures that when the legislature cannot fill a vacancy, the governor must choose from a pre-approved list rather than selecting any candidate independently.