STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Robbins, Chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:03 PM, on March 26, 2026, in Room G23 of the State Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
ROBBINS, Kristin, Co-Chair, GOP
SCHWARTZ, Erica, Co-Vice Chair, GOP
WOLGAMOTT, Dan, Co-Chair, DFL
COULTER, Nathan, Co-Vice Chair, DFL
ALLEN, Keith
DURAN, Bidal
HANSON, Jessica
HICKS, Kim
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIEBLING, Tina
NOOR, Mohamud
NOVOTNY, Paul
RARICK, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
A quorum was present.
Representative Schwartz moved to approve the minutes of March 17, 2026. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Coulter moved to approve the minutes of March 24, 2026. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1323 (Schultz) Undocumented noncitizens made ineligible for state financial aid programs.
Chair Robbins moved HF1323 before the committee with the recommendation it be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Chair Robbins moved the H1323A1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Robbins moved the H1323A2 amendment before the committee.
Testifiers:
- Andrew Wold, General Counsel, Office of Higher Education
Chair Robbins moved to adopt the H1323A2 amendment.
Representative Wolgamott requested a roll call vote.
Representative Wolgamott withdrew the request for a roll call vote.
Chair Robbins renewed the motion to adopt H1323A2 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Robbins renewed the motion that HF1323, as amended, be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Testifiers:
- Meghan Flores, Manager of State Financial Aid Programs, Office of Higher Education
- Nekey Oliver, Director of Government Relations and Community Engagement, Office of Higher Education
Chair Robbins renewed the motion that HF1323, as amended, be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Representative Coulter requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES
ROBBINS, Kristin
SCHWARTZ, Erica
ALLEN, Keith
DURAN, Bidal
NOVOTNY, Paul
RARICK, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
NAYS
WOLGAMOTT, Dan
COULTER, Nathan
HANSON, Jessica
HICKS, Kim
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIEBLING, Tina
NOOR, Mohamud
On a vote of 7 AYES and 7 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Robbins laid over HF1323, as amended.
HF4266 (Allen) Lowest recognized family responsibility amount modified for purposes of determining state grant awards.
Chair Robbins moved HF4266 before the committee with the recommendation it be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Testifiers:
- Nekey Oliver, Director of Government Relations and Community Engagement, Office of Higher Education
- Nicole Whelan, State Grant Research Manager, Office of Higher Education
Representative Allen renewed the motion that HF4266 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Representative Wolgamott requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES
ROBBINS, Kristin
SCHWARTZ, Erica
ALLEN, Keith
DURAN, Bidal
NOVOTNY, PAUL
RARICK, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
NAYS
WOLGAMOTT, Dan
COULTER, Nathan
HANSON, Jessica
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIEBLING, Tina
NOOR, Mohamud
ABSENT
HICKS, Kim
On a vote of 7 AYES and 6 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Robbins laid over HF4266.
HF4413 (Allen) Governor’s appointment power to fill vacancies on the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota limited.
Representative Allen moved HF4412 before the committee with the recommendation that the bill be placed on the General Register.
Testifiers:
- William Luthor, Director of State Affairs, University of Minnesota Undergraduate Student Government
Representative Allen renewed the motion that HF4413 be placed on the General Register.
Representative Novotny requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES
ROBBINS, Kristin
SCHWARTZ, Erica
ALLEN, Keith
DURAN, Bidal
NOVOTNY, Paul
RARICK, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
NAYS
WOLGAMOTT, Dan
COULTER, Nathan
HANSON, Jessica
HICKS, Kim
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIEBLING, Tina
NOOR, Mohamud
On a vote 7 AYES and 7 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Robbins laid over HF4413.
HF3101 (Rymer) Intellectual Freedom Protection Act regulated public postsecondary institutions created, private right of action created, and attorney general enforcement provided.
Chair Robbins moved HF3101 before the committee with the recommendation it be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.
Testifiers:
- Tyler Coward, Lead Council, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Government Affairs
- Kileen Lindgren, Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation
- Brandon Beyer, Senior State Policy Manager, Pacific Legal Foundation
Chair Robbins renewed the motion that HF3101 be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.
Representative Wolgamott requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES
ROBBINS, Kristin
SCHWARTZ, Erica
ALLEN, Keith
DURAN, Bidal
NOVOTNY, Paul
RARICK, Marion
SCOTT, Peggy
NAYS
WOLGAMOTT, Dan
COULTER, Nathan
HANSON, Jessica
HICKS, Kim
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIEBLING, Tina
NOOR, Mohamud
On a vote 7 AYES and 7 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Robbins laid over HF3101.
HF4572 (Duran) Prohibiting the Office of Higher Education from using public funds to support law-earning degree programs.
Representative Duran moved HF4572 before the committee.
Testifiers:
- Christian Barnard, Senior Fellow, Foundation for Government Accountability
Chair Robbins laid over HF4572.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:49 PM.
Representative Kristin Robbins, Chair
Ellie Wasserman, Committee Legislative Assistant