SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved the conference committee report on House File 2073, the state’s Higher Education Budget. With declining enrollment across higher education, the report provides a record increase in investment for Minnesota’s colleges and universities.
Representative Samakab Hussein (DFL – Saint Paul) released the following statement,
“Higher Education should be accessible to all Minnesotans, regardless of background. Our budget provides pathways to a college degree for young families, indigenous students, those with intellectual disabilities, and more through targeted initiatives and scholarships. Our Higher Education budget proposal focuses on giving Minnesota’s students the tools and support they need to excel in a career after graduation. Minnesota has the opportunity to build the workforce of tomorrow at our state colleges and universities today, and that’s what our budget delivers.”
The Higher Education budget for 2024-2025 funds the Office of Higher Education, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota campuses, the Mayo Clinic Medical School, and Tribal Colleges. Notably, the budget provides free college to students with household incomes under $80,000.
Included in the budget is a fully funded tuition freeze at Minnesota State for two years, saving students a combined $75 million. The budget also provides $50 million in one-time funding to address structural deficits across the Minnesota State system, saving jobs and programs.
Additional information on the bill can be found here. Video of today’s House Floor debate can be found here.