Higher Education

Student Loan Advocate Bill Passes Senate Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Tuesday, Senator Tou Xiong (DFL-Maplewood) presented and testified in support of his bill to create a student loan advocate role in the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The bill, SF 998, funds the new office and outlines the duties of the advocate, who would help to resolve complaints from borrowers, provide information on borrowers’ rights and responsibilities, and make public reports and recommendations, among other responsibilities.

Senator Greg Clausen

Higher Education Budget Bill reaches the floor with a very low budget target

Today on the Senate floor, Senate Republicans voted for an under-funded Higher Education Omnibus Budget Bill (SF 975) that invests just $43 million in Minnesota’s post-secondary institutions and students. Though the bill increases the student grant fund, it falls short in funding both the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State at a time when both systems have faced serious budget challenges due to the pandemic.