 HF2073, as amended, would appropriate $4.2 billion to the state’s public colleges, universities and financial aid programs in the next biennium, an 18.5% increase over current funding levels. The bill now heads to the Senate. (House Photography file photo)
A significant funding increase for the Minnesota State and University of Minnesota systems is a step closer to reality.
On Wednesday, the House passed the omnibus higher education finance bill by a 69-58 party-line vote.
HF2073, as amended, would appropriate $4.16 billion to the state’s public colleges, universities and financial aid programs in the next biennium, an 18.5% increase over current funding levels. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Sponsored by Rep. Gene Pelowski, Jr. (DFL-Winona), HF2073 would appropriate $1.91 billion to the Minnesota State system, $1.57 billion to the University of Minnesota, and $669.4 million to the Office of Higher Education, which administers the state's financial aid programs. The bill would also send $3.6 million to the Mayo Foundation for its medical school.
“HF2073 makes the largest investment in higher education in my 37 years in the House of Representatives,” Pelowski said. “And it’s at a particularly good time. We have, over the past decade, abused tuition to the point where we have used the students as banks. And every year, we have decided that we can have 3.5% or more in tuition increases. And we’ve reached a point where the students and parents have said that it’s enough."
➡️ Read more about HF2073 at Session Daily
WATCH ▶️ Wednesday's floor debate on the bill
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