Higher Education Committee
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Present: Senator Omar Fateh - Chair, Senator Aric Putnam - Vice Chair, Senator Zach Duckworth - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Doron Clark, Senator Robert D. Farnsworth, Senator Keri Heintzeman, Senator Robert J. Kupec, Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, Senator Paul J. Utke
Absent: No Members Absent
3:00 PM, G-15 Capitol
Minutes
Present: Senator Omar Fateh - Chair, Senator Aric Putnam - Vice Chair, Senator Zach Duckworth - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Doron Clark, Senator Robert D. Farnsworth, Senator Keri Heintzeman, Senator Robert J. Kupec, Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, Senator Paul J. Utke
Absent: No Members Absent
Senator Omar Fateh called the meeting to order at 3:07pm
Call to Order
S.F. 4589: Senator Westlin: Visitor carrying of firearms on campuses of public postsecondary institutions regulation.
The following individuals testified on S.F.4589: -Cindy Harley, Metro State Faculty Association President & Professor of Biology -Mark Grant, MCSF Government Relations -Bernie Omann, Director of Government Relations, MNSCU Senator Farnsworth requested a roll call. Senators Fateh, Putnam, Oumou Verbeten, Kupec, and Oumou Verbeten voted aye. Senators Duckworth, Farnsworth, Utke, and Heintzeman voted nay. Motion was adopted 5-4.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4589, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
The following individuals testified on S.F.4589: -Cindy Harley, Metro State Faculty Association President & Professor of Biology -Mark Grant, MCSF Government Relations -Bernie Omann, Director of Government Relations, MNSCU Senator Farnsworth requested a roll call. Senators Fateh, Putnam, Oumou Verbeten, Kupec, and Oumou Verbeten voted aye. Senators Duckworth, Farnsworth, Utke, and Heintzeman voted nay. Motion was adopted 5-4.
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4589, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
S.F. 4866: Senator Fateh: Parental contributions provisions modification.
Senator Fateh moved the A1 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED The following individuals testified on S.F.4866: -Dennis Olson, Commissioner, Office of Higher Education -Nicole Whelan, Research Analyst, Office of Higher Education -Meghan Flores, State Grant/State Financial Aid Manager, Office of Higher Education -Paul Cerkvenik, President, Minnesota Private College Council -William Luther, Director of State Affairs for the University of Minnesota Undergraduate Student Government
Senator Fateh moved that S.F. 4866, be laid over. - MOTION ADOPTED.
Senator Fateh moved the A1 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED The following individuals testified on S.F.4866: -Dennis Olson, Commissioner, Office of Higher Education -Nicole Whelan, Research Analyst, Office of Higher Education -Meghan Flores, State Grant/State Financial Aid Manager, Office of Higher Education -Paul Cerkvenik, President, Minnesota Private College Council -William Luther, Director of State Affairs for the University of Minnesota Undergraduate Student Government
Senator Fateh moved that S.F. 4866, be laid over. - MOTION ADOPTED.
S.F. 3943: Senator Fateh: Student aid reporting requirements modifications, parenting students additional accommodations requirements provision, American Indian Scholars program eligibility modifications provision.
The following individuals testified on S.F.3943: -Nekey Oliver, Director of Government Relations and Community, Office of Higher Education -Bernie Omann, Director of Government Relations, Minnesota State Senator Kupec moved to take SF 3943 from the table, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved the A5 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Oumou Verbeten moved the A6 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moves to reconsider the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Fateh moved an oral amendment to strike lines 1.3 and 1.4 of the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED The committee recessed at 5:21pm and reconvened at 5:35pm Senator Kupec moved to reconsider the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved to reconsider the oral amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Fateh moved to withdraw the oral amendment, reinstating lines 1.3 and 1.4 to the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED
Senator Clark moved that S.F. 3943, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Finance Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
The following individuals testified on S.F.3943: -Nekey Oliver, Director of Government Relations and Community, Office of Higher Education -Bernie Omann, Director of Government Relations, Minnesota State Senator Kupec moved to take SF 3943 from the table, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved the A5 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Oumou Verbeten moved the A6 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moves to reconsider the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Fateh moved an oral amendment to strike lines 1.3 and 1.4 of the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED The committee recessed at 5:21pm and reconvened at 5:35pm Senator Kupec moved to reconsider the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved to reconsider the oral amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Fateh moved to withdraw the oral amendment, reinstating lines 1.3 and 1.4 to the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED Senator Kupec moved the A11 amendment, MOTION ADOPTED
Senator Clark moved that S.F. 3943, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Finance Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:37pm
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Senator Omar Fateh, Chair |
Chris Meyer, Committee Administrator |