Minnesota STEM Ecosystem grant appropriation

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Grant Hauschild and 2 co-sponsors

The bill would authorize state funds for STEM ecosystem grants administered by DEED to strengthen Minnesota’s STEM education, partnerships, and workforce development.

Referred to Jobs and Economic Development

#employmentandeconomicdevelopmentdepartment

Overview

SF 1726 proposes an appropriation to support Minnesota STEM ecosystem grants. The bill is currently referred to the Senate’s Jobs and Economic Development committee and, if enacted, would be administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The companion House bill is HF 1847.

Bill number: SF 1726

Title: Minnesota STEM Ecosystem grant appropriation

Purpose: To provide state funds for grants intended to develop and strengthen STEM ecosystems in Minnesota

Status: Introduced February 20, 2025; referred to Jobs and Economic Development

Companion: HF 1847

Purpose and Intent

The core intent is to finance and enable grants aimed at building and sustaining STEM ecosystems across Minnesota. By funding partnerships among schools, colleges, universities, industry, nonprofits, and community organizations, the bill seeks to enhance STEM education and workforce development and to strengthen the state’s talent pipelines in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Key Provisions (as described by the bill’s summary and typical grant-appropriation structure)

Authorization of state funds for STEM ecosystem grants.

Grant program administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Intended outcomes likely include improved collaboration among educators, industry partners, and community organizations; expanded access to STEM learning opportunities; and strengthened alignment between education outcomes and workforce needs.

Specific program details (such as eligible recipients, grant sizes, award periods, application processes, reporting, and performance metrics) are not provided in the information available. If enacted, these would be defined in the bill’s text or implementing rules.

Who Would Be Affected

State government: DEED would administer the grant program.

Eligible recipients and participants: potential grantees could include K-12 districts, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, workforce development groups, and industry partners participating in STEM ecosystems.

Local communities: activities funded by the grants could impact regional STEM education and workforce development outcomes.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: February 20, 2025.

Legislative actions: Introduction and first reading on February 20, 2025; bill subsequently referred to the Jobs and Economic Development committee.

Related legislation: HF 1847 is the companion bill in the House.

No fiscal note, committee hearings, or final passage status are provided in the available information.

Potential Impact (high level)

If enacted, SF 1726 could increase funding and formal support for local STEM ecosystems, potentially improving collaboration among education providers, industry, and communities; expanding access to STEM opportunities; and supporting Minnesota’s long-term workforce development goals. The magnitude of impact will depend on the specific appropriation amount, eligibility criteria, and grant terms established in the final bill and any implementing rules.

Next Steps to Watch

Review the text of SF 1726 for exact dollar amounts, eligibility, grant terms, reporting requirements, and evaluation criteria.

Monitor committee hearings and potential amendments in the Senate Jobs and Economic Development committee.

Compare SF 1726 with HF 1847 for alignment or differences between the Senate and House versions.

Bill