Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer

Senate Media Services

The Legislative Task Force on Aging considers a new state department

"'My kids asked me to move to a little house with no steps. I am in my 90s. I moved to a place with no stairs. But when I visit my children, it became harder and harder to navigate the stairs to enter their homes,'" Ann Bussey read. The community advocate was reciting the story of a senior from her community to the Legislative Task Force on Aging during Wednesday's meeting. Bussey continued, "'I joined our fitness program and can now easily navigate the steps again. If you don't do steps, you can't do steps. I really liked my house a lot.'"

Bussey added that the fitness program that could've kept the senior in her home has faced closure four-times since 2010 and survives now due to sponsorship from the YMCA, not through intervention by local or state government.

The half-dozen elderly advocates at the task force meeting argued that government needs to play a larger role in helping seniors thrive. Currently, services for seniors are spread out amongst private and public groups, as well as local, state and federal departments and programs such as the American Association of Retired Persons (also known as AARP), Meals on Wheels, the Department of Human Services, and others.

"What we have in the state of Minnesota and in most counties is a siloed approach. This group is doing this, this group is doing this, this group is doing this," Olmstead County Commissioner Gregory Wright said. "A siloed approach is doomed to fail."

He and the other advocates said the time for the government to act is now.

"We have on record a number of plans that were written as far back as the 90s," said Kathy Kelso, a public policy advisor for Elder Voice Advocates. "It is 2024. Nothing has been actualized." "We can no longer afford to ignore this issue. Minnesota is facing a rapidly aging population, and our current systems are not equipped to handle this demographic shift," said Kristine Sundberg, the Executive Director of Elder Voice Advocates/Disability Voice Advocates.

To face the problem, the presenters proposed a new state department – the Minnesota Department of Aging.

"The Minneapolis Regional Retirees Council urges this task force recognize the complexity of the challenges Minnesota faces as our population ages and rises to meet these challenges through creation of cabinet level department. A department capable of developing a strategy to change the existing culture about aging, plan to meet the challenges we face and capable of coordinating resources now scattered among a bewildering array of departments, and agencies," testified Leif Grina, President of the Minneapolis Regional Retirees Council.

The proposal was met with discussion from task force members. One task member cautioned that creating a new department without new infrastructure to support it could lead to disappointment, while others called for studies on the state's current efforts.

"I would like to have a cost analysis on every single thing that we're spending money on in aging Minnesota," said task force member Maureen Schneider, with the Minnesota Board on Aging. "What is this really costing us? And what are we getting for our money?"

Still, several task members supported the idea.

"Having a department will make the work more intentional and dedicated," said Senator Alice Mann. "I also think that we can come up with some more flushed-out ideas of what we need that department to focus on instead of just saying, 'This is what we need to do, you go ahead and do it,' because we've seen those plans fail in the past as well."

"I personally believe that yes, we do need a cabinet level entity to oversee aging services," said Dr. Joseph Gaugler, Director, University of Minnesota's Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation. "I think we just have to be clear-eyed as well, that if this is a recommendation coming from this task force, how can we ensure it is as successful as possible."


The Budget Surplus, Sports Betting & More / Removing Education Mandates

The chair of the Senate Finance Committee is one of the most powerful positions in the Senate. Any bill with a fiscal impact must get its final approval from the committee, and the chair ultimately decides which bills to consider. Senator John Marty, DFL-Roseville, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about the budget surplus and proposals for a MinnesotaCare public option, universal health care, legalizing sports betting, and prohibiting cashless establishments.

Despite substantive investments in E-12 education during the 2023 budget-setting legislative session, many school districts are facing budget shortfalls. Senator Jason Rarick, R-Pine City, lead Republican of the Education Finance Committee, joins Shannon to outline a plan intended to help school districts' finances by delaying the implementation of new educational mandates.

Also in the program, Republican lawmakers call for changes to the new state seal and for a statewide vote on the new state flag, and and DFLers promote legislation that would reform the health insurance prior authorization process, clarify the difference between employees and independent contractors, and enhance business competition.


February Budget Forecast / Breaking Barriers to Affordable Housing / Ensuring the Viability of EMS

Minnesota has a surplus of $3.7 billion for the current biennium, according to the just-released February Budget and Economic Forecast. Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders respond to the report as they prepare to finalize supplemental spending proposals for the 2024 legislative session.

During the 2023 legislative session, one billion dollars from the budget surplus was directed to housing initiatives. Last week, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and advocates called a press conference to outline policies intended to spark the construction of more affordable housing options throughout the state. Senator Lindsey Port, chair of the Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to walk through some of the proposed changes.

The Emergency Medical Services Task Force, created by the legislature during the 2023 session, held its first meeting in December, followed by field hearings around Minnesota. A final report is due to the legislature by mid-August. Meanwhile, the situation is dire for some EMS and ambulance services, and recommendations will be considered this session. Senator Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, co-chair of the task force, joins Shannon to explain.

Also in the program, Senate Republican leaders unveil the first part of their "Repair Minnesota" agenda, aspiring educators and DFL lawmakers call for a tuition waiver for student teachers, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers and EMS professions urge passage of an emergency funding bill.


The Role of School Resource Officers / Expanding the Crime of Doxing / Amending the Read Act

The 2023 legislature passed a law prohibiting school employees, including school resource officers (SROs), from using certain types of restraints on students. The law caused confusion among law enforcement and school officials, resulting in the removal of some SROs from schools. Senator Bonnie Westlin, DFL-Plymouth, and Senator Zach Duckworth, R-Lakeville, are working to clarify the law. They join Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about the SRO issue and other legislation they are sponsoring.

Also in the program, Minnesota students share their concerns with members of the Senate Education Policy Committee, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers and advocates highlight policy proposals to improve housing affordability, and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus outlines legislative priorities.

Finally, Senate photographers A.J. Olmscheid and Catherine J. Davis capture the first two weeks of the 2024 legislative session.


Opening Day of the 2024 Session / Tax Fixes, Tax Policy & Artificial Intelligence / Legalizing Sports Betting

It was a sweet and bipartisan start to the 2024 legislative session, initiated by Governor Tim Walz sharing homemade apple blondies with lawmakers. After the gavel, Senate leaders offered hopeful sentiments for a cooperative session, followed by press events outlying their respective outlooks for the coming months.

The Senate tax chair, one of the most powerful positions in the Senate, decides which proposals will come before the committee for consideration. Senator Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, the current chair, has said no to any significant new spending or tax increases for the 2024 session. She joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about why she does not favor costly proposals this session, the need to fix several inadvertent errors in the 2023 tax law, her position on fully eliminating the tax on social security benefits, and the potential of Artificial Intelligence.

With the Superbowl in the rearview mirror, where a reported 68 million adults placed bets according to the American Gaming Association, Minnesota remains an island of non-betting. Senator Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, joins Shannon to talk about his updated proposal to legalize sports betting in Minnesota.

Also in the program, lawmakers grapple with resolving the 2023 law change that prompted some law enforcement agencies to remove school resource officers (SROs) from schools, and highlights of recent press conferences where lawmakers outline their priorities for the 2024 session.


Photos