AARP Eye Center
The State Legislature bridged a historically narrow political divide to pass a two-year state budget during a special session. Despite facing challenges such as vacancies in both chambers, federal budget uncertainties, and a looming structural deficit, the Legislature successfully advanced several of AARP Minnesota’s key legislative priorities. AARP Minnesota advocates for the rights and well-being of older Minnesotans. With over 620,000 members, AARP ensures that the voices of older adults are heard in the legislative process each year. This session, AARP Minnesota achieved significant legislative victories, including the following.
Legislative Wins
Created a Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund
A new fund to help Minnesotans recover financially from fraud.
Minnesotans who have been defrauded will have an increased chance of financial recovery thanks to bipartisan legislation that was AARP Minnesota’s top legislative priority this session. The new Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund will collect up to $5 million per year of undistributed civil penalties paid to the State of Minnesota to provide restitution through the Attorney General’s office to fraud victims.
STANDALONE BILLS
Supported, passed in omnibus
SF 447 (Rest) | HF 1392 (Lee)
OMNIBUS BILLS
Supported, passed
SF 2374 (Senate Tax Omnibus) | HF 2437 (House Tax Omnibus)
Added Consumer Protections for Minnesotans in Assisted Living Facilities
Strengthened protections for vulnerable adults in assisted living.
The Legislature added protections for vulnerable adults who reside in assisted living facilities. First, a facility can no longer terminate a resident’s contract because they change from private to public funds if the facility has represented that it accepts public funds. Second, facilities can no longer require residents to have guardianship or conservatorship. Third, facilities sold to a new owner must honor the terms of residents’ existing contracts. Fourth, facilities can no longer force residents into mandatory arbitration.
AARP championed the creation of Minnesota’s state law, the Elder Care and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act, that made Minnesota the final state to license assisted living facilities. Since its passage in 2019 and enactment, AARP Minnesota has advocated to protect and strengthen it, including successfully fending off a reduction in assessments by a registered nurse and harmful changes to residents’ terminations protections this session.
STANDALONE BILLS
Supported, passed in omnibus
Guardianship/spenddown: SF 2522 (Mann) | HF 2216 (Moller)
Honoring existing contracts: SF 2522 (Mann) | HF 2216 (Moller)
Mandatory arbitration: SF 1918 (Dibble) | HF 2458 (Noor)
Supported, not passed or included in omnibus
Private Equity: SF 2972 (Dibble) | HF 2771 (Reyer)
Housing assistance: SF 814 (Fateh) | HF 1337 (Noor)
Opposed, then supported with amendment, passed in omnibus
SF 2537 (Rasmussen) | HF 2647 (Schomacker)
Opposed, not passed or included in omnibus
Terminations bill: SF 2055 (Fateh) | HF 2064 (Noor)
OMNIBUS BILL, PASSED
Human Services Policy: SF 2443 | HF 2115
SIGNED INTO LAW
Chapter 38
Avoided Efforts to Disrupt the Paid Family & Medical Leave Program
Defeated efforts to weaken the Paid Family and Medical Leave law.
AARP and partner organizations helped defeat efforts to weaken Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law, including bills to narrow the definition of family, deny access to some employees, delay implementation, or repeal the law altogether. The maximum allowable premium rate—which is 0.88% to start the program— was lowered from 1.2% to 1.1%. While this change could cause negative long-term financial consequences, this is a relatively small change to the law compared to other proposals this sessi
on. Paid Family and Medical leave will begin in Minnesota on January 1, 2026.
STANDALONE BILLS
Opposed, not passed
Exclude certain family members, reducing the number of caregiver options, reduced wage benefits and length of benefits, and jeopardized the long-term financial feasibility of the program by lowering the premium cap: SF 3141 (Frentz) | HF 2962 (Baker)
Delay implementation one year: SF 2529 (Rarick) | HF 11 (Baker)
Exempting employees covered by collective bargaining and seasonal workers, restrict definition of family, allow private administration of the program, change the calculation of benefits, reduced the maximum leave length: SF 2466 (Pratt) | HF 1976 (Baker)
Exempting local government employees: SF 2399 (Koran) | HF 915 (Quam)
Passed Language Needed to Launch the Secure Choice Program
Facilitates retirement savings for Minnesotans.
More Minnesotans who wish to save for retirement have that option starting January 1, 2026. Minnesota’s Secure Choice Program, sometimes known as “Work and Save,” is well-positioned to launch thanks to the inclusion of needed technical language in the bipartisan Omnibus Pension and Retirement Bill. These provisions include administrative policies like secure data-sharing across state agencies and the implementation of small penalties for repeated non-compliance.
STANDALONE BILLS, PASSED IN OMNIBUS
Penalties for non-compliance: SF 2984 (Pappas) / HF 2943 (Nadeau)
Administrative bill: SF 2985 (Pappas) / HF 2942 (Nadeau)
OMNIBUS BILL, PASSED
Pensions omnibus bill: SF 2884 (Frentz/O'Driscoll/Lillie)
SIGNED INTO LAW
Chapter 37
Protection from Unexpected Drug Formulary Changes
Prevents unfair mid-year changes to drug formularies.
Minnesotans will soon be protected from unfair, mid-year drug formulary changes. Starting in 2026, all health plans sold, issued, and renewed in Minnesota will be unable to remove a drug from the health plan's formulary or place a drug in a benefit category that increases the enrollee's cost for the duration of the enrollee's plan year. There are exceptions, with proper 60-day notice, to equivalent replacements or removal due to safety concerns.
Continued Work
Minnesota Became the Only State with a Penalty on Medigap Plans
Lawmakers drastically altered state insurance laws that will impact Medicare-eligible Minnesotans’ ability to purchase a Medicare Supplemental insurance plan, often known as “Medigap.” The new law removes guaranteed issue—the ability to purchase a plan without denial due to pre-existing conditions—on Minnesotans over 70. Additionally, people ages 65-70 purchasing a plan during open enrollment periods will be subject to a lifetime penalty up to 35% by 2029. This penalty applies to enrollments outside of a person’s initial six-month period or some other limited circumstances. Minnesota is now the only state with a government-imposed penalty on Medigap plans.
While AARP’s advocacy did help protect guaranteed issue for those 65-70 starting on August 1, 2026, albeit with a lifetime penalty, this new law remains deeply problematic. AARP Minnesota will continue to engage on this issue in future legislative sessions.
AARP Minnesota is raising concerns over a recent decision by the Legislature’s Commerce working group that could significantly impact Medicare choices for older Minnesotans.
STANDALONE BILLS
Opposed, passed in omnibus
Lifetime penalty: SF 2477 (Klein) / HF 2403 (O’Driscoll, on behalf of Commerce)
Opposed, not passed
Full repeal of guaranteed issue periods: SF 2498 (Draheim) | HF 2335 (Elkins)
Make Aging a Strategic Priority for the State of Minnesota
With the Age-Friendly Minnesota Council set to expire in 2027 without legislative funding, the Human Services budget did not include additional funding for the Council and the community grants that it distributes. The Council is working to implement the state’s Multisector Blueprint for Aging and there are now more than 30 communities, plus the State of Minnesota, enrolled in AARP’s Age-Friendly network. AARP Minnesota expects to continue pushing for funding for this council in future sessions.
STANDALONE BILLS
Supported, not included in omnibus
SF 2630 (Hoffman) | HF 2646 (Schomacker)
OMNIBUS BILLS, DID NOT INCLUDE PROVISION, PASSED
Senate Human Services Finance Omnibus; SF 3054 (Hoffman) | HF 2434 (Schomacker)
Expand Housing Options in Communities Across Minnesota
AARP Minnesota sought to address the state’s growing housing crisis as part of a wide-ranging, statewide coalition this session. AARP believes in empowering people to choose how they live as they age, and that must include where they live. Given Minnesota’s shortage of affordable and varied housing options, the “Yes to Homes” coalition supported bipartisan legislation to increase the availability of accessory dwelling units, additional housing unit types, and promote livable, walkable communities. Unfortunately, these proposals were not included in the final housing bill. AARP Minnesota will continue to advocate for housing options that meet the state’s needs in future sessions.
To help alleviate a housing shortage that makes it difficult for many older Minnesotans to find affordable housing, AARP Minnesota is working with a broad-based coalition to push the state Legislature to help expand affordable housing options.
STANDALONE BILLS
Supported, not passed in omnibus
Starter Home Act: SF 2229 (Port) | HF 1987 (Igo)
Reducing Rent Inflation Act: SF 2286 (Clark) | HF 2018 (Kozlowski)
Increased Housing Options Act: SF 2231 (Boldon) | HF 2140 (Kraft)
People Over Parking Act: SF 1268 (Fateh) | HF 1309 (Coulter)
MinnesotaNice Home Share Program: SF 2085 (Housley) | HF 1343 (Zeleznikar)
Stay Connected
Don’t miss important updates as the legislature nears the finish line.
Sign up and receive the AARP Advocate, a free monthly e-newsletter; email action alerts on the issues you care about; and the latest news on Congress and the White House.
Help raise awareness of and influence important legislative issues impacting older adults.
Contact AARP Minnesota
Contact information and more from your state office. Learn what we are doing to champion social change and help you live your best life.