Minnesota Government Watch

View letters and testimony from AARP Minnesota to lawmakers and regulators regarding our legislative priorities below. View federal letters and testimony from AARP to lawmakers and regulators regarding health, financial, and livable communities issues.


April 2024

• TESTIMONY - Home Equity Loss (PDF)
  On April 30, Mary Jo George, State Director of Advocacy at AARP MN, testified to the Tax Committee in support of Representative Feist’s bill HF 4822, which protects older homeowners from losing the equity in their homes when they can't pay their property taxes..
• TESTIMONY - Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDF)
  On April 30, Bill Raker, AARP Volunteer, testified in front of Chair Lourey and members of the Minnesotan Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
• LETTER: Crypto Currency and Unfair Service Agreements (PDF)
  On April 16, AARP MN sent a letter to Chair Klein, Chair Stephenson, and Commerce Committee Conferees with AARP's position on crypto currency and unfair service agreements in SF4097/HF4077 Omnibus Commerce Bills. AARP supports the language in both bills that prohibit unfair service agreements and urges lawmakers to consider even stronger language that includes restitution of all fees in cases of fraud, lower daily limits for all customers, and better warning signs.
• LETTER - Expansion of Affordable Housing Options (PDF)
  On April 15, AARP MN sent a letter to Chair Dziedzic and Members of the Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Committee in support of Senator Portman’s legislation, (SF 4254-a2), that expands affordable housing options by allowing multifamily by right in commercially zoned areas.
  
• LETTER - Multifamily Zoning Commercial Districts (PDF)
  On April 11, AARP MN sent a letter to Chair Klevorn and Members of the State and Local Government Committee in support of Representative Kozlowski’s legislation (HF 4010) that expands affordable housing options by allowing multifamily by right in commercially zoned areas.
  

March 2024

• TESTIMONY - Driver Safety to Transportation Committee (PDF)
  On March 20, Cheryl Salo, AARP Driver Safety Instructor, testified to the Transportation Committee in support of support of SF 727/HF 4587 a bill that reduces the 8-hour driver safety course to 4 hours.
• LETTER: Urgent Need to Protect Minnesota’s Most Vulnerable (PDF)
  On March 19, AARP MN, The ARC Minnesota, Elder Voice Advocates/Disability Voice Advocates Hennepin County Adult, Representation Services, Legal Aid, Legal Services Advocacy Project, Minnesota Elder Justice Center, Minnesota Council on Disability, and Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living, Inc. sent a joint letter to Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, Senator Murphy, and Representative Hortman to request that the language of the SF3438-A3 amendment pass in the 2024 legislative session to protect Minnesota’s seniors and those under guardianship.
• LETTER: Predatory Real Estate Agreements (PDF)
  On March 16, AARP MN sent a letter to Chair Stephenson and members of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee in support of provisions HF 4034, which will protect homeowners in Minnesota from predatory real estate agreements and allow the Attorney General to enforce these agreements and seek restitution for homeowners.
• TESTIMONY - Home Equity Loss to House Judiciary Committee (PDF)
  On March 13, Mary Jo George, State Director of Advocacy at AARP MN, submitted written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee to support Representative Feist's bill HF 4822, which protects older homeowners from losing the equity in their homes when they can't pay their property taxes.
• LETTER - Resident Protections for Vulnerable Adults Living in HUD (PDF)
  On March 11, AARP MN, the Office of the Ombudsman for Long-Term Care, Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Alzheimer’s Association, MN Elder Justice Center, and Legal Aid sent a letter to Chair Noor and Members of the Human Service Financing Committee in support of Representative Lee's bill HF 4220, which protects vulnerable residents living in HUD and Low-Income Tax Credit Facilities who are receiving assisted living services.
• TESTIMONY - Resident Protections in HUD and Low-Income Tax Facilities (PDF)
  On March 6, Lisa Papp-Richards testified at the Human Services Committee to support Senator Hoffman and Senator Abler's bill SF 4044, which provides enhanced protections against retaliation and arbitrary discharges in assisted living settings.
• LETTER: Expansion of Affordable Housing Options (PDF)
  On March 5, AARP MN sent a letter to Chair Port and members of the Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee in support of Senator Mitchell’s legislation, (SF 3964), that expands affordable housing options by easing barriers to the construction of “Missing Middle Housing” and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
  
• LETTER: Vulnerable Residents Living in HUD and Low-Income Tax Credit Facilities (PDF)
  On March 3, AARP MN, the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care, the Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Alzheimer's Association, Minnesota Elder Justice Center, and Legal Aid jointly sent a letter to Senator Hoffman and members of the Health Financing Committee in support for Senator Hoffman’s bill SF 4044 (Resident Protections for Vulnerable Adults Living in HUD and Low-Income Tax Credit (LITC) Housing Receiving Assisted Living Services.
  

February 2024

• LETTER - Expansion of Affordable Housing Options (PDF)
  On February 19, AARP MN sent a letter to Chair Howard and Members of the Housing Committee in support of Representative Kraft’s legislation, (HF 4009), that expands affordable housing options by easing barriers to the construction of “Missing Middle Housing” and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
• LETTER - Real Estate Agreements (PDF)
  On February 13, AARP MN sent a letter to Chair Latz and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Senator Xiong’s Delete-All legislation (SF 3334), a bill that will protect homeowners in Minnesota from predatory real estate agreements.