1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to state government; establishing the Healthy Aging Subcabinet and
1.3 Citizens' Engagement Council; requiring a Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan;
1.4 describing duties and membership; requiring reports; appropriating money;
1.5 proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16A.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. [16A.91] HEALTHY AGING SUBCABINET.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose and intent.The Healthy Aging Subcabinet is
1.9established in Minnesota Management and Budget. The subcabinet is a distinct entity,
1.10separately identifiable from other state agencies and is dedicated to ensuring all people in
1.11Minnesota age with dignity and have equitable opportunities for the best possible health
1.12and well-being throughout the life-course.
1.13 Subd. 2.Subcabinet purpose.The purpose of the subcabinet is to:
1.14 (1) assist in the design of a statewide planning process for a Minnesota Healthy Aging
1.15Plan for an aging population;
1.16 (2) engage public participation in creating policy solutions for identified challenges and
1.17opportunities related to aging in communities and living in one's own home;
1.18 (3) identify opportunities within state government to improve quality of life for older
1.19adults and promote healthy aging for all people in Minnesota; and
1.20 (4) serve as a resource to the legislature on policies and practices that will enhance the
1.21experience of aging for people living in Minnesota.
1Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/AC 25-0410503/18/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 2725
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Klevorn, Zeleznikar and Noor03/24/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on State Government Finance and Policy 2.1 Subd. 3.Director; Office of Healthy Aging; staffing; duties.(a) The governor shall
2.2appoint a director to lead and oversee operations of the subcabinet, the Citizens' Engagement
2.3Council and establish an Office of Healthy Aging. The director shall serve as the chair of
2.4the Healthy Aging Subcabinet. The director must possess a background in public health,
2.5public policy, community engagement, and have a demonstrated knowledge of older adult
2.6abilities and needed supports when living at home or in the person's community. The director
2.7may have experience working with an aging population. The director's responsibilities at a
2.8minimum are to:
2.9 (1) lead and coordinate the duties of the Healthy Aging Subcabinet;
2.10 (2) initiate and conduct a planning process to develop the Minnesota Healthy Aging
2.11Plan for aging in Minnesota communities;
2.12 (3) appoint members and support the Citizens' Engagement Council;
2.13 (4) ensure community discussions across public and private sectors and with Tribal
2.14governments and the Indian Affairs Council to inform policy recommendations for the
2.15Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan;
2.16 (5) ensure the perspectives of older adults, caregivers, health care and service providers,
2.17and advocacy organizations regarding community development that is needed to support
2.18older adults living at home and aging in the community are reflected in the Minnesota
2.19Healthy Aging Plan; and
2.20 (6) explore initiatives that enhance opportunities for an aging adult, regardless of age,
2.21income, or ability level, to live in the adult's own home and community if desired and if
2.22safe.
2.23 (b) The director may secure professional development and training opportunities to
2.24promote community development initiatives that address aging-related issues and support
2.25the Healthy Aging Subcabinet.
2.26 (c) The director may hire and compensate out of available funds additional staff as
2.27necessary to support the office and conduct the planning process. Staff members shall
2.28possess relevant expertise and experience in areas such as aging services, policy analysis,
2.29community health, and community development and engagement. The director and full-time
2.30staff shall be eligible for the Minnesota State Retirement System.
2.31 Subd. 4.Subcabinet membership.The subcabinet membership shall consist of agency
2.32leads representing state agencies that administer policies that impact aging Minnesotans.
2Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/AC 25-0410503/18/25 3.1The director, subcabinet members, and Citizens' Engagement Council shall assist in
3.2development and recommendations for the Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan.
3.3 Subd. 5.Subcabinet duties.The director of the subcabinet shall lead the Citizens'
3.4Engagement Council members in the following duties:
3.5 (1) integrate aging-related considerations into state agency planning, decision-making,
3.6and measurable outcomes for service delivery processes;
3.7 (2) promote the adoption of evidence-based approaches and policies in supporting healthy
3.8aging across public and private sectors;
3.9 (3) ensure agencies conduct community engagement to inform strategic plans for each
3.10agency;
3.11 (4) identify federal and state funding for programs currently dedicated to address the
3.12negative impact of social determinants of health and well-being for Minnesotans and those
3.13that would significantly benefit from community strategies that prevent or delay disability
3.14and that enable quality-of-life outcomes throughout the life span;
3.15 (5) identify areas of potential savings through economic and community development
3.16and resource planning for an aging demographic;
3.17 (6) evaluate the impact on healthy aging of current aging related initiatives in public
3.18and private sectors including housing, transit and workforce programs designed for older
3.19adults, and community health efforts in order to inform the Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan;
3.20 (7) coordinate with local and state agencies and Tribal Nations to conduct an analysis
3.21of the health care delivery system for oral health, chronic and acute health conditions, and
3.22palliative and end-of-life care to determine areas of access problems throughout Minnesota;
3.23 (8) with relevant state agencies and Tribal Nations, analyze the extent of family caregiving
3.24in private and public sectors to determine the need for greater support through aging policies
3.25initiated in private and public sectors;
3.26 (9) with the ombudsman for long-term care, evaluate the oversight process of long-term
3.27care facilities, assisted living residences, and home-care agencies that ensure public safety
3.28and accountability;
3.29 (10) develop a transparency policy that tracks the use of government funding for
3.30long-term care to ensure state funding is used as intended;
3.31 (11) monitor and evaluate strategies and findings for progress reports during the planning
3.32process to be posted on the subcabinet's website; and
3Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/AC 25-0410503/18/25 4.1 (12) with the ombudsman for long-term care, evaluate the need for additional long-term
4.2care services and training and recruitment of long-term care providers throughout the state.
4.3 Subd. 6.Citizens' Engagement Council; public engagement.(a) The Office of Healthy
4.4Aging will establish a Citizens' Engagement Council composed of 20 diverse members
4.5from different geographic regions and demographic groups, including older adults, caregivers,
4.6elder advocates, the Minnesota area agencies on aging, Tribal Nations, county agencies,
4.7nonprofit services, and business sectors. The purpose of the council is to:
4.8 (1) ensure the voices and perspectives of older adults are included in the recommended
4.9initiatives and policies for implementing the Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan;
4.10 (2) provide feedback on current aging-related programs and services, identifying areas
4.11for improvements and innovations; and
4.12 (3) provide ongoing input, advice, and strategies for the planning process to engage
4.13older Minnesotans and families.
4.14 (b) Members of the council may be compensated under section 15.059 for council
4.15activities.
4.16 Subd. 7.Discretionary powers.The office may apply for and receive grants from public
4.17and private foundations and issue contracts and grants.
4.18 Subd. 8.Public awareness.In order to promote public engagement, the Office of Healthy
4.19Aging shall maintain a website and publish annual reports about the work of the office. The
4.20office shall also share on its website ideas for how Minnesotans can become involved with
4.21and informed on aging issues. By use of this medium, the office shall gather ideas from the
4.22public on needed programs for healthy aging in the community.
4.23 Subd. 9.The Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan.The Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan shall
4.24include recommendations from citizens and council members that support older Minnesotans
4.25and their contributions, and their health care needs as follows:
4.26 (1) community-based initiatives that support living in one's own home and community
4.27if desired, regardless of age, income, or ability level, and as safely, independently, and
4.28comfortably as possible;
4.29 (2) community-based initiatives with public and private sector funding that provide older
4.30adults the choice to remain in and contribute to their communities with needed supports
4.31including access to health care, independent housing options, access to food, opportunities
4.32to socialize, innovative residential options for long-term care, and safe and affordable
4.33transportation;
4Section 1.
REVISOR SGS/AC 25-0410503/18/25 5.1 (3) public policies that recommend systemwide improvements for safe and affordable
5.2housing options and transportation, innovative market-rate housing options, removal of
5.3employment barriers and increased opportunities for an aging workforce, outdoor recreational
5.4opportunities, broadband communications, and health care that includes mental health and
5.5oral health;
5.6 (4) public policies that address the current and future demand for home care, assisted
5.7living and skilled nursing facilities, and innovations for community-based long-term care
5.8services; workforce training, recruitment and employment opportunities throughout
5.9Minnesota; and professional education opportunities for long-term care providers;
5.10 (5) public and private sector resource management policies that would implement
5.11community health strategies to address social determinants of health and well-being;
5.12 (6) state agencies' strategic plans that drive innovations for healthy aging in communities
5.13across the lifespan;
5.14 (7) ongoing aging policy coordination and oversight within state and county agencies
5.15and in coordination with Tribal Nations, local communities, and the private sector;
5.16 (8) measures to ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the impact of healthy aging
5.17policies and programs in order to make improvements and recommend further innovations;
5.18 (9) recommendations for full implementation of the Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan that
5.19includes administration, staffing, and appropriations; and
5.20 (10) measures to evaluate the success and impact of the Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan.
5.21 Subd. 10.Annual report.By January 15 of each year, the office must submit a report
5.22to the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
5.23with primary jurisdiction over health aging policy and funding detailing the activities of the
5.24office for the preceding year with legislative recommendations for the coming year.
5.25 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; HEALTHY AGING SUBCABINET.
5.26 $1,700,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,700.000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from
5.27the general fund to the commissioner of management and budget dedicated to implement
5.28provisions of this act.
5Sec. 2.
REVISOR SGS/AC 25-0410503/18/25