Advocating for Seniors at the State Capitol

April 24, 2026

Advocating for Seniors at the State Capitol

The reason I ran for the State House, and why I continue to serve, is to ensure that Minnesota remains a place where families can thrive. The way Minnesota treats our aging population is critical to this mission, so that our seniors can afford to live close to the families and communities that they helped build.

We recently had Age-Friendly Day at the State Capitol, where I got to meet many seniors from the Winona area. In that spirit, I would like to use this newsletter to highlight some legislation that I have been advocating for on behalf of Minnesota seniors.

Below are some key bills that will make life easier for our seniors:

HF5: Eliminates state taxes on Social Security income. Minnesota is one of eight states that taxes Social Security payments. This is a punitive form of double taxation that needs to be eliminated. Our seniors deserve a raise.

HF3397: Proposes a reduction in the registration tax rate for passenger vehicles in Minnesota. Our car tab fees have been out of control and need to be brought down to more affordable levels.

SF2511: Allows consumption and display of alcoholic beverages by residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities during resident-focused events or activities. This bill was just signed into law.

HF4690: Modifies the eligibility criteria for "nursing facility level of care," specifically for people seeking disability waiver services in Minnesota. This bill primarily benefits seniors by protecting their existing access to long-term care while streamlining the system for others.

HF4333: Allows short-term home health and nursing care insurance policies to be sold in Minnesota and creates requirements related to terms and disclosures.

Major Priority: Property Tax Relief for Seniors

I receive calls and emails every week from seniors who are being forced out of their homes due to skyrocketing property taxes. Often living on fixed incomes, our senior population is particularly vulnerable to these hikes.

Minnesotans who have lived in their homes for decades should not be forced out due to poor financial planning from politicians in St. Paul. That is why I am extremely proud to be a co-author on HF168, which is a bill to provide property tax relief to seniors through an "Advanced Homestead Credit." 

Below is a bit more information about HF168:

• Advance Credit: Eligible seniors receive an advance equal to 50% of their prior year’s homestead credit refund.
• Tax Bill Reduction: The credit is applied directly to the first half of the property tax payment due in the spring.
• Eligibility: Limited to "eligible senior claimants" (age 65 and older) who owned and received homestead status on their property in the previous year and applied through the Department of Revenue.
• Net Zero Floor: The credit cannot reduce the first-half tax payment below $0.

The effect of this bill will be to put more money into seniors' pockets each year to offset rising property tax costs. That way, rather than the government forcing them to downsize, it will be up to our seniors to decide if and when they would like to sell their homes.

To those who visited me, it was a pleasure meeting all of you! I appreciate you making the trek up to St. Paul to share with me your insights and help me draft effective legislation to help Minnesota seniors.

Please Contact Me

Pease be sure to contact me to share your questions, comments, and concerns. I can be reached at 651-296-8637 or rep.aaron.repinski@house.mn.gov. 

Have a good day,

Aaron

/RepAaronRepinski

2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.8637