Legislative UpdateDear friends and neighbors, It has been another very busy week as we are in the middle of session. This week, I met with employees from nursing homes and assisted living centers, and the message was clear: “Stop the cuts to Minnesota Seniors.” Disability providers shared the same concerns. It’s hard to believe that just two years ago, Minnesota had an $18.5 billion surplus and raised $10 billion in new tax revenue. Now, that money is being taken back in the Governor’s 2025 budget proposal. The reality is devastating: nursing homes are facing $900 million in funding losses over the next four years. For example, Waterview Nursing Home in Two Harbors stands to lose over $1 million in funding, while Benedictine and Viewcrest in Duluth will lose over $2 million. The Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, created in 2024, is made up of an unelected 9-member board appointed by the Governor. My bill, HF 500, doesn't repeal this board but ensures funding is in place before mandates take effect. The problem is that mandates without funding lead to more fines for providers. This happened during the pandemic, when nursing homes were penalized for violations related to standards that were impossible to meet. For instance, nursing homes followed guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health and the CDC regarding COVID-19 exposure. If staff were exposed or tested positive, they had to be sent home for several days, leading to severe staffing shortages. However, surveyors still expected outcomes as if it were normal times. As a result, nursing homes were fined a total of $1 million. Additionally, family visits were restricted for months, even with masks and no symptoms. This caused isolation and frustration for both residents and their families. I introduced a bill to ensure that at least one family member can visit a resident at all times, even during a pandemic. In 2023, when the state had an $18.5 billion surplus, Democrats blocked funding for nursing homes until the final day of session, when they approved a $300,000 stabilization grant. However, the Governor’s 2025 budget proposal erases this funding and makes the situation worse for seniors and people with disabilities. I urge you to contact Governor Walz at 651-201-2400 and ask him to stop cuts to seniors and those with disabilities. Click here to watch the video below.  As of January 1, 2025, new holiday pay requirements will increase costs for nursing homes, but without immediate funding, facilities will struggle to comply. With small nursing homes facing tens of thousands in added expenses and larger ones exceeding $100,000, the current system of delayed reimbursement puts critical care at risk. Instead of imposing fines and penalties, we need a funding approach that prioritizes stability, staffing, and sustainability. Click here to watch the video below.  Minnesota Ambulance Association Award Night Last night I was honored as Legislator of the Year by The Minnesota Ambulance Association. I received the Legislator of the Year award for my bipartisan work on the: - EMS task force
- Bill author on several bills- one to create a long term funding stream for Greater Minnesota
- The creation of a workforce grant to train High School students at Lake Superior School District # 381 - Two Harbors, MN with Lake County Ambulance Service in Two Harbors.
 Time with visitors at the Capitol Thank you to everyone who visited this week.  Time with Farm Bureau members. |