As Minnesota's senior population grows, lawmakers see need for healthy aging push

Olmsted County Commissioner Gregg Wright added a little levity at a morning committee meeting.

“Aging is a bipartisan issue. I think you’re all aware that Republicans and Democrats all age at the same rate,” he told the House State Government Finance and Policy Committee Thursday to some laughs.

It was apropos that he mentioned both sides of the aisle during a presentation of HF2725 that seeks to assist older Minnesotans.

Sponsored by Rep. Ginny Klevorn (DFL-Plymouth), the bill would establish a Healthy Aging Subcabinet within Minnesota Management and Budget at a time when there are more than 1 million Minnesotans at least age 65, outnumbering the number of school-age children.

Per the bill, “(It would be) dedicated to ensuring all people in Minnesota age with dignity and have equitable opportunities for the best possible health and well-being throughout the life-course.”

Held over for possible inclusion in an omnibus finance bill, the proposal seeks $1.7 million in both fiscal year 2026 and 2027.

The bill is a result of a Legislative Task Force on Aging, of which Klevorn and Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar (R-Fredenberg Township) were members.

[MORE: January 2025 task force report to the Legislature]

“We got a lot of feedback from seniors that are aging, from families, from providers,” Zeleznikar said. A 20-member Citizens Engagement Council would be created within the new Office of Healthy Aging.

“This would ensure the voices and perspectives of older adults in the planning process can result in recommendations,” said Kathleen Kelso, a public policy advisor for Elder Voice Advocates. “… It is time for the state to lead the way in planning with us, not just for us.”

Subcabinet duties would include assisting in the design of a statewide planning process for a Minnesota Aging Plan, engaging public policy in creating solutions, and identifying opportunities in state government to improve the quality of life for older adults and promote healthy aging.

“If counties could do this on their own they already would have done it,” Wright said.

“As the state demographer concluded in her presentation to the task force, policies put in place to address aging today position our state to do be better aligned with future populations. This bill is a step forward in addressing that call to prepare our state to promote healthy aging and help Minnesotans age with dignity and live in the community of their choice,” Klevorn said.