Transcript Highlights:

• </c> age of five. age of five.
• You have a voice as a youth.
• You have a voice as a youth.
• You have a voice as a youth.
• You have a voice as a youth.

Bills: HF3665, HF3002, HF4217, HF4125, HF4174

Keywords: foster care, early childhood education, child care programs, placement plan, social services, extended foster care, kinship care, relative custody, permanent legal and physical custody, Northstar kinship assistance, independent living plan, transition services, youth aging out of care, medical assistance, Medicaid, child welfare, children youth and families, out-of-home placement, case plan, relative placement

Transcript Highlights:

• The Youth Homeless Act is designed to support youth up to the age of 24; it is not just an 18 and you're
• Avenues runs two shelters: one for youth ages 16 to 20, and one for youth ages 21 to 24.
• age.
• under the age of 18, and now it’s up to the age of 24.
• Youth to use their voices.

Bills: HF2115, HF2276, HF1644, HF99, HF2068, HF2707, HF2704, HF2406, HF1674, HF1579

Keywords: human services, aging services, disability services, behavioral health, long-term care, nursing home, nursing facility, assisted living, waiver services, medical assistance, Medicaid, case mix reimbursement, PDPM, RUG, direct care and treatment, developmental disabilities, day services, positive support, guardian, conservator

Transcript Highlights:

• As well, the homeless youth act is designed to support youth up to the age of 24.
• <c> age</c> designed to support youth up to the age designed to support youth up to the age of<01:14:
• Avenues runs two shelters, one for youth ages 16 to 20 and one for youth ages 21 to 24.
• under the age of 18, and now it's up to the age of 24.
• under the age of 18. and now it's youth under the age of 18. and now it's up<01:35:14.719><c> to</c>

Bills: HF2115, HF2276, HF1644, HF99, HF2068, HF2707, HF2704, HF2406, HF1674, HF1579

Keywords: human services, aging services, disability services, behavioral health, long-term care, nursing home, nursing facility, assisted living, waiver services, medical assistance, Medicaid, case mix reimbursement, PDPM, RUG, direct care and treatment, developmental disabilities, day services, positive support, guardian, conservator

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> for</c><00:03:10.000><c> the</c> area agency on aging for the area agency on aging for the metropolitan
• </c><00:04:00.720><c> and</c> coalition of area agencies on aging and coalition of area agencies on aging
• Now, area agencies on aging the same.
• </c> aid and general assistance programs. aid and general assistance programs.
• And information on youth homelessness.

Bills: HF4210, HF4212, HF4549, HF4464, HF4546, HF4447

Keywords: senior nutrition, older adults, aging services, home-delivered meals, congregate dining, meal delivery, grocery delivery, food insecurity, nutrition support, area agencies on aging, Minnesota Board on Aging, human services, special revenue fund, nonprofit grants, SNAP outreach, medically tailored meals, rural nutrition, food access, transportation services, elderly

Transcript Highlights:

• Since a young age, Melina has had complex medical issues, gaslit by many doctors, and told it was all
• The Legislature created the Step Into Success pilot program in 2023 to support eligible foster youth
• The program instructs youth in independent living and workforce education and culminates in a workforce
• During the internship, each eligible foster youth is paired with an experienced employee who serves as
• The bill also removes a stipend offset that was intended to ensure that youth in the program were covered

Bills: S0042, S0578, S0624, S7018

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimers, dementia, related dementias, brain health, early detection, caregiver support, elderly affairs, Department of Elderly Affairs, Department of Health, public health outreach, memory loss

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first heard SB 624, which would codify DCF’s current practice of allowing batterers intervention programs to offer supplemental faith-based activities so long as participation is voluntary. The bill drew support from faith-based and family organizations, which argued it would restore access to effective rehabilitation options and remove discriminatory barriers. SB 624 was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 42, which would require child protective investigators and child protection teams to rely on qualified medical professionals when a child has a documented pre-existing diagnosis or when a parent requests an exam, and would require clearer notice to parents and custodians at the start of an investigation. Testimony overwhelmingly came from parents, advocates, and disability rights representatives describing cases in which medically complex children were allegedly misdiagnosed as abuse victims and families were separated unnecessarily. Members expressed sympathy and support, and SB 42 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS/SB 578, creating an Alzheimer’s disease awareness initiative within the Department of Elder Affairs to promote early detection, brain health education, research updates, and clinical trial awareness, with outreach focused on older adults and at-risk populations. An amendment was adopted to place the campaign within the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative. A caregiver testified about the need for public education and early diagnosis, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7018, a committee bill on child welfare that would extend the definition of “visitor” for foster homes to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success foster youth workforce pilot permanent and statewide, and create a program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to catalog best practices among community-based care lead agencies. The bill was approved as a committee bill and reported favorably. Finally, the Department of Children and Families presented its 2025-26 final funding methodology and rates report for community-based care. Members questioned the proposed tiered model, including insurance costs, risk corridors, prevention funding, performance measures, and regional funding disparities. No vote was taken on the presentation, but members discussed the possible need for follow-up legislation and additional stakeholder input.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, like I said, I'm a native Texan, so here in Texas at the age of 3, they started to try to
• By the time of age 11, it was found out that I had Usher syndrome, and I would lose my sight.
• We understand that as youth and children.
• And so those agencies can serve youth up to 22 years of age and the governor's office is also working
• There you can find resources to understand care coordination teams, see it guides, advocacy for youth

Bills: HB 451, HB 645, HB 1041, HB 1151, HB 1155, HB 1536, HCR 12

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have with us the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families.
• Youth and Families.
• ,</c><00:10:43.280><c> and</c> the Department of Children, Youth, and the Department of Children, Youth
• ,</c><00:14:56.800><c> and</c> Department of Children, Youth, and Department of Children, Youth, and
• </c><01:02:41.880><c> and</c> Department of Children Youth and Department of Children Youth and Families

Bills: HF4525, HF3002, HF3665, HF4420

Keywords: human services, background studies, NETStudy 2.0, licensing, license suspension, license revocation, provider enrollment, program integrity, fraud, medical assistance fraud, Medicaid, payment withholding, credible allegation of fraud, background check, disqualification, variance, set-aside, foster care, family foster setting, adult foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also contains a healthy aging subcabinet, which is the work product of the Legislative Tax Force
• on Aging.

Bills: HF2783

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• Children, Youth, and Families, 10.14. General Contingent Accounts are on line 10.19.
• In section 3, the healthy aging subcabinet and that goes all the way from page 17 to page 21 in the bill
• With regard to the Healthy Aging Subcabinet, we appreciate the discussions that we've had over the interim
• about lifting up issues related to aging Minnesotans, a function of adding a new function if ongoing

Bills: HF2783

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• school-aged children.
• Aging is a public health issue.
• Aging is a public health issue and a concern for our aging demographics.
• for aging in Minnesota.
• We want to age with dignity.

Bills: HF1837, HF361, HF2725, HF2566, HF2744, HF1685, HF501, HF1889, HF1389

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• school-age children.
• We are all aging, yet we do not invest in ourselves or in our aging communities.
• :45.600><c> aging</c> embrace your aging embrace your aging population<00:32:47.760><c> will</c><00:32
• Aging is a public health issue and a concern for our aging demographics.
• </c> healthy aging is essential healthy aging healthy aging is essential healthy aging sub<00:37:03.800

Bills: HF1837, HF361, HF2725, HF2566, HF2744, HF1685, HF501, HF1889, HF1389

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• c> to</c><00:08:35.519><c> private</c><00:08:35.919><c> prior</c> The bill also contains a healthy aging
• subcabinet, which is the work product of the Legislative Task Force on Aging.
• The bill also contains a healthy<00:09:17.920><c> aging</c><00:09:18.399><c> subc</c><00:09:18.720><c
• > cabinet</c><00:09:19.440><c> which</c><00:09:19.680><c> is</c><00:09:19.839><c> the</c> healthy aging
• subc cabinet which is the healthy aging subc cabinet which is the work<00:09:20.240><c> product</c><

Bills: HF2783

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• Children, youth, and families 10.14.
• Children, youth, and families 10.13.
• Klevorn over the interim about lifting up issues related to aging Minnesotans.
• </c><00:15:24.480><c> subc</c> With regard to the healthy aging subc With regard to the healthy aging
• Uh in a time of related to aging motans.

Bills: HF2783

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• rental care assistance and case management through contracted agencies for youth under 24 who have aged
• homeless youth at the time they reach age 18 to be considered children for the purpose of continued
• The bill expands the age of the youth representatives on the advisory committee to allow for a youth
• or young adult under age 25 instead of just under age 18.
• And finally— Under age 25 instead of just under age 18.

Bills: SB5957, SB5977

Keywords: homeless youth, youth homelessness, runaway youth, young adult homelessness, housing instability, family reunification, family stability, youth services, homelessness prevention, protective services, Department of Commerce, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, advisory committee, lived experience, data sharing, outcome measures, interagency coordination, service providers, at-risk youth

Transcript Highlights:

• on the youth and young adult...
• , from birth up till age 22.
• For instance, youth who are reunified or adopted after age 15 lose access to critical support programs
• with youth homelessness.
• With SB 5940, a housing voucher model similar to FYI can be made available for foster youth ages 18 through

Bills: SB5911, SB5940, SB5942, SB5957

Keywords: children, youth, financial stability, care services, department of children and families, housing assistance, foster care, pilot program, social services, accountability, family services, state department, child welfare, homeless youth, youth homelessness, runaway youth, young adult homelessness, housing instability, family reunification, family stability

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a work session focused on housing and supports for youth and young adults exiting public systems of care, followed by public hearings on several related bills. DCYF Assistant Secretary Vicki Ibarra described existing services for youth ages roughly 13 to 23, including family reconciliation services and the youth and young adult housing response team, which coordinates existing housing resources for young people exiting foster care, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems. Office of Homeless Youth Director Casey Hannawer Sutton outlined statewide youth homelessness efforts, including a reported 40% reduction in youth homelessness since 2016, expansion of services to 37 counties, functional zero work in anchor communities, and a no-cost agency request bill for technical fixes and eligibility updates. Treehouse and the Mockingbird Society also described their work supporting foster youth, education, transition planning, peer support, and housing stability, and both groups raised concerns about funding cuts, eligibility gaps, and the need for better coordination across systems. The State Board of Health then presented a health impact review of the housing assistance proposal, concluding that rental assistance and related supports for young adults in extended foster care would likely improve housing stability, health outcomes, and equity for some youth, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled, pregnant or parenting, or involved in the criminal legal system. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5911, which would stop DCYF from using Social Security benefits of youth in extended foster care to reimburse the state for care costs, while requiring DCYF to help eligible youth access and manage those benefits. Senator Alvarado said the bill is a narrower version of earlier proposals and is intended to preserve federal benefits for young adults ages 18 to 21 in extended foster care. Testimony from Partners for Our Children, TeamChild, the Mockingbird Society, and a former foster youth supported the bill, arguing that the current practice is unjust, undermines housing and education stability, and leaves youth without resources they are entitled to receive. Committee members asked about federal guidance, age eligibility, and whether financial literacy supports should accompany the change. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5940, a pilot program to provide housing vouchers and related assistance to up to 50 young people in extended foster care who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Chair Wilson said the bill is meant to address the gap between foster care support and access to federal housing vouchers, and to test a smaller-scale model with reporting due in 2029. Witnesses from the Mockingbird Society, current and former foster youth, and Communities in Schools supported the bill, describing housing instability, trauma, and the need for a stable place to live while pursuing treatment, school, or work. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 5942, which renames the DCYF Oversight Board as the DCYF Accountability Board, moves it administratively to OFM, and narrows its statutory duties by removing certain contract review powers and shifting from annual to biennial reporting with priority performance measures. Testimony from Partners for Our Children supported the clarification of the board’s role.

Transcript Highlights:

• professionals. voice concerns because there is insufficient research on their effects, especially in school-aged
• The majority of kids in foster care are still under the age of five, and so we know we've There's a lot

Bills: HB451, HB645, HB 1041, HB 1151, HB 1155, HB1536, HCR12, HCR12

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, like I said, I'm a native Texan, so here in Texas at the age of three, they started to try
• By the time of age 11, it was found out that I had Usher syndrome and I would lose my site.

Bills: HB451, HB645, HB 1041, HB 1151, HB 1155, HB1536, HCR12, HCR12

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to share that I'm holding Senate Bill 5942, which is around the Department of Children, Youth
• Rental assistance is provided to currently or formerly dependent youth for up to 24 months, up to age
• unless it is necessary to prevent the youth from becoming homeless.
• It was a good. offense and was under 18 years of age on the offense date.
• We are done with today's hearing. are looking at our foster youth and caring for them.

Bills: SB5873, SB5895, SB5911, SB5940, SB5942, SB5945, SB5957, SB5966

Keywords: incarcerated individuals, escorted leaves, criminal justice, rehabilitation, state law, healthcare, incarcerated, extraordinary medical placement, criminal justice reform, medical care, children, youth, financial stability, care services, department of children and families, housing assistance, foster care, pilot program, social services, accountability

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee met in executive session to review several bills, with staff briefing members on measures related to incarcerated individuals, DCYF foster youth programs, extraordinary medical placements, persistent offender resentencing, the Office of Homeless Youth Advisory Committee, and medically tailored meals. Chair Wilson announced that Senate Bill 5942 on the DCYF Oversight Board would be held until the following week for additional stakeholder input. The committee also noted fiscal impacts on several bills, including costs for foster youth housing, Social Security benefit protections, and resentencing-related local government expenses. The committee took up Senate Bill 5873 on escorted leaves of absence for incarcerated individuals and adopted only Amendment A1, a technical fix to the definition of immediate family. A series of Christian amendments to restrict eligibility, require electronic monitoring, limit duration and location, impose liability, require more staffing, add funding contingencies, narrow family definitions, and mandate restraints were all rejected. The committee then adopted the proposed substitute and advanced the bill to Rules. For Senate Bill 5895 on extraordinary medical placements, the committee rejected amendments that would have barred placements after recent serious infractions, required physician specialty qualifications, limited eligibility for those not in rehabilitative programming, added reporting and Washington-only placement requirements, and required sentencing court review. The proposed substitute was adopted and the bill was referred to Ways and Means. On Senate Bill 5911, the committee adopted Amendment C1 to place youth Social Security funds into protected accounts such as ABLE accounts, then advanced the bill as amended to Ways and Means. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 5940 on an extended foster care housing pilot after discussion of eligibility and program limits, and Senate Bill 5945 on persistent offender resentencing after rejecting amendments related to retroactivity, victim notice, ISRB review, programming participation, and exclusions for serious offenses; the bill was sent onward subject to signatures. Senate Bill 5957 on adding positions to the Office of Homeless Youth Advisory Committee and Senate Bill 5966 on medically tailored meals were also discussed, with the latter receiving proposed amendments on provider type, administrative limits, and a funding contingency, though the transcript ends before final action on those measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...particularly for our youth.
• </c><01:06:28.480><c> is</c> the board on Aging the board on Aging is the board on Aging the board on
• Aging is the premium<01:06:34.720><c> aging</c><01:06:35.720><c> and</c><01:06:36.480><c> federally<
• We are the federally designated unit on aging, the premier aging organization in Minnesota, and we've
• > organization</c> Aging Premier Premier aging organization Aging Premier Premier aging organization

Bills: HF1380, HF1166, HF487, HF1553, HF1472, HF258, HF1911

Keywords: psychiatric treatment, human services, mental health funding, per diem rate, Clay County, disability services, assistive technology, remote support, advocacy, training programs, HF487, Wellness in the Woods, Minnesota human services, grant funding, general fund appropriation, peer support, substance use recovery, addiction recovery, reentry services, reentry after incarceration

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, because I remember in my master's program, the average age in the program, I came straight out
• I was 22, no kids, but the average age was 35.
• , you know, some of the STEM conversation, I think, that probably is on our mind as our population ages
• This is some of the STEM conversation, I think, that probably is on our mind as our population ages.
• Senate Bill 5957 expands the membership of the Homeless Youth Advisory Committee to include at least

Bills: HB1873, HB2600, SB5957

Keywords: child care, Working Connections Child Care, WCCC, graduate students, professional students, higher education, full-time student, affordable child care, subsidized child care, child care subsidy, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, income eligibility, state median income, copayment, copay waiver, family support, workforce participation, working families, special needs child care