Beginning Aug. 1, Minnesota’s vulnerable adult maltreatment system will change in three connected ways: the definitions are broader, county responsibilities are clearer, and investigative records may remain available longer.

New Maltreatment Definitions Expand the Reporting Lens

The updated definition of sexual abuse addresses nonconsensual sexual interactions as well as sexually harassing conduct through oral, written, gestured, or electronic communication. It also expressly includes making, viewing, or sharing sexual images or videos involving a vulnerable adult.

Financial exploitation now includes wrongfully coercing a vulnerable adult to perform work or services for another person’s profit or benefit.

The revised self-neglect definition adds a resident’s own financial mismanagement to the definition of self-neglect thereby allowing lead investigative agencies to find that the vulnerable adult cannot manage their financial affairs and are thus eligible for county adult protective services and other county-based services.

These changes may affect situations that staff previously viewed primarily as boundary, behavioral, or financial-management concerns. Simply updating the VA policy alone might not be enough for staff to fully understand the new sexual abuse definitions. Providing staff with practical examples that show when uncomfortable, inappropriate or concerning conduct crosses the line into a mandated report. Review the updated definitions.

APS Will Operate Under Clearer Expectations

Counties will have more standardized responsibilities for screening, assessment, intervention and intercounty conflicts. Emergency reports require immediate screening and, when accepted, an in-person assessment within 24 hours. Counties generally must make an initial decision on other referrals within seven days.

APS also has clear authority to enter licensed settings, interview individuals and obtain records needed for an assessment or investigation. Providers should make sure frontline staff know how to respond promptly while protecting confidentiality and the reporter’s identity. Review the APS provisions.

Older Reports May Remain Part of the Story

The law establishes different agency retention periods based on the report’s outcome:

• False reports: three years for MDH or DHS; five years for county APS
• Inconclusive reports: four years for MDH or DHS; five years for county APS
• Substantiated reports: seven years
• Reports without an investigation or final disposition: three years for MDH or DHS; five years for county APS

This does not create a new provider record-retention mandate. It does mean prior reports may remain available when agencies evaluate later concerns or possible patterns. Review the retention requirements.

What Providers Should Do Now

Providers should review their vulnerable-adult maltreatment policies, employee training, reporting procedures and incident-review tools to ensure they reflect the expanded definitions and APS requirements. That review should include:

• Updating examples of sexual abuse to address sexually harassing messages, gestures, images, videos and other electronic communication—not only physical contact.
• Training staff to distinguish consensual resident expression from conduct that may involve coercion, harassment, exploitation or an inability to consent.
• Examining whether resident work, assistance or other activity could improperly benefit another person without appropriate authority or compensation.
• Helping staff recognize when a resident’s inability to manage finances may constitute self-neglect and require reporting or referral for support.
• Reviewing procedures for suspected theft, misuse of resident funds, unusual transactions and financial exploitation.
• Ensuring employees know how to respond when APS arrives at a licensed setting or requests interviews, records, medical information or other nonpublic data.
• Clarifying who coordinates the organization’s response to APS while preserving confidentiality and protecting the reporter’s identity.
• Updating incident-review forms so reviewers consistently consider the new definitions, document the reporting decision and record any immediate protective action taken.

The goal is not simply to revise policy language. Best practices include providing staff with practical examples that help them recognize when a concerning interaction, electronic message or financial situation may cross the line into reportable maltreatment.

Want to learn about other laws passed in 2026 that impact senior service organizations? Check out LeadingAge MN’s 2026 Legislative Report.