News

The slow developing HCBS workforce incentive grant program, officially named the Minnesota Care Force Incentive Grant Program by DHS, which was created and funded by the 2023 Legislature, has just reached the point of distributing funds to providers.

Bonuses from State Funds 

Under the program, HCBS workers, including those in assisted living, are eligible for bonuses from state funds. The law set the amount of bonuses at up to $1,000, but DHS has determined that based on interest in the program across HCBS providers, that bonuses must be limited to $770. 

The DHS contractor has been reaching out to providers to inform them of which employees are eligible for grants and how to access the funds. Those providers who have received grant funds then have 45 days to provide the bonuses to employees who are on the eligible list. In addition, providers should give their employees this form notifying them that they can deduct the grant amount from their state, but not federal, taxes. 

The 2025 Legislature approved a temporary rate add-on to cover the cost of raising employees to the minimum wage levels passed by the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board. This step was taken based on strong advocacy by the LTC Imperative. We have long-argued, even before the Board’s creation, that any standards it approves which increase costs for providers must have upfront funding to be workable. 

Application Details

DHS has now developed an application and written instructions to apply for the rate add-on. They also recently produced an instructional video that talks through how nursing homes should complete the application.  

The add-on will be calculated using two months of actual wage data for individuals below the minimum standards, then annualized and calculated as a per day rate adjustment that will appear on nursing homes’ 2026 and 2027 rates in the external fixed category where it is not subject to the operating rate caps that will apply starting in 2026. Applications must be submitted by October 1 to receive a rate increase, so member nursing homes are strongly encourage to complete and return the application forms to DHS quickly. 

In breaking news earlier this week, a Ramsey County district judge struck down a provision in a 2024 session law, which raises questions about future legislatures and how public policies, including aging services, may be enacted moving forward. 

The session law in question, coined the “Megabus Bill”, was enacted in the final minutes of the 2024 regular session. It was originally advanced as a tax bill before lawmakers added a number of omnibus supplemental budget and policy bills to the language. In total, over 1,400 pages were passed in a controversial voice vote before adjournment.  
 
No immediate impact to aging services 

There is nothing immediate to be done. Many of the provisions in the Megabus bill related to aging were separately passed by both chambers as a stand-alone human services omnibus law, in addition to being folded into the 1,400 page bill. As a result, those specific budget and policy items would remain intact, even if the Megabus bill was stricken in its entirety.   

A deeper look 

The judge’s ruling was narrowly crafted to apply only to the issue raised by plaintiffs, but he left the door open to other legal challenges. Most intriguing to note, his ruling acknowledges the increasingly common practice of the legislature to rely on omnibus bills to enact laws. His ruling, along with subsequent opinions from other legal experts, has re-ignited an ongoing debate about the application of omnibus bills that make sweeping changes to the state’s budget and regulatory environment.  

For our sector, this practice has both helped aging services in providing vehicles to advance our policy objectives but has also produced setbacks when an unfavorable policy is incorporated into a larger bill that has majority support. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the 2026 Legislature, which is scheduled to convene on February 17th of next year. 

We have received several calls from members recently regarding their Assisted Living license renewal process being very slow, or licenses expiring before the renewal is received.

The slow developing HCBS workforce incentive grant program, which was created and funded by the 2023 Legislature, has still not reached the point of sending money to employers despite plans to have done so a while ago.

In Minnesota, landlords are required to notify residential tenants about the availability of the Minnesota Attorney General's Office Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities handbook. 

LeadingAge learned this week of a move within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to execute on President Trump’s March 1 English-as-America’s-official-language Executive Order (EO) by replacing the agency’s Limited English Proficiency (LEP) policy with an English-only policy.

Memo

In a memo to HUD employees, HUD deputy secretary Andrew D. Hughes stated that the EO will “enhance social and economic integration,” and reports that the agency will no longer have contracts for translation services for documents or communications, and all paper and online materials in languages other than English would be removed. HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated on Fox News, “… HUD will solely use English for all Departmental business and services. We are one people, united, and we will speak with one voice and one language to deliver on our mission.”

Previously, HUD had a practice of translating materials like resident brochures, documents, and forms into nearly 20 languages.

LeadingAge National confirmed the announcement with HUD leadership, who said that the change would take effect “immediately.” However, next steps and timelines for removing materials and ending contracts is currently unclear, and as of August 20, several translated materials are still available online through HUD’s LEP webpage.

LeadingAge National is working to save translated materials that housing providers may need in order to serve households with diverse LEP needs. Providers are encouraged to consider doing the same, particularly for documents that you use frequently for the population you serve.

If you are an operator of a HUD community, you are invited to join our upcoming quarterly networking group. Get together with other operators to network, share best practices, and get the latest updates related to HUD.

In a July Advantage article, we shared that HUD has released draft forms to implement and comply with new HOTMA requirements.

During our 2026 Institute & Expo, we’re excited to feature photos of residents centered on our Institute theme of Changemakers.

Feature Your Residents

To achieve this, we’re launching a photo contest to help us shine a light on the incredible individuals living in your communities—residents who are redefining aging, living with purpose, and making a difference in their own unique ways.

Whether it’s someone mentoring others, starting a new chapter in life, advocating for their peers, or simply living each day with vibrancy and intention—we want to see the moments that move you.

Submit your photos here for a chance to win!

What We’re Looking For

If you have upcoming events at your community – whether simple things like exercise classes, or something larger in scale like a community event – these present great opportunities to capture images of your residents. We know you help your residents live meaningful lives as they age, and we’d love to help uplift those moments to inspire others.

Contest Highlights:

• Open to all LeadingAge Minnesota member organizations
• Submit up to three original photographs that reflect the theme of Changemakers
• Include a short description
• Deadline: Oct. 29, 2025
• Voting on finalists will occur during 2026 Institute General Session

Click here to submit your photos.

Operators of independent senior housing communities are invited to join the monthly networking group that is specifically designed for you! This virtual networking meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 19^th from 10 to 11 a.m.

A second round of grant funding to Support New Americans in the Long-Term Care Workforce has been released by the Department of Human Services.

During our 2026 Institute & Expo, we’re excited to feature photos of residents centered on our Institute theme of Changemakers.

Have you identified the people in your organization to nominate for LeadingAge Minnesota’s Stars Among Us Award nominations? This popular recognition program shines the spotlight on the best and brightest people working, living, and volunteering in our communities.

With the average data breach costing organizations $4.88 million, we must be aware of the leading cybersecurity threats.