Minnesota Agencies

The council will coordinate work across sectors, including state government, non-profits, communities, businesses, and others to ensure Minnesota is an age-friendly state. The council will, among other things, assess and examine relevant programs, policies, practices, and services to make budget and policy recommendations for the 2021 legislative session to establish, in law, an Age-Friendly Board and age-friendly policies with appropriate financial support, to ensure Minnesota continues to lead on age-friendly initiatives.

The Council will submit a preliminary action plan and legislative recommendations to the Governor by August 15, 2020. The Council will submit a report to the Governor with its final action plan and recommendations for implementation of any enacted legislation related to age-friendly policies by December 31, 2021.

The 2021 legislature mandated the following: "The Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota, established in Executive Order 19-38, shall: (1) work to advance age-friendly policies; and (2) coordinate state, local, and private partners' collaborative work on emergency preparedness, with a focus on older adults, communities, and persons in zip codes most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor's Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota is extended and expires October 1, 2022" (see Laws of Minn. 2021, chap. 30, art. 12, sec. 5). 

The council's expiration date was extended to June 30, 2024 in the 2021 first special session (see Laws of Minn. 2021, 1st Sp. Sess., chap. 7, art. 17, sec. 2). In 2023, the Legislature extended the council's expiration date again, to June 30, 2027 (see Laws of Minn. 2023, chap. 61, art. 2, sec. 35).

Each of the following agencies and boards must designate an Age-Friendly Minnesota lead to serve as a Council member:

• Minnesota Board on Aging
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
• Department of Human Services
• Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
• Metropolitan Council

Other state agencies and boards may participate on the Council in a non-voting capacity. The Governor will appoint up to six additional Council members, seeking representation from older adults in communities experiencing disparities, direct service caregivers, businesses, experts on aging, local governments, and tribal communities. The Governor will designate the Chair of the Council from its members.