At the beginning of March, the Minnesota Legislature learned that the state is projected to face a nearly $6 billion budget deficit for the 2028–2029 biennium. In response, Governor Tim Walz proposed a budget that would slash more than $220 million in funding for Minnesota nursing homes over the next four years. Data from providers indicates that 16 care facilities in Senate District 21 would face more than $21 million in cuts.

“Governor Walz is proposing massive cuts to critically needed funds that our growing aging population depends on,” Senator Bill Weber (R-Luverne) said. “Balancing the budget should never come at the expense of our most vulnerable. My Republican colleagues and I will be fighting back.”

In addition to the governor’s proposed funding cuts, the unelected, nine-member Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board imposed two unfunded mandates in 2024. These mandates will cost the state’s nursing homes nearly $200 million over the next four years.

“Senate Republicans have made supporting Minnesota’s long-term care facilities a priority. The governor’s latest budget proposal undermines this important work and threatens the care that Minnesotans rely on,” Sen. Weber said.

During the 2023 session, Senate Republicans secured $300 million to support nursing homes. The aid package included direct grants, facility rate increases, and a workforce incentive fund—amounting to approximately $1.1 million per nursing home across the state.