The Minnesota Senate Republicans have announced committee structures and Chairs for the upcoming session. Senator Karin Housley (R-Saint Mary’s Point) will continue to serve as the Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Aging and Long Term Care when the new legislative session begins in January.

“I am elated to be once again appointed to Chair the Senate’s Committee on Aging and Long Term Care,” said Senator Housley. “Aging and long-term care issues hold an important place in my heart, and I have made it my mission to protect aging and vulnerable Minnesotans since I first entered the Senate. Over the past four years, the Senate has created significant reforms that have benefited aging Minnesotans, and I was personally proud to deliver landmark legislation that provided enhanced protections for elderly and vulnerable adults in senior care facilities and licensed assisted living facilities in Minnesota for the first time.”

“Unfortunately, as Minnesota continues to grapple with COVID-19, our aging and long term care populations continue to disproportionately suffer. I look forward to getting back to work as soon as possible to ensure that our state is taking whatever steps necessary to ensure their safety.”

The priority for the session will be balancing the budget in light of an economy recovering from COVID. The Senate Finance Committee is the only committee with hearing time available three days a week, all others are limited to one or two hearings a week, or as needed. Less meeting time will help focus the agendas and ensure public participation can be done safely. There are more committees, 29 in total, from 2020, but with fewer members to accommodate for social distancing. The new committee areas are focused on: data practices and civil law, property taxes, mining and forestry, labor and industry, health and human services licensing, metropolitan governance, and redistricting.