WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HF 4959

Minnesota Board on Aging added to the definition of "agency" in the statute governing government-to-government relationships with Tribal governments.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Shelley Buck and 2 co-sponsors

The Minnesota Board on Aging would be required to follow government-to-government consultation rules with Minnesota Tribal governments whenever its actions have Tribal implications

Introduction and first reading, referred to State Government Finance and Policy
#governmentaloperations-state #nativeamericans #stateboards
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 4959

Summary: HF 4959 (Minnesota 2025-2026) — Addition of the Minnesota Board on Aging to the definition of "agency" for government-to-government (G2G) relations with Tribal governments

Purpose and intent

  • The bill adds the Minnesota Board on Aging to the statutory definition of "agency" for purposes of government-to-government consultation with Minnesota tribal governments.
  • The goal is to formalize and expand the Board on Aging’s participation in policy development and decision-making that has Tribal implications, ensuring it engages in consultation with tribal governments as defined by statute.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section amended: Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 10.65, subdivision 2.
  • The term "agency" is expanded to include the Minnesota Board on Aging, alongside a list of numerous state agencies and bodies (e.g., Department of Administration, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Minnesota Management and Budget, Public Utilities Commission, and others).
  • New or revised definitions for consultative processes:
    • "Consultation": Defined as the direct, interactive involvement of Minnesota Tribal governments in developing policy with Tribal implications. It is a proactive process to seek input from appropriate Tribal governments and incorporate their interests into decision-making. The definition emphasizes a good-faith effort by the agency to elicit feedback and requires formal engagement between agency officials and the governing bodies of Minnesota Tribal governments.
    • "Matters that have Tribal implications": Policy actions (rules, legislative proposals, policy statements, etc.) with substantial direct effects on one or more Minnesota Tribal governments or on the distribution of powers between the state and Tribal governments.
    • "Minnesota Tribal governments": The federally recognized Tribes located in Minnesota, enumerating the specific Tribes and communities included in the definition.
    • "Timely and meaningful" consultation: Consultation conducted in a manner that allows the results to be included in the agency’s decision-making process.
  • The added Board on Aging’s inclusion means it must adhere to statutory consultation requirements when actions affect Tribal governments or have Tribal implications.

Who would be affected

  • The Minnesota Board on Aging would become subject to the same government-to-government consultation requirements that apply to other listed state agencies when matters involve Minnesota Tribal governments.
  • Other entities named in the section (numerous state agencies and bodies) remain subject to the existing G2G framework; the expansion simply broadens the roster to include the Board on Aging.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced and read for the first time on April 13, 2026; referred to the Committee on State Government Finance and Policy.
  • The bill does not specify new timelines or procedural deadlines beyond existing G2G consultation requirements defined in the statute. The definitions emphasize:
    • Formal consultations between agency officials and Tribal governing bodies.
    • A burden on agencies to demonstrate good-faith efforts to elicit feedback.
    • Inclusion of consultation outcomes in the agency’s decision-making process when matters have Tribal implications.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Aligns aging policy and programs (e.g., seniors services, long-term care, elder protection) with Tribal consultation requirements, potentially affecting rulemaking, program design, and funding decisions related to older adults in Tribal communities.
  • May improve coordination and input from tribal governments on aging-related issues affecting Indigenous populations and tribal lands.
  • Administrative impact: Agencies listed, including the Board on Aging, would need to integrate formal consultation steps into relevant policy development processes.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to current G2G practices or provide a hypothetical example of how a consultation might unfold under these provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.