Updates
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Policy Bill on its way to Governor’s Desk
We are pleased to announce that the coalition’s request to update and clarify language in Minnesota’s Senior Nutrition Program is on its way to Governor Walz to be passed into law. The new statute will include modernized language, improve efficiency in service delivery and provide greater flexibility for innovative solutions to address senior nutrition needs.…
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Bill Status Update
Things are moving quickly at the Capitol as the Minnesota Legislature enters the final weeks of the regular session. Here’s where the Senior Meals and Services Coalition’s priorities stand: Senior Nutrition Policy Bill We are pleased to share that our proposed updates to the Senior Nutrition Program statute have been included in both the House…
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Senior Meals Policy Bill Moves Forward
Following compelling testimony from Senior Meals and Services Coalition members, our policy bill (SF4508/HF4210) has been included in both the Minnesota House and Senate omnibus policy bills (HF729/SF476). While there is more work to be done, this is an important step toward getting the legislation passed this session. The bill proposes updates to the Senior…
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Senate Human Services Committee Hears Senior Meals Policy Bill
On Wednesday, March 18, the Minnesota Senate’s Human Services Committee held a hearing for the Senior Meals and Services Coalition policy bill: SF4508/HF4210. Senior Meals and Services Coalition representatives Amanda Nickerson, Older Americans Act Program Director for Trellis, and Erick Hedman of Prairie Five Community Action Council, Inc. testified on behalf of the bill, which…
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Thank You to Coalition Members and Legislative Leaders
In a difficult budget year, the Senior Meals & Services Coalition did not achieve its hoped-for legislative outcomes. Nevertheless, the Coalition laid important groundwork for future support. As you will recall, the Coalition asked the Minnesota Legislature for crucial support for older adults in the 2025 session: The final Health and Human Services bill passed…
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Legislative Action on Senior Meals Funding
The Senior Meals & Services Coalition placed a critical funding request before the legislature this year. Programs providing meals and other services for older adults are severely underfunded across the state and therefore do not meet the needs of Minnesota’s oldest residents. The original funding request was for $11 million in nutrition funds and an…
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Star Tribune Article Raises Threat of Seniors Going Hungry
An article by James Walsh, reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune published on April 18, 2025, helps to illuminate the dire situation facing senior nutrition programs. The article notes that funding is not keeping up with the growing need and many vulnerable older adults may lose access to meals essential to their well-being. According to…
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Take Action for Senior Meals
Where we are The House and Senate Human Services Omnibus bills have passed out of committee. The House bill includes a $3,076 million one-time appropriation for FY 2026-27 for senior nutrition (HF 2212) — about 1/3 of our original request. The Senate bill includes a minimal ongoing appropriation for senior nutrition, totaling $250,000 per biennium. Our request to…
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Meals on Wheels: Giving and Receiving
Meal programs in rural Minnesota are at risk. Catholic Charities Senior Dining announced earlier this year that they will no longer offer frozen meals in several rural locations. Reductions in funding received through a contract with the Central Minnesota Council on Aging mean they will serve 108,000 fewer meals in 2025 than in 2024. Besides…
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Let’s Get Started!
Thank you for being a part of the coalition to secure funding for meals and services for older adults. As you know, we have a short window to achieve our funding goals during the 2025 Minnesota Legislative session. This is your call to action. The Ask The coalition is asking legislators to support older adults…