House panel backs technical fixes to home‑care grants process, seeks timely advisory‑council appointments
March 03, 2026 | 2026 Legislature MN, Minnesota
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Representative Schumacher moved House File 3526, which contains two principal changes: align the competitive grant process language for home care grant awards with language adopted last session for assisted‑living grant awards, and set a timeline for filling vacancies on the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Home Care and Assisted‑Living Advisory Council.
Kathy Esterly, executive director of the Minnesota Home Care Association, told the committee that members provide hands‑on care to more than 30,000 older Minnesotans and people with disabilities, and said the bill’s process improvements aim "to have greater clarity for all stakeholders on the process used for awarding the grants." MDH manager Stephanie Ponds described the program’s current funding structure: the home‑care and assisted‑living funds are in a combined special revenue account, and the “total amount right now for home care and assisted living is a little over 5 million dollars,” she said.
Members asked whether providers with provisional or temporary licenses would be eligible to apply for grant funds and how technical assistance could be used for provisional licensees. Ponds said provisional licensees were generally excluded under mirrored assisted‑living language but that the department has discretion about fines and would consider technical assistance to help compliant provisional providers get into full licensure.
Outcome: Committee adopted a technical amendment and laid HF 3526 over as amended for possible inclusion; lawmakers requested further departmental follow‑up on eligibility, funding delineation and timelines for filling advisory‑council vacancies.
Sources: Testimony by Kathy Esterly and Stephanie Ponds; committee discussion, House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee hearing, March 3, 2026.
Kathy Esterly, executive director of the Minnesota Home Care Association, told the committee that members provide hands‑on care to more than 30,000 older Minnesotans and people with disabilities, and said the bill’s process improvements aim "to have greater clarity for all stakeholders on the process used for awarding the grants." MDH manager Stephanie Ponds described the program’s current funding structure: the home‑care and assisted‑living funds are in a combined special revenue account, and the “total amount right now for home care and assisted living is a little over 5 million dollars,” she said.
Members asked whether providers with provisional or temporary licenses would be eligible to apply for grant funds and how technical assistance could be used for provisional licensees. Ponds said provisional licensees were generally excluded under mirrored assisted‑living language but that the department has discretion about fines and would consider technical assistance to help compliant provisional providers get into full licensure.
Outcome: Committee adopted a technical amendment and laid HF 3526 over as amended for possible inclusion; lawmakers requested further departmental follow‑up on eligibility, funding delineation and timelines for filling advisory‑council vacancies.
Sources: Testimony by Kathy Esterly and Stephanie Ponds; committee discussion, House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee hearing, March 3, 2026.
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