Legislature
Contacts for the Minnesota Legislature
Find staff who work with the Minnesota Legislature on human services topics. These contacts can help with legislative questions, budget issues and program areas such as aging, disability services, behavioral health, health care, housing and program oversight.Government Relations Office
The Government Relations Office at DHS plans, manages, and directs the department’s legislative program, and ensures that department-initiated proposals that come before the Minnesota Legislature are consistent with the agency’s mission. The office serves as the agencywide authority for the department’s legislative planning and policy development process and ensures that expert advice, guidance, and strategies are provided to the Commissioner and executive leadership on the technical, governmental, and fiscal implications of the agency’s legislative proposals. The office also monitors and provides technical support on human services-related legislative activity at the Capitol and coordinates legislative-related communications between the agency and state legislators, the Governor’s Office, and external partners.
Director of State Government Relations
Kristy Graume
651-431-2390
kristy.graume@state.mn.us
Legislative Coordinator
Nicole Juan
651-703-4258
nicole.m.juan@state.mn.us
Budget Analysis Office
The Budget Analysis Division at DHS manages and directs the development of the department’s biennial and supplemental legislative budgets, coordinates the development of the department’s capital legislative budget, and oversees fiscal policy and planning for the department. The office ensures that department-initiated proposals that come before the Minnesota Legislature and fiscal policy solutions determined by the department are consistent with the agency’s mission and have the greatest outcome to the people served in DHS programs. The office oversees the fiscal note process for the department and serves as the legislative contact for budget issues. The office provides expert advice and strategies to executive leadership, the Governor’s Office, state legislators, other agencies, and external partners on fiscal policy-related impacts and solutions to proposed legislation.
Budget Director
Elyse Bailey
651-431-2932
elyse.bailey@state.mn.us
Fiscal Policy Director
Chris Zempel
651-431-6181
Christopher.Zempel@state.mn.us
Aging and Disability Services
The Aging and Disability Services administration works to ensure that Minnesota’s older adults and people with disabilities receive the services and supports they need to live as independently as possible. The administration manages policy for home and community-based services, administers rates and policy for nursing facilities, oversees the state’s adult protective services system, and staffs the Minnesota Board on Aging. The administration also covers services for people who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing as well as HIV services.
Legislative Director
Kristy Graume
651-431-2390
kristy.graume@state.mn.us
Legislative Liaison
Paige Anderson
651-431-5912
paige.anderson@state.mn.us
Behavioral Health
The Behavioral Health, Housing, Deaf and Hard of Hearing administration oversees policy and program administration for and hard of hearing, substance use disorder, mental health, and housing and support services. Behavioral Health, Housing,
Legislative Director
Kristy Graume
651-431-2390
kristy.graume@state.mn.us
Legislative Liaison
Justin Wu
651-431-6667
justin.wu@state.mn.us
Homelessness, Housing and Support Services
Legislative Director
Legislative Director
Lorna Schmidt
651-431-7224
lorna.schmidt@state.mn.us
Health Care
The Health Care administration oversees the state’s public healthcare programs for low-income Minnesotans, including MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance (MA). The administration manages health care contract purchasing and service delivery; eligibility, benefit, and payment policies; member and provider relations and outreach; program research and evaluation; and oversight for the county and tribal administration of the state’s public health care programs.
Acting Legislative Director
Kristy Graume
651-431-2390
kristy.graume@state.mn.us
Legislative Liaison
Vacant
Office of Inspector General
The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) manages financial fraud and abuse investigations; licenses programs such as family child care, adult foster care and mental health centers; and conducts background studies on people who apply to work in these settings.
Legislative Director
Ari Didion
651-431-4138
ariana.c.didion@state.mn.us