2023 session provided transformational changes

June 2023
By Access Press Staff

The 2023 Minnesota Legislature concluded with significant achievements for Minnesotans with disabilities, marked by a record number of bills introduced and a focus on various disability-related issues. Advocates considered the session one of the most productive in recent years, resulting in long-lasting disability rights impacts.

The $72 billion "One Minnesota" budget, signed by Governor Tim Walz, encompassed a diverse set of bills covering health and human services, education, public safety, housing, and more. Highlights include increased Medicaid rates, enhanced affordable and accessible housing, expanded voting measures, various bonding initiatives, improvements in broadband, higher education inclusion, and mental health advancements.

The session also addressed disability waiver rate system changes, increased funding for the Minnesota Council on Disability, and a two-year $6.2 billion health and human services budget, including creating a state department for children, youth, and families. Despite successes, there are lingering concerns about the adequacy of changes to the personal care assistance (PCA) program and waiver programs, with ongoing challenges in addressing staffing issues and maintaining service providers.

The session also saw the legalization of cannabis for recreational use and transportation-related changes, including mandatory training for Metro Transit drivers to assist people with disabilities. Individual advocates, such as 87-year-old Joy Rindels-Hayden and longtime activist Jeff Bangsberg, celebrated specific wins related to mandatory training for bus accessibility and changes to PCA driving regulations, respectively.

2023 session provided transformational changes | Access Press