Minnesota's Larry’s Law sets new emergency-care rules for assisted living

Minnesota has enacted Larry’s Law after the death of 79-year-old assisted living resident Larry Thompson, requiring facilities to create emergency-response plans for residents in distress. The law targets dangerous gaps in “no lift” or “no touch” policies and gives providers until Aug. 1, 2027, to comply.

Why it matters: - Larry’s Law is designed to close a safety gap in Minnesota assisted living when a resident needs immediate physical help before emergency responders arrive. - The law could affect how facilities train staff, write emergency protocols and respond to falls, entrapment and other urgent situations. - Families now have a clearer standard to ask about when evaluating whether a facility can protect a vulnerable resident in a crisis.

What happened: - Gov. Tim Walz signed Larry’s Law on May 18, 2026. - The bipartisan law requires Minnesota assisted living facilities to establish plans for staff to promptly attend to a resident’s needs during a medical emergency until emergency personnel arrive. - The reform followed the death of Larry Thompson, a 79-year-old resident of an assisted living facility in Golden Valley.

The details: - Thompson became trapped between his motorized scooter and a wall inside the facility and could not free himself. - Public reporting and a Minnesota Department of Health investigation found that staff did not physically intervene under a “no lift” or “no touch” policy. - Thompson died as a result. - The event was captured on video. - The wrongful death claim on behalf of Thompson’s heirs was resolved confidentially before trial. - Facilities have until Aug. 1, 2027, to implement compliant emergency-response plans. - Larry’s attorney, Randy Knutson of Knutson + Casey in Mankato, said the case brought public attention to what should happen when a resident is in immediate distress and needs physical help before emergency responders arrive.

Between the lines: - The law reflects a push to make sure emergency procedures protect residents instead of becoming a reason to withhold help. - “No lift” policies can be read too broadly, leaving staff unsure whether they may physically assist residents who are injured, trapped or unable to move safely. - The statute also reinforces that employee safety and training matter, but those concerns do not remove a facility’s duty to prepare for emergencies. - The case turned a private tragedy into a statewide policy debate about accountability, dignity and the limits of facility rules.

What's next: - Assisted living facilities must build or update emergency-response plans before the Aug. 1, 2027, deadline. - Families are likely to press more questions about staffing, training, equipment and post-incident communication. - Care providers will need to ensure employees understand when and how they can physically assist residents in emergencies.

The bottom line: - Larry’s Law is a reminder that assisted living policies have to work in real emergencies, not just on paper.