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Dear neighbors,
On Friday, I returned to the Capitol for the first day of special session. Here’s a brief update on the work we got done and some of the work ahead of us:
Help for Small Businesses
Our first order of business was approving legislation to deliver $62.5 million in grants for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the bill – which includes $60 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – small businesses with 50 or fewer employees can receive grants up to $10,000 each. Priority will be given to Minnesota’s smallest businesses and businesses that were forced to operate at 50 percent capacity or less.
You can read more about this legislation here.
Additional Unfinished Business
The second bill we passed is a measure that I introduced. It contains three provisions. One provides the flexibility needed to continue important environmental projects that were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It establishes a process for recipients of Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriations to obtain a one-year extension for funding that’s set to expire on June 30. Another allows recycling and composting facilities to adapt and implement changes to protect Minnesotans during the pandemic. The third piece of the bill takes steps to improve access to wildlife management areas for people with disabilities.
The bill – which you can read here – passed 127-7.
Police and Criminal Justice Reforms
This special session is an opportunity to pass police accountability and criminal justice reforms. Minnesotans and people across the nation are calling for meaningful change, and we must seize the moment. As I’ve mentioned in previous updates, members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus have put forth a package of legislation that would reform police accountability, reclaim community oversight, and reimagine public safety. Yesterday, the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Committee held a hearing to review and vet each of these proposals. If you’d like to learn more about the legislation, you can watch that hearing here.
National Pollinator Week
Pollinators are a critical part of our ecosystem, but pollinator populations have been falling for decades in the U.S. This poses a significant threat to agriculture and the ability of our farmers to feed a growing world population. To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and the threats they face, Congress designated the week of June 24 to June 30 as National Pollinator Week. I encourage you to read more about National Pollinator Week and this critical issue here.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on these issues or others that are important to you. It’s an honor to represent our community.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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