April 7, 2020
News Release
HOUSE APPROVES COVID-19 WORKERS COMP FOR FRONT-LINE WORKERS
ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota House of Representatives convened Tuesday to pass HF4537, a bill to provide presumptive workers compensation insurance to front-line workers who contract COVID-19. The bill represents a compromise agreement made by legislators from all four House and Senate caucuses, and advocates from labor and business groups, as well as local government. The compromise agreement was approved unanimously in an emergency meeting of the Workers Compensation Advisory Council on April 6. The bill was passed on a vote of 130-4.
Representatives Deb Kiel, R-Crookston, and Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, released the following statement regarding the bill's passage.
“The workers battling this virus should know we have their backs as they care for the sick and protect our communities,” said Kiel. “The work they do for our communities is so important, and they deserve to be taken care of if they contract COVID-19 while doing that work.”
“Our front line workers are doing vital work," added Fabian. "I am glad we could come together, regardless of party, to take this step to take care of the people caring for our neighbors and keeping us safe."
The Senate also met this afternoon to approve the legislation and send it to Governor Walz for approval. The legislature is scheduled to convene again on April 14.
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