Legislative Update - Minnesota's Vaccine Timeline

Dear Neighbors, 

We’re wrapping up our second month of the legislative session, and while legislation is moving along, I also wanted to update you on the status of the COVID-19 vaccine in our state. This week, the latest timeline was released for when Minnesotans should expect to receive the vaccine, with doses being widely available to all who want it by this summer.

Right now, the goal is to vaccinate 70% of Minnesota’s 65+ population by the end of March, which we’re on track to do. After that, we’ll continue to vaccinate school staff and childcare providers, but also begin administering the vaccine to people with specific high-risk health conditions and targeted essential workers. Check the timeline to see when you or a loved one may be eligible.

Regardless of when you’re expecting to receive the COVID vaccine, you should sign up for Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector.

While the supply of COVID vaccines has yet to meet its great demand, when that moment arrives we need to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to ensure everyone can be quickly vaccinated throughout the state - which is why I authored legislation allowing dentists to administer the vaccine. I’m happy to share that this bill was unanimously voted off the House floor yesterday, and now we wait for our colleagues in the Senate to either approve it or send the bill to a conference committee to be worked out. Regardless, it’s a bipartisan bill I anticipate becoming law soon. 

Preventive Health Policy

This month in the Preventive Health Policy Division, which I chair, we heard several important pieces of legislation aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Minnesotans. Unfortunately, many of these measures are also surrounded by a lot of misinformation, and I thank the science-backed experts who came to testify on these bills.

From our hearings on childhood immunizations, requiring health plans to cover contraceptives, banning flavored tobacco, and providing comprehensive sexual health education to our students, I’m extremely proud of the work we’re doing in our new division. I encourage you to follow our upcoming hearings, and feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments on our work. 

Write-offs for Teachers

This year, the IRS announced that teachers who purchased COVID-19 protective equipment in 2019 can write them off on their 2020 taxes. 

COVID-19 protective items include, but are not limited to:

• face masks;
• disinfectant for use against COVID-19;
• hand soap;
• hand sanitizer;
• disposable gloves;
• tape, paint or chalk to guide social distancing;
• physical barriers (for example, clear plexiglass);
• air purifiers; and
• other items recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be used for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Learn more here.

Stay Connected

Please feel free to continue to reach out to me with any questions or comments you have on our work. You can contact me at rep.mike.freiberg@house.mn and at (651) 296-4176. (E-mail is preferred). You’ll either touch base with me or my legislative assistant, Lindy. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely, 

Mike Freiberg

State Representative