Legislative Update- March 25, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you well and you’re staying connected (virtually!) to friends and family. As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, and cases increase in Minnesota, we can all do our part to ‘flatten the curve’ and prevent more illnesses. We must all continue to wash our hands thoroughly for 20 seconds, practice social distancing at least six feet from others, avoid large gatherings, and stay home if you can, especially if you are not feeling well.

Executive Action

Governor Walz has issued a series of executive orders since I last wrote, and took action to put a moratorium on evictions, mobilize the Minnesota National Guard to deliver Personal Protective Equipment, ban price gouging of goods during a peacetime emergency, and give the Department of Human Services flexibility to help ensure services for people with disabilities, mental health support, childcare, food support, housing, and other critical public health programs and services can continue. You can access the full list of the Governor’s executive actions here.

One of note that recently went into effect was the Governor’s authorization to create an Emergency Small Business Loan program in Minnesota. The program will make loans available of between $2,500 and $35,000 for qualifying small businesses which will be 50% forgivable, and offered at a 0% interest rate. Small business owners can send questions about this emergency loan program to ELP@state.mn.us  or read about it at DEED’s website.

Legislative Action

At the Legislature, we’re working around the clock to craft bipartisan solutions with the Minnesota Senate that help protect Minnesotans during this pandemic. Some of these measures include keeping long-term care and disability services running, extending the tax filing deadline, providing additional child care provider support for first responders and health workers, forgiving penalties as a result of expired driver’s licenses, extending the REAL-ID deadline, and much more. Click here to learn more about the proposals we’re working on to help our K-12 teachers and students.

A limited number of state legislators in the House and Senate will meet in session tomorrow (following public health guidelines of CDC and MDH) to approve some of the emergency COVID-19 measures mentioned above and more.

I’ll keep you posted with more information as it becomes available. Please don’t hesitate to contact me any time with questions, input, or suggestions.

Thank you for the honor of representing our communities at the state legislature!

Sincerely,

Robert Bierman

State Representative