Legislative Update- May 14, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the District 57 virtual town hall meeting on Monday. We had an excellent turnout, and many engaged community members with great questions. I hope to continue these for our 57A community this summer- stay tuned for more details!

Governor Lifts Stay at Home Order with Some Exceptions; Encourages Continued Social Distancing

Yesterday, the governor announced the next phase of Minnesota’s COVID-19 response. With progress made to prepare for the virus’ peak, the governor announced a measured, cautious turning of the dial toward a new normal.

With the Stay Home Executive Order set to expire on May 18, Governor Walz will replace it with an order continuing to encourage Minnesotans to stay close to home but allowing for gatherings of friends and family of 10 people or less. The governor will also open retail stores and other main street businesses if they have a social distancing plan and operate at 50 percent occupancy. Additional guidance, including a template plan and checklist for businesses, is available on DEED’s website at mn.gov/deed/safework.

House Establishes Select Committee on Pandemic Response and Rebuilding

Speaker Hortman announced the formation of a Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding to continue addressing the COVID-19 response following adjournment of the regular legislative session. Read more in this Session Daily article.

Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Act is Now Law

I’m pleased to report that The Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency Act, which helps address skyrocketing prescription drug prices, is now law. The measure requires price transparency for three categories of drugs: existing drugs, new drugs, and newly acquired drugs. Manufacturers are required to report drug pricing information for drugs that exceed certain thresholds or increase by a certain percentage over a 12 or 24-month period. The Minnesota Department of Health will post this information on a public website in an easily accessible and clear format. Drug manufacturers are currently not subject to the same price transparency regulation as hospitals, providers and health plans.

We have much more work to do, but fortunately we are building a bipartisan consensus that the time has come to end unrestrained price gouging imposed on the American people.

House Jobs and Local Projects Proposal Announced

The Jobs and Local Projects proposal or “bonding” bill, has been revised from last year and is advancing in the House. Our bill invests in Minnesotans in a time when it’s needed most, and contains $2.524 billion in renovations, repairs, and replacement of public assets like higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, correctional facilities, roads and bridges, parks and trails, municipal buildings and more. I’m pleased to report that $2.6 million of the bill includes funding for the Apple Valley Transit Center. As you may recall, I showed the House Bonding Committee firsthand the requested improvements needed to the Red Line last fall. The House is scheduled to vote on the bill this Saturday.

Absentee Ballots Now Available

Planning to vote in the August primary and general election, but unsure about in-person voting later this year? Fortunately, Minnesota allows for voting by mail, and now folks can start requesting their absentee ballots to do just that! No matter your party affiliation, it’s important to have all voices at the table- and keep our state number one in the nation for turnout! You can request your ballot at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website here.

Keep in Touch

We’re constitutionally required to wrap up our work at the legislature on May 18. Please continue to contact me anytime with questions, input, or ideas.

You are invite to ‘like’ or ‘follow’ me on my official Facebook page for additional updates.

I appreciate hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Robert Bierman

State Representative