Neighbors, The legislative session is constitutionally required to adjourn on Monday. Earlier this week, legislative leaders and the governor settled on a budget framework agreement, setting the stage for final negotiations on the supplemental budget. Our hectic schedule will continue, and we will either be on the House floor passing bills or monitoring conference committee hearings. I will be checking in with our conferees and am looking forward to voting for a budget to help all Minnesotans succeed. You can follow along and learn the latest on negotiations here. Frontline Pay Workers Eligible for Bonus Checks You may be eligible for a bonus check for your in-person work during the early days of the pandemic. Check your eligibility at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry website and sign up here to receive information on the application process. When the application is ready, a call center and help desk will be available to assist applicants in multiple languages. The department hopes to begin accepting applications by mid-June. Then a 45-day application period will begin, with payments anticipated in late summer or early fall. Help spread the word to any workers who may be eligible to apply.  Help for Homeowners Help is available for Minnesota homeowners hurt financially by the pandemic. Eligible homeowners can apply for up to $35,000 in assistance for mortgage payments and other housing-related expenses through a new state program called HomeHelpMN. The program is funded with $109 million from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. You can start the application process through the HomeHelpMN website. You can read more in this Minnesota Reformer article.  Guest Panelist Yesterday, I was a panelist at an event in Minneapolis with author Ryan Hampton to discuss my legislative work on substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. In a local connection, Brandy Brink who founded BeyondBrink in Mankato back in 2016 was also part of the event. I was pleased to share our work on this important public health issue.  MnDot to host May 25 open house for Hwy 22 Mankato to St. Peter project The Minnesota Department of Transportation is inviting the public to attend an in-person open house this Wednesday, May 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Mankato Regional Airport Lobby, 3030 N. Airport Road, to learn about the Hwy 22 project from Mankato to St. Peter. The two-year project is tentatively planned to start construction in 2024. MnDOT staff will provide information about the project. Attendees are welcome to arrive any time. You can learn more about the project here. Avian Influenza Update The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI/H5N1) continues to show up in more Minnesota locations. It is recommended bird feeders be removed for now and those who raise backyard chickens, should keep the birds enclosed and separated from wildlife. Call the HPAI hotline at 1-833-454-0156 for questions and learn more from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or the Board of Animal Health. COVID-19 Update The White House announced this week every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a third round of free at-home COVID-19 tests. Click here to place your order. You can also call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Also, a reminder Americans over 50 and those 12 years and older who are immunocompromised can receive a second COVID-19 booster shot. More updates about COVID-19 are available through the Minnesota Department of Health website, or the U of M Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). _________ Stay connected with the Legislature The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website here. I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can send an email to rep.luke.frederick@house.mn or can call my legislative assistant, Blake Wilcox, at 651-296-8803. Also, please visit and “like” my Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates. Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature. Sincerely, Luke Frederick State Representative |