Capitol Update: April 23, 2021
This week the Senate continued to pass budget bills. Last week, the Senate passed the Judiciary and Public Safety omnibus - the committee on which I serve as the ranking DFL member. The committee was given a $90 million target, which allows for some investments in the state’s court and corrections system, and in some public safety requests. Of the target, $20 million was reserved for disaster assistance for our local communities.
The bill, however, is a stark portrait of what the Senate Majority’s priorities aren’t; the bill contains no policing and criminal justice reform, no expansion of proven justice programs, and little in the way of reducing the intersectional causes behind crime and recidivism.
There is no more room for healing words and platitudes. Many of the reforms being offered are those which have been developed with input from law enforcement agencies and have broad community support. However, late yesterday evening, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka announced he was no longer requesting the Senate hold hearings on police reforms, something he had announced at a press conference on Tuesday, April 13. Instead, he is channeling those matters into the more limited conference committee process. This is not acceptable but we must adjust to that reality. I remain committed to bringing forward proposals for discussion, debate and passage, just as I was elected to do.
My statement on this irresponsible decision can be found here.
Assistance for Renters
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency has announced that RentHelpMN is now available to help eligible renters catch up on overdue rent and utilities dating back to March 13, 2020. It also makes provisions for those at risk of falling behind on rent payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. RentHelpMN is now in phase one, which allows people with past due rent who meet eligibility requirements to apply. To apply and to learn more about eligibility requirements visit www.renthelpmn.org or call 211.
The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions about RentHelpMN, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Saturday.
State Fair Vaccine Site Update
The Minnesota Department of Health's COVID hotline (833-431-2053) is available to schedule appointments NOW for the State Fair site. This line is available in multiple languages and can assist with language/ADA accommodations. If you reside in the following zip codes you are eligible for a vaccination at this site: 55343, 55422, 55426,
55427.
Additionally:
Every registrant will get a free Metro Transit pass in their confirmation materials
There is no requirement to show government ID either during registration or at the site
Getting the vaccine is free and health insurance is not required
Restaurant Relief from the Small Business Association
The $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) at the Small Business Administration (SBA) was established in March 2021. Through the RRF, restaurants, bars, caterers, bakeries, brewpubs, and other eligible businesses can access funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss, subject to program limits.
The SBA is not yet accepting applications for the RRF, but information about eligibility, funding amounts, uses of funds, and a sample application form are available in English at www.sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at www.sba.gov/restaurantes.
Important note: If you are a small business that may be eligible for this fund you should be ready to apply the day it becomes available. Sign up with SBA to receive email alerts as more RRF information is available.
Conclusion
The bulk of work next week will be on the Senate floor, where we will continue to debate omnibus budget bills and a tax bill. I expect conference committees to be appointed and begin meeting to make determinations as to how we fund our state. There are four weeks left before the constitutional deadline the legislature must adjourn, and the bulk of the work remains. The budget, which impacts every single Minnesotan, must be signed into law by June 30. I have made the point before, and I reiterate it now: it is more crucial than ever to continue state services without interruption as we inch towards the end of the pandemic. Please continue to wear your mask, distance when possible, and schedule your free vaccination appointment.
