Minnesota Legislature 35 , CD3 DFL

Minnesota lawmakers propose ‘bill of rights’ for student borrowers, licensing requirement for loan providers

Legislation would give commerce commissioner oversight authority.

Seeking to address a student debt crisis totaling nearly $2 trillion nationally, a bipartisan pair of Minnesota lawmakers want to enshrine protections for borrowers into state law.

Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, and Sen. Zach Duckworth, R-Lakeville, unveiled a “Student Borrowers Bill of Rights” on Monday that would require student loan servicers operating in Minnesota to be licensed through the Department of Commerce. The measure would give the commerce commissioner power to suspend or revoke the licenses of servicers that mislead borrowers or misrepresent payments.

“There’s a confusing labyrinth of repayment plans, forbearance options, refinancing opportunities,” Stephenson said. “If a borrower makes even the slightest misstep, they can watch their debt balloon out of control and see themselves suddenly become ineligible for forgiveness programs that they may have planned their entire education around.” Continue reading.

House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee advances paid family and medical leave

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee advanced legislation that expands access to paid family and medical leave. The bill, authored by Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL – Mendota Heights), gives Minnesota workers time to bond with a new baby, care for a family member, or recover from illness.

“The first weeks after birth are a critical time in the life of a child and a family,” said Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – St. Paul), the chair of the committee. “Paid family and medical leave gives workers time to be with their loved ones during the most joyful and challenging moments of their lives. House DFLers are committed to providing greater economic security for working families and ensuring that our youngest Minnesotans get the great start in life that they deserve.”

The legislation provides workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave per year. Minnesotans could apply for leave to bond with a new child, take care of a family member, or get medical attention for themselves. While on leave, workers would receive a percentage of their regular wages.

Rep. Andrew Carlson (HD50B) Update: February 23, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

According to data reported as of February 19th, the total vaccine doses administered in the state of Minnesota is 1,095,934. The speed of vaccination is picking up to approximately 100,000 people each week, and there have been a series of online tools that make it easier for eligible individuals to schedule appointments and access the latest news on COVID-19 information.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Connector Tool

Minnesota has just launched a new tool to make reliable vaccine updates and COVID-19 related information reach you faster. The COVID-19 Vaccine Connectorwill help Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

When you become eligible, the Vaccine Connector will:

Minnesota Lawmakers Announce Bipartisan Student Borrowers Bill of Rights Legislation

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, a pair of bipartisan legislators announced efforts to provide important new protections for Minnesotans struggling with student debt. The Student Borrowers Bill of Rights legislation, authored by Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) and Sen. Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville), would require licensure of student loan servicers, and establishes a variety of financial guardrails student loan servicers must follow to enhance consumer protections for student loan borrowers.

“Minnesota law is stunningly inadequate at protecting student borrowers from even the most basic bad behavior by the private companies that service their debt,” said Rep. Stephenson. “Our state’s students deserve transparency and less red tape, and our bill is designed to help ensure they aren’t misled or maltreated by student loan servicers.”

“Protecting young people from predatory lending and ensuring they have accurate information about their financing options is critical to their financial wellbeing and ability to fund their education,” said Senator Duckworth. “Folks shouldn’t be taken advantage of and their best interest should be at the forefront of any advice or guidance they receive related to student loans. Accepting a loan is serious and so is the commitment to repay it – equally serious is the commitment to ensuring the terms and servicing of that loan are fair and conducted in good faith.”

According to the Federal Reserve, the total amount of student loan debt has surpassed credit card debt to become the second largest class of debt in the U.S., with students owing a stunning $1.7 trillion dollars nationally. Sarah Rother, a media specialist and social studies teacher at a Chaska middle school, shared personal testimony regarding the ongoing financial challenges her student loan debt continues to present for her family.

“I don’t want my daughter to associate financial stress and worry with a college degree,” said Ms. Rother. “Children should see education as a gateway to their future, not as shackles of insurmountable debt.”

Destiny Belmont, a school psychologist with the Benton-Stearns School District, also shared her experience with her student loan servicer changing her required payments multiple times over the course of ten years.

“Loan servicers are taking advantage of Minnesotans, many who like myself are going into education, health care and other public services,” said Ms. Belmont. “It’s time to regulate student loan servicers and represent the interest of borrowers, not corporations.”

The Student Borrowers Bill of Rights legislation will be introduced during today’s House floor session. The measure has been scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, February 23, in theHouse Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee at 3:00 p.m. The hearing will be livestreamed on House Public Information’s HTV1.

Rep. Kristin Bahner (HD34B) Update: February 23, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

According to data reported as of February 19th, the total vaccine doses administered in the state of Minnesota is 1,095,934 exceeding our goal of 1 million doses! Right now we have about 1/3 with both doses and 2/3 that have received at least 1 dose and 30-40 of those on the waiting list have received the vaccine and a good deal more have appointments set and ready to go. The speed of vaccination is picking up to approximately 100,000 people each week, and there have been a series of online tools that make it easier for eligible individuals to schedule appointments and access the latest news on COVID-19 information.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Connector Tool

Curious when it will be your turn? Minnesota has just launched a new tool to make reliable vaccine updates and COVID-19 related information reach you faster and remove the guess work around when you may be next in line. The COVID-19 Vaccine Connectorwill help Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine.

Rep. Cedrick Frazier (HD45A) Update: February 22, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

The COVID-19 Vaccine Connector Tool

When you become eligible, the Vaccine Connector will:

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: February 19, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

A big thank you to Mayor Carlson for inviting me to speak at “Meet Excelsior” before their council meeting this week. I enjoyed the opportunity to engage with city leaders and residents about what’s happening at the Capitol and how we can help meet the needs of Excelsior at the state level. I’m excited to see The Commons project get underway! Carrying the legislation to enact the sales tax that helped make it possible was an honor. The project is a great example of Minnesota’s proud tradition of constructive public-private partnerships.

Yesterday, Governor Walz announced that a new tool is available to help Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 Vaccine Connector will let you know when you’re eligible to receive a vaccine, connect you to resources to schedule a vaccine appointment, and notify you if there are vaccine opportunities in your area. Signing up for the Vaccine Connector is free and easy, and you don’t need insurance or identification. You can sign up and learn more here. People unable to sign up online can have family or friends help them sign up online, or call 833-431-2053 for assistance signing up over the phone.

Sen. Ron Latz (SD46) Update: February 19, 2021

CAPITOL UPDATE FEBRUARY 19, 2021

This week, SD46 members hosted the first of several virtual town halls. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and submit questions. The full video is available here and future dates will be announced through this listserv again as well.

VACCINE CONNECTOR

Vaccines continue to become available and now all Minnesotans have an option to enroll and be notified when they are eligible with the new vaccine connector launched this week. You can visit this site here.

ST LOUIS PARK TENT REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

St. Louis Park-based businesses may apply for a 50% reimbursement for rental or purchase of an outdoor tent or other eligible expenses through a new City of St. Louis Park program. To be eligible, businesses must be under specific restrictions from current state emergency executive orders such as restaurants, breweries, distilleries and fitness facilities, and must have no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees to be eligible for the program. Maximum reimbursement amount is $5,000 with one reimbursement allowed per business.

Rep. Samantha Vang (HD40B) Update: February 22, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

As session progresses I would appreciate hearing from your thoughts on the most pressing issues we are working on at the Capitol. Complete the following survey to help me understand where I should focus my efforts for the rest of session: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021mn40b.

Vaccine Connector

Last week, the state of Minnesota launched a new tool to help let Minnesotans know when they are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. We have all been eager to receive a vaccine as soon as possible, and luckily there are reasons to be optimistic that distribution will greatly accelerate soon. In the meantime, the new Vaccine Connector will alert Minnesotans when they are eligible, connect you to resources to schedule an appointment, and notify you about vaccine opportunities near you. Learn more and sign up here. Assistance is also available over the phone at 833-431-2053.

Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 19, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week brought another round of hearings and discoveries. In Health and Human Services Reform we’ve moved closer to assisting counties in efficiency and flexibility while having some serious discussions about healthcare and accessibility for our most vulnerable populations. We also have further vaccine updates.

There are more details in this newsletter, but know the work continues at an increasing pace. We are only a few weeks away from first bill deadlines so its a rush to properly evaluate good legislation and make sure it gets where it needs to go.

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