On Monday, we adjourned the 2021 legislative session. The 2022 legislative session will not start until January 31st, 2022. As I have mentioned before, 2021 is a budget year, so we start in early January. Next year is not a budget year, so we start the legislative session at the end of January 2022. Just because finished the regular legislative session, does not mean that we finished the work for this year, there will be a special session in June, and then we will move on from there.
Before adjournment on Monday, Governor Walz, Senate Majority Leader Gazelka, and Speaker of the House Hortman announced budget targets. These budget targets will shape each conference committee budget. To ensure a timely conclusion, working group members (previously known as conference committee conferees) and commissioners must complete their finance spreadsheets by 5:00 pm on Friday, May 28th, 2021. Then language will have to be agreed upon by June 4th. As we learn more about the federal fund allocations, we will agree on budget bills and get them passed.
Governor Tim Walz announced the end of Minnesota’s statewide mask requirement, aligning Minnesota with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on face coverings. Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors. Private businesses and local municipalities may still put in place face covering requirements. And Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan, along with the existing face covering guidance for schools and child care settings, remain in effect.
If every Minnesotan who can continues to get vaccinated, and those who aren’t yet vaccinated to mask we will soon be able to return normal. We still aren’t out of the woods, but we are very close!
Direct Scheduling for Vaccinations Now Available
Minnesotans can now use the Vaccine Connector to directly schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the state’s Community Vaccination Program locations. You can visit VaccineConnector.mn.gov to directly schedule appointments at Community Vaccination locations around the state. Here is how you can get your shot:
Yesterday, the CDC released updated mask guidance. If you are fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask in most settings. If you are not vaccinated, the CDC recommends that you wear a mask indoors. Later that day, Governor Walz announced the end of the statewide mask mandate. As of today, Friday, May 14, the mask mandate has been lifted for the state.
Over two million of Minnesotans are fully vaccinated right now, including many who are the most at risk of serious illness. Millions more are well on their way to full immunity. As of now, individuals ages 12 and up can receive the vaccine. For more information on how and where to get the COVID-19 vaccine please visit VaccineConnector.mn.gov.
As we round out the final full week of the legislative session before we adjourn for sine die, it is clear that we are far from the end. Not all conference committees have been meeting. Some conference committees have not adopted the same and similar provisions because they insist on waiting until we have budget targets and with the recent guidance on how states can spend federal funds for the American Rescue Plan, we are at an impasse. Conference committees could still be meeting to adopt policy provisions, these have nothing to do with budget targets, but some committee chairs are reluctant. We should be finishing this legislative session on time, and yet we are waiting for an agreement on how to end the Governor’s emergency powers instead of focusing on passing a state budget for the next biennium. We are waiting for the majority party to show up to conference committees and complete the work we were sent to do.
I am beyond disappointed, Minnesotans deserve an on-time budget and policy provisions that help our communities during these difficult times. We are also waiting for additional federal guidance on the State Fiscal Recovery Funds (SFRF) provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These funds will help Minnesota recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and we will have until 2024 to use the funds. The majority party also wants to change how these federal funds will be used, without an agreement, we do not fully know how the entire budget will be funded. I will continue to keep you updated on what is going on at the Capitol until the final hours. We will be meeting throughout the weekend to continue to work on a compromise.
Sincerely,
Melisa
Senate District 49 Town Hall
Senate District 49 legislators will be hosting a Zoom Town Hall on Monday, May 24 at 7:00 PM. While the event will occur on Zoom, we will make sure it is live-streamed and posted on each legislator’s Facebook pages for those unable to join us.
Pre-submitted questions will be given priority and you will receive a link to the Zoom meeting a day before the event through the email you enter during registration.
Senate District 49 Mask Mandates
Bloomington: as of now, Bloomington has not announced any guidance
Eden Prairie: announced there will be no city-wide mask mandate
Edina: announced there will be no city-wide mask mandate
Minnetonka: announced there will be no-city wide mask mandate
Celebrating Senator Newton’s first time on the Senate floor this session with Senator Hoffman and Senator Abeler
Conference Committee Updates:
Agriculture (SF 958):
Met on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to adopt some agreed upon policy provisions:
Pesticide applicator licensing
Cottage food laws
Waiting on target before starting budget work in earnest
Commerce/Energy (SF 972):
Met briefly on Monday to adopt some noncontroversial provisions
No meetings for the remainder of the week.
Housing (HF 1077):
Met on Monday and adopted some/similar provisions
No meetings for the rest of the week.
Jobs and Economic Development (SF 1098):
Met on Monday and adopted some provisions related to:
fire sprinklers in public high rise apartment
wedding barns
certified building officials continuing education
donations to State Services for the Blind.
The conference committee did not meet for the remainder of the week.
Judiciary (SF 970):
Met on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday with the House, making additional offers each time the House had the gavel.
Senate majority has yet to respond to any of the House offers.
The Senate Chair did not meet on Wednesday, saying the Senate needed time to consider the provisions in the House offer and that he would prefer to see a global offer.
The Senate Chair did not meet on Friday, mentioning that they are still waiting for a budget target.
State Government (HF 1952):
On Monday, the committee unanimously adopted the same and similar language related to elections policy that was vetted by the Secretary of State, mostly derived from the OSS technical bill.
Tuesday, the committee heard testimony on the Veterans Restorative Justice Act (VRJA) language.
On Wednesday, the committee heard testimony from state agencies, unions, and other stakeholders on a proposal in both the senate and house language to implement a reverse auction for a pharmacy benefit manager through SEGIP. No agreement was reached.
On Friday, the committee adopted Veterans Restorative Justice Act compromise language by a unanimous voice vote.
This language contains the House provisions supported by advocates.
It takes clarifying language from the Senate bill that is non-controversial. MDVA testified on their concerns that their new duties under the bill will require additional funding.
Plan to meet Saturday to discuss Senate proposal to transfer historical duties from the Historical Society to SHPO.
Taxes (HF 991):
Met each day to discuss details of the bills. The U.S. Treasury released final guidance on how states are allowed to spend federal funds passed through the American Rescue Plan.
On Friday MMB Commissioner Schowalter spoke more about the interim final rule on federal funds via this slide deck.
Revenue Commissioner Doty spoke about this filing season. He said the DOR will be putting out guidance by Monday telling taxpayers to file their returns with the expectation they may need to file an amended return once the legislature passes a bill.
Meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday (Senate gavel) to receive full accounting of all federal dollars received since last year.
Transportation (HF 1684):
Met on Monday to adopt various non-controversial House and Senate only provisions that had all been previously agreed upon.
On Friday the committee heared a MnDOT presentation on project selection, trunk highway spending, and contracting issues.
Environment Legacy (HF 1709):
Has not met since May 5.
Health and Human Services (HF 2128):
Met each day to discuss the differences between both bills.
Same and similar policy language has slowly been adopted over the week.
Changes to office of medical cannabis to allow raw cannabis, HCMC direct payment arrangement, removing interest charging for child support judgement.
Conferees passed the committee report on a unanimous vote. All items included were agreed upon by House and Senate, no appropriations are carried in this report.
Environment (SF 959):
Met several times, though the Senate conferees left early on during the meetings when the House held the gavel – if they attended at all.
Clean Cars rulemaking continues to be a sticking point, and the Senate refuses to negotiate anything with a fiscal impact, including pieces that do not impact general fund spending.
The House has now made four offers
The Senate has made two – both of which were entirely contingent upon the House accepting the Senate’s position on Clean Cars.
E-12 Education (HF1065):
Met each day but made very little progress.
Non-exclusionary discipline procedures remain a sticking point, with the Senate Republicans refusing to accept the K-3 non-dismissal requirement.
The House presenting their offer on Friday.
Sen. Chamberlain refused the offer and to even discuss most of it.
He said that the House hadn’t responded to the Senate offer of 5/13/21 and “expanded” that offer dramatically.
He then said that he did not plan to meet on Saturday.
Higher Education (SF975):
Met only twice this week; adopted a $6,500 cap for the child care grants.
Discussion on Thursday about federal COVID-19 funding and guidance for institutional use.
Edina COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
On Friday I visited the vaccination clinic at South View Middle School in Edina. I am thankful for everyone that has been helping Minnesotans get vaccinated.
Visitor at the Capitol!
On Wednesday, my son Philip came to the office with me. I showed him around the Capitol and he watched the floor session. Here’s a comparison of my time with Philip on Wednesday at the Capitol compared to in 2016 at the Capitol.
Yesterday afternoon, Governor Walz announced the end of Minnesota’s statewide mask requirement, aligning Minnesota with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on face coverings.
Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated are still strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors.
Private businesses and local municipalities may still put in place face covering requirements. I understand that Minneapolis has already passed a mask ordinance today.
Today, the Governor announced a three-step timeline to end nearly all COVID-19 restrictions by May 28, and end the statewide masking requirement once 70% of Minnesotans aged 16 years and older get their vaccine, or by July 1.
This announcement comes as more than 2.6 million Minnesotans have been vaccinated and is on track to vaccinate 70% of Minnesotans by the end of June.
The most at-risk Minnesotans – seniors, long-term care residents, assisted living residents, educators, and front-line workers – have been vaccinated. Nearly 90 percent of Minnesotans over the age of 65 have received at least one dose.
There are 18 days left in the legislative session. There is so much more work left to do before sine die on May 18th. On Monday, I urged my colleagues again to hear police accountability legislation. We saw accountability served in the courts with the trial of Derek Chauvin, but we need the same accountability to happen in the legislature. Legislation passed in June, after the death of George Floyd was the beginning of police accountability legislation. Yet, not a single bill on police accountability has been heard in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee this year. Now, my colleagues say there is not enough time to hold hearings on police accountability legislation because we are too close to the end of the legislative session. If not now, when is the right time? View my comments in the video at the top of the newsletter.
Here in Minnesota, we are continuing to make speedy progress vaccinating our entire state with over 3 million total doses and 56% of Minnesotans 16+ having received at least one dose. It’s important now more than ever to power through to the finish line and ensure the safety of all community members. Be sure to utilize the State Vaccine Connector to find vaccination sites near you, create an appointment, and keep up to date with the progress until we can safely reunite.
Mask Update: The CDC announced this week that vaccinated people can be maskless outside, except in large crowds. You can read more here.
Minnesota Maintains 8 Congressional Seats
On Monday we learned that Minnesota will maintain all 8 Congressional Seats which is welcome news. I am thankful for the Census workers and Minnesotans for ensuring all were counted. Minnesota’s new revised population count is 5.7 million residents. You can read more here.
We are making fantastic progress vaccinating our entire state with over 3 million total doses and 56% of Minnesotans 16+ having received at least one dose. If you have waited to get vaccinated there is no better time than now! At the Minnesota State Fair Grounds they are accepting walk-in appointments for everyone who is eligible. If we want to have a state fair this summer, everyone who can get vaccinated should. Walk-ins are available through Tuesday, May 4. Click here for more information. There has also been good availability at the Community Vaccination Center at the Mall of America through the State Vaccine Connector. (This is how I was vaccinated and it’s very efficiently run.)
RealID
The Federal Government has announced that the RealID deadline has been pushed by 18 months until May of 2023. This will relieve some of the pressure on our local Driver and Vehicle Services offices, which have been overwhelmed with requests to renew expired drivers licenses and vehicle registration tabs. Simple vehicle tab renewals can be handled online in just a few minutes at the DVS website, so take advantage of that option if you can’t get an in-person appointment at a local Hennepin County Service Center. The County is adding personnel to help with the backlog of in-person appointments, but it will take them a while to train the new staff.
On Monday, the security presence at the Capitol heightened, awaiting the closing arguments on the trial of Derek Chauvin. On Monday and Tuesday, side streets around the Capitol were closed off, and National Guard members were standing beyond the fence and in the Capitol. I was at the Capitol when I learned that we were getting the verdict for Derek Chauvin’s trial. When I watched the trial verdict come in an hour later, I was relieved. We received justice for George Floyd, his family, and Black communities across America. But George should be alive right now, and we should not have had to mourn the loss of another Black man. I will continue to demand public safety reform in Minnesota. The fight is not over, we need to pass meaningful legislation this session. We do not need a “fact-finding” hearing, we need meaningful legislation to stop this from happening again.
