Dear Neighbors,
For the past week, the Minnesota Legislature has been in a special session. For what initially started as a session meant to address the impacts of COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd and subsequent unrest called us to also take serious action on reforming our public safety and criminal justice systems.
The current status of COVID-19 means that future special sessions are highly likely, but with nothing certain, my colleagues and I are using this time to champion meaningful legislation to ensure our communities and state can remain responsive and prosperous during and after this pandemic.
Assistance for Small Businesses
The first bill we passed during this special session was legislation delivering assistance to our state’s smallest businesses. The bill created a $62.5 million fund for small business grants, with a focus on businesses with 50 or fewer employees. With grants of up to $10,000, this is an incredibly important bill that will provide our local businesses with the assistance they need to weather these difficult times.To be eligible, the business must meet the following requirements:
- Have a permanent physical location in Minnesota,
- Be owned by a permanent resident of Minnesota,
- Be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office and the Dept. of Revenue as of March 1, 2020, and
- Demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike previous funds, these grants will be awarded by lottery. This bill has already been signed into law by Governor Walz, and applications will start being accepted on Tuesday, June 23, through Thursday, July 2. You can find more information and apply on the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s webpage.
Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020
Yesterday, my colleagues and I debated and passed the Minnesota Police Accountability Act of 2020, a package of legislation focused on reimagining and reforming public safety that was brought forward by the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus. The legislation includes the following:
- Reclaiming Community Oversight
- Putting power into the hands of the people and neighborhoods that police officers are sworn to serve and protect.
- The Reforming Accountability Act
- Restoring confidence and trust in the systems that are meant to provide justice for all Minnesotans.
- The Re-Imagining Public Safety Act
- Ending the unacceptable culture that is responsible for the murder of George Floyd and far too many others who look like him.
There is a national, if not global spotlight on Minnesota, and I’m confident we can use this time to become a leader in racial justice and police accountability. As I write this, it is the intention of Senate Republicans to block these measures, and that is unacceptable. The changes that are needed to prevent another tragedy are big, but the safety of all Minnesotans, regardless of what they look like or where they live, is not something we can shy away from.
Investing in Our Communities
Today, we also passed the CARES Act in the Minnesota House. The CARES Act appropriates over $841 million in emergency funding to counties, cities, and townships from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bill also contains a series of other important investments in Minnesotans’ health and economic wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, such as a temporary wage increase for personal care assistants, support for low-income families and children, resources for preventing veteran suicide and homelessness, increased funding for child care assistance, and more.
During this pandemic, it’s incredibly important that we continue to fund the services and programs that our communities rely on. I’d like to recognize Mary Shriver, Treasurer of the Bloomington Chorale, which was the recent recipient of a Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) Emergency Relief Fund grant. Though no current MRAC grants are available, I encourage eligible groups to check back in July, and more information can be found here.
Input on Distance Learning Experience Needed
The Minnesota Department of Education is starting to create a plan for what school could look like next fall and they are seeking input from parents and guardians. Please share your experience with MDE by taking this survey, which will remain open until June 30.
Stay Connected
Minnesota’s COVID-19 Dashboard remains a great source for accurate, updated information, and the new Stay Safe webpage covers the resources available to the public as we work to reopen Minnesota safely.
Our work in the Minnesota Legislature is evolving quickly, but I’ll continue to update you as I learn more. Please feel free to continue to reach out to me with any questions or comments you have on our work, or the resources available to our community. You can reach me at rep.andrew.carlson@house.mn or leave a voicemail at (651) 296-4218. You can also follow along on my Facebook Page. It’s an honor to represent you in the Minnesota House, and I appreciate your input.
Sincerely,
Andrew Carlson
State Representative