Dear Neighbors,
I hope you are all staying safe, healthy, and are taking care of yourselves. The Legislature had a busy week passing legislation and holding remote committee hearings on COVID-19-related issues. We are continuing to work closely with Governor Walz and do all we can to help Minnesotans during this difficult time.
Here’s a quick update.
Legislature passes the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act
On Tuesday, the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate passed the conference committee report on the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act. The legislation establishes an emergency insulin program for the Minnesotans who need it most, with insulin manufacturers financially participating in the solution.
Minnesotans should not lose their lives because they can’t afford the insulin they need to survive. Thanks to the advocacy of thousands of Minnesotans, and to Representative Michael Howard’s dedicated leadership, this legislation has been signed into law. The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act will provide emergency access, long-term affordability, require insulin manufacturers to be part of the solution, and is ready to implement right now.
Alec Smith passed away in 2017 at the age of 26 when he aged off of his parents’ health insurance and was forced to ration his insulin that he could no longer afford, due to its incredibly high cost. Alec’s story is unfortunately not unique, as at least two more Minnesotans have died from insulin rationing since last year’s legislative session. These tragic stories have put a spotlight on the skyrocketing cost of insulin, which has tripled in the last ten years. Studies indicate that 1 in 4 diabetics have resorted to rationing their medication due to the lack of access to affordable insulin.
The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act will ensure that Minnesota’s diabetics, who cannot afford their insulin and are facing an emergency need, can access a 30-day supply at their pharmacy for a co-pay of $35. Eligible Minnesotans include those who are uninsured, under-insured, receiving Medicare, and who do not have access to low co-pays. The legislation also streamlines the process by which Minnesotans can access affordable insulin in the long-term. Insulin manufacturers would participate in the program and could be fined up to $3.6 million a year, doubling in the second year, for non-compliance.
Alec’s Bill is the product of more than a year of work with patients, health care providers and other stakeholders. It has the backing of organizations representing patients, doctors, nurses and pharmacists, including the AARP, Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Medical Association and Minnesota Pharmacists Association.
The legislation can be found here. A video recording of the floor debate can be found here.
Legislature passes fourth COVID-19 legislative package
On Tuesday, the House and Senate also passed our fourth legislative package responding to COVID-19. The legislation we passed will provide needed flexibility and assistance to Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is clearly more work to do to safeguard the health and economic well-being of Minnesotans. We will continue working with Governor Walz and the Minnesota Senate to help Minnesotans during this public health crisis.
The legislation includes the following:
- Providing local governments with flexibility through changes to the open meeting law — expanding meeting and voting by “interactive television” through roll-call votes and allowing meeting in someplace other than the normal meeting location during a state of emergency
- Allowing a court to deem that a will has been properly executed, even if one of the statutory requirements has not been met, if a person can show by clear and convincing evidence that the will is the testator’s intent. Allowing for a will to be valid if a mistake while executing it is deemed harmless
- Allowing new Minnesota residents 60 days to use their old license before needing to obtain a new Minnesota license
- Extending the expiration date for medical examiner certificates and waivers
- Providing flexibility in new commercial driver’s licenses
- Requiring reports to Legislature from MnDOT and Met Council on powers exercised during peacetime emergency
- Authorizing the Met Council to use federal funds to purchase protective equipment for Metro Transit employees
- Ensuring Medical Assistance covers COVID-19 testing costs and is available for uninsured individuals who need testing
- Providing authority for MDH Commissioner to set up alternative and temporary health care facilities
- Prohibiting health care providers from denying or limiting reimbursement for coverage of telemedicine services between a licensed health care provider and a patient
- Allowing respiratory therapists to be included in the list of health care providers
- Suspending deadlines in district and appellate courts, including statute of limitations
- Extending the deadline to file a motion to contest the child support cost-of-living adjustment for reasons related to COVID-19
- Allowing local governments to implement procedures to accept marriage licenses during the peacetime emergency by mail, fax, or electronic filing without the need to appear in person
- Extending the time period for those participating in the Farmer-Lender Mediation Act
- Addressing some known problems in our current vehicle registration system. These changes are based on the recommendations of the vehicle registration task force and findings from the Legislative Auditor
- Allowing coroners or medical examiners to access the criminal justice data communications network
- Technical changes and forecast adjustments in Human Services
- Increasing investments in Second Harvest Heartland to support Minnesota’s food banks
- Providing the Department of Revenue with liquor posting discretion
More details can be found here. Governor Walz signed the bill on Wednesday.
House and Senate pass legislation allowing takeout beer and wine
Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation to allow takeout sales of beer and wine from bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our restaurants and their employees are facing extreme hardships during this pandemic. We hope today’s legislation will help. We know it is a small step in these very difficult times, but I’m pleased legislators from both sides of the aisle were able to work together with the Governor to get this done.
The legislation allows bars and restaurants with liquor licenses to sell up to 72 ounces – the equivalent of one six-pack – of beer, cider or hard seltzer and up to 750 milliliters of wine – the equivalent of one bottle – with food orders. The alcoholic beverages must be sold in their original, unopened containers.
The Senate passed the bill yesterday. Governor Walz is expected to sign the bill later today. The legislation can be found here. Video of today’s floor debate will be available here.
Governor Walz signs executive order expanding outdoor recreation opportunities
Governor Walz today issued a new executive order that expands allowable outdoor recreational activities. The changes will allow Minnesotans to continue to enjoy the outdoors close to home while following social distancing guidelines.
The order allows Minnesotans to engage in a range of activities, including golfing, boating, fishing, hunting, and hiking, as long as they follow new outdoor recreation guidelines. These guidelines include maintaining 6-foot social distancing, avoiding crowded areas, and staying close to home.
Under Executive Order 20-38, facilities that may reopen or remain open include:
- Bait shops for live bait
- Outdoor shooting ranges and game farms
- Public and private parks and trails
- Golf courses and driving ranges
- Boating and off-highway vehicle services, including:
- Marina services
- Dock installation and other lake services
- Boat and off-highway vehicle sales and repair, by appointment only
Campgrounds and dispersed camping, outdoor recreational equipment retail stores, recreational equipment rental, charter boats, launches, and guided fishing remain closed.
Minnesotans should continue to take part in outdoor activities close to their primary residence. Staying home helps protect Minnesotans from spreading COVID-19 and limits pressure on rural medical facilities and essential supplies.
These new provisions will go into effect on Saturday, April 18 at 5:00 am.
Department of Employment and Economic Development seeking input on how to safely reopen businesses
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has already received more than 3,000 comments and suggestions from businesses and workers about how we can safely reopen workplaces that are not in critical sectors. You can add your voice here.
You can learn more about what DEED is hearing so far on their website.
Tax Day Reminder
Wednesday, April 15th would have normally been Tax Day, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesotans now have until Wednesday, July 15th, 2020, to file and make their payments without any penalties or interest. If you do not need extra time to pay you are encouraged to file and pay as soon as possible to do your part in providing on-going support to the COVID-19 response across the state.
You can learn more on the Department of Revenue website.
DEED implements 13-week extension of Unemployment Insurance
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced earlier this week that the agency has fully implemented the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which provides a 13 week extension of unemployment benefits for eligible applications. PEUC was authorized by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which was signed into law on March 27, 2020.
Individuals who have exhausted their unemployment benefits and believe they are eligible for extended benefits under the PEUC should login to their online account at uimn.org for additional details.
The final component of the CARES Act to be implemented is the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which will provide unemployment benefits to self-employed individuals, independent contractors, gig workers and others who would not normally be eligible for unemployment benefits. DEED expects to have PUA fully operational by the end of April, but is actively encouraging those who think they are eligible for these benefits to apply online now at uimn.org.
COVID-19 Resources
State and Federal Resources
Our excellent House team has updated our list of COVID-19 state and federal resources — you can find the full document here. The document is frequently updated with new information and resources, so check back often!
The State of Minnesota also has a great COVID-19 webpage. MDH has a public hotline that you can call at 651-201-3920.
MDH has set up webpages in several languages. Please continue sharing these links to help keep Minnesotans informed.
As always, please contact me anytime with your input. I appreciate hearing from you! You can reach me at 651-296-4280 or rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn. You can also keep up with what’s happening at the Capitol by liking my legislative Facebook page and following the Minnesota House DFL on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Melissa Hortman