Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We have one more week until first deadlines. Many bills have been moving, and this week we had several. You’ll find more details on the specifics in this ENews. I would also like to say we had introduced on Monday the bill that will address the issues I wrote about last week! SF 1570 was introduced and I am proud to be the second Author on the bill and to support it with the full force of the office of Senate District 36. This will bring training, accommodation and accountability to our agencies in ensuring the support of all potential and current employees with disabilities.
Among the important bills heard this week are two transportation bills I’m working on with Senator Abeler and Senator Newton. These will finish a key part of highway ten and expand it to three lines for a significant portion of the road, reducing congestion and rush hour delays for all passing along this important corridor. With an amendment moving with the bills to bonding, it is 71 million in funding I will do my utmost to bring to the finish line.
The legislature has begun it’s full Pre first deadline pace but I will do everything I can to ensure we get as much good done as completely as possible.
As always stay safe and stay in touch.
John
Reinsurance
On Monday the Senate Heard SF 694, which continues the trend of paying insurance companies to keep premiums down in the private market. While I want our premiums kept affordable I do not believe reinsurance does that. Many insurance companies particularly those labeling themselves non profits have incredibly wealthy administration and have hired outside consultants among other costs that are never disclosed to us. I do not want to send tax payer dollars in large, loosely regulated lumps to insurance companies without knowing how that money is spent or without considering alternatives to invest in.
On the floor I shared my thoughts on this issue.
TAX RELIEF
The Senate plans to vote on a bill early next week to provide tax relief to businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2020. The bill would conform to temporary federal tax rules that allow businesses to not be taxed on the loan amounts and also deduct the business expenses those loans helped support.
The Senate successfully added an amendment in Tax Committee this week to ensure Minnesotans who lost their jobs in 2020 also have an opportunity for tax relief. Unemployment benefits are taxable income, but the supplemental $600-per-week and $300-per-week payments approved by the federal government last year were distributed directly to recipients without any tax withholding deducted. That means many taxpayers are facing unexpected tax bills as they file taxes this spring. The DFL amendment would allow unemployed individuals to subtract up to $1,500 of supplemental unemployment payments received in 2020 to help mitigate some of the expense.
A Senate vote on this bill is currently scheduled for Monday. The House of Representatives would need to pass the bill as well before any of these changes could be implemented. (SF 263)
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
A Senate bill received its first hearing this week, in the Senate committee on Mining and Forestry. The legislation would require the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to establish goals for increasing carbon sequestration in public and private forests in the state. It would also provide funding for responding to the impacts of emerald ash borer on the state’s ash trees, which are estimated to be a total of roughly 1 billion trees in the state’s forests.
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide to prevent the gasses from entering the Earth’s atmosphere. In this instance, trees would capture the CO2 through photosynthesis and store it in tree trunks, branches, roots, and soil. Reforestation is considered one of the top methods to removing carbon from the atmosphere and helping to mitigate the effects of the impending climate crisis. Replacing and expanding Minnesota’s tree coverage is going to have to be a top priority in coming years, especially as the state is projected to lose most, if not all, of its ash trees to emerald ash borer.
The bill was passed out of committee with bipartisan support and will be heard next in the Environment Finance committee, where it will be considered for inclusion in a broader environment omnibus bill.
(SF 1385)
ENERGY
Members of the House committee on Climate and Energy and the Senate committee on Energy and Utilities met for a joint hearing late last week after it was reported natural gas prices had surged to unprecedented and astronomical levels the week prior. From February 12 to February 17, the cost of natural gas across the country rose to as much as 100 times or more than the typical purchase price, due to the arctic cold temperatures seen across much of the country. The joint meeting was called to hear directly from agencies and utilities and to brainstorm any potential actions that would need to be taken by the Legislature as a result.
Minnesotans statewide will now likely be on the hook for an additional $200 to $400 – or in some cases even $500 or more – in energy surcharges in the next 12-16 months, which will be difficult for most Minnesotans to accommodate, especially low-income Minnesotans and those on fixed incomes. While there are financial assistance programs, such as the Commerce Department’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program and Weatherization Assistance Program, state and federal lawmakers are going to have to consider providing additional funding assistance to those who need it most.
VIRTUAL MARRIAGE APPLICATIONS
The pandemic has made the Legislature explore areas in Minnesotans’ lives that could go virtual or electronic, in order to allow for social distancing and COVID-19 mitigation. A number of bills were passed in 2020 to allow for these virtual and electronic exceptions. While some of the exceptions were temporary and will disappear at the end of the pandemic, these bills did provide an opportunity to explore where virtual or electronic options could be made permanent.
One of these areas was in marriage license applications. Usually at least one person in a couple applying for a marriage license must apply in person. An exception was made to this rule in 2020 to allow counties to waive that requirement during peacetime emergencies. Since this exception was put into place county officials and Minnesotans have appreciated the flexibility and support making the electronic option permanent.
A bill heard this week in the Civil Law Committee would do just that, by allowing marriage applications to permanently be filed electronically. The bill allows for marriage license applications to be accepted by mail, fax, or electronic filing, if the application is signed by both individuals and they’ve been examined under oath. Examination under oath may happen over video or audio, and both individuals have to attest to the legality of the marriage.
Without the passage of the bill this exception would end on May 31, 2021. Under the current exception as well as the bill to make it permanent counties aren’t required to offer this option in the bill, so individuals should check with their counties to see if it is an option.
The bill was recommended to pass and is waiting for a final hearing on the floor.
The Senate will continue to look for opportunities to make lives easier for Minnesotans as we move towards the end of the pandemic. (SF 679)
Thank You!
It is my greatest honor to represent you the citizens of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids here at our great state capitol. In addition to representing you, I absolutely enjoy it when you come visit. You must schedule with our office to arrange an appointment before any arrival, and we also do Zoom meetings! So reach out and tell me what matters to you or schedule an appointment so I can continue working on your behalf. You can reach me by email at sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn or by phone at 651-296-4154. I am at 95 University Avenue Suite 2235 in the Minnesota Senate Building.
Sincerely,
Senator John Hoffman
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call my office at 651-296-4154 or by e-mail at jhoffman@senate.mn
COVID
Minnesota continued to be among the national leaders in COVID-19 vaccine distribution this week and was helped by the approval of a third vaccine. Given progress to date and projected vaccine availability, all U.S. adults are now projected to have access to a vaccine by the end of May, around two months earlier than previously expected.
On March 1, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported updates on vaccination progress. At that time, 928,963 Minnesotans had received at least one dose of the vaccine, with 484,383 having completed a full vaccine series. Of Minnesotans over the age of 65, the primary prioritization group at this time, 54% had received at least one dose.
Minnesota has also continued to strive for equity in distribution across the state, across race and ethnicity, and with prioritization for those most at risk of exposure, serious illness, and death. MDH officials also announced updates to prioritization groups for vaccine distribution, with individuals with type 1 diabetes and certain rare conditions including ALS and cystic fibrosis now added to the next prioritization group.
The Minnesota Vikings will add a community vaccine distribution site. The partnership will use a community vaccination event this week at Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) Performance Center in Eagan. Approximately 13,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered at TCO Performance Center to health care workers and adults 65 years of age or older.
Minnesota is expected to receive an initial total of 45,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week. Weekly vaccinations are expected to continue to expand going forward with increased production of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and with additional shipments of the Johnson & Johnson arriving beginning in the third week of March.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine differs from the previously approved vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer in several ways. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires 1 shot, rather than a two-dose course. Also, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine does not require deep freezer storage at temperatures well below 0 degrees, which simplifies the distribution transportation of the vaccine. While the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have shown greater efficacy in preventing severe illness due to COVID-19, health officials urged Minnesotans to take the first vaccine available to them as all vaccinations help to slow and stop the spread of the virus. All three vaccines that are now in distribution provide significant protection from illness and death from the COVID-19 virus, including the Johnson & Johnson vaccine showing 100% efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death in U.S. trials.
The Minnesota Department of Health continues to urge Minnesotans to use the state’s Vaccine Connector to reserve alerts, resources, and notifications to connect them with a vaccine when they become eligible. The online form to sign up for the vaccine connector can be found at this link. Detailed guidance from MDH on future phases of the vaccine rollout can be found here.
Bills moved this week
SF 860 and 384: These bills were heard in transportation and are moving to bonding. One reconstructs and enhances the highway 10 corridor while the other has funds dedicated to extending highway ten to a third lane. Both of these bills together enhance mobility of goods, services and people while reducing rush hour traffic that traps so many at the end of a long day.
SF 1331: This bill adds flexibility making it easier to apply for services by telephone or over the internet via tele-presence. This makes the valuable services at the local level more accessible so that people get the help they need as swiftly as possible.
SF 1333: This bill simply provided many technical changes and clarification for our Children and Family Services Administration, specifically affecting
Child Safety and Permanency.
LOCAL NEWS
EDITORIAL | Hennepin County on climate change
Hennepin County takes initiative in the fight against climate change.
museums: Exhibits to see for Spring 2021
Article about art museums in the Twin Cities area. Remember to wear a mask and social distance.
It’s fish fry season! 26 to try in the Twin Cities metro
It’s fish fry season! Here are 26 fish fry locations in the Twin Cities to try. Remember to wear a mask and social distance.
Column: Supporting our workers now will help economic recovery efforts post-pandemic
Column by District 36A Representative Zack Stephenson on supporting workers during the pandemic
Vikings’ defensive priorities in free agency start with return of Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce
A great analysis of Minnesota Viking’s strategy going into free agency
Anoka County HRA gets $2.2 million in federal COVID dollars
Anoka County Housing and Redevelopment Authority gets $2.2 million in federal COVID dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmen