Volume 6, Issue 12
March 26, 2021
A weekly message from your Senator
Dear Constituents and Friends,
I know many are welcoming Spring with open arms and enjoying a Holiday break. I wish all of you a happy and safe Spring, Passover, and Easter to all who celebrate!
Today, Governor Walz announced that starting Tuesday, March 30th all Minnesotans age 16 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.Minnesota currently ranks first in the nation in getting vaccines out to people. We now have 80% of seniors vaccinated in Minnesota along with 66% of our school and child care personnel. If you have not already, sign up in the Vaccine Connector and the Hennepin County vaccination registration. When you sign up for these vaccination programs you will be contacted when there is a vaccine available for you nearby.
To get a vaccine once you are eligible, contact your health care provider, local pharmacy, or visit https:/mn.gov/…/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp to find a provider in your area. While all Minnesotans 16 and older will become eligible next Tuesday, not everyone will be immediately able to make an appointment right away. Vaccine shipments from the federal government will continue to increase over the coming weeks, but for now demand will still exceed supply. Please be kind and patient as we allow public health officials the flexibility and time to ensure vaccination is done in an orderly manner. Every Minnesotan who wants a vaccine will get one free of charge, but it will still take many weeks to get an appointment. As we learn more about efforts for large vaccination events our office will keep you notified.
Sincerely,
Melisa
Midsession review:
Next week the Minnesota Senate will be on our Spring Break, meaning there will not be a new email in your inbox next Friday. We have a little less than seven weeks left of the 2021 legislative session. This week I want to recap what I’ve been doing throughout the first 12 weeks of the legislative session.
My 2021 legislative session so far by numbers:
19 bills and resolutions introduced
67 bills co-authored
2 bill hearings out of the many requested hearings
30 days on the hill
1 in-person tour
Bill highlights:
- SF 1311 – COVID-19 emergency community relief grants establishment and appropriation
- SF 1881 – Summer education programs appropriation
- SF 1121 – Prescription Drug Affordability Act
- SF 97 – Lymphedema compression related treatment items health coverage requirement
- SF 2216 – Child care center regulation modernization project establishment; appropriation
Co-author bill highlights:
- SF 2051 – COVID-19 vaccines distribution requirements establishment, equitable vaccine distribution, mobile vaccination program establishment, and vaccination plan and data requirements
- SF 2043 – Girl Scouts River Valleys ConnectZ program appropriation
- SF 1786 – Age-Friendly Minnesota Council establishment
- SF 1744 – Healthy development of babies during pregnancy and postpartum for families who are black, indigenous, or people of color grants appropriation
- SF 1502 – Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights
- SF 965 – Price gouging during abnormal market disruptions prohibition
- SF 531 – Reverse mortgage loans notices requirement
- SF 1935 – Property, temporary income, and sales tax relief for save our stages grants for entertainment venues; appropriation
Bill hearings:
- SF 296 – Parenting with a disability support services pilot project establishment and study; appropriation
- SF 1309 – Edina local sales and use tax imposition authorization
Days on the hill:
- I continue to meet with constituents. Here are just a few constituent groups I met with in the last few weeks to discuss priorities and legislation.
In-person tour:
This week, I met with constituent and owner of Wooden Hill Brewing Company Sean Ewen. Sean and his brother James opened Wooden Hill three years ago this month in Edina. Sean gave me a tour of Wooden Hill and we discussed what his business has been going through during the last year and what steps we can take to support local businesses and breweries.
This week in committee:
On Monday during the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee we discussed Sen. Benson’s SF 146. This bill requires that any proposed changes to mandate health benefits must go through a review process by the Departments of Commerce, Health, and MMB. Currently, a bill author can request an optional review, SF 146 would make it mandatory.
The bill also makes changes to the content and process used by the Department of Commerce to evaluate changes to mandated health benefits. If a legislator plans on introducing a bill containing a mandated health benefit proposal or plans to offer an amendment to a bill that adds a mandated health benefit, the legislator must notify the chair of the standing legislative committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter of the proposal no later than August 1st of the year preceding the legislative session.
I shared my concerns about the bill to the committee during the hearing. I am the author of SF 97, a bill that would require health plans to cover lymphedema treatment items including compression garments, stockings, and sleeves; compression devices; and bandaging systems, components, and supplies that are primarily and customarily used in the treatment of lymphedema. Sen. Benson’s SF 146 would limit bills such as SF 97 from becoming law this year.
On Wednesday night the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee met to pass the commerce omnibus budget bill (SF 972). The amendment was posted for this bill on Tuesday at 4:31p.m. and testifiers had until 5:00p.m. (29 minutes) to sign up to testify. As the DFL lead for the committee I objected to this process, Minnesotans should be able to testify for a bill related to health insurance costs, consumer protections, and banking regulation and 29 minutes is not enough time to prepare. I provided amendments that would help strengthen the bill for Minnesotans, amendments were rejected.
On Thursday I had a hearing for the Edina local option sales tax – SF 1309. This bill would support three projects in Edina.
- Fred Richards Park – this park will provide multiple opportunities for year-round recreation while restoring nature on 43 acres.
- Braemar Park – improvements and amenities at the recreational focal points including the trails, Braemar Arena, and Braemar Golf Course.
- Weber Woods Park and Stormwater Facilities – this would develop park amenities.
This week on the Senate Floor
On Monday, we discussed SF 438 – a bill that would suspend the review cycle and implementation of Minnesota’s academic standards until June 30, 2023. Academic standards must be revised every ten years, based on Minnesota state law. The bill does nothing to help students recover from learning loss or to provide summer school programming to help students. Instead it would halt the work to revise academic standards.
Watch Quixote and Keeya Steel at the American Kennel Club National Agility Championship!
Good luck to Quixote and constituent Keeya Steel at the American Kennel Club National Agility Championship! Join starting today to watch and support at https://akc.tv/
All times are central time zone and approximate! The times will likely be earlier.
Friday, March 26: Warm up run in Ring 2 at 9:25 AM. Premiere Standard in Ring 1 at 10:42 AM.
Saturday, March 27: Jumpers with Weaves in Ring 6 at 8:55 AM. Standard in Ring 5 at 11:44 AM.
Sunday, March 28: Hybrid in Ring 2 at 8:49 AM.