Volume 6, Issue 17
May 7, 2021
Weekly Review Video
A weekly message from your Senator
Dear Constituents and Friends,
I hope everyone is enjoying the spring weather! Happy Mother’s Day for those who are celebrating this weekend.
As we near the end of the legislative session, we have seen the budget negotiations ramp up. Conference committees are meeting, and House and Senate conferees have started to find the same or similar provisions in each bill. These are usually non-controversial provisions featured in both the House and Senate bills that both bodies can agree to add to the final bill without controversy. In certain committees, we have seen offers from the House and Senate as a way of negotiation. We will see a lot more of this during the next week as we finish up the legislative session on May 17th. We are currently waiting for budget targets. Targets represent the budget for each conference committee bill. Certain committees will not negotiate or adopt language for an omnibus bill until they have a target. In 10 days, we will end the legislative session, having a provision in House or Senate offers does not automatically mean that it will be in the final bill. Same with the other way around, if it is missing something important to you, know that it might still be adopted. Just know that things change, especially late in the legislative session.
Minnesota is starting to open and will continue to open with the COVID-19 restriction rollbacks. If you are still looking for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, please check out the Vaccine Connector. As more eligible Minnesotans get their vaccine, finding and scheduling appointments is easier. Minnesota will lift the mask mandate on July 1st or when 70% of people ages 16 and above get their COVID-19 vaccine – whichever comes first.
Sincerely,
Melisa
Save the Date – 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’sFacebook pages for those unable to join us.
You can register for the event here: https://forms.gle/4hQ5vYk8iNaaeXQf7
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.
COVID-19 Restriction Changes:
Governor Walz announced yesterday a three-step timeline to end COVID-19 restrictions.
May 7th, 2021 Changes:
Outdoor events:
- No capacity limit or distancing requirements
- No mask requirements for outdoor venues of fewer than 500 people
Indoor events:
- Increased occupancy for large venues
- Increased group size to 10
Social gatherings:
- Outdoors: no gathering limits
- Indoors: gathering limit increased to 50
Restaurants:
- Outdoors: no occupancy limits
- Indoors: table size increased to 10
- No mandatory closing time
May 28th, 2021 Changes:
The remaining capacity and distancing restrictions will end. Certain requirements will remain:
Masks indoors and for the largest outdoor events
Businesses must continue to have plans in place to keep their employees safe
Key consumer protections
July 1st, 2021:
Finally, on July 1 or when 70% of Minnesotans ages 16 and older are vaccinated (whichever is sooner) the statewide masking requirement will end.
Minnesota Senate majority offer to the House on May 4th:
State:
- No tax increases
- Paycheck protection program tax relief for Mainstreet businesses (-$454.8M, four years)
- Senate tax relief (-$273.488M)
- Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) ($11.5M, eventual savings)
- 5th and 6th year of health insurance stability (reinsurance)
- Waive any/all penalties levied against businesses for COVID-related Executive Order violations
- State law enforcement officer pay increases
- Dedicate 60% of sales tax on auto parts to fund roads and bridges (HUTDF)
Federal:
- No taxes on unemployment benefits up to $10.2k (-$259.7M)
- Replenish unemployment insurance trust fund ($600M)
- Broadband ($100M)
- Polar vortex natural gas rate relief ($100M)
- June accelerated sales tax delay ($300M)
- Frontline worker bonuses ($200M)
- Transportation and water infrastructure ($1B)
Policy:
- Voter ID
- Provisional Balloting
- Abortion facility licensure
- CA emissions standards 2-year delay
Emergency Powers:
Support to remove all executive orders under existing emergency declaration, including (but not limited to):
- Mask requirements
- Restrictions on schools, businesses, places of public accommodation, youth sports
- Eviction moratorium
Judiciary & Civil Law Same and Similar Policy Provisions:
House offer:
- Prohibit Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Seeking Organ Transplants (HF 1080/SF 875) – House language
- Uniform probate code harmless error provision sunset removed (HF 279 /SF 258) – Senate language
- Classifying DNR on minors as private (HF 696/SF 672) – Senate language
- Modification to the Safe at Home Program (HF 1869/SF 2106) – House language
- Permanent change to in-person application requirement for marriage licenses (HF 1865/SF 697) – Senate language
- Modification to access of birth and death records (Sf 526/SF 1535) – House language
Other non-controversial civil law provisions:
- Interactive process required when interacting with individuals with disabilities (SF 2010/SF 1939) – House language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 6, Page R4-R5, Lines 54.13 – 55.13.
- Ombuds for corrections data practices modifications (HF 916/SF 1125) – House language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 8, Page R10-R11, Lines 87.19 – 87.24.
This offer was not accepted or countered. The Senate Chair said he cannot respond until there is a budget target.
House offer on Law Enforcement Accountability Policy Provisions
- Establishes sign and release warrant proceedings (HF 2539)
- Limiting certain traffic stops for equipment violations (HF 2529/SF 2462) – House language in Sf 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, page R1-R3, lines 116.10-118.10.
- Modifications to POST Board Police Misconduct Database (HF 1374/ SF 2152) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, Page R1, Lines 116.6-116.9, Page R8 Lines 124.2-124.8 and Page R9-R10, Lines 124.27-126.9
- Law Enforcement Model Policy on Response to Public Assemblies (HF 445) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, Page R18-R19, Lines 135.23- 136.15.
- Prohibit Law Enforcement Affiliation With White Supremacy Groups (HF 593/ SF 1489) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, Page R22, Lines 139.19-139.33.
- Require CLEO’s to Submit Duty to Intercede Reports to POST Board (HF 464) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, Page R14, Lines 130.14- 131.6.
- Local Units of Government Authorized to Establish Law Enforcement Citizen Oversight Councils (HF 640) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, Page R19-R20, Lines 136.16-137.29.
- Eliminating Certain Statutes of Limitations For Peace Officers (HF 717/ SF 2021) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 7, Page R5-R6, Lines 74.5-75.31.
- Regulating the Use of No-Knock Warrants (HF 1762/SF 2139) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, Page R4-R6, Lines 119.18-121.5.
- Travis’ Law (HF 1686 J. Hanson/SF 1924 Abeler) – House Language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 19, Page R5A19, Lines 349.5-349.9.
- Modifications to Body-Worn Camera Policies (HF 1103/ SF 807) – House language in SF 970 first unofficial engrossment; Article 10, Page R12-R14, Lines 129.1-130.12 *Language is different from original language in HF 1103
- Matthew’s Law (HF 237/ SF 304) – Senate Language
Senate Environment and Natural Resources Bill offer:
- Replace Senate Art. 2 § 122 (vehicle emissions standards authority repeal) with a two-year moratorium on adopting vehicle emissions standards (i.e., agency would be prohibited from adopting vehicle emissions standards prior to January 1, 2024).
- Accept House Art. 5 § 31 (creating the outdoor engagement grant account) – Policy provision only; no agreement on money.
- Accept House Article 9 (Electric-Assisted Bicycles)
- Accept Senate Article 2 Sections on the Following:
- Manure Spreading (§§ 124 & 157)
- Whole Effluent Toxicity for Sugar Beet Processing Facilities (§§ 159 & 160)
- Green Tier Program (§ 161)
- Agree to Handle Both LCCMR Articles in This Bill
Habitat for Humanity Virtual Hill Day:
This week I met with Joan, a constituent who was participating in the Habitat for Humanity day at the Capitol! I learned about the Challenge Program, Habitat for Humanity is asking for increased funding for program this legislative session. This program provides flexible funding for the development and rehabilitation of affordable homeownership and rental housing.
- The Challenge program has a track record of success, used since 1999 to fund housing across Minnesota. It is widely used and oversubscribed. It leverages additional funds from federal, local or private sources.
- It is flexible — it can be used in Greater Minnesota or the Twin Cities to create or rehabilitate ownership or rental housing.
- As you know, housing demand is outpacing supply in Minnesota — and is a racial justice issue. 77% of White households own a home, compared to 44% of BIPOC households and only 25% of Black households.
More info about the Challenge Program:
- With more details click here.
- and here from the Minnesota Housing Partnership click here.
- And a high level one-pager from Habitat: Habitat Challenge Fund One Pager
Housing (renter/owner) statistics about 49A and 49B from the MN Housing Partnership… fun facts.
Racial Covenants in Edina:
In this week’s edition of Edition: Edina, (May 2021, Volume 8, Issue 5), the City announced “City Works to Renounce Racial Covenants from Public Properties; Edina to Join Just Deeds Project to Help Property Owners with Similar Work”. Click here to read an overview of the program and view additional links for homeowners to pursue renouncing a racial covenant on their property.
Starkey Hearing Technologies:
Last Friday, I toured Starkey Hearing Technologies, a business in Senate District 49. Starkey is one of the largest hearing aid manufactures in the world.
Roberta Reindorf Show
On Wednesday, I had a discussion with Roberta Reindorf about race, equality and equity. To view the view our conversation click here.