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Capitol Comments by Peggy Bennett

 

I hope you and your family are healthy and doing well as Minnesotans begin to live with a new normal that includes a stay-at-home order issued by the governor.

Beginning March 16, lawmakers were sent back to their districts to work from home due to COVID-19, and staff have been directed to work from home as well. Committees are not meeting in person, but members and staff have been engaged in many phone conferences.

Though, at this time, the Legislature has no scheduled floor sessions until April 15, members can be called back to St. Paul for emergency sessions at any time at the call of House and Senate leaders. Both bodies were recently called to return to St. Paul for a very short session, where we approved more COVID-19 related legislation.

 

Latest COVID-19 bill sent to governor

This comprehensive proposal was approved on a strong bipartisan basis and included everything from a loan program for small business owners, child care components, emergency assistance for struggling veterans and their spouses, extensions for drivers’ license renewals and more.

Earlier in March, lawmakers also approved $221 million in funding to assist with COVID-19 preparation and response. The new law approved near the end of the month continues those efforts.

Among the provisions included in the latest bill:

• Allowing the Commissioner of Commerce to delay, stay or waive licensing, investigative or other deadlines in the event of a declaration of a national security or peacetime emergency.

• Creating protective measures for students, grantees and borrowers in state grant and work study programs.

• Extending the expiration date for Minnesota driver licenses, Minnesota State ID cards and disability parking certificates and permits for an extended period while the peacetime emergency declared by the governor remains in place.

• Allowing food shelves to use funds provided in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to purchase diapers and toilet paper.

• Establishing a loan guarantee program for small businesses with up to 250 full-time employee equivalents.

• Providing $9 million from the general fund to DHS to address food banks, food shelves and transportation needs during this outbreak.

• Providing a veteran or a veteran’s surviving spouse the ability to use emergency financial assistance, hospitalization assistance or medical care or treatment for veterans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Expanding the eligible uses for the RFA Disaster Recovery Loan Program and the Highly Pathogenic Animal Disease Emergency accounts to include COVID-19.

• Instituting unemployment insurance changes such as modification of benefits for the recently unemployed.

I was very proud of the way both sides of the aisle worked together to make things happen during this crisis for our state. I am also happy with the checks and balances we added to the financial components of this bill. Though I totally agree with acting during emergency situations like this, I also want to make sure that any state spending happens appropriately and responsibly, as we are using taxpayer money.

Like you, lawmakers will now watch and wait, determining what, if any, potential next steps will be as the COVID-19 outbreak runs its course.

As always, I am here to answer any of your questions or concerns. Please contact me any time at rep.peggy.bennett@house.mn or 651-296-8216. Be well!

State Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, represents Minnesota House District 27A, which includes almost all of Freeborn County, along with parts of Faribault, Mower, Steele and Dodge counties. She can be reached by phone at 651-296-8216 or by email at rep. peggy.bennett@house.mn.