On Sunday, the Minnesota Senate adjourned the 2020 regular legislative session sine die just before ahead of its constitutional deadline for passing legislation.
“It was a different session, but we were still able to get things done for the people of Minnesota. We led the way in passing the initial public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, made sure worker’s compensation was available to frontline workers, and made sure COVID-19 testing and treatment is available to all. We also passed bipartisan bills to enhance election security and establish an insulin assistance program,” said Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake). “However, I am disappointed we adjourned without passing a capital investment bill, tax relief for small businesses and farmers impacted by COVID-19, or a bill for housing infrastructure. I am also disappointed we were not able to reach an agreement with the governor to get people back to work in a safe manner.”
Early in the coronavirus pandemic, and before the Governor enacted a peacetime emergency, the Senate took strategic action to pass an initial public health response which provided funds to ready hospitals and care centers and ensure sufficient hospital capacity – including the purchase of personal protective equipment and other lifesaving supplies. The Senate also passed legislation making sure frontline workers who contract COVID-19 receive worker’s compensation benefits that COVID-19 screening, testing, and treatment is available to anyone without insurance. Finally, the Senate passed legislation to cut down on the massive backlog of driver’s tests by allowing third party driving schools to also administer the test, as well as a bill to exempt freelance hair and makeup artists from burdensome regulatory requirements in the state and a bill to prevent the financial exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults.
However, the Minnesota Senate also passed several key items that failed to become law after inaction by the House of Representatives. A $1.5 billion public infrastructure and jobs bill had bipartisan support but fell three votes short of the 60 percent threshold needed for final passage. That bill included bonding funds for Highway 13/Dakota Avenue, the Scott County Household Hazardous Waste facility, and flood mitigation at McMahon Lake. The Senate also passed a small business and economic tax relief bill that included Section 179 conformity and tax deadline extensions, as well as an affordable housing package, but those bills were not considered by the House of Representatives.
Finally, the Senate passed a grant program for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic, but the bill stalled in the House of Representatives. The bill, authored by Senator Pratt, would have provided direct assistance to small businesses for rent, payroll, mortgage payments, utilities, and other related expenses. The grants would have been prioritized among businesses with six or fewer employees and businesses that are minority-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned.
“It’s really disappointing we were not able to find an agreement on this legislation, which would have put cash in the hands of the small businesses on the brink of disaster. The bill passed the Senate with overwhelming support by a vote of 59-7. This was bipartisan right down the middle, but the House and Governor Walz were not interested in supporting it,” said Senator Pratt.
The legislature will not be in regular session until January 5, 2021, but Governor Walz had indicated he will call a special session if he extends his declaration of peacetime emergency passed its current expiration date of June 12.
“I expect we will be called to a special session early next month, where I hope we will be able to address some of these outstanding issues,” said Senator Pratt. “We must invest in critical infrastructure and get people back to work again.”
Senator Eric Pratt represents Scott County in the Minnesota Senate. He serves as chair of the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee and is an assistant majority leader.