On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed legislation that would allow many small businesses to safely resume operations. The bill, Senate File 4511, provides a framework for businesses to return to the workplace and safely resume operations if they follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines. The bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 39-28.

“Small businesses are part of the fabric of communities all over the state,” said Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault). “They donate to Little League Teams. To Art Festivals. To Downtown Barbecue Festivals. And they are being closed down, while corporate Big Box stores are jam packed. Small businesses can open up safely; probably even safer than the big stores. But they are dying. We have to give them a fighting chance.”

The legislation would allow businesses that are “closed to ingress, egress, use, and occupancy by members of the public” due to recent executive orders to resume operations if the business abides by workplace safety recommendations and guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The bill would take effect the day following its enactment.

The legislation awaits a hearing by the House of Representatives.

On Monday, the Senate also voted to approve extending the state’s COVID fund, which was set to expire on May 11. The Senate bill allows money in the COVID fund to be used until December 31, 2020. The fund’s current balance is $36.9 million as of Monday, May 11.