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 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines. The legislation would take effect the day following enactment and passed in the chamber with a bipartisan vote of 39-28.

“Minnesota’s small businesses continue to suffer as the result of the one size fits all stay-at-home order in our state,” said Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids)”As our businesses continue to shutter, their pain is felt by every community and every resident across the state. Meanwhile, our neighboring states of North Dakota and Wisconsin have begun to allow businesses to reopen, despite our businesses having the same capabilities to operate safely. Rather than continue down this path, we need to get our small businesses open now and trust in them that they can and will implement plans that allow them to safely preserve the health and wellbeing of both their workers and customers.”

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 in the Minnesota 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.