Senator Housley on the passage of emergency COVID-19 legislation

Today, the Minnesota Legislature passed an emergency funding package to assist with the state’s coronavirus outbreak response efforts. The legislation, which is the third aid package approved by the legislature, passed with bipartisan support.

“In the midst of an unprecedented public health emergency, we are making sure Minnesotans are equipped to deal with the crisis,” said Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point), chairwoman of the Senate Family Care and Aging Committee. “The next weeks and months are full of unknowns – and that’s frightening for so many of us. It has never been more important that the state government works for the people and that’s what we’re doing with this bipartisan legislation.”

The legislation includes more than $300 million for the state’s COVID-19 response efforts, including provisions for small businesses, college students, childcare providers, and state agencies. A dedicated ‘COVID-19 Minnesota Fund’, which includes a bipartisan oversight commission, will be used to allocate the funds during this public health emergency. The legislation includes $10 million for small business loans, relaxes proof of residency requirements for REAL ID, extends property tax deadlines by one month, and makes temporary unemployment insurance modifications. Finally, the package also includes funding for childcare providers, college students, small businesses, veterans, homeless shelters, and food shelves.

To date, the legislature has passed nearly $552 million to address the pandemic in Minnesota.   

“We cannot provide certainty, but we can provide as many resources as possible to make sure the people of our state can get through this. My heart breaks for the tens of thousands of Minnesotans whose livelihoods have been turned upside down overnight. If there ever was a time for state government to act, it’s now,” said Senator Housley.

The legislation now heads to the governor’s desk.

For more information on the state’s response to COVID-19, please see:

Senator Karin Housley, of St. Marys Point, represents the Forest Lake area and the St. Croix River Valley in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Housley is chairwoman of the Family Care and Aging Committee and is an assistant majority leader.