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.

“Across Minnesota, we have countless small businesses families struggling as a result of the continued one-size-fits-all stay-at-home order,” said Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville). “These continued restrictions and small movement of the dials do not allow flexibility for our businesses to safely reopen despite laxer restrictions in our neighboring states. Why though? Minnesota businesses have a vested interest in protecting their employees and   customers. In fact, many have already developed responsible plans to reopen. So why are we continuing to force them to shutter? We need to act now and trust that Minnesota businesses know how to best run their operations so that we can begin to safely and responsibly reboot our economy.”

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.