Friend and Neighbors,
It is hard to believe that this was the last full week of the 2020 Legislative Session. This past week at the Capitol has been filled with daily floor sessions, calls, virtual committee hearings, and plenty of physical distancing.
Over the past week we passed several pieces of legislation to help all Minnesotans during these tough times. And on Saturday and Sunday we will have long days of work followed by a shorter planned closing session on Monday. I will update you next week on those legislative actions.
Stay at Home Order
After pushing hard for weeks I was happy for our Minnesotans that on Wednesday night, Governor Walz delivered news that he is relaxing the stay-at-home order and allowing some “non-essential” businesses like retail shops to open — if they follow safety guidelines and limit their capacity to 50%.
The Stay at Home order will expire on Monday and be replaced with a more limited “Stay Safe Minnesota” order. The Stay Safe order keeps bars, restaurants, salons, gyms, and places of public accommodation closed through June 1 but allows most other businesses to reopen provided they have a physical distancing and safety plan in place.
Our elderly and vulnerable are encouraged to continue staying at home as much as you can. Your friends, neighbors, relatives and online services are ready to help get what you need.
While we still hope the Governor will continue to turn his dials so all the rest of the people can get back to work, Though a check from the government is helpful, that is no substitute for enjoying the fruit of your own labors and supporting your own family.
It is gratifying to that the governor is beginning to listen to the Senate Majority and the people of Minnesota. This is much to slow. We will continue fighting to reopen Minnesota and get people back to work!
You can read the latest Executive Orders here.
Small Businesses Support
On Tuesday we passed legislation to appropriate $60 million for small businesses in crisis from the stay at home orders and Coronavirus pandemic. This bill was passed with bipartisan support and takes $57.6 million from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund and $2.4 million from the Small Business Guarantee Loan program to provide relief grants to Minnesota small businesses.
Every day we see the overwhelming impact of the Governor’s shutdown. We recognize that these grants will provide only a small portion of what our small businesses need, but we hope that for many it will make a difference and help them stay afloat. We will keep working to provide assistance to as many businesses as we can to ensure no one is overlooked through this process.
A business is eligible if it has a brick and mortar location in Minnesota, is owned by a permanent resident, employs 50 or fewer full-time staff, and can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. Once approved, eligible businesses may receive grants of up to $10,000 to use for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar business expenses.
The bill designates $30 million to be distributed to businesses in Greater Minnesota and $30 million for distribution in the seven-county metropolitan area. At least $18 million of the funds would be designated for microbusinesses of 6 or fewer employees. A minimum of $15 million must be awarded to minority-owned, veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses.
Legislation Snap Shot
In addition to passing legislation to support small businesses we have passed several good bills this week.
The Minnesota Senate approved a bipartisan Human Services bill that improves the way Minnesota delivers critical services like child and foster care, mental health assistance, and support for individuals with disabilities. This bill makes important updates to the services that many people require. The bill contains a number of non-controversial provisions that streamline childcare service grants and update childcare licensing rules to bring Minnesota into compliance with federal law.
It safely allows childcare center’s children privacy while a single child uses a bathroom within close hearing range to the provider, aligns family child care training requirements with licensure renewal, requires a uniform application for variances that all counties will use and requires counties to clearly post criteria for childcare providers seeking variances so the process of obtaining a variance for certain licensing requirements is clear and easily found.
We also passed a bipartisan bill to exempt freelance hair and makeup artists from being required to obtain a full cosmetology license. Senate File 2228, passed by a vote of 64-3. The legislation will exempt freelance hair and makeup artists – those who clean, dry, arrange, and style hair, or apply cosmetics to the face and skin – from the Board of Cosmetology’s very heavy licensing requirements and large fees. Freelance hair and makeup artists will still be required to take a four-hour sanitation training course from a state-approved continuing education provider.
As always, you can reach me by phone at (651) 296-5655 or by email at sen.mary.kiffmeyer@senate.mn. Please contact me anytime.
It is an honor to serve as your State Senator.
Governor Walz Contact Options
651.201.3400
https://mn.gov/governor/contact/
Resources
OPEN MN
A guide for small businesses who need help