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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Bud Nornes (R)

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Legislative news

Friday, March 27, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

Before we get to official business related to the COVID-19 outbreak, I want to congratulate everyone involved in the collaborative effort between Lake Region Healthcare, Greater Fergus Falls, Excel Plastics and Shortex Products to produce critical supplies to aid in COVID-19 responses. It’s great to see this local initiative get off the ground to help address the shortage of supplies hospitals across the country are experiencing.

As for COVID-19 news from the state level, yesterday the Legislature approved a bill to further our COVID-19 response and earlier this week Gov. Tim Walz issued a “Stay at Home” order, effective at 11:59 p.m. today.

Over the past week, the four legislative caucuses worked together to negotiate a variety of provisions for the bill we approved related to the COVID-19 pandemic. House Republicans successfully advocated for multiple sunsets, reporting requirements, and other accountability measures. Earlier this month, the legislature approved $221 million in funding to assist with COVID-19 preparation and response. Click this link for more details on the bill which passed the House 99-4 Thursday.

Bipartisan solutions were the focus today in the House as we came together to help the people of Minnesota. his was a glimmer of positivity amid the challenging situation we find ourselves in as we attempt to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. I hope this display of unity in the House sets the standard for how we do business in St. Paul on this issue.

More work remains and we will continue taking on issues that surely will arise related to this outbreak. Many unknowns still exist and my focus is on helping the businesses and families of District 8A because we're all in this together.

As for the Stay at Home executive order, so many constituents have been asking important questions that it is challenging to answer each directly or as quickly as I would like.

While I may take some time to respond to these questions, here is an overview and some available resources:

Current closures for bars, restaurants, and other public accommodations under previous executive orders have been extended until May 1 and distance learning for schools was extended until May 4.

The Stay at Home order ill limit movement outside homes beyond essential trips for two weeks. It is effective at 11:59 p.m. today until Friday, April 10. Click here for the full order. And here is a site with general FAQs related to Minnesota’s Stay at Home order.

The order allows Minnesotans to leave their residences only to perform any of the following activities and while doing so they should practice social distancing: Health/safety activities, outdoor activities, purchasing necessary supplies and services like groceries and medicine, essential and interstate travel, care of others, displacement, relocation to ensure safety. This is not a comprehensive list.

Workers who provide critical services are exempt for the purposes of traveling to their jobs. This list includes: Healthcare and public health; law enforcement, public safety, and first responders; child care, food, and agriculture, news media, energy, water and wastewater, critical manufacturing. 

This, again, is not a comprehensive list, and Minnesotans should visit this link for additional guidance. 

If your business is currently considered non-essential and you would like to request an exemption from the "Stay at Home" order, please submit a request to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development here. And this link provides information from DEED regarding the Emergency Loan Program for Minnesota Small businesses that recently was created.

Please reach out to me if you have questions or if I can assist you in any way. I will keep you posted as further legislative action is considered.

Please stay safe, wash your hands and be healthy.

Sincerely,

Bud