SAINT PAUL – The 2020 Minnesota Legislative session adjourned for the year Sunday night. With the emergence of COVID-19, the session’s focus quickly shifted to directly addressing the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. While some beneficial measures were passed into law, many solutions to deliver a brighter future for Minnesotans did not.
“During our first stage of COVID-19 response, we came together to intentionally set aside politics. We thoughtfully worked to ensure our public health professionals had the tools they need to fight the condition, our health care system had the resources to care for those who need it, and Minnesota families and businesses had help in getting through the crisis,” said Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing). “Since then, it seems like we’ve lost some of the trust necessary to get important solutions across the finish line. I remain confident that by working together to tackle the remaining economic and public health issues, Minnesota will emerge stronger. I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished under such unforeseeable circumstances, but I acknowledge there certainly is more to do.”
Many of the session’s accomplishments relate to the state’s COVID-19 response. The Legislature delivered funding for public health, resources for health care workers, aid for child care, housing and food security, small business assistance and more. Lawmakers also approved a package of legislation providing flexibility and resources in a variety of areas during the crisis, including approval of wills and marriage licenses, expanded telemedicine, remote local government meetings, and alternative health care facilities. Should a frontline responder to the virus contract COVID-19, legislators also reached a consensus to better ensure these Minnesotans would receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Governor Walz also signed other important measures into law including the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act, the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, Tobacco 21 legislation to prevent youth smoking, and a bipartisan bill to protect the safety and security of elections.
Unfortunately, Republicans shifted their focus to blaming and shaming rather than addressing priorities important to Minnesotans and their communities, including a robust jobs and local projects plan, a measure to ensure hourly school employees receive compensation during the peacetime emergency, the ratification of state worker contracts, and a COVID-19 Economic Security Agenda, including investments in broadband infrastructure. Rep. Sandstede and House DFLers remain committed to enacting these important solutions to protect Minnesotans’ health, wellbeing, and economic security.
As the session adjourns, Rep. Sandstede also acknowledged the 14 House members who are not seeking reelection in 2020, including Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL – Crystal), who – having served since 1973 – is the longest serving legislator in Minnesota history.
“Many wise, talented legislators on both sides of the aisle aren’t seeking reelection. I want to thank them for their service to the people of the state of Minnesota,” she said. “We’re losing a great deal of collective experience, knowledge, and historical perspective with these retirements, and it’s unfortunate they are leaving under these circumstances while the Legislature meets remotely.”
Following adjournment, the House Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding will continue addressing COVID-19, engaging lawmakers and members of the public to review the federal and state responses to the pandemic and assess needed policy changes moving forward.