St. Paul, MN – Minnesota’s 2020 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 beneficial measures were passed into law, many solutions to deliver a brighter future for Minnesotans did not advance due to Republican opposition.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the focus for this year’s legislative session was on keeping Minnesotans safe and healthy, while also providing the economic security they need,” said Rep. Todd Lippert (DFL - Northfield). “Swift, bipartisan action was accomplished at the onset of the virus in our state, and I hope Republicans can come to the table to also discuss the worthy provisions we’ve worked on to deliver support to the Minnesotans who in turn care for us. This pandemic has highlighted the importance of caring for one another, and I remain committed to delivering the economic security the Minnesotans who grow our food, care for our elderly and disabled, support our students, and keep our state running deserve - during this pandemic and after.”
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 blocked other key 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. Rep. Lippert and House DFLers remain committed to enacting these important solutions and to protecting Minnesotans’ health, wellbeing, and economic security.
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.
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