Legislative Update- January 15, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Approximately 162,040 Minnesotans have received the first does of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 9,028 in Dakota County.

As I’ve shared in my previous update, the vaccine is being administered in phases, starting with health care workers and long-term care residents. Federal guidance was updated this week to include those who are 65 or older and those with underlying health conditions to a prioritization tier; however, this won’t be possible until the federal government can replenish their reserve and Minnesota receives more vaccines. The state’s primary role is oversight, facilitation, and helping the federal government know where to send vaccine, as well as helping ensure vaccine providers in Minnesota – mostly private health care providers and pharmacies at this stage – to administer it safely. I am cautiously optimistic the pace of distribution and administration will quicken soon.

This week, Minnesota launched a new COVID-19 Data Dashboard to provide a more visual and user-friendly way to view key vaccination data for our state. The dashboard includes information on the number of vaccine doses allocated to the state by the federal government, the number shipped to Minnesota providers, and the number ultimately administered to Minnesotans. The data will be updated daily at 11:00 a.m.

COVID-19 Support

With vaccine distribution and administration underway, we’re finally able to see the light at the end of the pandemic. We know the difficult challenges COVID-19 has posed, and everyone deserves to be healthy, safe, and economically secure as we prepare to recover and rebuild. That’s why my colleagues and I announced our first priorities this week which aim to strengthen worker protections, health care and human services, education, and child care. This isn’t an exhaustive list of what we hope to accomplish for Minnesotans, but it’s an important starting point to getting folks what they need to stay afloat and to ensure they have an opportunity to thrive post-pandemic.

You can read more nonpartisan coverage of our plan at the Minnesota House’s Public Information Service Session Daily publication here.

Business Relief Payments Begin

Governor Walz announced this week that the Minnesota Department of Revenue has issued $67.3 million in COVID-19 Business Relief Payments to 3,891 eligible businesses in Minnesota. The relief payments were part of bipartisan legislation passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the governor in December to help restaurants, bars, gyms, and bowling centers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation also delivers direct funding to all of Minnesota’s 87 counties to set up local grant relief programs.

Direct payment requirements for businesses include:

• Location in Minnesota
• Had at least $10,000 in taxable sales in 2019
• Filed Sales Tax returns in 2019 and 2020
• Experienced a 30% drop in year-over-year taxable sales for April-September periods
• Being categorized by the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance program as a restaurant, bar, gym, bowling center, or similar business

 Apple Valley and Lakeville businesses that did not receive a COVID-19 Business Relief Payment but think they meet the program criteria can contact the department. An online inquiry process will be available beginning Tuesday, January 19, and will remain open through Friday, February 5. An additional round of payments will be made after that date for businesses that qualify.

Please contact me if you have questions or need any assistance.

Stay in Touch

Please contact me anytime to share input, questions, or to let me know how I can be of assistance. My email is rep.robert.bierman@house.mn and my phone number is 651-296-5506. Your feedback is valued!

You’re welcome to follow or ‘like’ my Facebook page for additional Capitol and community updates. If you have friends, neighbors, or coworkers that may be interested in receiving this weekly news from St. Paul, please feel free to share this with them; they can subscribe here.

Thank you for the honor of serving you and your family in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

Robert Bierman

State Representative