Beloved Community,
A lot is continuing to happen at the Legislature. We are working together and taking critical actions to make sure Minnesota can get through this crisis. Here are some developments you should be aware of.
House approves funding for emergency COVID-19 bills
Yesterday I voted with my colleagues to approve a package of emergency COVID-19 bills to help protect Minnesotans’ health and economic security. The legislation passed today includes, among other things, $9 million to the Department of Human Services for food security, $26.5 million for the Emergency Service Grants program to provide shelter for Minnesota’s homeless population, $30 million in one-time grants to child care providers, $10 million for small business loans, financial relief for Minnesota’s workers, and the necessary flexibility for state agencies to respond to the pandemic.
Stay at home order
Earlier this week, Governor Walz asked Minnesotans to “buckle it up for a few more weeks” via issuing an executive order that directs us to stay at home and limit travel essential needs. This order takes effect today, March 27 at 11:59 p.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10.
Minnesotans may leave their residences only to perform any of the following activities, and while doing so, they should practice social distancing:
- Health and safety activities, such as obtaining emergency services or medical supplies
- Outdoor activities, such as walking, hiking, running, biking, hunting, or fishing
- Necessary Supplies and Services, such as getting groceries, gasoline, or carry-out
- Essential and interstate travel, such as returning to a home from outside this state
- Care of others, such as caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household
- Displacement, such as moving between emergency shelters if you are without a home
- Relocation to ensure safety, such as relocating to a different location if your home has been unsafe due to domestic violence, sanitation, or essential operations reasons
- Tribal activities and lands, such as activities by members within the boundaries of their tribal reservation
Workers who work in critical sectors during this time are exempt from the stay at home order. These exemptions are based on federal guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with some Minnesota-specific additions. This includes, but is not limited to, jobs in:
- Healthcare and public health
- Law enforcement, public safety, and first responders
- Emergency shelters, congregate living facilities, drop-in centers
- Child care
- Food and agriculture
- News media
- Energy
- Water and wastewater
- Critical manufacturing
The Governor is working hard to protect Minnesotans by buying us precious time to slow the spread of COVID-19. Here is a partial list of what is open and closed during this period.
Food, Delivery, and Charity Services
As we head into the stay at home order I know many of you will rely on food delivery services to sustain yourselves in the coming weeks. One charity that can be of great assistance to the elderly, sick, and disabled folks in our community is Metro Meals on Wheels. If you are struggling to get the food you need in these uncertain times I encourage you to reach out to them. They are considered essential services and will run throughout the Stay at Home period. Here is a list of other charities you may go to for various other needs, or that you may volunteer with if they are considered essential services.
Keep in touch
If you have friends, neighbors, or co-workers who might be interested in subscribing to this newsletter, they can do so here, and follow me on Facebook here. I’m grateful for the honor of serving you and our community. Please, now more than ever feel free to reach out to my office.
Rep. Hodan Hassan,531 State Office Building(651) 296-0294www.house.leg.state.mn.us/62A