Dear Neighbors,
Lawmakers are currently meeting in special session to finish our work on a compromise state budget for the next two years. House DFLers have been fighting all session to help ensure all Minnesotans can recover from the last year’s difficulties, especially workers, students, families, and small businesses. We’re also working to move important criminal justice and police accountability reforms across the finish line. Philando Castile, George Floyd, Daunte Wright, and too many other Black Minnesotans have been killed by law enforcement, and we must deliver the solutions Minnesotans are counting on so everyone can live with dignity and respect in their communities.
While work still continues toward a compromise with Senate Republicans on this issue, we’ve reached compromises on several others including commerce & energy, higher education, transportation, agriculture, and projects to be funded under the Legacy Amendment. In the coming days, we will consider the environment & natural resources, housing, E-12 education, jobs & labor, health & human services, and state government finance budgets. To keep up to date with all of our work at the Capitol, I encourage you to check out Session Daily, with updates produced by nonpartisan House Public Information Services.
Virtual Town Hall on July 7
I invite you to join Rep. Carlos Mariani, Sen. Sandy Pappas, and me for a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, July 7 at 6pm. The event will be held on Facebook Live and you can access the event on my page at facebook.com/RepRenaMoran.
We all look forward to discussing our successes from the legislative session, as well as recapping some of the work that will be left for us to tackle in the future. If you have a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, please share it here. We look forward to seeing you! If you can’t attend though, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly anytime either by phone at 651-296-5158 or emailing me at rep.rena.moran@house.mn.
Rent Help Available
Lawmakers have reached a bipartisan agreement on an “off-ramp” for the current eviction moratorium. When COVID-19 arrived, and with the economic turmoil that soon followed, Governor Walz’s action to prevent evictions was a lifesaver for many Minnesotans. It wasn’t just a good practice to ensure people have a place to call home, but was a critical step to protect public health as well. If we suddenly ended the moratorium, thousands of renters could find themselves without a home, and landlords could be less likely to receive rent owed to them.
The 105-day off-ramp will give time for Minnesotans who owe back rent to secure rental assistance, benefitting both renters and landlords alike. Landlords will be required to send a notice to renters with outstanding rent 15 days prior to eviction. In addition, renters with an outstanding rental assistance claim cannot be evicted and will have that protection until June 1, 2022.
If you or someone you know is behind on rent, assistance is available. Please visit at renthelpmn.org for more information and to apply. Renter Checklist is available to ensure you have all the materials necessary for your application.
Last Call: Vaccine Rewards
Over three million Minnesotans have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine. For one more week, the Your Shot to Summer program is available with a series of valuable rewards for receiving a vaccine between May 27 and June 30. Rewards include admission to Valleyfair, Nickelodeon Universe ride passes, fishing licenses, state park admission, Visa gift cards, and more. Learn more and apply for your reward here.
Please feel free to reach out to share your feedback, offer your ideas, or let me know if I can be of help. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Rena Moran
State Representative