SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Monday night, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed new COVID-19 assistance legislation for Minnesota workers and businesses. The bill includes a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits for workers and assistance for businesses most impacted by the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unthinkable economic pain for our small businesses and the workers who staff bars, restaurants, and so many other establishments that are barely hanging on,” said Rep. Mike Sundin (DFL – Esko). “They all need help, and they need it now. I’m proud we could work together to advance this bipartisan assistance package, but I recognize that it doesn’t solve the whole problem for many folks. I’d urge the federal government to follow our lead and immediately deliver a significant economic recovery package.
To help workers displaced as a result of the pandemic, the bill provides a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits. Without action from the Legislature, over 100,000 Minnesota workers could lose benefits on December 26 when funding under the federal CARES Act is set to expire.
The legislation also delivers a $216 million package of economic assistance to small businesses. Of this, $88 million comes in the form of direct financial aid to businesses experiencing economic harm due to the pandemic. Those eligible businesses include restaurants, bars, coffee shops, breweries, wineries and distilleries with taprooms or tasting rooms, caterers, bowling alleys, and some gyms and fitness centers. The bill also includes $14 million worth of grants to movie theaters and large convention centers. The remaining $114.8 million will be made available to counties for grants to other affected businesses, including hotels, museums, arcades and live theater venues.
The bill also waives or delays a series of fees for the hospitality industry, including 2 a.m. liquor licenses for bars, caterers that serve alcohol, wastewater permitting fees for small breweries, and certain late payment penalties for food related businesses. Finally, the legislation extends the deadline for families to apply for free and reduced-price lunch.
Earlier in the day, the House passed a bill with various technical changes and other measures to provide flexibility during the pandemic. This legislation included a section authored by Rep. Sundin to adopt recommendations of the Workers Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC). These measures – advanced with the support of both labor and business representatives on the council – include changes related to financial requirements for businesses that self-insure, the state’s workers comp case management system, the list of occupations that could be covered under certain criteria, and estates of workers who have died.
Information and resources, including bill language, are available on the Minnesota House’s COVID-19 webpage.