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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Mike Sundin (DFL)

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Legislative Update – April 1, 2022

Friday, April 1, 2022

Dear Neighbors,

We’ve now passed the halfway point of the 2022 legislative session and are more frequently bringing bills to the floor aimed at helping Minnesotans have a safer, healthier, and more economically secure future. Here’s an update.

Avian Influenza

As you may have heard, H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in Minnesota. It’s been found in flocks in Meeker, Mower, Lac Qui Parle, Kandiyohi, and Stearns counties. An emergency response team from the United States Department of Agriculture has been activated to support the state’s disease control and containment efforts. The USDA emergency team will support the state’s Agricultural Incident Management Team—a team of experts from the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Additionally, we have a world-class Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at the University of Minnesota supporting our work to prevent infectious animal diseases.

It’s important to know that HPAI poses little or no risk to humans, and turkey you buy at the store remains safe to eat. Minnesota is the top turkey producer in the country, with 660 turkey farms that raise about 40 million birds annually. Chairing the House Agriculture Committee, I know the Minnesota House is prepared to step up and deliver resources to help protect our state’s poultry industry and contain the virus. More information about HPAI is available from the Board of Animal Health.

Supporting Minnesota Workers

On Monday, the House passed three bills to help Minnesota workers stay safe, healthy, and economically secure. One in nine workers at Amazon warehouses in Minnesota is injured on the job, twice the injury rate of non-Amazon warehouses in the state. Injuries are common at Amazon warehouses as workers are pushed beyond their limits, required to meet quotas that aren’t disclosed to them. Many workers are even fearful to use the restroom because of how “time off task” could impact their performance.

Going to work shouldn’t hurt. We approved a bill to protect and empower Minnesota’s warehouse workers, requiring corporations like Amazon to provide warehouse workers with written notice of all quotas and performance standards. The bill also prohibits disciplinary action against a worker who fails to meet a quota that wasn’t disclosed. A fact sheet about the bill is available here.

We also approved legislation that ratifies certain labor agreements and compensation plans for state employees. The bill covers contracts for Minnesota Law Enforcement Association, AFSCME, MAPE, Middle Management Association, the State Residential Schools Education Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and employees covered under the managerial and commissioner’s compensation plans.

Finally, we approved legislation to extend Earned Sick and Safe Time to all Minnesota workers. Under this legislation, workers would earn at least one hour of paid Earned Sick and Safe Time for every 30 hours they work, up to at least 48 hours per year. Everyone gets sick, and everyone should also have the chance to stay home when they’re sick or see the doctor without it impacting their paycheck. 

Supporting ALS Research, Caregiver Supports

The House recently approved a groundbreaking package of investments to support research into a cure and to help caregivers of those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yesterday, Governor Walz signed the bill into law. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative condition resulting in progressive loss of motor control of voluntary muscles. It affects approximately 30,000 Americans, with about 5,000 new cases diagnosed every year. At any one time, there are an average of 450 Minnesotans living with ALS. It’s 100% fatal and there is no known cure.

The bill invests $20 million toward research into the prevention, treatment, causes, and cures of ALS, and invests $5 million for caregiver support programs for families of people with ALS. Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm was diagnosed with the condition last year. Despite the effects the disease has had on him, he’s dedicated himself to using his remaining time in the legislature to push for these bold investments. I’m proud we could come together on a bipartisan basis to quickly move this initiative through the legislature and make a positive impact on people’s lives.

COVID Testing

Minnesota’s COVID-19 numbers have dropped recently, with fewer positive tests and serious illnesses. Meanwhile, with fewer people feeling sick, demand for testing has also decreased significantly. Fingers crossed: hopefully this is the new, new normal.

As the pandemic evolves, Minnesota is also changing its testing strategy, gradually moving away from saliva tests toward rapid at-home tests. Minnesota households are now eligible to receive two test kits (for a total of four tests) per home through the mail at mn.gov/covid19. Minnesota has secured 500,000 test kits (for a total of 1 million at-home tests) and the program will be available until all the test kits are ordered. Through the federal government, Minnesotans can order free rapid at-home tests at CovidTests.gov. Food banks, local public health agencies, community groups, and other community health organizations may also have free tests available. Due to actions taken by the Biden Administration, costs for over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests are now required to be covered by health insurance plans.

Getting a test is still recommended if you have symptoms, have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, after traveling, or if you’ve attended a high-risk event.

Stay in Touch

To stay up to date with what’s happening at the State Capitol, the Minnesota House Public Information Services office has a variety of timely, non-partisan resources. You can subscribe to Session Daily which provides regular updates of legislative activity, watch live and archived floor sessions or committee meetings on YouTube, and check out informative publications with information about the legislature and our state government. 

It’s extremely important to me to receive input and ideas from those I have the honor to represent. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your viewpoints, feedback, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email address is rep.mike.sundin@house.mn and phone number at the Capitol is 651-296-4308. Feel free to be in touch any time.

Sincerely,

Sundin e-sig

Mike Sundin