Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jack Considine Jr. (DFL)

Back to profile

COVID-19 Update from the Minnesota House

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, state government continues to plan for, prepare for, and respond to this crisis. I want to reassure you that, in Minnesota, we have the best medical and public health professionals working to help keep you safe and informed. As lawmakers, we are working with Governor Walz to advance solutions to help all Minnesotans remain safe and healthy. I want to offer the Governor my best wishes, as he is now in self-quarantine after being in contact with someone afflicted with COVID-19, and share my deepest sympathies with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan who tragically lost her brother Ron after he passed away after COVID-19-related complications.


Legislative Proposals

The Legislature is currently on a temporary recess to ensure we’re following social distancing guidelines. While many of us might not be at the Capitol physically, we continue to work on solutions addressing COVID-19 and are on call to return to enact legislation if it’s practical to do so. Minnesotans’ health and their economic wellbeing are at the forefront of our efforts, and here are some of the measures we are working on:

  • Ensuring hourly workers and contract workers at our schools get paid
  • Ensuring workers have paid time off for COVID-19-related illness or business closure
  • Licensing extensions and flexibility for businesses
  • Preventing evictions and foreclosures during the pandemic
  • Forgiveness for expired driver’s licenses
  • Giving the DHS Commissioner temporary authority to keep our long term care and disability services up and running
  • Child care provider support
  • Local jobs and projects bill
  • Abatement of penalties for late income and property tax filing
  • Resources to help homeless Minnesotans be safe and healthy during the emergency
  • Additional support for food shelves

Executive Actions

The Governor has issued a series of executive orders as part of our state’s response to COVID-19, some of which mirror our legislative efforts. A full list of these orders is available here and below is a list of many of the notable ones:

Executive Order 20-01, issued on March 13, declaring a peacetime emergency and coordinating Minnesota’s strategy to protect Minnesotans from COVID-19.

Executive Order 20-02, issued on March 15, directing the Commissioner of Education to temporarily close schools to plan for a safe educational environment. Educators are receiving guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health on how to make sure Minnesota’s students can continue their studies during this pandemic. As part of this order, schools are required to provide care for elementary-age children of health care professionals, first responders, and other workers to ensure Minnesota’s first line of defense against COVID-19 can stay on the job. It also provides for the continued delivery of mental health services and requires schools to continue providing meals to students in need. So far, Minnesota schools have provided 469,000 meals during the school closure.

Executive Order 20-04, issued on March 16, temporarily closing bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation, along with Executive Order 20-05, providing immediate relief to employers and unemployed workers during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency

Executive Order 20-09, issued on March 19, ordering elective surgeries to be delayed.

Executive Order 20-10, issued March 20, combating price gouging during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency. If you see an instance of unconscionable price gouging of consumer goods and services, please report it to the Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office at his website here or by calling 651-296-3353.

Executive Order 20-11 and Executive Order 20-12, issued March 20, which will ensure critical services for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents can continue by giving the Department of Human Services some flexibility from certain requirements including help for people with disabilities, mental health support, childcare, food support, housing, and other critical public health programs and services.

Executive Order 20-13, issued March 21, authorizing National Guard Assistance to COVID-19 response including the delivery of supplies like personal protective equipment. We thank our citizen soldiers for stepping up to protect Minnesotans.

Executive Order 20-14, issued Monday, which suspends evictions during the pandemic. Minnesotans are asked to continue making rent and mortgage payments during this situation, but this executive order will help ensure all Minnesotans have a place to call home.

Executive Order 20-15, also issued Monday, providing immediate relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency. More information on loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is available below.


Help available for displaced workers

Last week, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Walz ordered that bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters, and most other public gathering places be closed. This was a difficult step, and as a result, workers and business owners alike are facing an uncertain economic situation for themselves and their families due to no fault of their own. As challenging as this step is, it highlights what’s at stake for us to take this epidemic seriously.

Unemployment Insurance benefits are available, and displaced workers are encouraged to apply online at www.uimn.org.

Many restaurants are still open for business offering take-out, curbside delivery, and drive-thru options. If you’re able, consider supporting a local business for dinner or lunch.


Help for Small Businesses Available

The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched a Disaster Loan Assistance Program. The federal agency is accepting applications for businesses impacted by COVID-19, with loans of up to $2 million available to help small businesses and private nonprofits overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. For more information, call the SBA's disaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 or visit the COVID-19 section of their website.

Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has established a Small Business Emergency Loan program that can help bridge the gap for businesses until their federal loans are approved, offering immediate assistance. Loans are available between $2,500 and $35,000, are 50 percent forgivable, and have a 0 percent interest rate. Learn more here.


Income Tax Filing Deadline Extended

The Minnesota Department of Revenue has announced that taxpayers filing their individual income tax returns for tax year 2019 now have until Wednesday, July 15, 2020 to file, without any penalties or interest. This deadline conforms with the deadline for federal tax returns, also recently pushed back to July 15. For more information, please visit the Department of Revenue’s website.

If I can be of help in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me, either via email at rep.jack.considine@house.mn or leave a message with my office at 651-296-3248.

We’re all in these challenging times together and we all must all do our part to “flatten the curve.” This includes washing our hands, covering our cough with our sleeves, staying home when sick, and practicing social distancing. Please do what you can to keep yourselves and your families safe and healthy.

It’s an honor to represent you.

Sincerely,

Jack Considine
State Representative