Dear neighbors,

Today, Governor Walz announced a three-step timeline to end most of Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions, including the statewide masking requirement. Starting tomorrow, capacity limits for outdoor dining, events, and other get-togethers and mandatory closing times for bars and restaurants will be eliminated. Minnesotans will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors unless they are at a venue with more than 500 people. Remaining capacity and distancing limits – including those for indoor events and gatherings – will expire on May 28.  

The mask requirement will end once 70 percent of Minnesotans who are 16 or older get at least one dose of the vaccine or on July 1. Local governments and businesses may still require masks and other precautions after that date.   

The eviction moratorium, a ban on price gouging, and eligibility exemptions for people who receive state services will remain in place to protect Minnesotans. Since the youngest Minnesotans aren’t yet eligible for the vaccine, the Safe Learning Plan will continue until the end of the school year. You can find more information about the governor’s plan to end COVID-19 restrictions at staysafe.mn.gov.  

News from the Capitol 

It’s been a busy week at the legislature. My colleagues and I are advocating for our communities’ needs and working hard to find common ground with our Senate counterparts. Those of us who were appointed to conference committees are also attending frequent public hearings. I serve on the Environment and Natural Resources Conference Committee, which has met three times this week. We’ve heard from many Minnesotans, and I’m happy to report that our House bill has received significant support! Testifiers praised measures that would prevent air pollution, enhance water quality, expand access to the outdoors, protect Minnesotans from PFAS and other chemicals, and more.  

If you’d like to watch any of the hearings we held this week, you can find videos on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel. You can view upcoming hearings and other information about each conference committee here.  

Make Your Voice Heard  

Tune in to Your Legislators  

I’m looking forward to being a guest on the PBS program Your Legislators tonight. This live show brings lawmakers from both sides of the aisle together to discuss the issues facing our state and answer questions from viewers. If you have questions that you’d like me and the other legislators to address, you can call 1-800-726-3178, email yourtv@pioneer.org, or tweet @YourLegislators during the program. You can find more information here.  

Please continue sharing questions, ideas, and feedback and let me know if I can be of assistance. You can reach me by email at rep.ami.wazlawik@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-3018. 

Sincerely,  

Ami Wazlawik  
State Representative