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Update on Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Data
This month, we have made extensive progress on vaccinations statewide. I urge you all to get in line for a vaccine shot at your earliest convenience to keep yourself and your neighbors safe! As of April 21st, the statewide data reports bypassing a number of milestones including:
- People with at least one vaccine dose: 2,376,700
- People with completed vaccine series: 1,711,408
- Progress to 3-day 90% goal: 94%
- Progress to 7-day 100% goal: 94%
- Percent of 16+ with 1+ dose: 54%
Mask Update from Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm
Commissioner Malcolm announced this week masks will no longer be required for outdoor sports but will still be required for indoor activities. More details can be found here.
Omnibus Week at the Minnesota Capitol
This was a long week at the legislature where we passed several important Minnesota House Omnibus Bills from the Floor that will be negotiated with the Senate. Monday we will be taking up Health and Human Services. Below are the bills that were passed this week:
K-12 Education Omnibus / Higher Education Omnibus
This bill makes strong investments in students and schools that we can be proud of - including several provisions I chief authored. The higher education budget holds tuition flat at Minnesota State and increases funding to the State Grant Program, impacting over 75,000 students and expanding access to over 3,000 grant applicants. A copy of the legislation can be found here.
Transportation Omnibus
The House transportation budget makes direct investments in transportation to address the long-term safety risk posed by our aging roads, bridges, and transportation infrastructure. Minnesotans expect our roads and bridges to be safe and efficient, but too many roads are being left unrepaired and bridges near collapse. A copy of the legislation can be found here.
Commerce and Energy Omnibus
As of the fastest warming states in the country, Minnesota is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. The Energy and Commerce budget bill is another comprehensive bill passed through the Minnesota House this week on a vote of 70-64. The Climate and Energy portion of the budget puts Minnesota on a path to achieve 100 percent clean energy in the electricity sector by 2040. It improves energy efficiency goals, strengthens the renewable energy preference, and updates state emissions targets to align with the latest scientific projections. We must take action to protect our health, our farms, and our infrastructure now. Our climate and energy omnibus is a smart approach to protect Minnesota for generations to come. A copy of the bill can be found here.
Public Safety and Judiciary Omnibus
Wednesday night, the Minnesota House of Representatives advanced a budget bill to increase accountability measures within law enforcement, expand survivor protections and increase community oversight over the safety of our state. This omnibus bill is a compilation of a number of bills, shown below, brought forth by legislators covering a broad range of public safety needs.
Environment Omnibus
To celebrate Earth Day the MN House passed nation-leading climate and environmental legislation! Among many other things, the bill includes important solutions to protect our air, water, land, and wildlife. A copy of the bill can be found here.
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