Dear Neighbors,
As the 2021 Legislative Session winds down, we are working long hours to craft our state budget before the Monday deadline. It is expected we will be in floor session over the weekend while budget negotiations continue to finalize our state budget.
Earlier in the week, we learned Minnesota will receive additional federal money as part of the American Recovery Plan Act. Those funds will be factored into negotiations going forward. Right now, legislative leaders are meeting to set legislative ‘budget targets’ which will fix funding for each budget area.
We are currently in conference committees to review differences between each chamber’s versions of the budget bills and ultimately reach a bipartisan compromise. Our ability to work together and seek common ground is the type of government Minnesotans expect and deserve. In the session’s final weeks, I’m committed to putting people before politics to ensure all Minnesotans can have a strong future. Click here for a comprehensive schedule of committees thus far.
I am serving on the State Government conference committee. I am confident that we will craft an effective bill that improves the safety, accessibility, and security of our elections while ensuring that our state government is well funded and governed.
Changes to COVID-19 Restrictions
Governor Tim Walz announced the end of Minnesota’s statewide mask requirement, aligning Minnesota with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on face coverings. Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors. Private businesses and local municipalities may still put in place face covering requirements. And Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan, along with the existing face covering guidance for schools and child care settings, remain in effect.
If every Minnesotan who can continues to get vaccinated, and those who aren’t yet vaccinated to mask we will soon be able to return normal. We still aren’t out of the woods, but we are very close!
Direct Scheduling for Vaccinations Now Available
Minnesotans can now use the Vaccine Connector to directly schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the state’s Community Vaccination Program locations. You can visit VaccineConnector.mn.gov to directly schedule appointments at Community Vaccination locations around the state. Here is how you can get your shot:
Cannabis Legalization
This week we passed HF 600, a bill which legalizes and regulates adult-use cannabis in Minnesota, while expunging records of people convicted for nonviolent offenses involving cannabis.
Prohibition has allowed unregulated illicit markets in cannabis to thrive, diverting millions of potential tax dollars away from public services. This has also come at the additional cost of punishing Minnesotans, especially Black Minnesotans, for minor non-violent offenses. By passing this comprehensive and well-vetted legislation, the House is giving Minnesota the opportunity to create a safe regulated cannabis market with significantly less harm than our current system.
Stay In Touch
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at rep.tou.xiong@house.mn or 651-296-7807. You can also follow me on facebook.
Keep your comments, questions and concerns coming! I always enjoy hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Rep. Tou Xiong