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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Liz Boldon (DFL)

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Final Days of Session

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

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. Please note this means Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated should still 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.

I encourage everyone who hasn’t yet, to get vaccinated. We recently saw the approval for vaccines for kids down to age 12, but keep in mind children 11 and under are not yet able to get vaccinated, so we all still need to do all we can to keep them, and everyone in our community safe. We still aren’t out of the woods, but we are getting closer. 

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 the House 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.

It is past time Minnesota  ends our destructive and costly criminalization of cannabis, a criminalization that has taken a vastly disproportionate toll on communities of color. This bill was carefully crafted after years of consulting experts, stakeholders, and community members across the state. Minnesota is ready to legalize adult-use cannabis, and this is the best bill to do so.

Cannabis Racial Inequality

Final Days of Session

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. My focus is to craft a budget that centers families, workers and small businesses. 

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.

Stay in Touch

I always appreciate hearing from you, so please feel free to share your questions, ideas, and feedback. Feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.liz.boldon@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-9249. If you’d like to schedule a time to chat by phone or zoom, I’m happy to do that as well. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, you can also follow my Facebook page here.

It’s an honor to represent our community. Please be safe and stay in touch.

With gratitude and hope,

Liz
Rep.Liz Boldon, District 25B
533 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155