Minnesota Senate unanimously approves third emergency coronavirus relief package

On March 26, 2020, the Minnesota Senate unanimously passed a sweeping $330 million emergency coronavirus relief package, the third in a series of bills aimed at protecting Minnesotans and securing critical programs throughout the ongoing pandemic.

The legislation includes loans for farmers and businesses with less than 250 employees, relief for individuals seeking unemployment benefits, child care assistance, help for low income Minnesotans and veterans, stability for college students, and funding for homeless shelters and food shelves.

The bill also creates a COVID-19 Minnesota Fund that will be responsible for COVID-19-related expenditures. This account will include legislative oversight to guarantee coronavirus funding is used with accountability and integrity.

“These are extremely difficult and uncertain times. This virus is not just impacting our health, it’s causing anxiety and economic hardship,” said Senate President Jeremy Miller (R-Winona). “The Minnesota Senate is working diligently with the House and Governor’s Office on much needed funding to help make sure Minnesotans are protected as much as possible. This bipartisan bill will bring some important – and timely – relief to Minnesotans who are facing the loss of programs or economic hardship, including relief for laid-off workers, child care providers, veterans, homeless shelters, food shelves, college students, farmers, and small businesses. The bill also funds the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund to help continue preparing the state and health care systems for the coronavirus pandemic.”

Notable provisions included in the bill:

  • UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF: Similar to a recent executive order by Gov. Walz, this section makes it easier for workers hurt by the coronavirus to get unemployment, by removing barriers like waiting periods and job-search requirements.
  • FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN: This section provides emergency grants to protect child care access and affordability during the coronavirus peacetime emergency.
  • VETERANS: This section allocates funding to help veterans and their surviving spouses with lack of childcare, medical bills, loss of work, and numerous other issues due to the coronavirus.
  • FOOD SHELVES: This section provides additional funding for food shelves to help families affected by the virus get food, toilet paper, diapers, and other critical supplies.
  • HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES: This section provides emergency loans for small businesses and loan guarantees for businesses with fewer than 250 employees through the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
  • FARMERS: This section modifies the Rural Finance Authority’s Disaster Recovery Loan program to include infectious diseases, so farmers will have easier access to emergency loans if they are hurt by the coronavirus.
  • COLLEGE STUDENTS: This section protects college students from financial instability by granting the commissioner of higher education authority to guarantee the security of Work Study, SELF loan programs, the State Grant program, and other state grants, aid, and scholarship programs.
  • HOUSING/HOMELESS SHELTERS: This section allows DHS to increase room and board limits and rates, and supplemental service limits and rates by 15 percent for three months. It also provides resources for additional shelter space, hotel/motel vouchers, or other housing options to provide safe housing or for homeless individuals exposed to COVID-19. Additionally, it provides funding to purchase hygiene and cleaning supplies to comply with CDC guidelines as well as funding to hiring staff to protect the health and safety of participants.
  • COVID-19 MINNESOTA FUND: This section creates a COVID-19 Minnesota Fund in the state treasury to pay expenditures related to the peacetime emergency, with legislative oversight for accountability and integrity of the funding.

In addition, the bill eases proof of residency requirements for individuals attempting to get a REAL ID, and it extends driver’s license expiration dates for two months after the peacetime emergency period is declared over.