| Friends and Neighbors, I hope you all are doing well in these difficult times. I know people are hurting and we are doing everything we can to mitigate the impacts. In these times of uncertainty, I advocate on your behalf and work to get you the support you need every single day. Please continue to share your questions and concerns, it gives me insight into what information will be the most helpful to our district. Property Taxes While individual income taxes deadline for tax year 2019, have been deferred from April 15 to July 15 for filing these tax documents and paying any tax owed, the Department of Revenue has not extended the deadline for property taxes. We have spoken with the Department of Revenue on several occasions over the last few weeks, and at this time, the Department believes the current authority granted to counties to abate late payment of property taxes, and penalties and interest is sufficient. It is best to contact your county commissioners directly. You can keep up to date with the latest at https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/our-response-covid-19. Salon and Barber Shops Curbside Pickup Two weeks ago I sent out guidance I received regarding curbside pick-up of products for salons and barber shops. At the time I was told that this was allowed with proper social distancing. After many of you contacted me about receiving contradictory guidance from the Board of Cosmetology I reached out to the Governor’s Office for clarification. Unfortunately at this time, salons and barber shops are not allowed to conduct curbside pickup. I’m disappointed in this as I have been provided several examples of how this can be accomplished with little or no contact. If restaurants can offer curbside pickup, why not salons and barber shops? I’m pushing hard to change this and will be introducing a bill to specifically allow curbside for salons and barber shops. I would encourage those of you who had started offering curbside pickup to share how you accomplished this with the Governor’s office at https://mn.gov/governor/contact/. Open MN This week we shared an online portal to gather ideas from you for safety and social distancing protocols that could be implemented by small businesses. Many of you have excellent ideas and I hope you will share them with us through the link below! We will continue to make the case to the Governor that it’s time to reopen small businesses! Your ideas will help us get Minnesotans back to work safely. https://www.mnsenaterepublicans.com/openMN/ Critical Sectors After extending the stay-at-home order last week, the Governor has updated his guidance document with critical sector descriptions outlining who is able to work right now. The pressure from Senate Republicans and countless Minnesotans contacting his office has resulted in him reopening certain industries. The recent updates includes: – Workers and attendees at skills training for the state’s Professional Peace Officer Education (PPOE) providers, where such training cannot be given remotely and provided that social distancing and other mitigation strategies are employed – Workers supporting gun ranges only when providing qualification shooting or skills maintenance to licensed Minnesota peace officers, law enforcement officers, and federally sworn law enforcement officers assigned to work within the state of Minnesota, provided that social distancing and other mitigation strategies are employed – Fishery labor includes bait harvesters – Workers necessary for the operation of safe harbors and marinas to provide refuge for boaters when conditions making boating on open water unsafe and operations related to safety services such as fuel, emergency dockage and sanitary pump-out stations – Workers providing boat transportation services – Workers supporting ecommerce includes workers at traditional retail establishments who are working only to take and fulfill online orders – Workers who install and support the installation of docks, boat lifts and other water-related equipment and boat delivery – Workers who construct, repair, and maintain decks and fences – Workers supporting hotel portions of resorts are exempt; workers supporting communal amenities at resorts are not exempt and such amenities should remain closed You can find the complete list here. We will keep working on your behalf to reopen businesses that can operate safely and get Minnesotans back to work! I will continue to update you as new information and resources become available. You can contact my office at sen.mary.kiffmeyer@senate.mn or 651-296-5655. Mary Resources: Open Up MN Be Ready MN A guide for small businesses who need help Employees/Unemployment Benefits Economic Impact Payments from the IRS Minnesota COVID-19 website Minnesota Health Insurers announce COVID-19 coverage Childcare Grants Mental Health |
