Legislative Update: The End of the 2020 Session & The Work Ahead

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Dear Neighbors, 

I want to start by acknowledging how much Minnesota is hurting right now. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge many of us, and the recent events around the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have only added to the heartbreak. 

In my mind are these words of Martin Luther King Jr., from Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community. African Americans “hold only one key to the double lock of peaceful change. The other is in the hands of the white community.”

I stand with and lift up the voices of my POCI (People of Color and Indigenous) colleagues, who just announced measures for police and criminal justice reform, as well as their intent to make these issues a priority during a likely special session this month. You can watch their press conference, or read an overview of their proposals. These include measures to:

• Reform the investigation and prosecution process of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions

• Increase police accountability and transparency

• Raise standards of conduct and support officer excellence

• Partner officers with the communities they serve

• Repair and build community trust and create community-centered public safety

These are incredibly important reforms, and it’s only through systematic change that we can address the tragedy and pain laid bare across the nation this past week. 

The 2020 Legislative Session is Adjourned

Minnesota’s 2020 Legislative Session adjourned for the year last month. With the emergence of COVID-19, the session’s focus quickly shifted to directly addressing the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. While beneficial measures were passed into law, many solutions to deliver a brighter future for Minnesotans were left as unfinished business.

Swift, bipartisan action was accomplished at the onset of the virus in our state, and I hope the Minnesota Senate can come to the table to also discuss the worthy provisions we’ve worked on in the House to deliver support to the Minnesotans who in turn care for us. This pandemic has highlighted the importance of caring for one another, and I remain committed to delivering the economic security the Minnesotans who grow our food, care for our elderly and disabled, support our students, and keep our state running deserve - during this pandemic and after.

One piece of legislation I’m proud to say was passed in the final days of session was my bill to extend the timeframe outlined by the Farmer-Lender Mediation Act. My bill, now law, HF 4599, pauses farm foreclosure proceedings in Minnesota until December 1st.

We want to give farmers who are in mediation with their lender, or those who soon will be in mediation, more time. As packing plants and ethanol plants have shut down, milk prices have dropped, and hogs and poultry are being euthanized, farmers are facing extremely difficult financial circumstances. For the sake of our farmers, our communities, and our food supply, we need farmers to be able to stay on the farm.

Special Session

Though nothing is certain, it’s highly likely my colleagues and I will return to our legislative work for a special session, looking at a date around June 12. There are multiple issues important to Minnesotans that we could address during this special session, the highest priority being delivering the economic relief our communities need to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Other issues include extending the peacetime state of emergency, a Jobs and Local Projects Plan that would deliver on important regional infrastructure projects like the Northfield Transit Hub, and more. I’ll be sure to keep you posted as I hear more about an upcoming special session. 

Stay Safe MN

With the “Stay at Home” order expired, the new “Stay Safe” order allows for Minnesotans to gather in groups of 10 or less, and many retail stores are able to operate at 50% capacity, provided they follow public health guidelines. Governor Walz also announced that bars and restaurants would be able to open patios and other forms of outdoor service - with guidelines - which is already taking place. You can watch that press conference here. 

The Governor’s “Stay Safe” order also includes protections for workers concerned about returning to work safely. It allows workers to raise concerns without fear of retaliation from their employers. Guidance for businesses and employees is available here.

While lifted restrictions are a relief to many, it’s important to remember that the pandemic continues, and the measures we’ve been practicing for the past few months remain incredibly important to keeping Minnesotans safe and healthy. This remains a difficult time for local businesses, and though we’re now able to support them in different ways, we need to remain mindful of public health.

Stay Connected

Great ways to stay in the loop include following my Representative Todd Lippert Facebook Page, my official Twitter page, and the House Public Information Webpage. You can read up on the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, raising the tobacco purchasing age to 21, and our new ban on TCE, a cancer-causing chemical. 

For any questions you have on the resources available to our community or our work in the Minnesota House, feel free to contact me at (651) 296-0171 or rep.todd.lippert@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, 

Todd Lippert