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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you and your family are all well! Minnesotans are stepping up, following the CDC recommendations, and as a result we are driving down infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths better than basically anywhere in the country. I know it is hard on businesses, families, our front-line healthcare workers and first responders, educators, and everyone else.
I have heard from hundreds of you about your frustrations and want you to know we hear you and I am actively working on proposals for the Governor to consider that would allow businesses to reopen, while still respecting social distancing guidelines that seem to be effective. The legislature is passing along information that we get from all of you to let the governor and his administration know which sectors could safely operate.
Social distancing has been difficult but is made even harder during this time of Passover and Easter, when many of us long to get together with extended family or friends. Please continue to wear a cloth mask when you are out shopping for essentials, continue to support local businesses and charities when you can, and continue to practice social distancing. We are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel and we'll get through this together!
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Executive Summary
- Extension of Stay at Home Order
- Efforts to Help Small Businesses
- Workers' Compensation Bill for Front-Line Workers
- Sales and Use Tax Deadline
- Minnesota College Students affected by COVID-19
- For those of you interested in daily updates on COVID-related statistics in Minnesota, here's a link to the public dashboard.
Extension of Stay at Home Order
On Wednesday, Governor Walz announced he was extending his stay-at-home executive order until May 4. The governor has also extended his order for bar, restaurant, and other public area closures until May 4.
Under the extended order, Minnesotans can continue leaving their homes for medical attention, getting groceries and take-out food, filling their gas tanks, and taking part in outdoor activities. In other words, what we have been doing for nearly two weeks will now continue until May 4.
There were some additional “Critical Worker” exemptions with this new extension, including many jobs that can be done outside such as landscaping companies. Other businesses, such as optometrists and chiropractors were also allowed to operate while remaining socially distant.
For an updated list of businesses that will now be allowed to operate, see the PDF linked here. All businesses in blue type now have the exemption to operate.
for exemptions, flexibility, and common sense. If there are businesses that can open while protecting the safety of employees and customers, we should allow them to do so.
We will get through this together, Minnesotans are doing a great job and we will be poised to bounce back quicker and stronger if we keep being smart and responsible.
Efforts to Help Small Businesses
I have continued my efforts to try to start a grant (or a 100%-forgivable loan) program to help ease the cashflow strain on our smallest businesses. These businesses were forced to close down and I believe it is our obligation to help them stay afloat by at least partially offsetting the revenue they lost and depend on during the shut-down. Many of them do either do not qualify for the loan programs that have been started or simply cannot afford another loan payment to replace revenue lost during the closure.
I was part of a working group to address this small business cashflow crunch in an omnibus bill the Legislature will take up next Tuesday, April 14th. Unfortunately, our group could not reach agreement and the language we were working on will not be included in next week’s bill. It is possible it will be included in a future bill, but my great concern is that after another two or three weeks of being closed down, it will be too late.
I will continue to fight for this and will also look for private sector solutions that might help. See below for a few I have found:
Workers' Compensation Bill for Front-Line Workers
On Tuesday, we passed a bill to address workers' compensation and show our front-line workers that we have their back during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The workers on the front-lines against COVID-19 need to know we have their backs in this fight. This bill is the result of outstanding bipartisan work of legislators and representatives from the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) for reaching an agreement that covers our front-line workers.
HF 4537 represents a compromise agreement reached by legislators from all four caucuses, as well as business and labor groups on the WCAC. The bill provides presumptive workers compensation insurance to front line workers who contract COVID-19.
Thank you to ALL of our front-line workers for the work you are doing to care for the sick and keep our communities safe.
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Rep. Robbins in room 316 of the Capitol for the floor session of passing workers compensation for front-line workers bill
Sales and Use Tax Deadline Extended
As the state continues to respond to COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Revenue is extending the Sales and Use Tax grace period on Sales and Use Tax payments for businesses identified in Executive Order 20-04. The department will not assess penalties or interest as follows:
- Identified businesses with a monthly Sales and Use Tax payment due March 20, 2020, will now have until May 20, 2020, to make that payment.
- Identified businesses with a monthly or quarterly Sales and Use Tax payment due April 20, 2020, will now have until May 20, 2020, to make that payment.
These businesses should still file their returns by the due dates but do not have to make payments until May 20, 2020. There is no grace period to make the Sales and Use Tax payment for April Sales and Use Tax—the payment and the return will remain due on May 20, 2020.
More information about state and federal resources available to businesses can be found on the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development website.
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Disaster Relief Grants for Veterans, Surviving Spouses
As part of the COVID-19 relief package, the Minnesota Legislature voted to fund an appropriation specifically dedicated to veterans and surviving spouses who are dealing with the economic effects of the pandemic. The grants are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Thank you for your service!
To apply online: MinnesotaVeteran.org/COVIDRelief
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Special Needs Grants for Veterans, Surviving Spouses
Veterans and surviving spouses who need assistance due to COVID-19 related events may be eligible for funds payable directly to a vendor or creditor for a variety of needs. The grants are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Thank you for your service!
To apply, contact your local CVSO, visit MACVSO.org
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Minnesota College Students affected by COVID-19
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) has made a number of announcements to attempt to hold students harmless due to changes related to COVID-19 by protecting the financial stability and academic standing of students and to preserve access to programs and services offered by the Office of Higher Education. They include:
- OHE will be offering interest rate reductions and forbearances for the SELF and SELF Refi programs that will be retroactive to March 13, 2020, the date of the peacetime emergency. It is expected those actions will be implemented no later than the week of April 20th.
- If a student withdraws from classes or changes enrollment for reasons related to the emergency, OHE will maintain their eligibility to receive their financial aid awards for spring terms. This action impacts the State Work Study program, Minnesota State Grant, Grants for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, MN Reconnect, Postsecondary Child Care Grants, Minnesota Indian Scholarships, and Teacher Candidate Grants. This will allow students to keep their already-awarded aid and not create a balance due on their student account if they withdraw from some or all classes.
- Align State Work Study with recent Federal Work Study changes to allow students to continue to be paid for regularly scheduled work hours by suspending the requirement that they be paid for hours actually worked during the emergency.
- Allow eligibility for the term of withdrawal during the peacetime public health emergency to be reinstated to use in a future term for Minnesota State Grant, Postsecondary Child Care Grants and the Minnesota Indian Scholarship.
- Modify Postsecondary Child Care Grant rules for spring terms to allow participating students whose enrollment or child care cost changed, or who have other changes from information on their application to still be considered eligible and to keep their grant as it was determined at the time of disbursement.
- Modify rules to the tuition reciprocity program to maintain Minnesota residency for students who reside outside of Minnesota in a neighboring state, but who were physically attending a Minnesota school prior to the impacts of COVID-19. These students are now physically unable to attend a Minnesota school as all coursework has been transitioned to alternate and distance delivery format.
Guidance for these actions will be provided to the institutions and notification provided to students and program participants.
Additional Resources
American Lung Association: During this uncertain time, the American Lung Association is here to serve the community and provide science-based information and resources around lung health and the coronavirus. For questions around lung health reach out to the Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA or the option to submit a question online.
- The American Lung Association is regularly updating its website with information about the coronavirus pandemic on lung.org/covid19.
- Information from the CDC around COVID-19 prevention can be found here.
- Learn what discoveries have been made about the coronavirus by American Lung Association through their medical research team here.
- They are also offering weekly webinars designed to update patients with chronic lung disease about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lilly Insulin Value Program: In response to the crisis caused by COVID-19, Lilly is introducing the Lilly Insulin Value Program, allowing anyone with commercial insurance and those without insurance to fill their monthly prescription of Lilly insulin for $35. This program is effective now, and it covers most Lilly insulins. Details and more information can be found in the press release here: https://e.lilly/2wjEr7J.
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Photos
Celebrated a spring night with the first smores of the season
Take out from Broadway Pizza!
Rep. Robbins wore a mask made by Kylie Galloway for the House Floor Session
Rep. Robbins in home-made masks, heading out to to shop for a family friend and parents who cannot get out at this time.
Robbins family basketball game at a neighborhood park (only ones on the court)
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Please Contact Me
I’m sorry these updates are always so long, but I am trying to provide you with as much accurate information and links to resources as possible.
Thank you for all you are each doing to support our communities and help your family and neighbors get through this difficult time. The strength of our country is in our people. Government can help, but the real power is derived from the people and the people, through local acts of service and incredible innovation, are already leading the way out of this difficult time.
Happy Easter and Passover to all who are celebrating!
Kristin
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225 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806 |
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