“As we stand on the cusp of putting this pandemic behind us, Minnesotans have a lot to be proud of. Just this week, President Biden recognized Minnesota for our nation-leading vaccination effort and response to COVID-19,” said Governor Walz. “From churches, to baseball games, to pop-up clinics, to metro transit buses that bring the vaccine to your doorstep, we’re making it as easy as possible for Minnesotans to get the life-saving vaccine. We’re meeting Minnesotans where they are, and the peacetime emergency is essential to that work.”

Minnesota’s peacetime emergency gives the state the tools necessary to quickly establish, staff, and operate additional state vaccination sites and acquire supplies and technology to support the vaccine effort. It also supports the expansion Minnesota’s testing capacity; protects Minnesotans against evictions and wage garnishment; provides expedited procurement power for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other equipment; allows Minnesota to follow the advice of public health experts in combatting the spread of COVID-19; protects workers from unsafe worker conditions; secures over $40 million per month in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for Minnesotans who need help buying groceries; and provides economic relief and stability to Minnesotans and small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 vaccine works. And as the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to more Minnesotans, we are doubling down on our efforts to ensure that every Minnesotan who wants a vaccine can get one,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “The peacetime emergency gives us the tools we need to protect Minnesotans against evictions, keep a close eye on the spread of variants, protect the gains we’ve made, operate walk-up testing sites, and distribute the vaccine quickly and equitably.”

The CDC announced Thursday that masks are no longer required for fully-vaccinated individuals, either indoors or outside. Minnesotans should follow CDC guidance and wear masks in medical settings and on public transportation, whether or not they are fully vaccinated. 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.

Governor Walz is committed to working collaboratively with the Minnesota Legislature to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and to ensure an orderly end of the peacetime emergency when it is no longer needed. With a light now at the end of the tunnel, Governor Walz has encouraged the Legislature to begin the work of enacting into law the core provisions of the emergency response that have been keeping Minnesotans safe. The laws will be needed to facilitate the wind-down of the peacetime emergency and related emergency executive orders.

Executive Orders 21-22 and 21-23 have been unanimously approved by the Executive Council, which is made up of Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, Attorney General Ellison, Secretary of State Simon, and State Auditor Blaha.

Budget Work to Continue in Special Legislative Session

On Thursday, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) told reporters that a special legislative session will be needed to pass budget bills after the constitutionally-mandated adjournment date of Monday, May 17.

“Even if we have agreement on all the numbers today and all of the policy today, we are at a point where staff wouldn’t be able to turn that into bills we could pass by Monday,” said Hortman.

The speaker, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake), and Governor Tim Walz continue to trade offers over joint budget targets for the 13 omnibus budget/finance bill conference committees.

Noting that a special legislative session is likely to occur in mid-June when the governor is expected to renew his peacetime emergency powers, Hortman said that, “The real pressure would be on to have everything sewn up before June 14 so that we can stay in session just a few days. I have no desire to be here from June 14 to June 29. What I’m driving toward is making sure every single thing we can wrap up by Monday is wrapped up and done and then everything we can have wrapped and ready to go on June 14 is ready to go. I don’t see any reason that shouldn’t be possible unless people take unreasonable positions.”

The speaker said she anticipates floor sessions throughout the weekend. “If we have agreement, we will be here Sunday passing things that we have agreed to. We’ll definitely be here Monday at work and then beyond that, I don’t know.”

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) told senators today, “We must come back June 14. Hang in there. I’m not confident we’ll get done Monday late, but we’ll get done.”

The last day of the state’s current budget is Wednesday, June 30.

 2022 Legislative Session Date Announced

Today, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-East Gull Lake) announced that the 2022 Legislative Session is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 31, 2022.

The second year of the legislative biennium generally focuses on passing a bonding bill and making policy changes to the various areas of jurisdiction of the state government.

Passing a bonding bill requires a three-fifths (60%) vote in both chambers.

• With the DFL holding 70 of 134 House seats, at least 11 votes are needed from Republican members to pass a bonding bill in the House.
• With the Republicans holding 34 of 67 Senate seats, at least seven votes are needed from non-Republican members (DFL and independent members) to pass a bonding bill in the Senate. However, Senator Tom Bakk (I-Cook), an independent caucusing with Senate Republicans, is the chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee, which has jurisdiction over the crafting of a bonding bill. If all members of both the Senate Republican Caucus and the Senate Independent Caucus support a bonding bill, five votes will be needed from Senate Democrats to pass a bonding bill in the Senate.

The 2022 Legislative Session is scheduled to conclude on Monday, May 23, 2022.

Minnesota Department of Health Briefing

This afternoon, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health conducted a media briefing with reporters to update the public on the spread of COVID-19 and discuss COVID-19 vaccination.

Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Department of Health

• Commissioner Malcolm reported 1,306 new cases of COVID-19. The state’s cumulative number of cases of COVID-19 now stands at 592,750. The commissioner noted that the state is still running over 1,000 cases a day.
• Nine more Minnesotans died due to COVID-19. The state’s cumulative number of deaths now stands at 7,283.
• Currently, 464 patients are hospitalized for COVID-19 with 123 of those in the ICU.
• More than 4,750,000 vaccine doses (first and second doses) have been administered to almost 2,700,000 Minnesotans.
• 61% of those 16-years-old or older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
• 88% of those 65-years-old or older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
• Effective today, Governor Walz has rescinded the statewide mask mandate. According to the commissioner, this is a sign of progress and it is a strong endorsement of the effectiveness of vaccines. However, she urged continued caution for Minnesotans given that those under the age of 12 are not eligible to be vaccinated. The state’s guidance will continue to mirror that of the CDC, which says individuals should still wear a mask if not vaccinated.
• The best way to prevent serious illness to get vaccinated.
• Director Kris Ehresmann, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division
• Director Ehresmann said that when in doubt, wear a mask.
• The announcement by the CDC yesterday underscores several important points:
• Eligible Minnesotans 12-years-old and older should get vaccinated.
• Until an individual is fully vaccinated, which is two weeks after the final dose, it’s important to use protective measures such as masking, social distancing, handwashing, and staying home when sick.
• Some communities, businesses, and settings will continue to require masks. Other mask-required settings include healthcare facilities, public transportation, and transportation hubs.
• Those with a weakened immune system should consult with their healthcare provider to see if they should continue to mask and social distancing following vaccination.
• The virus is still a threat to those not vaccinated. All children under 12 are not eligible for the vaccine.

Amos A. Briggs | Government Relations
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