The part-time Minnesota Legislature has met every month since January 2020 and with the May 17 end-of-session deadline quickly approaching, agreement has yet to be reached between top state leaders on a new budget and several other priority items. This will force the governor and the legislature to work into June on budget negotiations.
Major unresolved items are a roughly $52 billion two-year budget; a slate of measures designed to make policing more transparent and accountable; tax revisions related to COVID-19 assistance; whether to delay new clean-car standards that are moving toward administrative approval; and what role the legislature has in allocated federal American Rescue Plan dollars.
The governor’s office, Senate Majority leader Paul Gazelka, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman have been involved in closed-door negotiations for days and have revealed little about those talks, but all three said independently that progress is being made, and they are moving closer to an acceptable middle.
FDA Authorizes Pfizer Vaccine for Ages 12-15
On May 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds. Following the FDA’s announcement, Gov. Walz said that Minnesota is set to begin vaccinating this age group this week, “We have been planning and preparing for this moment and are ready to begin vaccinating teens 12 and older.”CDC immunization guidance was issued on May 12, so Minnesotans ages 12 to 15 may now get vaccinated at locations where Pfizer vaccines are available. Parent or guardian consent is required for COVID-19 vaccination for people younger than 18 years old.
Ways to receive a Pfizer vaccine:
Vaccine Connector: You can directly sign up for an appointment at one of the state Community Vaccination Program locations at VaccineConnector.mn.gov.
Walk-ins for Minnesotans age 12+ will be accepted at state community vaccination sites administering Pfizer vaccines — in Bloomington (Mall of America), Saint Paul (Roy Wilkins Auditorium), Lino Lakes and Oakdale.
Vaccine Finder: You can also find COVID-19 vaccine appointments at Vaccines.gov, which allows you to filter by vaccine manufacturer and search for only Pfizer vaccine appointments.
Health Care Provider: You can also contact your child’s primary health care provider, a local public health department or a local pharmacy.
Gov. Walz's Summer Learning Package
On May 4, Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan called on the state senate to pass the summer learning package in Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget to ensure schools will have the support they need to help students recover academically from the COVID-19 pandemic. The $150 million plan was passed by the House in March, and addresses opportunity gaps and expands summer learning opportunities. The governor’s summer learning package:
Expands summer 2021 programming by providing students with opportunities to catch up on learning. It dedicates $57.5 million in federal funds to expand summer programming with small class sizes and transportation for students. The proposal creates partnerships with community organizations to offer academic enrichment. The legislature must approve federal spending, which occurred earlier this legislative session.
Expands summer 2021 preschool for 4- and 5-year-olds by providing $20 million in one-time funding for early learners to attend a star-rated public or private preschool or pre-kindergarten in-person learning program at no cost to families. Programs may be able to extend their school year, build upon summer programs they are already offering, or offer new summer programs.
Expands mental health support in summer 2021 by providing $7 million to expand school-linked mental health services and provide access to well-being support at summer learning programs.
Supports field trips and hands-on learning in summer 2021 by providing school districts and charter schools with $10 million in supplemental one-time funding for students.
Accounts for pandemic enrollment loss by maintaining programming that serves all students across the state, including those who are historically underserved. The proposal would provide $25 million in one-time funding to reduce the financial hardship incurred by school districts and charter schools due to a decline in enrollment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Passes Legislation to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use
A proposal to legalize marijuana for adults, which has the support of Gov. Walz, was approved by the DFL-controlled Minnesota House of Representatives this week.
Supporters of HF 600 (Winkler, DFL-St. Louis Park) say the historic vote marks shifting attitudes toward marijuana in Minnesota and across the nation, where 16 states have already voted to legalize the drug and are generating new tax revenue. Opponents say legalizing recreational use of marijuana will produce unsafe highways, increase substance-abuse problems and confusion over how to handle people who are under the influence in the workplace.
Rep. Winkler’s proposal allows adults 21 and older to buy and possess marijuana, while spelling out safety requirements and setting up a marketplace to sell it. It dedicates funding to youth access prevention and substance abuse treatment programs.
The measure faces a difficult path in the Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate where Republican leaders have expressed strong opposition and have no plans to take up the bill.
They Said It...
“Special sessions tend to be more the norm now than special.” – Gov. Tim Walz, on the possibility of the legislature going into special session
