North Ramsey News

Working under unique circumstances, a Minnesota House and Senate approved an emergency coronavirus relief package in the amount of $330 million to provide much-needed help to state residents.

The bill was signed by Gov. Tim Walz March 28 and is the third package the legislature has passed. The House voted in support of the bill 99-4 and the Senate 67-0.

“Hardly a day has gone by during this crisis where I haven’t been asked by a small business owner what will happen to their company, or by a worker facing hardship how they will get by,” Sen. Roger Chamberlain said to the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus. “We already passed bills to provide resources for hospitals and medical professionals. Now we are making sure small business owners, workers, and all other Minnesotans have access to the resources they’ll need to weather this storm. Hang on, everyone – we’ll get through this soon.”

The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported the bill was developed through conference calls and procedures designed to limit contact.

The COVID-19 Minnesota bill is responsible for expenditures and falls under legislative oversight.

The bill appropriated $2.4 million to hire temporary or contract staffing to process and issue driver’s licenses and identification cards. The bill eased REAL ID residency requirements and extends expiring licenses two months.

Approximately $29 million is awarded to Human Services for childcare grants for children of essential workers. Veterans will receive $6.2 million for medical assistance. Surviving spouses are also eligible for funding and it also addresses unemployment and childcare. A total of $9 million will go to the Department of Human Services for Food Shelf Program distribution. Of that amount, $3 million must go toward regional food banks.

Human Services received another $5.5 million for housing support. About $26 million will go toward emergency grants with $15 million going to additional shelter space, vouchers for hotels or to isolate homeless people who have been infected by COVID-19.

There are Tribal Nation Grants in the amount of $11 million.

There is $40 million in emergency grants and loans for small businesses. The guaranteed portion of the loan will not be able to exceed $200,000.

Among the other key components of the bill is it protects college students and provides stability in work study programs, SELF loan and other lending programs, state grant program, student grants, aids and scholarships.

Farmers received some relief with infectious diseases added to the Rural Finance Authority’s Disaster Recovery Loan program.

The three bills that have been signed into law have provided the State of Minnesota $550 million in coronavirus relief.