Neighbors,
Three days remain in the 2022 legislative session. Most of my time between now and Monday will be spent either on the House floor passing legislation or I will be tracking the progress of the conference committees. Earlier this week, House and Senate leaders and the governor finalized a broad agreement framework, setting the stage for conference committees to craft the final bills.
These negotiating panels will determine the final versions of each of our remaining supplemental budget bills, which will, in turn, be re-passed by the House and Senate before sending them to the governor for his signature.
I will continue to monitor the Education Conference Committee and will, as always, push for investments in our children.
Help for Homeowners
Help is available for Minnesota homeowners hurt financially by the pandemic. Eligible homeowners can apply for up to $35,000 in assistance for mortgage payments and other housing-related expenses through a new state program called HomeHelpMN. The program is funded with $109 million from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. You can start the application process through the Himmelman website. You can read more in a Minnesota Reformer article.
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Frontline Pay Workers Eligible for Bonus Checks
You may be eligible for a bonus check for your in-person work during the early days of the pandemic. Check your eligibility at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry website and sign up here to receive information on the application process. The department hopes to begin accepting applications by mid-June. Then a 45-day application period will begin, with payments anticipated in late summer or early fall.
When the application is ready, a call center and help desk will be available to assist applicants in multiple languages.
Help spread the word to those workers who may be eligible to apply.
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Storm Damage Assistance
Several storms have moved through our area recently. The Minnesota Department of Commerce offers guidance on steps to take when filing an insurance claim if your home, business or other property sustains damage.
COVID-19 Update
The White House announced this week every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a third round of free at-home COVID-19 tests. Click here to place your order. You can also call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Also, a reminder Americans over 50 and those 12 years and older who are immunocompromised can receive a second COVID-19 booster shot. More updates about COVID-19 are available through the Minnesota Department of Health website or the U of M Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).
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Stay connected with the legislature
The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website here.
Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can also connect with me on Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent you at the State Capitol.
Sincerely,
Laurie Pryor
State Representative