We’re in for a busy week at the Minnesota Legislature! From housing, to climate, to care, to COVID-19 and voters’ rights, our legislators are hearing bills that have the potential to build a more just Minnesota. Here’s a roundup of some of the issues and policies we’re watching this week:
Care:
- Tuesday 2/9, 3:00 p.m.: The House Commerce Finance and Policy committee will hear the MinnesotaCare Public Option bill (HF 11), which would ensure that more Minnesotans could receive quality, less expensive healthcare by expanding access, increasing affordability, and closing coverage gaps.
- Wednesday 2/10: The House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy will hear the Earned Sick and Safe Time bill (HF 7), which would allow workers to accrue up to 48 hours of paid sick time per year as an employment benefit.
Climate
- Thursday 2/11: The House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy committee will hear the Clean Energy First Act (HF 10).
COVID-19
- Tuesday 2/9: The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law committee will hear HF 39, which would require businesses to prioritize the rehire and retention of workers laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No matter where we live or what we look like, we all deserve to live in a world where we don’t have to choose between the cost of healthcare and rent. We all want a just climate future for ourselves and future generations, and in the midst of a global pandemic, we want our government to treat our essential workers like their rights essential too. Take action with us this week to help build a Minnesota where everyone has enough to thrive:
- Join us for the #RxWeekofAction. This week, we’re calling on our legislators to pass commonsense policies to prevent big pharma price-gouging and make lifesaving medicines affordable and accessible to all.
- Call on your legislators to pass earned sick and safe time for all working Minnesotans. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we’re all connected, and that we need paid sick days for public health, racial justice, and gender justice.
- Call on President Biden to #StopLine3. The pipeline violates treaty rights and would create pollution equal to 50 coal power plants. For climate justice, treaty rights, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and public health in a global pandemic – we need to stop Line 3.
Additional important hearings being held at the Capitol this week:
- Tuesday 2/8: The House Housing Finance and Policy committee will hear three bills which all would add protections for renters: HFs 398, 399, and 400.
- Wednesday 2/10, the House Health Finance and Policy committee’s agenda is “Black Maternal Health: Getting at the Root Causes of Inequity.”
- Wednesday 2/10: The House Preventative Health committee will hear HF 520, which would require health plans to include coverage for contraceptive methods and services with no cost-sharing requirements.
- Thursday, 2/11: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee will hear the Democracy for the People Act (HF 9), which would protect voter rights.
- Thursday 2/11: The House Housing Finance and Policy committee will hear presentations from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities; the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless; and the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership on housing issues in Greater Minnesota.
