Special legislative session underway

The Minnesota legislature convened at noon Friday for a special session to address several areas.

Key items up for consideration include getting financial assistance to local governments and small businesses to deal with the impact of COVID-19, completing unfinished business from the regular session — including passing a bonding bill, enacting legislation on police accountability and criminal justice reform and rebuilding communities that have suffered property damage.  State District 27B Representative Jeanne Poppe, DFL’er from Austin stated that she hopes the legislature can take care of some unfinished business from the regular session, including a bonding bill and a tax bill…

Poppe stated that a bill has been passed that will allow small businesses to access funds after being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic…

Poppe added that criminal justice reform will be another aspect of a busy agenda for the legislature during the special session….

To comply with CDC and Minnesota Dept. of Health social distancing recommendations, the legislature is working remotely.