Dear Neighbors,
It’s been a busy week in the Minnesota House. As we near the final days of session, conference committees made up of House and Senate members are in full swing. I’ve been busy participating in the Environment Conference Committee advocating for the needs of our state and 33B communities in bipartisan negotiations with my Senate colleagues. As we approach the end of the legislative session, I am advocating for a final budget that prioritizes students, families, small businesses, and communities so we can recover from the pandemic and thrive once it’s behind us.
Safely Ending COVID-19 Restrictions
Yesterday, Governor Walz announced a timeline to end most of Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions. The three-step plan begins today. The final step is lifting the statewide masking requirement once 70 percent of Minnesotans who are 16 or older get vaccinated or on July 1, whichever comes first.
With vaccine trials underway for the youngest Minnesotans, the current Safe Learning Plan will continue until the end of the school year. You can find more information about the plan at staysafe.mn.gov.
Every Minnesotan who gets vaccinated brings us closer to the end of this pandemic. If you haven’t had a chance to get a shot yet, you can use the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to find vaccination opportunities nearby. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our neighbors safe and healthy.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month where we celebrate generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and our Minnesota communities and are instrumental in our collective future.
Check out this list put together by the YWCA to learn the names and stories of 20 AAPI women to know and celebrate.
Local Visit with South Lake Minnetonka PD & Greenwood City Council
I was grateful for the opportunity to meet virtually with the Greenwood City Council this week and for inviting Chief Mike Meehan of the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department to discuss local issues and legislation being considered at the Capitol around policing. These are important conversations that are occurring all across our nation. I appreciated the conversation and open dialogue. Thanks also to Chief Meehan for his excellent service to our communities!
REAL ID Update
In a recent announcement from the federal government, the deadline to obtain a REAL ID has been extended by an additional 18 months to May 3, 2023. This will help relieve some of the pressure on our local Driver and Vehicle Services offices, which have been overwhelmed with requests to renew expired drivers licenses and vehicle registration tabs, and give Minnesotans more time to obtain this updated form of identification.
Beginning May 3, 2023, Minnesotans will need a REAL ID to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities. An enhanced driver’s license or ID card, passport or passport card are acceptable substitutes. Simple vehicle tab renewals can be handled online in just a few minutes at the DVS website, so take advantage of that option if you can’t get an in-person appointment at a local Hennepin County Service Center.
Keep in Touch
I am in the process of planning our end of session town hall meeting. Stay tuned for more details! In the meantime, I hope you’ll continue to reach out anytime at rep.kelly.morrison@house.mn or 651-296-4315 to share input or questions. I’m always happy to provide assistance when I can.
I can’t close without giving a shout out to all the dedicated nurses on #NursesWeek. I cannot express enough gratitude to all who have taken care of our shared patients, my family and me. It’s been an incredibly challenging year, and nurses have stepped up BIG TIME under extraordinary circumstances. Special thanks to Debbie Biffle for taking such good care of Rhys and me all those years ago!
Wishing you a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend.
Take care,
Kelly