What's in the COVID-19 bill?

March 27, 2020 at 2:08AM

Minnesota legislators passed a $330 million COVID-19 relief bill Thursday now headed to Gov. Tim Walz's desk. Here's some of what it contains:

• $200 million: For a COVID-19 fund to maintain government operations and protect Minnesotans.

• $40 million: Loan programs to help small businesses.

• $30 million: Grants to child-care providers supporting families of emergency responders.

• $26.5 million: Emergency assistance for people who are homeless, including shelter space, staff and cleaning supplies.

• $11 million: Grants to tribal nations, with $1 million for each tribe.

• $9 million: To help food banks, food shelves and food transport organizations address hunger and supply necessities like toilet paper during the pandemic.

• $6.2 million: Aid for military veterans and their spouses who are struggling financially because of COVID-19.

• Policy changes: Expands the types of documents people can use to get a Real ID and adds staff to handle requests. Fingerprints for background checks can be delayed for people who are essential workers. Removes 30-day restriction on dispensing opioid prescriptions.

Jessie Van Berkel

about the writer

about the writer

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.