Will the coronavirus pandemic require Minnesota lawmakers to curtail activities at the State Capitol or even restrict access to the building? House Speaker Melissa Hortman says they’re planning for all possible scenarios, however, “There are things we can do to slowly dial back risk to participants in the building, if we need to.” And what if it does become necessary to adjourn the legislature much sooner than the May deadline? Hortman says, “Everybody is working as quickly as they can to make sure that we get the things done that we absolutely need to get done this session, and then if we would need to adjourn early we would be ready to do that.”
Another option lawmakers have talked about would be to recess the legislature for an extended period of time and return when risk is lower. But in any case the legislature’s business would have to be finished by the May 18th deadline or a special session would be needed.