Minnesota Legislative Update: Governor Extends Stay at Home Order

On April 8, 2020, Governor Tim Walz extended his stay at home executive order until May 4. Executive Order 20-33 requires Minnesotans to stay at home until then except to engage in necessary personal activities and to perform certain critical sector work that cannot be performed at home. Necessary personal activities include shopping for essential activities such as groceries, prescriptions and gas, relocating for safety reasons, and engaging in outdoor activities including hiking, running and biking.

Critical sector work is based on federal guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with some Minnesota-specific additions. Work that can be done at home or a residence through telework or virtual work is required to be regardless of whether the work is in a critical sector. Only individuals whose work can only be done at a place of work outside of their home or residence are exempted. Critical sector exemptions apply to travel to and from an individual’s place of work and an individual’s performance of work duties, including transportation to and from childcare or school settings as necessary to ensure the safe care of children.

The extension does allow for some additional activity through several new personal activity and critical work exemptions. New personal activity exemptions include moving to a new residence and voting. New critical work-related exemptions include lawncare and landscaping services and workers supporting garden centers and stores. The Governor’s executive order clarifies that businesses may perform basic, on-site activities to support minimum tasks related to security, payroll, working from home and preserving the condition of facilities. An updated list of critical work sectors exempted from the stay at home order can be found here.

Over the next month the state will continue reviewing businesses that could also reopen. State agencies are continuing to work with businesses across various economic sectors to develop protocols to reopen safely.

Executive Order 20-33 also extends the closure of bars, restaurants and other public accommodations set forth in Executive Order 20-04 until May 4.