Minnesota State Wire

The Minnesota Senate passed a bill that allows businesses to begin reopening in the state regardless of Gov. Tim Walz's executive orders. 

Any businesses that open will have to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health, according to Kare 11. 

Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton) said that many small businesses have been coming to Senate Republicans about reopening businesses, according to Kare 11. 

"The ma and pa shops that are on Main Street in many of our small towns in my district and throughout Minnesota, they’ve been continuing to call and ask and say, 'We know we can operate safely,'" Matthews said, according to Kare 11. "I had a business owner who reached out, contacted me and he laid out what his safety plan would be, he had already come up with it."

Republicans said that it wasn't fair large, chain stores are allowed to stay open, but small businesses weren't, which is why they were in favor of the bill.

"I think if the governor’s using that science the small businesses, the small boxes, ought to be able to use that same science that has currently allowed for the big box stores," Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer told Kare 11. "There are people who want to do business, something other than going in the big box store. They find themselves, many Minnesotans, that they would feel much safer if they could go in a little box store."

While some Senate Democrats don't agree with allowing small businesses to reopen at this time, Sen. Minority Leader Susan Kent (D-Woodbury) told Kare 11 that Democrats are aware of the hardships and do want what is best for for the state and small businesses at this time. 

"We are all in this together, and that is how we are going to find these solutions and strike this balance," Kent told Kare 11. "We all care deeply about the health of our economy, about these small businesses that make up the fabric of our communities."