Walz Signs Bill To Expand Disaster Aid For Barn Collapses

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has signed a bill expanding a zero-interest disaster loan program to help farmers dealing with buildings damaged by heavy snow.

Walz signed the bill Monday. The measure cleared both the state House and Senate without opposition last week.

Walz says the bill is "critical" for farmers hit by extreme snow and blizzard conditions. The governor has said Minnesota's economy is under threat from the number of dairy barn collapses this winter.

The bill broadens eligibility for the Disaster Loan Recovery Program run by the state's Rural Finance Authority. It adds uninsured losses from the weight of snow, sleet or ice to the list of damages covered by the program. It would be retroactive to Jan. 1.