Legislative Update – February 25, 2025

Legislative Update – February 25, 2025

Dear neighbors,

Did you know that every Minnesota State Legislator is also a notary public under Minnesota statute? A notary is a person authorized by law to administer oaths, certify documents and signatures, and perform other official duties. Notaries are frequently employed to witness and verify signatures on a range of legal documents.

Every term I make sure to get an updated notary stamp so that I can assist constituents with requests, and I just got my latest stamp which will be valid throughout my two-year term. Please contact me if there’s anything you need notarized!

Community Visits

My Capitol meetings this past week included Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association Day on the Hill with Joby Nolan, CFO and Owner of Precision Landscaping in Hastings, Terri McEnaney, CEO of Bailey's Nurseries, and Don Smith, Chair of the MN Horticulture Society. I also met with Alyssa Soderlund, Administration Director with the Washington County Community Development Agency, constituents from Beacon Interfaith Housing, and got a photo with Paul Bunyan's Axe on the University of Minnesota’s Day on the Hill!

Capitol Updates

My recent bill introductions include a bill reforming the Metropolitan Council, which oversees a vast amount of funding and policy regarding transportation projects across the Twin Cities Metro area. Legislators from both sides of the aisle have long called for reform to the Met Council, and my bill would help increase oversight by allowing the removal of members for cause, as well as requiring annual reviews of Met Council staff, and requiring that members serve for no more than 12 years.

On the House Floor, we have passed no bills. Republicans have been running the floor for 18 days and have yet to bring forward a single bill to help Minnesotans struggling with inflation and rising prices.

Other Updates

Last week, I was reappointed to the Legislative Audit Commission, a bipartisan commission that appoints the Legislative Auditor and selects topics for the Program Evaluation Division to review. It also periodically holds hearings to review audit and evaluation reports.

Ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and transparently has always been a major focus of my work, and I look forward to continuing to serve on the Legislative Audit Commission. As Chair of the Legislative Audit Commission these past two years, I worked alongside colleagues from both chambers and parties identifying ways to improve legislative programs and processes. I hope we continue that bipartisan tradition going forward. You can read my full press release here.

This week marks three years since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and in just the last couple of weeks, President Trump has cut Ukraine out of negotiations, falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war, and called Zelensky a dictator while refusing to say the same about Putin.

Here in Minnesota, I was proud to support efforts to divest from Russia after their illegal actions. I still stand against Russia and in support of Ukraine, and our community of Ukrainian immigrants here in Minnesota. The Star Tribune today published an important story about the impact of Trump’s actions on our local community, which I encourage you to read here.

Stay in Touch!

Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. You can reach me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-6828.

For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these regular legislative updates if you haven’t already, here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Rick Hansen
State Representative