Dear neighbors,
It’s an exciting week here at the Capitol! Many House committees are introducing their omnibus budget bills – legislation that contains several bills. Once they are approved, the bills will travel to other committees and eventually reach the House floor for a vote.
The Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, the committee that I chair, announced our budget yesterday. The omnibus budget bill (HF 2209) includes $32.5 million in new funding to protect, restore and enhance Minnesota’s environment and natural resources.
Photo credit: John Kaul
Several of my proposals are included in the omnibus bill, including:
- Establishing the rusty patched bumble bee as the official state bee and funding conservation efforts (HF 2070)
- Restricting the use of conservation materials that contain plastic along streams (HF 2258)
- Reducing carpet waste (HF 2267)
Other highlights from the budget include:
- Maintaining and improving parks and trails
- Pollution control measures to ensure clean air and water and protect public health
- Stronger protections for fish and wildlife, including bans on ivory and the capture and sale of wild turtles
- A plan to reduce carbon emissions and improve the health of forests by planting trees
- Grants to fund outdoor environmental and ecological programs for youth
- Support for research and control of aquatic invasive species
- Improved waste management
- Funding for deer conservation and addressing chronic wasting disease
- Increasing protections for pollinators, including a program to help homeowners convert their lawns into pollinator-friendly habitats
We held two public hearings for the budget bill yesterday and will meet again tomorrow to hear from more people before voting to approve it. After the bill is approved, it will move to the Ways and Means Committee.
Audio from the first public hearing is available here. If you’d like to learn more about the environment and natural resources budget, I encourage you to listen to the recording and tune in Thursday, April 4 at 12:45 p.m. for the next hearing.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative