Dear neighbors,
After many long days and late nights, the House finished approving our entire budget on Tuesday. I’ve talked about several of these plans in previous updates, but here’s some links where you can find more information:
Now that the Senate has completed their work as well, members of both bodies will meet in conference committees to resolve their differences. There are ten conference committees – one for each area listed in the graphic above. Five members from the House and five from the Senate are appointed to serve on each. Meetings are similar to any other public hearing, but the focus is on eventually reaching a compromise.
I’m honored to be serving on the Environment and Natural Resources Conference Committee and eager to begin work. Our first meeting will be next Monday, May 6. You can follow conference committee schedules and activity here. Stay tuned for more details.
Three Rivers Park District brought lambs, chicks, and an owl to their Day at the Capitol.
Improving Pesticide Regulation
On Wednesday, the House approved an agriculture policy omnibus bill that strengthens protections for Minnesota farmland. It includes several provisions regarding pesticide use, including one that would let four cities conduct their own regulations. These cities – Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth – have the resources to do this enforcement and delegating that responsibility to the local government is more efficient.
Opposition to the policy is based on an argument that this would create confusion, but in fact state law already allows the commissioner of agriculture to delegate this responsibility; the policy change merely clarifies existing law. You can compare the two here (current law) and here (the proposed change is the first one listed). If you’d like to read more about the benefits of this policy, the Star Tribune published an article on the topic. It’s available here.
Your Legislators
Last night, I had the opportunity to appear on Your Legislators, a live Pioneer Public Television program. The other guests and I discussed a number of issues that we’re working on here at the legislature, including agricultural consolidation and transportation funding. You can watch the full episode or clips of the topics that interest you here.
Please stay in touch during the remaining weeks of the legislative session.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative