Dear neighbors,
On Saturday, my colleagues and I finished approving the entire state budget! The new two-year budget invests in students, preserves health care for more than one million Minnesotans, and protects our environment and natural resources. Several of my bills passed as part of sections of the budget and will be signed into law soon.
My colleagues and I worked through the night and were rewarded with a great view from the Capitol early Saturday morning.
Summaries of some of my successful bills are below. You can find the final version of each piece of legislation in the budget resources that are available here.
Support for Lilydale (HF 949)
My legislation to provide additional funding for the City of Lilydale was included in the taxes plan. This aid will help the city reduce reliance on property taxes and provide public services like street maintenance and community safety.
Protections for pollinators (HF 2070)
Several measures to improve protections for pollinators were included in the agriculture budget and the environment and natural resources budget. I authored one that will establish the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee as the official state bee. If you’d like to learn more about the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, you can check out this guide to Minnesota bumble bees or a report on its dwindling numbers.
I spoke about some of the great things in our environment and natural resources budget on the House floor.
Pesticide damage to public lands (HF 1292)
This bill, which was approved as part of the agriculture budget, strengthens protections for Minnesota’s public lands. It enhances penalties for damage to public lands that’s caused by pesticide application.
Addressing CWD (HF 850)
In my latest legislative update, I talked about the comprehensive plan to address chronic wasting disease (CWD) that was included in the environment and natural resources budget. My proposal to increase funding for management of this outbreak is one piece of that plan.
AIS research (HF 2574)
My bill provides grants to the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center for finding research-based solutions to reduce the impacts of aquatic invasive species (AIS). University of Minnesota scientists will use funding from the environment and natural resources budget to prevent AIS from spreading, control the current population, and educate Minnesotans on practices to protect our waters.
Dry cleaner fund (HF 2067)
Improper disposal of drycleaning chemicals caused contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water at various sites before the dangers of these chemicals were known. Today, neighborhood drycleaners have been left to clean up these sites and must wait years for reimbursement from the Drycleaner Fund that was established in 1995. My bill provides funding that’s needed to restore clean water and soil and support mom and pop businesses. It was passed as part of the environment and natural resources budget.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent our community at the Capitol. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions or feedback.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative