Dear neighbors,

More than 100 Minnesotans came to Dodge Nature Center for a community conversation with the Climate Action Caucus! Many thanks to everyone who joined us to discuss how climate change is impacting Minnesota’s environment and what we can do about it.

Addressing Tree Waste

Yesterday I attended the Northern Green Conference, which is hosted by the Minnesota Landscape Association. Rep. Fue Lee and I had great discussions about tree planting and disposal. We spoke with many professionals about methods for dealing with the tree waste that occurs when storms, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) outbreaks, and other factors damage trees.

New OLA Reports Released

On Tuesday, the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released two new reports. One examines the Minnesota Department of Health’s oversight of the medical cannabis program. The second is about Regenerative Medicine Minnesota, a partnership between the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic. You can read summaries of these reports here and here.

Community Events and Activities

Session Preview Town Hall

The 2020 legislative session begins in less than a month! Rep. Ruth Richardson, Sen. Matt Klein, and I want to discuss the things that you’d like us to work on when the Legislature reconvenes in February. We’re holding a town hall at Inver Hills Community College on Sunday, January 26, and we hope to see you there. You can find more details and RSVP here.

If you can’t make it to the town hall, feel free to call or email me with questions or feedback. You can contact me anytime at 651-296-6828 or rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.

Sincerely,

Rick Hansen
State Representative