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Dear neighbors,
Last Tuesday, the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee voted to advance legislation that invests $61.4 million in environmental projects across the state. The funding will come from Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which has provided support for vital projects since 1988. The bill includes most of the recommendations considered by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). You can find more specifics here.
On Friday, the committee voted to advance a bill that modifies several existing statutes. This legislation would allow hunters to shoot deer or elk that escape from breeding farms immediately rather than waiting 24 hours, ban food packaging that contains PFAS, require holding public meetings before issuing certain drinking water permits, and more. More details are available here.
You can watch videos of our committee hearings on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel, linked here. Agendas and other documents are available here on the committee’s webpage.
LCCMR Update
Last week, LCCMR approved funding for a project to investigate the quantities of SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – in drinking water supplies. This funding, which comes from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, will allow researchers to immediately start collecting samples across the state. Governor Walz is expected to approve the funds. If you’d like to learn more, you can listen to the LCCMR meeting where it was discussed here.
Reopening Businesses Safely
Last week, Governor Walz outlined a plan to safely and gradually reopen businesses. Starting today, some industrial, manufacturing, and office workplaces will be allowed to reopen if they create a COVID-19 preparedness plan and meet certain criteria. Up to 100,000 Minnesotans who can’t work from home will be able to get back to work. You can read more about this plan here.
This dial framework shows how Governor Walz anticipates the process of reopening Minnesota will work.
Unemployment Benefits for Self-Employed and Contract Workers
Unemployment benefits are now available for self-employed workers, independent contractors, and others who aren’t eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance. On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that they’ve finished implementing the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and begun payments to eligible workers. You can find more information about applying for these benefits here.
Arbor Day
Arbor Day was last Friday! Arbor Day is a special day where we come together as Minnesotans to celebrate nature and help our outdoors by planting a tree. I usually lead a bipartisan effort to distribute trees on Arbor Day, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible this year. However, I encourage you all to enjoy some time outdoors and plant trees!
Finally, Rep. Laurie Halverson – one of my fellow Dakota County legislators – announced that she is retiring from the Minnesota House today. I wish her well on all her future endeavors.
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance during these challenging times.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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