Dear neighbors,
Happy World Bee Day! In order to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and the threats they face, the United Nations (UN) has designated May 20th as World Bee Day. According to the UN, this year World Bee Day will focus on bee production and practices adopted by beekeepers to support their livelihoods and deliver high-quality products.
Minnesota has been leading the charge to protect our pollinators, who are a critical part of our ecosystem and the food we eat. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished to address this global issue. During the 2019 session, we passed a nation-leading Lawns to Legumes program, established the Rusty Patched Bumblebee as the official state bee, and provided much-needed funding for pollinator research. This year, House DFLers pushed for additional funding for the overwhelmingly popular Lawns to Legumes program. Minnesotans expect us to protect our pollinators, and I applaud the UN for bringing attention to this critical issue.
Gradually and Safely Reopening Restaurants, Bars, Salons, and Barbershops
This afternoon, Governor Walz shared the next steps in his Stay Safe Plan. Starting June 1, limited outdoor dining will be allowed at restaurants and bars, and salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen and operate at 25 percent occupancy. All customers will be strongly encouraged or required to wear masks, make reservations, and follow social distancing practices to keep themselves, other customers, and employees safe. You can read more about the various phases of the Stay Safe Plan here.
Improving Public Access and Accountability
Minnesotans deserve to see how important decisions are made. We’re working to create opportunities for the public to engage with groups like the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, a committee of legislators and citizens that plays a highly influential role in deciding which projects receive support from Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund. Over the weekend, the Minnesota House and Senate passed a bill that requires livestreaming of Outdoor Heritage Council meetings. This requirement will give people a chance to view the meetings and hear information that’s used to make decisions. MinnPost published an article about the new video requirement yesterday. You can read it here.
Now that this precedent is set, I hope that we’ll be able to improve public access to meetings of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Like the Outdoor Heritage Council, LCCMR shapes how a significant amount of funds are allocated. I’ve been working to extend video requirements to LCCMR, and I’ll keep pushing for greater transparency.
Retirement Speeches
On Monday, retiring members of the Minnesota House and Representatives gave their farewell speeches. My friend and mentor, Rep. Jean Wagenius, gave an awesome speech, challenging Minnesotans and the Legislature on science. I encourage you to watch her speech here.
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative