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Dear neighbors,
I’m happy to report that the Minnesota House of Representatives unanimously approved one of my bills today! The bill protects Minnesotans from perchloroethylene, a chemical solvent that can increase risks for cancer and other health issues. Despite these risks, perchloroethylene – commonly known as PERC – is widely used in dry cleaning facilities. My bill will help dry cleaners stop using PERC and replace it with something safer. It prohibits using PERC for dry cleaning after December 31, 2025.
Minnesotans shouldn’t be exposed to chemicals that are associated with serious health risks. My bill will help protect dry cleaning workers, customers, and communities from PERC. Seeing it pass with bipartisan support was an excellent birthday gift.
Advancing Legislation
Here’s a list of some of the notable bills that I’ve introduced since my last legislative update:
- HF 1733, which allows counties to collect water conservation district fees on deed transfers and mortgage registrations
- HF 1734, which improves landfill management and encourages recycling and composting
- HF 1756, which invests in improving safety on Dakota County’s pedestrian and bike trails
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Governor Walz announced the next steps in the plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines last week. The plan he outlined focuses on delivering vaccines to 70 percent of people who are 65 years old or older by the end of March. Once we hit this benchmark, people with certain underlying health conditions and those who are at a high risk for workplace exposure will become eligible for a vaccine. Current projections indicate that every Minnesotan should be able to get a vaccine this summer.
If you haven’t signed up for the Vaccine Connector yet, I encourage you to check it out. It will let you know when you’re eligible to get vaccinated, connect you to resources to schedule a vaccine appointment, and alert you when there are vaccine opportunities nearby. You can sign up online at mn.gov/vaccineconnector or over the phone at 833-431-2053.
Neonicotinoids in Deer
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released the results of their deer neonicotinoid study. Nearly 2,000 hunters signed up to participate in the study, which examined if eating venison from deer that may have been exposed to neonicotinoids – a widely used class of insecticides – would create risks to human health. 799 deer spleens were collected, and 61 percent of them tested positive for neonicotinoids. If these data are representative of Minnesota’s deer population, there is likely little to no risk to consuming venison from deer exposed to neonicotinoids.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance. You can reach me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or 651-296-6828.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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