Dear neighbors,
Hundreds of bills are now making their way through the legislative process! My colleagues and I are considering new bills, advocating for our own legislation, hearing from experts, and gathering input from Minnesotans. Some of that work happens during the public hearings each House committee holds a few times a week.
Environment and Natural Resources Update
The committee I chair, the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. We heard three bills today, including one that I wrote. HF 2719 would provide $5 million for farmers enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This funding would help preserve our land, soil, and water. Since trees and plants store carbon, it would help Minnesota fight climate change as well.
On Thursday, the committee will hear four more bills, one that would transfer money from the metropolitan landfill contingency action trust account and three that would prohibit the use of toxic chemicals known as PFAS in certain products. You can watch these hearings on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.
Capital Investment Update
I also serve on the Capital Investment Committee, which is responsible for examining potential infrastructure projects across Minnesota. This committee is currently taking a look at the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and how it will impact our state. We’re going to hear from several groups, including Minnesota Management and Budget, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Minnesota Office of Broadband, and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority.
You can view today’s hearing, which included a presentation on broadband and cybersecurity provisions from NCSL staff and an update on the Office of Broadband Development, here. If you’d like to learn more about what this committee does and our plans for the session, I encourage you to watch this interview with Rep. Fue Lee, the chair of the committee.
New OLA Report
The Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released a new report yesterday. It’s dedicated to how the Minnesota Department of Commerce has investigated complaints related to civil insurance fraud and unfair or deceptive insurance practices. You can read the entire report here.
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to email me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or give me a call at (651) 296-6828.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative