Dear neighbors, If you observe Easter, Passover, or Ramadan, I hope you’ve been able to gather and celebrate with family and friends. Legislators have returned to the Capitol after a week-long break. For the next few weeks, we’ll be busy passing legislation and negotiating with Senate Republicans. Advocating for Our CommunityWhen Robert Street was reconstructed a few years ago, the City of West St. Paul used bonds to pay for some of the materials, including most of the new street lights. To retire this debt, the city has to make annual payments of approximately $1.8 million for the next 10 to 15 years. This is 10 percent of West St. Paul’s tax levy. To help the city and local taxpayers, I’m carrying a bill to repay West St. Paul for some of the Robert Street street lights. I presented this bill to the House Capital Investment Committee this morning, and West St. Paul Councilmember Julie Eastman spoke in favor of it! You can watch her testimony here. Supporting Affordable HousingI attended a Bring It Home, Minnesota rally today! It was great to join my colleagues and Minnesotans to support bills that will help ensure everyone can access safe, stable, and affordable housing.  Preserving Minnesota’s Snowmobile TrailsGovernor Walz signed one of my bills into law last week! This legislation increases penalties for trespassing while riding a snowmobile or off-highway vehicle. It will help preserve our state’s snowmobile trails by preventing property damage, which discourages people from volunteering their land. My bill received bipartisan approval in the Minnesota House and Senate. It also received support from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association, and the Minnesota ATV Association. Community Events and Activities Spring Shed If you have confidential documents that need to be shredded, there’s a great opportunity to get it done for free this weekend! You can drop materials off at the West St. Paul Sports Complex on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All papers will be deposited directly into a shredder and then sent to a recycler.  If you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share, you can reach me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or (651) 296-6828. I appreciate your input! Sincerely, Rick Hansen
State Representative |