Dear Neighbors,
Today was the start of the 2023 legislative session! My colleagues and I were sworn in earlier today in the House chamber at the State Capitol for the first time since 2020. We are ready to get started introducing legislation and holding public hearings on issues critical to Minnesotans in our district and across the state.
I was joined by Alex Anaya, a senior at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights. I invited Alex to be on the floor during today’s proceedings and he was excited to finally see all our elected officials in person. He said the event “was so exciting, actually being on the floor during that time was an experience I would never have gotten unless I got elected someday.”
I have already been hard at work introducing a number of bills which will help our community grow and thrive as well as bills to protect our environment and natural resources now and into the future. Those bills will be formally introduced later this week and I will highlight them in future email updates as they move through the committee process.
Committee Assignments
As previously announced, I’m honored to have been re-appointed chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee this coming session. I’m very grateful that Speaker Hortman has entrusted me with this critical committee once again. Minnesotans value our environment a great deal and I will run the committee knowing that these issues are a top priority for our state. With the DFL trifecta we have an opportunity to enact long-lasting protections to ensure future generations can enjoy the same environmental benefits we do.
I’ll also serve on the Agriculture, Capital Investment, and State and Local Government committees. I look forward to working on these committees to support our local needs. You can find the full committee rosters here and find upcoming committee hearing postings here.
Environment and Natural Resources Committee Hearings
The Environment and Natural Resources Committee will hold its inaugural hearing for the 2023 session this Wednesday, January 4th at 3:00pm. At our first meeting, the committee will hear staff and member introductions and then hold a preliminary hearing on a bill I authored regarding state lands.
The Environment and Natural Resource committee will meet weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:00pm-4:30pm in State Office Building room 10. Additionally, hearings will be recorded and live streamed or posted afterwards on the committee webpage which you can find here.
Redistricting Update
This morning I was officially sworn in as your representative for the new District 53B. District 53B includes all of South St. Paul, Newport, St. Paul Park and Grey Cloud Island Township as well as portions of both Inver Grove Heights and Cottage Grove. You can find a map of the new district here. I am excited to get to work representing this area and am thankful for the opportunity to serve.
If you are unsure about how redistricting affects you, this site will allow you to input your address to find your new representative.
The view of my desk on the House floor during today’s proceedings
Stay in Touch
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the legislative session. You can reach me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-6828. You can contact my new Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email at Samuel.ONeill@house.mn.gov.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative