Legislative Update – June 29, 2023
Dear neighbors,
This week I attended a South Saint Paul Local Issues meeting and a River Heights Chamber Coffee meeting. There was great turnout at both events, and I was glad for the opportunity to talk about the issues facing our district and how the legislature can support local businesses and communities!
New Laws Effective July 1st
Many laws passed by the legislature this session had an effective date of July 1, 2023 and will be going into effect next week. This includes appropriations from our major budget bills along with countless other provisions. House Nonpartisan Staff has put together a document highlighting some of the major laws coming into effect, which you can find here. A full list of all bills is also available here.
Our Environment and Natural Resources budget will go into effect, including the largest investment in protecting our environment in state history. Our budget provides funding for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota Zoo, Met Council, Science Museum of Minnesota, and more!
Also on July 1, the DNR will receive $110 million for the Get Out MORE initiative, which aims to update and enhance access to boating sites, public land, and campsites to ensure all Minnesotans can enjoy our natural resources.
Legislative Meetings
This week I have continued to chair and attend meetings of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Natural Resources as we hear proposals for projects seeking 2024 funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. These projects must work towards preserving, enhancing, and protecting Minnesota’s land, water, air, and wildlife. You can find the project proposals and video recordings of the meetings here.
Yesterday, I co-chaired a meeting of the Legislative Audit Commission, which met to hear a presentation from the Legislative Auditor on the Southwest Light Trail Transit Construction Project. It is important to me that government be accountable when spending taxpayer dollars, which is why I advocated in support of this audit which will help us better prevent future misuse of state dollars. You can read the full report here and watch the recording of the meeting here.
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 Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email at Samuel.ONeill@house.mn.gov.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative