Legislative Update – November 2, 2023
Dear Neighbors,
It was great to “bee” out in the community with you Tuesday night for South St. Paul’s Annual Great Halloween Get-Together. Thank you to all the city staff and volunteers for helping out with trick-or-treating families on a cold October 31st!
This week is the start of the 2023 deer hunting firearm season and I will be participating in the Governor’s Season Opener. You can find more hunting and trapping information at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.
Lawns to Legumes Event
Last weekend I visited the University of Minnesota Tashjian Bee Center at the Arboretum for a “Lawns to Legumes” info session alongside other state legislators and staff from the Board of Water and Soil Health (BWSR). Staff talked about how to apply for the program, which you can do here before November 30th, as well as how popular the program is.
With over 20,000 applicants wanting to make their lawns more pollinator-friendly, it’s clear this is one of the most successful conservation programs in state history.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 10 from 1:00-3:00pm, where we will have a similar event at the Croatian Hall in South St. Paul. Speakers will include Dr. Marla Spivak, an entomologist at the U of M Bee Center as well as staff from BWSR!
Special Election Information
Next Tuesday, November 7th, there will be a special election held for the South St. Paul School Board District #6 seat. You can find more information on the election and candidates at the City of South St. Paul’s webpage here.
Minnesota ranks top in the nation for voter turnout, so make sure to get out there and have your voice heard! At the legislature we have passed many bills to make voting simple and easy for all citizens, including same-day voter registration. To check your registration status or to find out what you need in order to register same-day, check out the Secretary of State’s guide here.
Stay in Touch!
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. 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