Legislative Update – February 12, 2024
Dear neighbors,
Last week I was glad to meet with 11th- and 12th-grade students from South St. Paul Learning Center during their tour of the Minnesota State Capitol. After their tour, I brought the class to the House Chamber and spoke about the importance of representation and the crucial work being done at the legislature.
2024 Session Begins
Today marks the beginning of the 2024 legislative session! The legislature runs on a two-year cycle, with one budget year and one year focusing more on policy and capital investment. This year I will push for bills helping working families, supporting critical infrastructure projects, and enhancing our environment and natural resources.
I will continue to serve as Chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, as we work to protect our water, soil, air, wildlife, and more. I also sit on the Capital Investment, State and Local Government, and Agriculture committees. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.gov.
First Environment Committee Hearing
The House Environment and Natural Resources Committee will have our first meeting of the year this Wednesday at 3:00 pm. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the House Youtube page.
The committee will hear a bill expanding opportunities to protect native prairies, and legislation to allow a digital image of a hunting or fishing license as proof if the person doesn’t have the physical license with them.
We will also hear the 2024 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund bill, which uses dedicated lottery funds to protect, restore and enhance our environment.
The bill is the product of the Legislative Citizen-Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) which met over the summer to hear various proposals and provide recommendations to the legislature on which projects to fund. You can learn more at Wednesday’s hearing or from the LCCMR site here.
LWV Legislative Forum
Last weekend I joined fellow area representatives and senators for a League of Women Voters legislative forum to answer questions about the 2024 session. Questions topics ranged from the environment, the budget, health, public safety, and more. You can watch the video 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