Legislative Update – May 19, 2024
Dear Neighbors,
Today is the final day of the 2024 legislative session, and we have been meeting around the clock to finish our work and pass bills to improve the lives of Minnesotans. Many bills will be crossing the finish line today before our midnight deadline, and I’ll have more to share next week on the final state of things.
For now, as Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, I want to highlight our committee’s budget and policy bill, which includes big wins for our district, our environment, and the State of Minnesota.
Final Environment Budget Bill
On Friday evening, the House re-passed HF 3911, the 2024 Environment and Natural Resources Budget and Policy bill, as amended by the conference committee report. The bill passed on a vote of 70-56. The bill now heads to the Senate before going to the Governor’s desk for final signature. You can read my full press release here.
Our conference committee report reflects the DFL’s commitment to taking strong action to protect our environment and natural resources. This year the legislature is investing over $12 million in trees, increasing oversight and penalties for repeat polluters, and passing nation-leading extended producer responsibility legislation to address our solid waste issue.
The bill includes significant policy provisions aimed at environmental protection and pollution prevention. The bill increases civil penalties for repeat polluters, and sets goals to reduce the use of road salt and nitrogen fertilizer. The legislation also includes a nation-leading Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill, a major step forward in dealing with solid waste by ensuring that packaging producers are responsible for the waste they create and are incentivized to increase recycled content.
District 53B Wins
Our Environment and Natural Resources bill includes significant investments in trees and tree planting to help address emerald ash borer and increase tree cover, $688,000 of those funds are granted to the city of South St. Paul for tree planting. Nearly $12 million in additional competitive Tree planting grants will conform to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping tool, which you can find here.
The bill includes $100,000 for an accessible playground at Hilltop Elementary School in Inver Grove Heights, and funding for air toxic monitoring in Washington County which will serve the City of Newport. It also includes extensions on district projects included in last year’s budget bill.
The bill also includes $437,000 for the city of St. Paul Park to replace the pedestrian bridge in Lions Levee Park. The bridge is in dire need of repair, and these funds will help ensure safety and increase access and accessibility for the park. I was proud to work on this bill alongside Mayor and former representative Keith Franke, who testified in favor of the bill earlier this year.
Protecting Pollinators
Tomorrow is World Bee Day, which is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness of the importance of bees and pollinators, as well as the threats they face.
Ahead of World Bee Day, the passage of our 2024 Environment and Natural Resources bill redoubles DFLers' efforts to protect pollinators by investing $800,000 in funding for the Lawns to Legumes Program, and creates a dedicated pollinator account to increase pollinator habitat statewide. This is a major win for the environment, for pollinators, and Minnesota.
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