Legislative Update – January 8, 2025
Dear neighbors,
Last weekend, I attended the State Agriculture & Rural Leaders Annual Legislative Summit in Des Moines, Iowa alongside colleagues from across the aisle and the Department of Ag. We talked about issues facing agriculture, toured the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Clinic, and met with our neighbors to the north and the Consul General of Canada.
As always, I am focused on ensuring we promote sustainable agriculture practices and protect our land, soil, and water for future generations.
PFAS Lawsuit
This week, a cookware industry group filed a lawsuit in federal court against Minnesota’s landmark PFAS prevention law, calling it unconstitutional. The legislation bans dangerous PFAS “forever chemicals” in a variety of products, including children’s products, makeup, cookware, and much more.
These corporations are suing to attempt to prevent this legislation, which took effect on January 1, from protecting Minnesotan’s health, environment, and clean water. I and other DFL legislators will stand strong to protect this legislation, whether it be from corporate lawsuits or from House Republican legislators attempting to roll back this important legislation.
Minnesotans deserve clean water, and they deserve to not worry about whether the products they purchase are manufactured using dangerous chemicals that can have long-term negative health impacts.
Aggregate Mining Review
Last year, I asked the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to look into the state’s handling of aggregate mining, like that proposed near Grey Cloud Island. The report, which will be released on Thursday, January 9 at 9 a.m., focuses on the extent to which 2018 recommendations of the legislative Aggregate Resources Task Force have been implemented. The report will be available at the OLA website here.
Once the report is released, I will be working alongside the OLA and legislators to address the findings and ensure the state is doing its due diligence when it comes to reviewing aggregate resource operations in our state.
Funding for HPAI Research
This week, the Governor approved more than $1.2 million to research avian influenza in wildlife. This funding comes from lottery proceeds dedicated to protecting Minnesota’s environment and natural resources and was approved by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which I co-chair.
The newly approved money will go to researchers at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine to study the emerging threat of avian influenza. Partnering with a network of wildlife rehabilitators and tribal biologists, they will collect and test samples from wild birds and mammals for the virus.
Prevention is better than clean up, and it is important to do everything we can to stay ahead of avian influenza. I will continue working on this issue throughout the legislative session.
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