Legislative Update – February 18, 2025
Neighbors,
Corporations shouldn’t be able to leave taxpayers with the bill for costly clean-up efforts like those we see in our district and across the east metro due to PFAS water contamination. That’s why Rep. Fue Lee and I introduced legislation holding corporations responsible for clean-up by imposing a gross revenue tax on entities manufacturing products with PFAS.
Unfortunately, one of my Republican colleagues introduced a bill attempting to raid the 3M trust fund established following Minnesota’s settlement over 3M’s use of PFAS. While Rep. Dippel calls this bill ‘outside the box’ thinking, in reality, it's theft. This proposal directly contradicts the Minnesota Supreme Court’s intent when setting up the 3M trust fund, shifting decision-making on funding from the $720 million settlement to individual legislators to dole out as they see fit.
We can come together to solve this problem the right way. If Rep. Dippel truly wants to fight for clean drinking water as he claims, he should join me in taking on the corporations that pollute, not raiding funds and pitting town against town and neighbor against neighbor. Read my full press release here.
Capitol and Community Visits
Yesterday I was proud to join Clark Grace UCC, Pastors in Action, & City of South St Paul for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration in South St. Paul. Pastor Oliver White led the Annual MLK event, which was delayed due to a -3 temperature on MLK Day (yesterday it was -10). Warm hearts in attendance, thank you for organizing and all who attended.
I also attended last week’s meeting of the River Heights Chamber and met with constituents from the American College of Emergency Physicians (MNACEP), ER Residents from Regions and Hennepin Healthcare, and Jewish Family Services board president Bruce Matza from Cottage Grove.
Bill Introductions
This week, I introduced bills to move our district and state forward. I introduced a bill to support Washington County’s wood waste and EAB diseased tree utilization program and a bill to replace drinking water infrastructure in South St. Paul. I also introduced legislation to implement the recommendations of the Aggregate Resources Task Force.
You can find a full list of legislation I’ve authored here, and bills I’ve coauthored here. I will continue to update you on the progress of my proposed legislation as the session continues.
Other Updates
I wanted to highlight some information I received late last year on a project in our district that received Legacy funding, from the lottery account dedicated to preserving and promoting Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage.
Dakota County received $65,000 in Legacy funding for the Vermillion River Greenway project, creating an interpretive concept design to preserve the site as a natural and sacred area, focusing on the region’s history and the connection between Minnesotans, indigenous peoples, and the river.
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.
For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these regular legislative updates if you haven’t already, here, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative