Legislative Update – February 19, 2024

Legislative Update – February 19, 2024

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday, an unspeakable tragedy struck our community in Burnsville when two police officers and a paramedic were fatally shot, and another was wounded, while responding to a call for help from a family with seven children who were in immediate danger in their home. These calls are some of the most dangerous situations for our public safety teams to respond to, but they do so every day and put their lives on the line to protect our children, our neighbors, and our community—just like our officers and a paramedic did this weekend.

Our city is reeling from this profound loss, and we stand in support of the public servants who made the ultimate sacrifice, in support of their families, and in solidarity with all touched by this tragedy. You can read the Burnsville Legislative Delegation's full statement here.

Start of the 2024 Session

Last week the 2024 legislative session officially began, and I have been attending committee hearings, meeting with constituents, and working on legislation that will help our community thrive.

After the historically productive 2023 Legislative Session, DFLers remain committed to improving people’s lives and building a Minnesota that works better for everyone. In 2024, we will continue working side by side with their neighbors and community members together – rooted in the values we all share – to lower the cost of living, deliver economic security for working families, and ensure everyone has the tools they need to succeed.

Ending the Subminimum Wage

Last session, I introduced legislation to eliminate the subminimum wage for Minnesotans with disabilities. As part of the negotiation process, we made progress in grants for businesses transitioning away from subminimum wage, but full elimination is still the right thing to do.

Ensuring Minnesotans with disability are paid equitably for their work is a labor issue, it’s an economic issue, and it’s a human rights issue. I will continue fighting for equal pay, and I encourage you to read this recent Star Tribune article that shows the reality of subminimum wage: Many Minnesotans with disabilities earn far less than minimum wage. A push for equal pay continues.

Insulin Prices Capped

Democrats are dedicated to reducing the cost of health care and protecting against price-gouging. Earlier this month, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a landmark settlement with the Eli Lily insulin company that caps insulin at just $35 for the next 5 years.

Drug companies raised the price of insulin by over 1,100% between 1990 and 2020, and this settlement ensures that Minnesotans can afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect.

You can learn more about the settlement and how to get insulin for just $35 a month here: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/MNinsulin35/.

Economic Development Committee

Last Wednesday we had the first meeting of the Economic Development Committee, which I am the Vice-Chair of. The committee heard an overview from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) on their work implementing some of the transformational legislation we passed last year. You can watch the committee hearing here.

I made sure to ask department staff about their work supporting businesses to meet the mental health needs of their employees and how they can bolster efforts to help mental health service providers. Mental health is a topic I hear about from constituents consistently and touches on so many other issues we are facing as a state, and that’s why it will be a big focus of my work this year.

Stay in Touch

If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can email me at rep.jessica.hanson@house.mn.gov or call (651) 296-4212. 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,

Jess Hanson

State Representative