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Dear Neighbors,
We just passed a bill off the House floor to increase worker safety measures at petroleum refineries on a bipartisan vote of 83-46! We should all support ensuring that we have skilled and trained workers at our petroleum refineries. It's a safety issue I heard about while knocking on doors and I was proud to speak in support of this bill today. You can watch my speech here.
Last week we continued passing budget bills off the House floor, including the Veterans budget, the State Government and Elections budget, the Transportation budget, the Housing budget, the Agriculture budget, the Early Childhood budget, the Children and Families budget, and the K-12 Education budget.
I am glad to report that many bills I authored have been included in the agriculture bill, including funding the University of Minnesota?s Bee Lab, regulating pesticide-treated seeds, banning any pesticide that contains PFAS ?forever chemicals,? and more! In addition, the transportation budget includes my Highways for Habitat proposal, which would utilize the tens of thousands of acres of ditches along state highways for pollinator and wildlife habitats.
Last Monday we passed the Environment and Climate Budget in the House, including the largest investment in our environment in state history. The Senate passed its version on Thursday and our next step will be meeting in a ?conference committee? of Representatives and Senators to work out differences between the bills. I am dedicated to fighting for a final bill that honors our commitment to protecting our air, water, soil, wildlife, and natural resources.
As Environment Chair, I will be leading the House delegation along with my colleagues Climate Chair Patty Acomb, Rep. Athena Hollins, Rep. Sydney Jordan, and Rep. Larry Kraft.
This morning, I attended a meeting of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which makes recommendations on how money from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) should be spent to protect our environment and natural resources. We received updates on projects that previously received funding and began planning for the 2024 recommendation process. You can watch the hearing here.
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is once again accepting applications for grants for the Lawns to Legumes program. This program aims to increase habitat for at-risk pollinators in residential settings across the state by providing people with cost-share funding, workshops, coaching, and gardening resources. The new application period is open, and applications will be accepted through June 30, 2023. Details: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/node/10456
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the legislative session. You can reach me by email at?[email protected]?or by phone at 651-296-6828. You can contact my Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email at?[email protected].?
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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