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Dear neighbors,
Yesterday afternoon I took a walk through the Capitol grounds and was able to appreciate the wonderful landscaping around the building, including flowering crabapples and a pollinator garden. We also have lost some trees to Emerald Ash Borer, reminding us that we need to replant and continue to fill our Capitol grounds with trees and plants that reflect our commitment to nature.
Last night, the House passed our K-12 Education conference committee report. This bill makes historic investments in our schools after decades of underinvestment. The bill increases funding and ties the basic funding formula to inflation to ensure we don?t fall behind in the future. It includes investments in students? mental health, English Learner programs, special education programs, and more.
In District 53B, which includes the school districts of South Washington County, Inver Grove Heights, and South St. Paul, I have been consistently advocating for increased investments in our schools and correcting funding imbalances that have negatively affected the South St. Paul Schools for years. I am pleased to report that this year?s K-12 Education bill includes:
- In South Washington County School District ? an $814 per pupil funding increase in 2024 and a $1,011 per pupil funding increase in 2025.
- In Inver Grove Heights School District ? an $898 per pupil funding increase in 2024 and a $1,133 per pupil funding increase in 2025.
- In South St. Paul School District ? a $1,009 per pupil funding increase in 2024 and a $1,238 per pupil funding increase in 2025.
Last night, the Environment, Natural Resources, Climate, and Energy Conference Committee, which I chair, posted our agreement between the House and Senate versions of the bill. This final version will go before both chambers before being signed by the Governor. This is a historic bill that invests in our environment and natural resources and takes important steps forward in combating climate change.
This morning, the conference committee met one last time to walk through the agreement, which you can watch here. The bill will be up for a vote on the House floor soon and will then head to the Senate for a vote before the Governor signs our 2023 Environment and Climate budget! I will continue to keep you updated as the session wraps up this week.
As the legislative session comes to a close, we are passing the final versions of our budget bills and other priorities. Alongside our DFL Senators, we are ending the gridlock and delivering on the promises we made to Minnesotans. You can read more about our final bills using our nonpartisan Session Daily stories: Veterans and Military Affairs, Housing, Higher Education, Legacy, Agriculture, Early Education, Public Safety and Judiciary, K-12 Education, and Jobs, Economic Development, and Labor.
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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