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Dear neighbors,
I serve as co-chair of the Commission which recommends projects for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Over the years, we’ve invested in key projects to protect our wildlife, such as faster testing for deer potentially exposed to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
This week, the Journal of Wildlife Diseases published research co-authored by U of Minnesota infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Larsen showing that RT-QuIC tests “enable more effective CWD surveillance and interventions.”
You can find the full report here. I’m proud to see that our investments have made a difference, and I will continue to advocate for science-driven solutions to protect our wildlife and environment.
During the 2023 and 2024 sessions, we passed legislation to ban harmful forever chemicals known as PFAS from consumer goods in Minnesota, especially in products our kids come into contact with every day. As of January 1, 2025, these laws will go into effect and require new products sold or distributed in 11 categories to be made without PFAS. Categories include:
- carpets or rugs, including outdoor carpet and car floor mats
- cleaning products, including detergents and stain removers
- cookware
- cosmetics
- dental floss
- fabric treatments
- juvenile products, including car seats, children’s clothing, and toys for children under 12
- menstruation products, including tampons and disposable and reusable pads
- ski wax
- textile furnishings, including draperies, bedding, and towels
- upholstered furniture
You can find more details here. Make sure to refresh vital items after the new year to ensure that you and your family are saying no to PFAS!
Next week two legislative commissions I co-chair will meet. The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) will meet on Wednesday, December 11th from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The agenda includes adopting language for our 2025 recommendations and our strategic plan for 2026. You can watch the meeting live or afterward on the LCCMR YouTube page.
The Legislative Audit Commission (LAC) will also meet and hear the Office of the Legislative Auditor's Financial Audit Division’s report on Outstanding Provider Debt in Minnesota's Medicaid Program. The report will be released at 9:00 a.m. and the commission will meet at 10:00 a.m. You can watch the meeting on the Legislative Auditor YouTube page here.
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. 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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