|
Dear Neighbors,
This week the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which I chair, had some critter visitors from the Minnesota Zoo! Zookeeper Donnie Cook joined us with a chuckwalla, a lizard found in the southwestern United States, and a chinchilla, a rodent native to the Andes mountains in South America. The Minnesota Zoo is the fifth largest zoo in the country and as a state agency, it receives one-third of its funding from the Legislature, which we consider in the Environment Committee. Our investment in the zoo ensures it remains available and accessible to all Minnesotans. You can watch the hearing, including the animal presentations, here!
 |
This Thursday, the State and Local Government Committee heard my bill allowing native landscapes on private property. Many business owners and homeowners have seen the benefits of transforming their turf lawns into habitats for pollinators like the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee. By planting grasses and flowers native to Minnesota, these little patches can provide urban habitat that increases local biodiversity.
Unfortunately, some cities have sought to interfere with this practice, forbidding property owners from doing what they want with their lawns. My bill protects the rights of those who want to plant native landscapes while also ensuring those natural lawns are managed and maintained. You can watch my presentation in front of the committee here.
This Monday, the House passed two bills designed to stabilize child care and increase early learning in our state. We passed a bill to increase the maximum reimbursement rates for all Child Care Assistance Program providers, as well a bill that increases the amount of child care stabilization grants ? a key initiative launched during the pandemic ? for child care programs and expands eligibility for early learning scholarships to children age five or younger. I was proud to support these investments to help kids, families, and communities thrive.
Last night, we passed a bill to guarantee that all Minnesota workers have access to Earned Sick and Safe Time. Every day, thousands of workers face the impossible choice of going to work while they or a family member is sick or staying home and missing a paycheck. This legislation would ensure, at a minimum, one hour of paid Earned Sick and Safe Time for every 30 hours worked, up to at least 48 hours per year. Voting for this bill is a vote to make Minnesota a more welcoming and supportive state for children and families.
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
|
