Legislative Update
Friends and Neighbors,
It?s been a bust week in committees as the first deadline passes and the second deadline quickly approaches. I thought then this week to look at some of the wildest proposals we are seeing here at the capitol, some of which have so far been flying under the radar. These are some of the bills that aren?t being heard but exemplify where the state could go in the future without any checks and balances on the legislative process.
Top of the list of bad ideas is House File 1715 which would ban the sale of all gas-powered lawn equipment. Many people with more than a fraction of an acre simply can?t maintain their land with current electric alternatives. These batteries can get bogged down by large yards and can take hours to recharge. This is simply not practical for many Minnesotans, especially outside of the metro.
Another ban being proposed in St. Paul is a ban on the sale of plastic water bottles. HF 1857 would completely prohibit the sale of single-use plastic water bottles in the state. These can be convenient and sometimes necessary to use in some situations like sporting events, EMS services, or in natural disasters. They also can and should be recycled after use so that the plastic can be turned into the next product to make our lives easier.
?Sanctuary State? has been a common saying around the capitol in regard to a number of proposals. A sanctuary state for abortions, or a sanctuary state for transgender therapies, but they have another sanctuary state bill that has gotten less coverage this year. This bill aims to make Minnesota a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants. HF 2860 would limit the ability of our own immigration enforcement to do their jobs and incentivizes people who are breaking the law to come to Minnesota.
What are your thoughts on these extreme legislative proposals? You can share your thoughts with me on these or other legislative concerns you may have.
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