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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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RADON BILL PASSES ON HOUSE FLOOR
ST. PAUL Rep. Kim Norton's bill (HF993) requiring radon ventilation systems to be installed in all new homes before they are sold, passed by a vote of 127 to 5 on the House floor Tuesday. It recently passed by a vote of 51-14 in the Senate.
"I am very happy that this bill has received such wide-spread support this session," said Norton. "These new regulations for radon ventilation in our state will save money for homeowners and protect families from the harmful and potentially deadly effects of radon."
The idea for the legislation came when Rep. Norton met a new resident while door knocking in the Badger Ridge area of Rochester in 2004. The man had recently had his home tested for radon an odorless gas and known carcinogen responsible for 15% of all lung cancer. He was disturbed to find high levels of radon in his new home. More than that, he was shocked to find that the equipment necessary to protect his home and family from the harmful effects of radon, would now cost between $2,000 $4,000 to install, when it would have cost less than $500 if it had been installed when the home was built.
"Since hearing this disturbing news, I have been working with Olmsted County to find a solution to this widespread problem," said Rep. Norton. "I had my own home tested and high levels of radon were found there as well. So when I came to the Legislature, I knew that something had to be done to protect families in Rochester and throughout the state from this recurring problem."
According to a 2006 Surgeon General report, Radon is responsible for approximately 20,000 deaths per year. Over one half of all Minnesota counties are located in the highest radon-risk zones in the nation making this issue particularly important for Minnesotans. Furthermore, tests of about 5,000 homes in Southeast Minnesota show that about 50% of the homes being built there exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's radon regulations of 4 pico curies per liter. Norton's bill will significantly reduce the risk of radon exposure to Minnesotan's purchasing new homes.
Rep. Norton's bill has garnered strong support from the Builders Association of Minnesota and from her colleagues in the Legislature. It will now proceed to the Governor's desk for final approval.
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- Its Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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