Legislative update - January 23, 2020

Dear Neighbors,

It’s been a busy week but I’m having a lot of fun gearing up for the 2020 legislative session, which begins in a little over two weeks. In less than 24 hours, I visited Bemidji with colleagues to learn about local quality water issues, participated in tours and presentations in St. Paul about addressing the spread of Emerald Ash Borer, and received official notice of this year’s committee deadlines. Continue reading to learn more about the work I’m putting in to make the legislative session a success. 

Preview the legislative session at a town hall meeting this Sunday

It’s my pleasure to invite you to a town hall meeting this Sunday, Jan. 26 from 2-3:30 p.m. at Inver Hills Community College (room HH203 in Heritage Hall). This is an opportunity to meet face-to-face with me, Rep. Ruth Richardson, and Sen. Matt Klein to ask questions, make comments, and get an exclusive preview of the upcoming legislative session. RSVP to our Facebook event here and share it on your profile to invite friends, neighbors, and relatives.

Addressing the spread of Emerald Ash Borer with Pigs Eye Wood Recycling

I’m proudly working hand-in-hand with Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Ramsey County commissioners, state agencies, and cities to address the spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Part of that work involved a Jan. 22 tour and presentation at Pigs Eye Wood Recycling Center in St. Paul. This company and many like it are on the front lines of this issue. The Pioneer Press has the story here.

Legislators take road trip to Bemidji to talk water quality 

I want to thank my colleague Rep. John Persell of Bemidji for inviting the House Natural Resources and Environment Policy Committee to visit his district to learn about local water quality issues. Over the course of two days this week, the committee held a public hearing at Bemidji State University, and legislators toured the Badoura State Forest Nursery, Bemidji’s Waste Water Treatment Plant (which I was able to join), the Leech Lake Fish Hatchery, and the St. Regis Superfund Site in Cass Lake. The Bemidji Pioneer has a great recap of the committee’s travels that you can read here. This was a productive trip that will inform this year’s work at the State Capitol.

Photo of me with Bemidji Mayor Rita Albrecht

Legislative committee deadlines announced

Legislators and the public officially know the timeline for getting bills through the committee process during the 2020 session. House and Senate leaders have agreed on the following dates:

Friday, March 13: Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin.

Friday, March 20: Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.

Friday, April 3: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.

Per House Rule 2.03, the deadlines do not apply to the House Capital Investment Division; the House Taxes, Ways and Means, or Rules and Legislative Administration committees; nor the Senate Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes or Rules and Administration committees.

That’s all for this week’s update. I hope to see you Sunday at our town hall meeting! If you can’t make it, please share your comments and questions with me via email, phone, postal mail, or an in-person visit. You can find all of my contact information at www.house.mn/52A or connect with me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MNRepRickHansen. 

Sincerely,

Rick Hansen

State Representative