Dear Neighbors,
I hope you and your loved ones are having a wonderful summer. I’ve enjoyed spending time out and about and talking with many fellow community members.
Hands-Free Law Taking Effect August 1
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, distracted driving is a factor in one in five accidents. Every year it causes an average of 53 deaths and 216 serious injuries. Minnesotans deserve to be safe on our roads, so we passed a new law that reminds drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.
The hands-free law, which will take effect on August 1, prohibits holding a cell phone while driving. Drivers can still make calls, text, listen to music, or get directions as long as they use voice commands or single-touch activation. Similar policies have reduced accidents and fatalities in other states.
More information about the law, including helpful tips for going hands-free, is available here.
Burnsville Landfill Expansion
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is currently seeking community input on the proposed expansion of the Burnsville Sanitary Landfill. The expansion would increase the landfill’s capacity from 25.4 million cubic yards to approximately 47 million cubic yards. The MPCA took oral testimony at a public hearing earlier this month, but all future comments must be submitted in writing. If you’d like to submit a comment, please send your feedback to Kevin Kain of the MPCA at kevin.kain@state.mn.us. The public comment period ends on Wednesday, July 24 at 4:30pm.
The Sun Thisweek recently published an article about the proposal. If you’d like to learn more, the piece is available here.
Reforming the Legislative Process
Minnesotans expect and deserve an efficient and transparent legislative process. That’s why House DFLers established the Subcommittee on Legislative Process Reform. We’re committed to providing more meaningful opportunities for public input and ensuring that the process of crafting and considering new laws is comprehensible.
The Subcommittee on Legislative Process Reform recently held their first public hearing. Links to watch or listen to the meeting are available here.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach me at rep.sandra.masin@house.mn or 651-296-3533.
Sincerely,
Sandra Masin
State Representative