Dear neighbors, The House approved legislation I introduced to preserve our environment and natural resources! It’s a problem-solving bill to right past wrongs and protect Minnesota’s air, water, land, and wildlife for years to come.  My bill will protect Minnesotans and our environment from hazardous chemicals, preserve our state’s wildlife and natural resources, and create opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors. Some of my favorite parts will: - Ban the use of PFAS – which are known as “forever chemicals” – in children’s products, cookware, cosmetics, and other items.
- Clean up aging landfills and other contaminated sites.
- Plant millions of trees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Address racial inequities that often place communities of color and Indigenous communities at the highest risk of exposure to pollution and hazardous chemicals.
- Protect wild deer from chronic wasting disease.
- Protect pollinators by expanding the Lawns to Legumes program and banning the use of harmful pesticides on state lands.
- Establish a new office to provide inclusive and safe outdoor experiences for all Minnesotans, including people from historically underrepresented communities.
If you’d like to read more about the bill, you can check out a fact sheet here and read a nonpartisan article about it here.  Pastor Patrick Joiner from Luther Memorial Church in South St. Paul served as the House’s guest chaplain last Thursday. Supporting Minnesota Workers and BusinessesWe also passed bipartisan legislation to deliver bonuses to frontline workers and replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Under this legislation, 667,000 workers who helped keep our state running during the darkest days of the pandemic will receive $750 checks. While House DFLers wanted these checks to be larger, I’m glad we reached a compromise with Senate Republicans and Governor Walz. The bill also restores the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to pre-pandemic levels. This will prevent any unemployment insurance tax rate increases on small businesses. Recognizing Arbor DayThe House celebrated the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day last week! I led a bipartisan group that purchased trees and handed them out to legislators that day. This is a longstanding tradition at the Capitol, and I was happy to help continue it.  Moving ForwardOther bills we’ve passed recently will: If you’d like more information about this legislation, please click on the links above. Please reach out if you have any questions or feedback you’d like to share. You can contact me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or call (651) 296-6828. Sincerely, Rick Hansen
State Representative |