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Legislative Update ? April 9, 2024

Dear Neighbors,

We are halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session, and the House is now focused on passing policy bill packages in major areas, as well as putting together small supplemental budgets to continue our work improving the lives of Minnesotans.

This week I was glad to meet with constituents from South St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [ [link removed] ]. Last session we funded a mental health crisis hotline statewide, passed gun violence prevention measures, and increased mental health care access and support. There is still much more work to do, and I thank Michael and Crystal for taking the time to come to the Capitol.

Hansen Suicide Prevention

I also wanted to share information on the South St. Paul Arts Council, which has several upcoming events, including a free performance by the Bluegrass group The Double Down Daredevils this Friday from 7:00-10:00 pm at the Croatian Hall. More info and future events can be found here: [link removed]

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House Floor Votes

The House has begun passing policy bill packages in major issue areas building on the work of our historically productive 2023 session and improving the lives of Minnesotans. So far the House has passed:


* A public safety package [ [link removed] ] that passed unanimously and includes bipartisan provisions that protect victim-survivors and make our system more just.
* Bills supporting our Departments of Military Affairs [ [link removed] ] and Veterans Affairs [ [link removed] ], which passed with unanimous support!
* A bipartisan higher education policy bill [ [link removed] ] that includes the clean energy sector in our Workforce Development Scholarship Program and expands support in higher education for students who have a disability.
* An early education policy bill [ [link removed] ] focused on strengthening our pre-kindergarten and school readiness programs.
* A bipartisan transportation policy package [ [link removed] ] that improves road safety, DVS wait times, child passenger safety, and consumer protections.
* An election bill [ [link removed] ] that addresses voting rights, election disinformation, and school board appointments.
Policy Bills
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Environment Committee Updates

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee has put together a policy bill package [ [link removed] ] that will help the DNR transition to a digital game and fish licensing system, expand protections for native prairies, and implement recommendations on state oversight for feral hogs and native rough fish. The 2024 Environment and Natural Resources Policy bill will be up on the House floor next week, alongside the 2024 State Lands bill.

Hansen

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Legislative Audit Commission

Yesterday the Legislative Audit Commission, which I am a co-chair of, met to finalize topics for evaluation in 2024. The Commission selected the following topics for evaluation (click on the links for background information). OLA will complete evaluations on the five topics by early 2025.


* Community Benefit Expenditures at Nonprofit Hospitals [ [link removed] ]
* Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Grants Management, including DEED?s Office of Broadband Development [ [link removed] ]
* Department of Natural Resources Land Acquisition [ [link removed] ]
* Guardianship of Adults [ [link removed] ]
* Minnesota Department of Health: Human Resources [ [link removed] ]

I also successfully moved to have OLA conduct a financial audit of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Faculty Pay Processing in 2025. You can find more information about the Legislative Audit Commission here [ [link removed] ], and find a video recording of yesterday?s meeting here [ [link removed] ].

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Stay in Touch!

Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. You can reach me by email [email protected]?or by phone at 651-296-6828. You can contact my Legislative Assistant Sam O'Neill at 651-296-3305 or via email [email protected].?

Sincerely,

Rick Hansen
State Representative






*Representative Rick Hansen*

407 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

Phone: 651-296-6828
Email:[email protected]
Website:?[link removed]
Legislative Assistant:?Sam O'Neill 651-296-3305







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