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Legislative Update – July 25, 2025
Dear neighbors,
This week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced that the City of South St Paul will receive $660,490 for contamination cleanup and investigation. This is an important program that will help revitalize the Wakota Crossing area, provide opportunities for job creation, and increase our tax base to help our economy and community thrive.
This is just one example of how our work here at the legislature and state government helps our local communities, and I’m glad to see it having an impact here in District 53B.
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Creating Jobs and Improving Infrastructure
This year, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bonding bill [ [link removed] ] investing in upgrading and improving our public infrastructure. One major investment in that bill was $15 million for metro cities’ inflow and infiltration projects [ [link removed] ], this addresses the issue of clear water infiltrating their wastewater collection systems and taking up unnecessary treatment system capacity.
These funds have multiple benefits, creating well-paying jobs for working Minnesotans, helping ease tax burdens on our local cities, and improving water infrastructure and water quality for our residents. As a member of the Capital Investment Committee, I advocated for this funding and I’m following the progress of these grants and working with cities in our district so they can hopefully tap into these state funds.
Investing in our public infrastructure helps our economy, it helps our workers, and it improves the lives of all Minnesotans, and I’ll continue to advocate in favor of projects like this in the future.
Hansen
Bipartisan group of legislators on the 2023 Capital Investment tour, visiting sites seeking infrastructure improvement funding
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Protecting Communities from Air Pollution
Last week, I requested that the Office of the Legislative Auditor conduct a special review [ [link removed] ] of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) handling of elevated lead levels around the Gopher Resource facility in Eagan. Recent reporting shows that though neighbors were only recently informed of the elevated levels, the MPCA was aware of issues for several months.
Minnesotans deserve clean air, and they need to have confidence that the state is doing everything possible to protect them from reckless corporations that pollute our air for private profit.
MPCA Story [ [link removed] ]
We’ve seen this story before; whether with the Water Gremlin facility in White Bear Lake or Smith Foundry in Minneapolis. In previous years, DFLers have passed important legislation protecting Minnesotans from air pollution. We must ensure that our agencies are doing everything possible to prioritize public health when it comes to air pollution in our communities, and the safety of the workers who may be exposed to this dangerous pollution.
I’ll keep you updated on the status and findings of the auditor’s review.
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Other News
Minnesota's e-bike rebate program returns this summer with updated income-based eligibility and disability qualifications. Instead of the usual rush to be first in line, the Minnesota Department of Revenue is switching to a lottery system.
Applications open through the MN Department of Revenue's online portal [ [link removed] ] on July 30 at 11 a.m. through August 7 at 2 p.m. Submit only one application per person—duplicates will be deleted. You can also sign up for the official rebate email lis [ [link removed] ]t for updates for more updates.
E-bike [ [link removed] ]
This week, Minnesota agencies reported they are tracking an increase of tularemia cases in humans and companion animals (especially cats) across Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area. It’s important for pet owners to be aware of this disease in their pets, because it is possible for a person to become infected as well.
To keep people and pets safe from tularemia: Keep cats indoors and do not allow pets to hunt small animals. Give pets medication to help prevent tick bites. Use insect repellent to stop ticks and flies from biting. Avoid contact with wild animals that appear sick or dead. Check your yard for rabbit nests or dead animals before mowing. You can read more 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 at
[email protected] or by phone at 651-296-6828.
For more regular updates, you can subscribe to these regular legislative updates if you haven’t already, here [ [link removed] ], and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page [ [link removed] ].
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
*Representative Rick Hansen*
5th Floor, Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar St.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651-296-6828
Email:
[email protected]
Website: [link removed]
To unsubscribe, visit the Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. If you have questions or experience technical difficulties with this subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].
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