Legislative Update – April 15, 2026
Dear neighbors,
This weekend, I attended the first Bright Night Event organized by SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. I was honored to accept the “Kayla's HOPE” Award for my work with SAVE, MJ Blair, and Sen. Dibble in passing legislation to fund suicide-prevention barriers on the Washington Avenue Bridge on the UofM Campus. Investments in suicide prevention architecture will save lives now and into the future. Learn more about SAVE’s work here.
It’s also been a busy week of constituent visits so far, including catching up with Peter and folks from AFSCME Local 3998, and meeting with Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota to hear about their priorities.
Supporting Local Projects
On Monday, I was joined by St. Paul Park Mayor Keith Franke and Washington County Commissioner Karla Bigham to present my bill to begin work on an interchange project at Highway 10/Highway 61 and 70th Street in St. Paul Park. I’m grateful to have them both testify about how this project will make our roads and district safer.
Then, in the Capital Investment Committee, I presented a bill that would ask voters to allow the state to use bonding dollars for IT and technology systems. Currently, the constitution only lets us bond for physical infrastructure, but that often leaves cities to pick up the rest of the tab. My bill would allow more flexibility as we help our communities improve infrastructure and public services.
Protecting Minnesotans’ Health
Today, Minnesota House Republicans presented their version of the 2026 Agriculture Policy Bill. Unfortunately, the bill does not include our bill to ban paraquat, which is a DFL priority to pass this year to protect Minnesotans from Parkinson's disease.
In a tied House, banning an herbicide that is linked to Parkinson’s disease is a perfect example of something Minnesotans expect us to pass. We heard devastating testimony from Parkinson’s patients in committee, and the bill has bipartisan authors in both chambers, yet it wasn’t included in today's bill. You can watch my comments from Monday on the bill here.
Minnesotans agree that if we can do something to protect people from developing this debilitating disease, we should do it. It’s time for GOP leadership to stand with Parkinson’s patients and those who could develop Parkinson’s in the future, not the Big Ag special interests that will always put profits over people.
We’ll continue to fight to pass this bill and protect Minnesotans’ health.
Stay in Touch!
Please continue to share your questions, ideas, and feedback throughout the year. You can reach me by email at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.gov 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, and you can also “like” and follow my official State Representative Facebook page.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative