Update 2/1/2015: Bluestem wrote too soon on Thursday, having missed a hearing that included an amendment to HF390. Check out our post on that in Pesticide industry lobbyist fears neonics ban on wildlife habitat acreage only first step to GMO-hating, organic-loving hippie takeover. [end update]
While pre-session predictions suggested that pollinator legislation would hibernate with the Republican takeover of the Minnesota House, some bee preservation language is making its way in St. Paul.
HF390, introduced on Monday by Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) and co-authored by three DFlers, would fund a Minnesota Native Bee Atlas.
On Wednesday, the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee adopted an amendment to HF 181, which authorizes appropriations recommended by the Outdoor Heritage Council:
Land acquired in fee with money appropriated in this section must not be planted or otherwise treated with a product that contains a pollinator lethal insecticide, as defined under Minnesota Statutes, section 18H.02, subdivision 28a."
Offered by bill co-author Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), the amendment addresses conservationists' concerns that "Legacy" lands become pollinator-friendly refuges.
On Thursday, H. F. 411 a bill establishing a pollinator-friendly neighborhood program was introduced by Jean Wagenius (DFL-Minneapolis), John Persell (DFL-Bemidji) and Hansen. The measure would allow neighborhoods in communities that used criteria modeled by the the Department of Natural Resources to work together as healthy bee habitat.
The measure does not yet have a senate companion.
Bluestem will keep an eye out for other pollinator-related legislation.
Photo: Bees.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Thank you for this. I have contacted my (very urban) legislator Mike Nelson to ask his support for these.
Posted by: Steve Chesney | Jan 31, 2015 at 10:15 AM
From: The National Association of Bees
To: Representatives Wagenius, Persell, as nd Hansen
Subject: Befriending Pollinators
BzzzZzzzzz! Bzz bzzzzz! Bzzzzzzzz!
(Thanks! We bees need all the help we can get.)
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Feb 01, 2015 at 01:49 PM