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Friends and Neighbors, It’s going to be a snowy weekend. Plan ahead and stay off the roads if you can. This week I presented a bill to require labeling on cell-cultured meat and poultry. I support innovation, but we have to make sure we know what we’re feeding our families. That’s what my bill is about. Two strong supporters joined me at the hearing. Read about their perspectives below. Also this week, Senate Democrats passed a bill to spend $40 million on assistance for late rent and utility payments. As you know, I’m on the Housing Committee and it’s an area I’m always advocating for, but this money could have been better spent. The state has critical needs right now, including a financial crisis at one of the state’s biggest hospitals. The bill passed, but it’s unclear if it will go anywhere in the House. Next week, I’m presenting a bill to expand maternity training in our rural hospitals. MPR did a story last fall about maternity training at United Hospital District in Blue Earth, read it here. Again, stay safe this weekend. Thanks for reading, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– My bill requiring clear labeling for cell-cultured meat to boost consumer transparency advances out of committee |
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On Wednesday, I presented Senate File 239, legislation requiring clear and prominent labeling on cell-cultured (lab-grown) meat and poultry products. The bill aims to enhance consumer transparency by helping consumers distinguish between farm-raised products and those manufactured in a lab. It’s important that we have labeling on cell-cultured meat so we understand what we’re feeding our families. I’m all in favor of new and exciting products, I just want to know what they are. This bill would require labeling to plainly state to the consumer if the food contains cell-grown ingredients. Hannah Bernhardt, who runs Medicine Creek Farm in Finlayson and serves as President of the Minnesota Farmers Union, Pine County Chapter, testified in support of the bill. “My business selling beef, lamb, and pork relies on direct relationships with my customers. I take great effort in being transparent and accountable in the way I raise my livestock,” said Bernhardt. “To ensure a level playing field, I think we should strive for that transparency across our agricultural markets. Clear, informative labeling is the least we can do to provide that to customers.” Hunter Pederson of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation voiced his support for the bill at the hearing. “We support truthful, transparent labeling of lab-grown products so that consumers can make informed decisions,” said Pederson. “Our farmers and ranchers work diligently everyday raising and producing high-quality, nutritious food for our communities. Livestock producers don’t fear competition. But we do need to have a level playing field for them.” The bill was heard in the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee on March 11, 2026. It advanced out of committee and was referred to the Senate floor. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Senate passes $40 million bill—I think the money could be better spent elsewhere Minnesota Senate Democrats this week passed a $40 million rental assistance bill that would use taxpayer money to cover individuals’ overdue rent and utility payments. Local clinics and hospitals are closing in Southern Minnesota. Counties in our district need resources for first responders so they can save lives. Hennepin County Medical Center is hanging on by thread financially. The $40 million bailout Democrats just voted for could have gone to much higher priorities we have in the state. The bill, Senate File 3596, redirects approximately $40 million from the $109 million "Tyler settlement" fund established in 2024. This fund resulted from the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous 9-0 ruling in Tyler v. Hennepin County (2023), which found that Hennepin County violated the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause by seizing and selling Geraldine Tyler's condominium to cover $15,000 in unpaid taxes, then keeping the full $40,000 sale proceeds, including the $25,000 surplus equity, without compensating her for the excess value. Senate Republicans forced anti-fraud guardrails into the bill amidst the state’s ongoing fraud crisis. Democrats voted down measures that would restrict eligibility to legal U.S. residents only and prohibit payments to sex offenders on the predatory offender registry. |
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Originally created during the eight-year term of Gov. Mark Dayton, Center of the American Experiment’s Scandal Tracker was reopened to account for the ever-growing list of frauds and scandals perpetuated under the Tim Walz administration. Your one-stop resource for everything related to state government fraud in Minnesota ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Contact Me I always appreciate hearing from constituents. It helps me do my job better and stay focused on the issues that matter most to you. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, feel free to reach out. You can email at sen.rich.draheim@mnsenate.gov, and my legislative assistant, Henry Rosckes, is available at henry.rosckes@mnsenate.gov. Thanks for reading. Rich Draheim |