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Hansen, Rick

Official House Web Page Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2005-2012 (District 39A); House 2013-2022 (District 52A); House 2023-Present (District 53B)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Dakota, Washington

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 3/1/1963

Birth Place: Albert Lea, Minnesota

Birth County: Freeborn

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: United Church of Christ

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): South Saint Paul

Occupation (when first elected): Business; Harmony Cedar Inc., Handcrafted Amish Furniture

EDUCATION

Freeborn High School; Secondary; 1981
Upper Iowa University; B.S.; 1985, Biology
Iowa State University; M.S.; 1987, Soil Management

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture; 1988 to 01/04/2005

County Government: Dakota County, Minnesota (Soil and Water Conservation District; Chair, 5 Times); 1996 to 2005 [Elected]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council (Appointed by Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher); 12/01/2008 to 2??? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was raised on a farm.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2009-2010.

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Total Days Served: 7499

SESSIONS SERVED

94th Legislative Session (2025-2026)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/14/2025

Body: House

District: 53B

Elected: 11/5/2024

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/2025 to 1/3/2027
Oath Date: 1/12/2025

Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture Finance and Policy (Chair) Minutes [He became co-chair on 3/17/2025.]
Capital Investment Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Minutes

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93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2023

Body: House

District: 53B

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/5/2025
Oath Date: 1/3/2023

Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture Finance and Policy Minutes
Capital Investment Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy (Chair) Minutes
State and Local Government Finance and Policy Minutes

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92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: House

District: 52A

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Oath Date: 1/5/2021

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture Finance and Policy Minutes
Capital Investment Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy (Chair) Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Session Notes: Senators Klein, Bigham, Clausen, and Representatives Reyer, Hansen, Richardon, Hanson, Bierman, and Huot's elections were contested by their opponents. The contests were dismissed by the courts for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim.

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91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: House

District: 52A

Elected: 11/6/2018

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/2019 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/8/2019

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2019 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2019 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th Sp.S. - Author
2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
2020 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Ways & Means Minutes
Ways & Means: Agriculture and Food Finance & Policy Division Minutes
Ways & Means: Capital Investment Division Minutes
Ways & Means: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division (Chair) Minutes

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: House

District: 52A

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/6/2019
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture Finance Minutes
Capital Investment Minutes
Environment & Natural Resources Policy and Finance Minutes

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: House

District: 52A

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/6/2015

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture Finance Minutes
Capital Investment Minutes
Environment & Natural Resources Policy & Finance Minutes

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: House

District: 52A

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Minutes
Government Operations Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Taxes Minutes

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: House

District: 39A

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Oath Date: 1/4/2011

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
2012 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Minutes
Capital Investment Minutes
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: House

District: 39A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/6/2009

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business, Amish Furniture Sales, Harmony Cedar

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment Policy and Oversight Minutes
Environment Policy and Oversight: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division Minutes - Ex Officio Member
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: House

District: 39A

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business; Harmony Cedar Inc., Handcrafted Amish Furniture/Organic Farm Owner

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
Finance: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division: Watersheds, Wetlands and Buffers (Chair) Minutes

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: House

District: 39A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: South Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/4/2005

Counties Represented: Dakota

Occupation: Business; Harmony Cedar Inc., Handcrafted Amish Furniture

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Regulated Industries Minutes

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Schutz, Lee Ann. "Taking on the Issues: Hansen's Background Perfect for Diverse Constituency." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 4, 2005, p. 17.

Session Interviews

House Interview 2018 (Video)
House Interview 2010 (Video)
House Interview 2005 (Video)

News Sources

The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

District News Files

2005 (39A)

2006 (39A)

2007 (39A)

2008 (39A)

2009 (39A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Minnesota State Fair CEO Renee Alexander testifies before the House agriculture committee March 14 in support of a bill sponsored by Rep. Rick Hansen, left, that would require a multimodal transportation plan be developed for this year's fair. 3/14/2024. Photo credit: Andrew VonBank, House Public Information Services.

Rep. Leon Lillie uses an iPhone to snap a photo of Rep. Rick Hansen testifying during the House Ways and Means Committee Monday morning. 2/26/2024. Photo credit: Andrew VonBank, House Public Information Services.

Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega and Rep. Frank Hornstein take a selfie during an April 18 recess of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee to honor Hornstein, the committee chair, who is not seeking re-election. 4/18/2024. Photo credit: Andrew VonBank, House Public Information Services.

Rep. Rick Hansen, center, and members of the environment and natural resources committee, prepare saplings to give to members on the House Floor April 25. The distribution of young trees is a tradition going back over 20 years to celebrate Arbor Day. 4/25/2024. Photo credit: Andrew VonBank, House Public Information Services.

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