Child Protection Legislation

Minnesota State Representative Jess Hanson represents District 55A for Savage and NW Burnsville in the south metro. She has served in the Minnesota Legislature since 2021.

She grew up in Lakeville in poverty, and she always says she was never supposed to become a politician. Her life has brought her on a journey from being a high school drop out and teen mom to a first-generation college graduate, a solo parent and homeowner, an experienced professional and educator, and a three-term state legislator. Hanson earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from St. Catherine University and a Master of Arts in Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) from Metropolitan State University.

Hanson serves as co-vice chair of the Children and Families Finance and Policy. She is serving her third term on the Higher Education Finance and Policy and is in her first term on the Taxes Committees. She co-teaches the Model Legislature course at Metropolitan State University in the MAPL program where she brings young people to St. Paul for a 2-day mini session where they perform as legislators by electing leaders, participating in committees, and debating and voting on bills.

She believes that politics is how we care about each other, that we deserve a responsible government, and that we can and must do the most good for the most people by working together.