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Contents

October 4, 2019

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I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to read through my newsletter. Each week, I'll include information to keep you up to date with what's happening in Madison and the 1st Assembly District.

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Industrial Hemp Bill

I am proud to have signed on as a co-author of bipartisan legislation that amends our current state laws related to industrial hemp so they become more consistent with the 2018 federal farm bill. 

Hemp and marijuana are both varieties of the cannabis plant, however, hemp contains extremely low levels of THC, the chemical that causes the “high.” Even so, due to this relationship, hemp was made illegal by federal law in 1937.

Prior to that, Wisconsin was one of the leading hemp producers in the nation. The seeds of the plant are a nutritious food product and the oil is used medicinally (CBD oil). Still, perhaps hemp's greatest value comes from fiber production. The fiber can be used for a wide variety of purposes. In addition to rope and clothing, it can replace plastic and fiberglass.

The 2018 federal farm bill removed hemp from the federal controlled substance list and legalized the interstate commerce of hemp and hemp byproducts. Additionally, it authorized states to create their own hemp program rather than relinquishing that responsibility to the federal government.

Under the direction of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Assembly Bill 206 would give our state the ability to set procedures for maintaining information regarding hemp production, test for THC concentrations in hemp, dispose of noncompliant hemp plants and conduct annual inspections of hemp producers.

 The legislation also creates the necessary framework for our state to transition from a hemp pilot program to a permanent one. A bill passed by the Wisconsin Legislature in 2017 established a research pilot program that allowed farmers in the state to produce hemp for the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons.

The program has definitely been popular, seeing as nearly 1,500 applications have been submitted for the 2019 growing season. DATCP issued 250 grower licenses in 2018.

By making the pilot program a permanent one, we will give our farmers greater assurances that hemp production will be a mainstay in our state for decades to come. Plus, with so many farmers around Wisconsin struggling for different reasons, allowing for this diversification of crops will give them another option to thrive and stay in business.   

Under AB 206, hemp would be defined as any part of the plant that contains .3 percent or less of THC. That percentage of THC would be considered below the legal threshold, which also mirrors federal law.

An amendment to the bill set a legal limit for a THC blood test. The law enforcement community has expressed concerns that users of hemp products might test positive for trace amounts of THC. Because marijuana is a controlled substance, anyone driving with even a trace amount of THC in their blood is currently considered to be “driving under the influence."

If you are interested in watching this week's public hearing on AB 206, please click here.  

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Education Testimony

I was pleased to testify on three of my bills this week during a joint public hearing in front of the Assembly and Senate education committees.

All three bills were drafted based on the final recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding, which held nine public hearings across Wisconsin last year to gather input from parents, educators and other stakeholders on how to best improve our state's education system.

As co-chair of that commission, I found it a priority to be the lead author on two bills that aim to enhance our 4-year-old kindergarten program. More specifically, the bills, AB 464 and AB 465, would change the age at which a pupil can attend a 4-year-old kindergarten class and amend the criteria for how the state counts 4K students as part of the state aid formula.

It is so crucial that we reach our students at a younger age because of the impact early childhood learning can have on them and on our society as a whole.

Through decades of research, we know the rate at which the brain develops between birth and the age of 3 is the fastest of any point in a person’s life. Speaking with children and exposing them to books, stories and songs also strengthens their language and communication skills, which puts them on a better path toward future success.

Sadly, only 50 percent of infants and toddlers are routinely read to by their parents.

We need to do something about this now, especially when the recent release of statewide test scores showed that less than 40 percent of our students are proficient in reading. Wisconsin also has one of the highest achievement gaps in the country and the results of these tests are very discouraging as we try to address this. 

If we can help our students become better learners, we will have a fighting chance in breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Wisconsin, which in turn will also save significant taxpayer dollars.

According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, if a child is not reading proficiently by the fourth grade, they will have a 78 percent chance of never catching up. Furthermore, two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of fourth grade will either end up in jail or on welfare.

I do not believe that expanding 4K alone will solve the problem. We must also look at how we are teaching our children to read. But earlier childhood intervention is an essential part of any strategy to address our achievement gap.

The third bill I testified on was AB 456, which would provide grants to school districts to study whether consolidation or whole grade sharing may be right for them.

When the topic of consolidation and whole grade sharing was discussed by the Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding, we decided – based on the feedback we received from the numerous public hearings we held across the state – that it was important to remove some of the barriers school districts are facing when they are considering these options.

What the bill doesn't do is force school districts to consolidate or enter into whole grade sharing agreements. It only provides them with assistance if consolidation or whole grade sharing ends up being an alternative they would like to pursue.

The decision to consolidate is nearly always a painful one for a community. Very often a community’s identity is closely tied to their schools. We understand, however, that for academic and financial reasons, consolidation may be the best option for some school districts. We also recognize that because of travel distances, consolidation is not a viable choice for other small districts.

This needs to be a local decision, but we want to give schools the tools they need if they ultimately decide to explore that possibility.

If you would like to watch the entire public hearing, please click here.

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                                                                                                                       Photo by Althea Dotzour Photography

Gathering Waters Award 

It was a great honor to attend Gathering Waters’ 2019 Land Conservation Leadership Awards Ceremony where four members of the Door County Land Trust were named Conservationists of the Year.

Receiving the award were Barbara Frank, Suzanne Fletcher, Mary Jane Rintelman and Mary Brevard, who were all recognized for their efforts in preserving approximately 850 acres on Door County’s Chambers Island.

Their dedication over the years in caring for this land has been instrumental in protecting the island’s incredible beauty and history. Their selflessness and unwavering devotion should serve as an inspiration to us all.

It is imperative that we acknowledge these women and all others who have made it their mission to take leadership and stand up for our environment.

While attending the ceremony, it was great to see so many people from all over the state who have made it a priority to conserve Wisconsin’s land, water and wildlife. I was very impressed by their stories and the passion they have for conservation and our natural resources. In 2015, I received the incredible honor of being named Policymaker of the Year by Gathering Waters.

I appreciate all the hard work that people from all over Wisconsin are doing to protect our state’s environment. Conservation efforts are extremely important to ensure the longevity of Wisconsin’s lands.

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Upcoming District Events

What: Farm and Craft Market 
WhereMarket Square, 421 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Details: "Large assortment of locally grown produce as well as foods and baked goods. Hand crafted items. Market accepts FoodShare benefits. For more information visit sturgeonbaywi.org."

What: Family Game Day
Where: Donald and Carol Kress Pavilion, 7845 Church St., Egg Harbor, WI
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Details: “Raid the Egg Harbor library game stash or bring your own. Free snacks and board games for all ages.” 

What: Zoobilee
Where: Bruemmer Park & Zoo, E4280 CTH F, Kewaunee, WI
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Details: "Support our furry friends at Bruemmer Park Zoo by attending Zoobilee. Get up close with zoo animals, enjoy a variety of kids activities, a car show, delicious food and much more! The event features family fun for all while raising funds for the zoo's 'Master Plan' that includes a nature/education center and expansive pheasant exhibit! 100% of proceeds benefit the Zoological Society of Kewaunee County!"