Good to Know Info

On September 10th many families will be celebrating Grandparents day. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection has indicated that many scammers specifically target the elderly. Click here to find a list of tips and tricks for you and your loved ones to avoid getting scammed. 

 In Progress Legislation

September is a very busy month for the State Assembly. We will likely see a vote on the State Budget in the next week or so. Foxconn should make its way through the Senate and back to us for a final vote as well. Beyond those two massive bills there are many other things going on at the Capitol as we head back in for our fall session.

In particular I have been talking a lot about three bills in particular. I call them the Harvest, Hops and Hemp bills.

Last session I introduced a bill called the Harvest for Hope bill. This bill recognizes that literally tons of produce remain on fields throughout Wisconsin while many state food banks are clamoring for more fresh produce to distribute. The bill would help create a network of growers and distributors who can deliver this excess produce to the area food processors and ultimately to area food pantries. This past week I toured the Second Harvest distribution center in Madison with Reps. Spreitzer and Subeck to kick off September as Hunger Action Month.  As Chair of the Public Benefit Reform committee I know that we can do a better job feeding families in need working with the private sector.

Next on the agenda are two bills that increase options for area businesses and families alike. The hops bill I plan to introduce would incentivize Wisconsin beer makers into using more locally grown hops. By allowing brewers the ability to become a “state certified beer” our area farmers can afford to grow more hops on their acreage which in turn uses much less irrigation. This ability to diversify makes economic and environmental sense.

Finally, I am very hopeful we can get a hearing on a bill I co-sponsored. The industrial hemp bill is also a very important agriculture bill in the same ways as the hops bill. Not to be confused the hemp plant in the bill is a non-psychoactive crop. We import billions of dollars of hemp from Canada for manufacturing products here in WI. Hemp is used in thousands of products from clothing, paper, health and body care and is important for its CBD content.

As you know I have worked for many years to allow the use of low THC, CBD Oil for patients with medical conditions. This hemp bill will allow those patients to have a legal stream to obtain the product in state going forward.

Each of these bills benefit families all across WI. I look forward to seeing them through the process and becoming law. Stay tuned.