December 7, 2011

 

Four Bills Authored by Senator Leibham Signed into Law

Measure Updating Auto Dealer Franchise Laws among Items Approved

STATE CAPITOL…Governor Scott Walker today signed several bills into law that were authored by State Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan).  The first of these will provide much needed updates to Wisconsin’s auto dealer franchise laws.  This proposal, formally known as Senate Bill (SB) 96, was introduced by Senator Leibham and co-sponsored by numerous legislators, including area Representatives Endsley and Kestell.

Wisconsin, like every other state in the nation, has laws in place that provide a legal structure for the relationship between the large automobile manufacturers and our local automobile dealerships.  In Wisconsin, these laws have been in place for over 80 years.  SB 96 updates our auto dealership franchise laws to address changes in the industry in 2011 following the bankruptcies of numerous manufacturers and the federal government bailouts.  The legislation will prevent manufacturers from imposing certain expensive and unreasonable requirements on dealerships that undermine their ability to be competitive and employ people in Wisconsin.

“There are over 450 privately owned automobile dealerships in Wisconsin and they employ over 20,000 people across the state.  In the 9th Senate District alone, there are 22 auto dealerships employing over 400 people.  In addition to the jobs the dealerships provide, most of them are strong supporters and sponsors of our community events and programs”, Senator Leibham said.  “SB 96 seeks to ensure that these important community businesses and employers remain, grow and thrive in our state and I was pleased to provide leadership on this legislation.” 

In addition, Governor Scott Walker signed several other pieces of legislation that Senator Leibham was pleased to offer at the request of constituents of the 9th Senate District.  SB 77, which was led in the Assembly by Representative Kestell, improves our State Trails system in Wisconsin by authorizing the addition of two new members to the Governor’s State Trails Council.  In an effort to ensure that our state’s wonderful trails are administered properly, two constituents who currently serve on the State Trails Council brought this idea forward.

Also signed into law was Assembly Bill (AB) 103, led in the Assembly by Representative LeMahieu, which establishes strong penalties for individuals who knowingly receive a stolen firearm.  This legislation was requested by numerous law enforcement officials in Sheboygan County.  Finally, AB 274 will prevent accidents on our roadways by requiring motorists to yield to railroad track equipment railroad crossings, just like they would for an approaching train.  This legislation updates and clarifies current law in this area.

Each of these proposals, now signed into law, were passed by the legislature with strong bipartisan support.  “One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job is to work with area residents or constituents to turn their legislative ideas into laws.  This is what the law making process is all about,” Senator Leibham said.  “Local citizens identify concerns with current statutes or ideas for new laws and they work with and through their elected legislators to turn their proposals into law.”