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Wisconsin Legislative SpotlightMaintained by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), this page provides an overview of recent and upcoming activities in the Wisconsin Legislature. The LRB revises its content weekly during legislative floorperiods. Links to more detailed information are highlighted in the text. |
The schedule of floorperiods for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session was established by 2009 Senate Joint Resolution 1. The next floorperiod is scheduled to begin on June 9.
Governor Doyle declared a state of emergency on April 30 in response to the presence of Swine influenza A (H1N1) in the state. Click here for the latest information about the swine flu.
On May 5, the Assembly Committee on Public Health will hold an informational hearing on swine flu and state preparedness. The hearing will be from 10:45 a.m. to Noon in Room 417 North (GAR Hall), State Capitol. The committee will hear testimony from invited speakers on the H1N1 virus (swine flu) and the state’s preparedness for dealing with outbreaks. Invited speakers are: Dr. Dennis Maki, Head of the Section of Infectious Diseases at the University of Wisconsin Medical School; Dr. Christopher W. Olsen, DVM, PhD – Professor of Public Health and Associate Dean of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine; and a representative from the Division of Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
You can now access updates from the LRB on Twitter, including information on new LRB publications, new acquisitions by the LRB Library, and general information about the legislature, and the current legislative session. To find the LRB on Twitter, go to: http://twitter.com/WILRB.
Governor Doyle signed the following bills into law.
Assembly Bill 3 (2009 Wisconsin Act 9) restricts the application of fertilizers containing phosphorous to lawns, golf courses, and other mowed grassy (turf) areas. The bill provides exceptions for agricultural land and some manure products, and allows use of fertilizer with phosphorous to some limited circumstances. These new phosphorous restrictions will protect Wisconsin’s lakes and aquatic habitats while allowing for reasonable exceptions.Senate Bill 36 (2009 Wisconsin Act 8) allows the judicial system to decide whether to suspend a person’s driver’s license if the person is convicted of a nontraffic drug violation. The act also makes optional the suspension of driving privileges of persons convicted of drug violations in other states.
After Governor Doyle delivered his Budget Message (video) to the Legislature on February 17, the Joint Committee on Finance introduced the Biennial Budget Bill, 2009 Assembly Bill 75. The Department of Administration issued its guide to the bill, the Budget in Brief.
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has prepared an Informational Paper on the State Budget Process, which explains the budgeting process in both plain language and technical detail.
Tax and Fee Increases. On March 18, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memorandum titled: “State Tax and Fee Modifications Included in the Governor’s 2009-11 Budget Recommendation.” According to a summary in the memo, the changes in the governor’s budget would increase net taxes by about $1.47 billion during the biennium and would increase net fees by about $237 million during the two years covered by the budget. In addition, measures to enhance the collection of current taxes and fees would generate an estimated $61 million.
Local aids. On March 19, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released estimates for 2010 County and Municipal Aid Payments under AB 75. The bill would reduce local aid payments by a total of about 1%, or $8.5 million.
Property Tax Estimates. On April 8, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memorandum that provides an estimate of the effects of the budget bill on property taxes, updating the property tax estimates for the 2008(09) tax year based on nearly complete reports filed with the Department of Revenue.
On April 7, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a list of non-fiscal policy items contained in the proposed budget. Joint Committee on Finance co-chairs Senator Miller and Representative Pocan released a letter in response. (Links courtesy www.thewheelerreport.com.)
The Joint Committee on Finance conducted a series of public hearings across the state on the 2009-2011 budget bill, AB-75. Video of all these hearings can be found in the archive at WisconsinEye.org.
On April 16, the committee held an executive session. The first order of business was a 13.10 request for $38 million of federal stimulus money to the Department of Workforce Development. The LFB paper on the request can be viewed here. The conclusion was adopted, 15-0. Another executive session will be held Tuesday, April 21. Budget papers can be viewed on the Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s Web site.
The text and history of legislation introduced in the 2009 Legislative Session may be accessed on the Legislature's Web site. Click on "Text of Introduced Proposals" in the Legislative Documents Search.
Bills introduced recently include:
The LRB Library has created a list of items available through its catalog that addresses Wisconsin’s preparedness for a pandemic. Resources include historical items about the 1918 influenza pandemic as well as items about more recent outbreaks (i.e., SARS) and other public health concerns such as drug-resistant bacteria. Access the list by going to the Library Services page of the LRB Web site and clicking on the link in the right-hand menu titled “Wisconsin’s Pandemic Preparedness.”
There are committee hearings scheduled for each day of this week. See the Schedule of Committee Activities to view the full monthly calendar and details on times and locations of committee meetings.
The Legislative Reference Bureau recently issued the following publications:
The LRB has also released a new Podcast about the online library catalog system (LRBCat).
Recent publications by other legislative service agencies:
Two Informational Bulletins were also issued by the LRB as companions to the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book: Informational Bulletin 07-1, “A Study Guide to the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book,” and Informational Bulletin 07-2, “Inside the 2007-2008 Wisconsin Blue Book.”
Send comments to LRB.Reference@legis.wisconsin.gov
Last revised: May 01, 2009