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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 current legislative floorperiod will end on Thursday, September 24. Both houses are scheduled to be on the floor on Tuesday, September 22. The schedule of floorperiods for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session was established by 2009 Senate Joint Resolution 1.
The 2009-2010 Wisconsin Blue Book has been published. Distribution to legislative offices is underway. The Blue Book is available online and will be available for purchase from the Department of Administration’s Document Sales office as soon as a price is set.
On Thursday, September 17, Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) will leave for a second deployment to the Middle East. Suder is a staff sergeant with the Wisconsin Air National Guard and works with the life-support unit that assists F-16 pilots. He will assist the US military’s ongoing efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Suder’s first deployment was to Qatar in 2004.
Rep. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) will be redeployed to the same unit as Rep. Suder. Roth is a member of the 115th Fighter Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. He is a staff sergeant and works on maintaining F-16 aircraft. He was first deployed to the Middle East in 2008.
In September and October, the Attorney General's office will be offering seminars at various locations on the state's open meetings and public records laws.
On August 17, 2009, Governor Jim Doyle announced that he will not run for a third term as governor. Doyle, a Democrat, was first elected in 2002. The next gubernatorial election will be in 2010. Of Wisconsin's 43 governors, only one, Tommy Thompson, has served more than 8 years in office (1/1987-2/2001). Assuming that Doyle completes his current term, following him in longevity in office would be Jeremiah Rusk (1/1882-1/1889) and Patrick Lucey (1/1971-7/1977).
As of September 18, this session 39 bills have been passed by the legislature and signed into law. The most recent, 2009 Wisconsin Act 39, signed on August 13, 2009, lowered the minimum hunting age to 10 years old as part of a newly-created hunting mentorship program. The law went into effect September 1.
A list of enacted legislation from the 2009 session can be viewed at: http://www.legis.wi.gov/2009/data/acts/.
2009 Assembly Joint Resolution 71, introduced on September 15, urges state agencies and private media to cease using the term “swine flu” to refer to the 2009 H1N1 virus. The resolution was adopted by the Assembly on September 17, by a vote of 83 to 13.
Senate Bill 185, relating to the regulation of wind energy systems, passed the Senate, 23 to 9, on September 15 and the Assembly, 65 to 31, on September 16. The bill has been enrolled and is awaiting action by the governor.
Assembly Bill 283, which would change penalties for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, passed the Assembly, 95 to 0, on September 17 and was messaged to the Senate.
Assembly Joint Resolution 59, a constitutional amendment offered on first consideration that would broaden the authority of the Legislature to provide for continuity of government in the event of emergency, passed the Assembly, 89 to 7, on September 17.
Assembly Bill 316, relating to emergency management, passed the Assembly on a voice vote on September 17.
In addition to AJR-59 and AB-316, a number of proposals relating to emergency government are scheduled for floor action on Tuesday, September 22, including Senate Joint Resolution 39, Senate Bill 226, Senate Bill 227, and Assembly Bill 317.
For times and locations of public hearings this week, see the Schedule of Committee Activities.
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), a partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Department of Natural Resources, and other state agencies and institutions, released predictions of changes in Wisconsin's climate to the mid-21st century. Interactive maps indicate the annual average temperature will increase between 4 to 9 degrees F from 1980 to 2055; temperatures vary by season and region. WICCI focuses on the impacts of climate change and is not a part of the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming. The results can aid government agencies and other organizations in planning for coming decades and adapting strategies as needed.
Send comments to LRB.Reference@legis.wisconsin.gov
Last revised: September 18, 2009