Bill Signed Into Law

I am honored to announce that my bill that provides Wisconsin with more opportunities to take advantage of revenue generated from the sale of public land has officially become state law.

Prior to the governor signing my legislation into law, proceeds from the sale of state-owned properties controlled by the Department of Natural Resources could only be used to buy other parcels designated as public hunting and fishing grounds, wildlife and fish refuges or additions to state parks.

Act 27 now allows this revenue to also go toward enhancing existing public land or purchasing easements.

Sen. Robert Cowles and I decided to write this legislation because we wanted to give the state more flexibility in spending these funds. Our overarching goal is to optimize the ability of Wisconsinites and visitors to enjoy our wonderful outdoors.

If you would like to read my press release on the bill signing, please click here.

Law Enforcement Reform

After months of deliberations, the Law Enforcement Policies and Standards Subcommittee of the Speaker’s Task Force on Racial Disparities has released its final report on reforming policing procedures.

You can read all of the recommendations from the subcommittee by clicking on this link. 

Some of the suggestions in the report address use of force and chokeholds, independent use of force review advisory boards, body cameras, no-knock search warrants, officer training and standards, community engagement and crisis response teams. Proposed legislation will be released soon.

What impresses me most about the subcommittee is that they were able to reach a consensus on many items that should lead to meaningful reforms. The members may have diverse backgrounds and life experiences, but they were able to come together for the common good of all Wisconsinites.

In the end, both the law enforcement community and the activists wanted greater transparency. The vast majority of law enforcement officials are committed community servants doing a very difficult and dangerous job to the best of their abilities. They know that transparency will only reinforce this.

Law enforcement organizations are overwhelmingly putting their support behind these recommendations. Please click here, here, here and here to read statements made by some of the state's largest law enforcement organizations.

By working together, I know we can make all of our communities safer places to live, work and visit.

Eye on Lobbying

As many of you are aware, I firmly believe in transparency in government. In previous e-updates, I have provided information on various parts of the legislative process and how you can stay up to date on proposed legislation.

I would like to continue that goal of sharing resources designed to keep you informed, only this time it will be about the role that lobbyist groups play in our state government.

Many people know what a lobbyist group is, but not many are cognizant of our current laws regarding their activities or even where to find a record of their actions.

To alleviate this gap in knowledge, I would like to share with you the Wisconsin Ethics Commission’s Eye on Lobbying website.

This is a great tool to educate yourself on the lobbying process. The website covers everything from current lobby laws to which groups are in favor or opposed to a specific bill in any given legislative session. All of the information is available to the public and does not require an account.

I highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the site, as there is a wealth of information to be had there.