Here's What I've Been Working On For You!

(Proposals Authored or Co-Authored)

*Find full list here

Click on the picture above for a video message from Rep. Steffen. You can also view the video on YouTube, here.

We're Back in Session!

This month the legislature resumed from its summer recess and kicked off what will be a full and productive fall legislative session. Already during our first floor period, the Assembly passed a number of bills that will increase access to health care and make important updates to our state's adoption laws. AB 253 is a bill I strongly supported as a co-sponsor. This recently passed bill will allow Wisconsin to become a part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. By becoming a part of this compact, we are streamlining the process for doctors to practice in multiple states, which will greatly increase access to medical care and further facilitate the growing field of telemedicine. While all Wisconsin residents will benefit from increased access, this is especially important to those seeking care in our more rural areas of the state. This bill will now be considered by the state Senate.

Another important package of bipartisan bills that passed out of the Assembly this month will provide a much needed update to our state's adoption laws. Assembly Bills 39, 40, 41, and 42 include a number of changes aimed at ensuring proper protection for children throughout the adoption process and promoting efficiency within the adoption system. Requiring a home study using a standardized system prior to a child being placed for adoption and before a home is licensed for foster care, and in foreign adoption cases requiring Wisconsin parents to also officially adopt the child in the state, will ensure that children do not fall throughout the cracks without record of their background or identity.

 Moving forward this session, the Assembly will continue focusing on government reform, strengthening our education system, developing our workforce, addressing public benefit fraud, and fighting opiate and heroin addiction.

Discussion on Returning Excess Stadium Tax Continues

Rep. David Steffen and Senator Rob Cowles testifying before Senate Committee on Revenue, Financial Institutions, and Rural Issues in favor of legislation to return excess stadium sales tax to Brown County and its political subdivisions.

Rep. Steffen speaking with Governor Walker during a recent Caucus meeting regarding issues important to Brown County, including return of excess sales tax.

Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign

Earlier this year the legislature passed Act 5, which created a public awareness campaign to combat human trafficking. Included in this legislation is a requirement that the Wisconsin Department of Justice create human trafficking awareness posters with information about the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) as well as the national hotline number (1-888-373-7888). These posters give victims the information they need in order to reach out to case managers at NHTRC. Case managers then put victims in contact with the appropriate local services. A key piece in launching a successful awareness campaign, is making sure that NHTRC case managers have complete and accurate resource information in order to best assist victims. If you know of an organization that provides local crisis response, shelter options, food/meals, clothing/necessities, healthcare, counseling/advocacy, life skills training, child care or legal services, email the Crime Victims Council so that the organization will be included in the hotline directory. Help play a part in bringing awareness to this important issue.

Law and Order

AB 5: Protecting witnesses from intimidation. 

AB 8: Creates a felony charge for taking pictures or videos of another's private areas without consent, "upskirting."

AB 10: Empower victims of domestic abuse to file restraining orders against perpetrators who live in another state.

AB 127 : Providing a penalty for the possession of vicious dogs by certain felony offenders.

AB 147: Creates a felony charge for a intentionally causing bodily harm to a judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer.

AB 220: Establishing a mandatory minimum period of confinement in prison for a person who possesses a firearm or who uses a firearm to commit certain crimes after being convicted of committing certain violent felonies.

AB 305: Providing a penalty for the sale and use of fetal body parts.

AB 308: Providing an exemption from civil liability for forcibly entering a vehicle under certain circumstances.

Protecting the Environment

AB 15: Protect our Great Lakes through the phasing out of harmful microbeads used in manufacturing personal care and cosmetic items.

Supporting Our Businesses and Consumers

AB 11: Eliminates an outdated mandate for recycled content of newsprint in newspapers.

AB 18: Allowing liquor taste testing at certain retailers, levels the playing field with beer/wine tasting.

AB 143: Regulating transportation network companies, allowing expansion of ride-share options.

AB 398: Regulation of persons that own or operate dental practices.

Fighting Fraud

AB 212: Makes repeat unemployment insurance benefit fraudsters ineligible for UI benefits for seven years if they commit two acts of UI fraud.

AB 200: A waiver to limit the number of FoodShare replacement cards.

AB 188: Removing FoodShare benefits from an inactive account and expunging unused benefits after one year.

Supporting Veterans

AB 114: Providing a penalty for falsely claiming military service or honors.

Responsible Spending

AB 233: Elimination of sick leave for state senators and representatives.

AB 296: Distributing excess sales tax revenue collected by local professional football stadium district to Brown County and its municipalities.