Legislative Session - 2021 Wisconsin Act 1
On Tuesday, the Assembly met to vote on a number of bills, including Assembly Bill 2 which is an omnibus tax bill that includes an amendment to allow a deduction for expenses paid with the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. AB 2 passed the Assembly and the Senate and was signed into law by Governor Evers as 2021 Wisconsin Act 1 on February 18th, 2021.
For more information on AB 2, read my full statement HERE.
Wisconsin Act 1 also includes tax relief provisions that were originally introduced as the Main Street Recovery Package. This bill package was introduced and co-authored by myself last month, led by Representative Tip McGuire of Kenosha.
The key provisions from the Main Street Recovery Package include ensuring that Wisconsin businesses are not taxed on the state grants that they received from programs created using federal CARES Act funding, such as the We’re All In grants and Farm Support Grants. Additionally, the bill includes allowing individuals to claim their 2019 earned income for 2020 for the purpose of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which will put our state in line with the new federal Consolidated Appropriations.
Read my full statement on this HERE.
Governor Evers' Proposed 2021-2023 State Budget
On Tuesday, Governor Evers delivered the 2021-2023 State Budget address, introducing his proposed 2021-2023 Biennial State Budget.
I appreciate the proposals Governor Evers announced to invest in our public education system, to provide crucial mental health resources to our kids and communities, to reform our criminal justice system, to combat climate change, and to support small businesses in economic recovery.
Read my full statement on Governor Evers’ Budget Address HERE.
Watch Governor Evers’ Budget Address HERE.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month
I am a co-author of Senate Joint Resolution 5 which would designate February 2021 Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. SJR 5 passed the Senate on Tuesday, and is now awaiting scheduling in the Assembly.
1 in 5 Wisconsin teenagers are victims of physical, sexual, or verbal dating violence. Oftentimes this violence is not reported to the authorities. It is critical that we promote positive, healthy relationships, increase awareness of teen dating violence, and work to prevent teen dating violence in Wisconsin.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
This week, Wisconsin surpassed 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered. As of February 18th, Wisconsin has administered 1,070,199 COVID-19 vaccines and 13.1% of Wisconsin residents have received at least the first dose of the vaccine.
The Department of Health Services (DHS) announced a new grant program to invest in community-based organizations that will provide accurate, timely, reliable information to build confidence in the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine, reduce racial and geographic barriers to COVID-19 immunization, and activate trusted messengers in sharing information about critical COVID-19 public health measures and vaccination.
Applicants that demonstrate a commitment to addressing vaccine hesitancy and minimizing accessibility issues will be prioritized. Applications are open from February 18th until March 19th. More information on the grant program can be found HERE.
DHS also announced that they are launching the Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Registry on March 1st to help connect residents with available COVID-19 vaccine. It will show when and where they can get vaccinated, and let them schedule an appointment.
The Wisconsin Vaccine Registry will be used by those who opt in and will not be a comprehensive resource for all vaccination options. Health care systems, pharmacies, and local health departments may already have their own registration and scheduling software. Read more on the WI COVID-19 Vaccine Registry HERE.
Black History Month Events
Next week is the last week of Black History Month. The final week’s events are on the subject of criminal justice. On Friday February 26th from noon to 1pm, members of the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus will give an update. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus Facebook page HERE.
People’s Maps Commission
On February 25th, the People’s Maps Commission will hold a virtual public hearing from 5:30-8:45 p.m. to seek public input on the upcoming redistricting of legislative maps from constituents of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District.
The hearing is the Commission’s seventh in a series of at least eight meetings, one for each one of Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts. The virtual public hearing will include testimony from subject matter experts and also provide Wisconsinites the opportunity to express how they have been affected by legislative redistricting and share their ideas for how Wisconsin can work together to achieve fair maps.
For more information and register for the hearing, visit the PMC website HERE.
COVID-19 Case Update
For daily updated information on COVID-19 in Wisconsin, visit the DHS website HERE.
Statewide
558,496 confirmed cases (increase of 774)
14.6% of total tests are positive, by person (for 2/19/2021)
25,635 hospitalizations (4.6% of cases- increase of 79)
542,495 recovered cases (97% of all cases)
2,584,375 negative test results (increase of 4,535)
6,267 devastating deaths (increase of 35)
0 patients at Alternate Care Facility at State Fair Park (now closed)
14th District Counties
Milwaukee - 97,419 confirmed cases (increase of 101)
Waukesha - 40,220 confirmed cases (increase of 30)
*Changes over day prior
