Assembly Session

  This week the Wisconsin State Assembly passed the package of bills targeting many different areas of need with the $3.2 billion Wisconsin will receive through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.  The bills passed this week were:

• AB 17 - Relating to various changes to the worker's compensation law
• AB 18 - Relating to adopting federal law changes to extend the time for filing individual income tax returns
• AB 50 - Relating to counting of tips for tipped employees and granting rule-making authority
• AB 55 - Relating to incorporating the holocaust and other genocides into the state model social studies standards and requiring instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides
• AB 61 - Relating to the use of proceeds from the sale of state-owned properties and controlled by the Department of Natural Resources 
• AB 83 - Relating to stalking and providing a penalty
• AB 232 - Relating to assistance to households and property owners
• AB 233 - Relating to grants for certain small businesses
• AB 234 - Relating to tourism industry grants
• AB 235 - Relating to rural economic development programs administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and farm support grants
• AB 236 - Relating to payments to certain long-term care facilities and their staff
• AB 237 - Relating to deposits into the unemployment reserve fund
• AB 238 - Relating to the allocation of federal American rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds for local highways and bridges
• AB 239 - Relating to the use of $500M for broadband expansion grants
• AB 240 - Relating to the allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds for a statewide public safety interoperable communication system, emergency services IP network contracts, a geographic information systems database, and psychiatric treatment beds
• AB 241 - Relating to retiring public debt and transportation revenue bonds
• AB 242 - Relating to a sales tax holiday at certain establishments
• AB 243 - Relating to the allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds for certain environmental purposes and granting rule-making authority
• SB 11 - Relating to various changes to the worker's compensation law
• AJR 19 - Relating to recognition and celebration of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Sesquicentennial
• AJR 26 - Relating to honoring April 22, 2021, as the 51st Anniversary of Earth Day
• AJR 31 - Relating to remembering the millions of victims of the Holocaust; honoring the survivors, liberators, and resistors; and committing to educating future generations
• AJR 32 - Relating to declaring April to be Freedom of Expressing Month across Wisconsin
• AJR 33 - Relating to proclaiming May 2021 as Jewish American Heritage Month
• SJR 14 - Relating to honoring the life and service of Alfred J. "Cy" Tector, JR., and commemorating his many accomplishments

For your information, if you click on the bill number you will be able to read the bill in its entirety. 

Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections

 The Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections held a public hearing on Wednesday.  The Committee listened to testimony on the following bills:

• AB 51 - Relating to public notice of noncandidacy for incumbent local elected officials
• AB 172 - Relating to the publication of the Elections Commission meeting minutes
• AB 173 -  Relating to private resources used for election administration, the appointment of election officials, and providing a penalty
• AB 94 - Relating to allowing a pupil enrolled in a home-based private educational program to serve as an election inspector

 For your information, if you click on the bill number you will be able to read the bill in its entirety. 

 Budget Listening Session

 I have scheduled three more budget listening sessions for next Friday, April 23.  The times and locations are:

• Spencer - 10:30 a.m. - Nutz Deep 2 - 103 E Clark St, Spencer, WI 54479
• Stratford - 12:30 p.m. - Miss Jen's Cafe - 104 Meadow St, Stratford, WI 54484
• Edgar - 2:30 p.m. - Minnow Ponds Park - Near the picnic shelter

 An additional budget listening session will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 30 at the 2nd Street Community Center (211 E. 2nd Street, Marshfield, WI) in the CC-Wein Classroom.  Representative Born, Co-char of the Joint Committee on Finance, will also be attending this listening session. 

 Additionally, the Joint Committee on Finance has announced their Budget Road Show for this session.  These will be larger listening sessions with the members of the Joint Committee on Finance and will take place at:

• The Hodag Dome in Rhinelander (Wednesday, April 21)
• UW-Stout in Menomonie (Thursday, April 22)
• Virtual (Wednesday, April 28)

 If you would like to submit comments to any of these events please submit them to Budget.Comments@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Contacting My Office

My Capitol office is here to help you with general inquiries as well as questions and concerns regarding legislative matters. Feel free to contact Dylan, my Legislative Assistant, or me. We are always ready to assist you with your needs. Please visit my website for press releases and other Capitol updates.