Looking Back, Looking Forward

This week marks the first anniversary of the 2021-2022 legislative session, and as the Legislature prepares for its winter/spring floor period, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the past year, during which it has been my privilege to serve the residents of the 75th Assembly District.

As you might expect, COVID and the state and federal responses dominated the legislative agenda in the early months of 2021.  In one of my first actions as a legislator, I introduced an amendment to Assembly Bill 2 that would treat federal Paycheck Protection Program loans to struggling businesses the same under Wisconsin tax law as under federal tax law - essentially making them tax-free, as Congress intended.  The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee incorporated this amendment into a larger substitute amendment that ultimately was signed into law as 2021 Act 2.  Later that spring, I introduced Assembly Bill 235, which directed Governor Evers to use $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for rural economic development programs and another $50 million in ARPA funds for farm support grants.  Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed AB 235 and other proposals that were intended to give the people's elected representatives a say in how Wisconsin's share of ARPA funding is spent.

During the 2021-2023 budget process, I worked with other area legislators to include funding for the renovation and expansion of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Barron, as well as a change in the law that will allow waste-to-energy facilities such as the one Barron County owns to operate more cost-effectively.

As the Legislature returned from its post-budget summer break, I introduced legislation that I believe will promote economic development in communities around the state.  For example, Assembly Bill 517 expands the definition of "environmental pollution" in the statutes governing environmental rehabilitation tax increment districts so that more projects qualify, leading to more blighted properties being redeveloped.  The Senate has already passed AB 517's companion, Senate Bill 518, and I hope the Assembly will vote to concur in the near future.  Another proposal, Assembly Bill 609, allows municipalities to establish local housing investment fund programs, to encourage the construction of affordable workforce housing.  AB 609 is part of a larger package to address Wisconsin's housing shortage, which the Assembly passed in October and which is currently awaiting Senate action.  In addition, I have recently submitted for introduction a proposal to expand the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority's low-income housing tax credit program and ensure that a certain percentage of these credits are awarded to projects in rural areas.  The Senate companion bill has already been assigned a bill number, Senate Bill 830.

Looking ahead, the remaining months of the 2021-2022 session should be busy.  Earlier this week, Assembly Republicans unveiled a package of bills intended to improve recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers.  This package has the support of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.  Several other packages may also be coming down the pike, and I will continue to keep you informed.