Preparing for Fall

Photo by WHEDA

It may be hard to believe, but the official start of fall is less than three weeks away!

While the months immediately following passage of the state budget can be fairly quiet, they are also a time for legislators to prepare for the Legislature's fall session.  For example, I recently introduced Assembly Bill 517, which will revise the definition of "environmental pollution" for the purposes of environmental remediation tax incremental districts, which I believe will make the redevelopment of aging properties (many of which contain asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials) more cost-effective.  I am also working on a proposal that would increase investment in affordable housing that I hope to introduce in the coming weeks.

Speaking of affordable housing, I had the honor of participating in a panel discussion on that subject at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority's annual conference on September 2 (photo above).  It was a good conversation on an important topic.

In other news, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos recently increased the resources available to former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman as he continues his investigation of the 2020 election.  It is my understanding that Justice Gableman's investigation will now include the services of a data analysis contractor.  In addition to this investigation, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau's audit of elections administration continues, and the LAB will release its report sometime this fall.  I look forward to reviewing the results of these investigations when they become available.