Thank you for taking the time to read my e-update. I'm looking forward to telling you a bit about what I've been up to this week. The State Assembly met for our last scheduled floor session of 2019 and we approved a number of important measures. You can read about it and more below.
As always, if you would like to share your thoughts or concerns on any state issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I look forward to hearing from you.
Judgeship Bill Clears the Assembly
On Tuesday, my Assembly colleagues and I held our last scheduled floor session of this year. One of the proposals that we considered was a proposal I've co-authored, Assembly Bill (AB) 470, relating to adding 12 circuit court branches to be allocated by the director of state courts. This is legislation that I have discussed in an earlier e-update and is an important bill for our state's criminal justice system. I was proud to speak in favor of AB 470 on the Assembly floor and see it pass with unanimous bipartisan support.
While this bill does not guarantee that any specific county would receive another judge, it allows counties in need of an additional judge like Sawyer and Marathon Counties, the ability to come up with a plan for the necessary facilities for a new judge and to submit that plan to the director of state courts for consideration.
Because the State Senate is finished meeting for the year, AB 470 will not become law in time for the first four new circuit court branches to meet the filing deadline for the Spring 2020 election. To solve this problem, the bill was amended prior to its passage that would push back the creation of the new branches by one year.
AB 470 now moves on to the Senate for their consideration. Also, if you missed my earlier e-update and would like a more detailed explanation of AB 470, click here.
Click on the photo above to watch the floor session. My speech on AB 470 begins at 1:44:51.
Floor Session Update
In addition to consideration of AB 470, the State Assembly considered a number of other important measures on Tuesday. Here are some of the highlights.
Last session, the legislature unanimously passed the Farm Freedom Act which legalized hemp cultivation in Wisconsin and led to a surge in applications from potential growers and processors. On December 20th, 2018, the federal farm bill was signed, which further de-scheduled hemp, making it no longer a controlled substance. SB 188 works to build on this legislation and further increase confidence at all levels of the industry. Developed in consultation with Farm Bureau, Farmers Union, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), creates changes in the current state law so that it is consistent with the 2018 federal farm bill. This bill already passed the Senate with wide bipartisan support and, on Tuesday, it passed the Assembly unanimously. I am proud to have signed on as a co-sponsor to this legislation, and I hope to see the governor sign it into law soon.
Current law allows local municipalities to ban the discharge of firearms, including their use with blank ammunition at military funerals and ceremonies. We need to ensure our fallen service members are guaranteed their well-deserved military honors, including the traditional rifle salute. These salutes are a way to recognize and honor a fallen service member at their funeral, as well as past generations on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This bill includes current or former military service members, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. AB 75 passed on a voice vote in the Assembly and now continues on to the Senate for their consideration. I hope to see their support on this legislation that I have co-authored. The point of this bill is not to undermine local control, but to make sure these honors are given to those who have earned it and deserve the respect.
In 2011, the Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Franchise law was updated to include a warranty reimbursement formula that calls for manufacturers to reimburse dealers for repairs performed under the manufacturer's warranty at the same rate that customers who no longer have a valid warranty would pay for similar repairs. However, some manufacturers have begun assessing a surcharge on vehicles sold by dealers who requested to be reimbursed at the statutory reimbursement rate. SB 304 would prohibit manufacturers from assessing surcharges on Wisconsin motor vehicle dealers as retaliation for utilizing the state law. 18 states already prohibit manufacturers' retaliatory surcharges and that number has been growing. SB 304 passed the Senate with bipartisan support and was approved by the Assembly on a voice vote. It now heads to the governor's desk for his consideration.
Autocycles are a relatively new vehicle that is growing in popularity in Wisconsin and around the country. Currently, these vehicles are registered as motorcycles and drivers are required to have a motorcycle endorsement to drive them. However, under the actual definition of a motorcycle in Wisconsin, autocycles do not fit in this category. Autocycles have seatbelts, gas and brake pedals, a steering wheel seats, similar to a regular automobile. Autocycles are also heavier than the weight classification for motorcycles listed in state statutes.
SB 86 creates a separate classification for autocycles. This will ultimately eliminate the confusion on how to follow the law when operating autocycles. Many more motorists will be able to acquire an autocycle if they so choose, as the motorcycle endorsement will no longer be needed and this will improve the sales for dealers. SB 86 was passed unanimously in both the Senate and Assembly and now heads to Governor Evers' desk.
We finished off our floor session by approving AJR 106, relating to naming the decorated tree on display in the Capitol rotunda during the Christmas season the Wisconsin State Christmas Tree. If you have ever been down in Madison in the Capitol during Christmas time, you've seen the great big evergreen tree in the middle of the building that is decorated with ornaments from students from across the state. You may have heard in the news recently that Governor Evers has referred to this tree as the "Holiday Tree." I believe the people of the 87th Assembly District would want us to call it what it is: a Christmas Tree. AJR 106 was approved with bipartisan support and now moves on to the Senate. As this is a resolution, it not require the governor's signature.
National Apprenticeship Week
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, I stopped by the Operating Engineers Local 139 Training Center in Coloma to check out their Externship Day. Over 700 high school students from around the state were in attendance, including several students from the Gilman School District, to learn about careers in the construction industry.
Around the 87th
Veterans Day
I hope everyone got a chance to attend one of the 87th District's many Veterans Day ceremonies. I was happy to get out around the district and honor our brave veterans. I look forward to every Veterans Day to help support our veterans in any way I can. Each Veterans Day, and at occasional military funerals, I enjoy serving as the bugler for the American Legion.
Picture courtesy of the Ladysmith News
Hayward Receives New Traffic Signal
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has nearly completed the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of WIS 27 and Railroad Street in the City of Hayward. The traffic signal is scheduled to begin operation during the week of November 18. Drivers will see flashing yellow left-turn arrow signal indications on the new signal. Drivers will have to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians during the flashing yellow left-turn arrow. For more information on project updates in the state's northwest region, visit the region's 511 website.
Upcoming Events Around the 87th
Check out the following events happening around the district:
Do you know of any events in the district that I missed? Contact my office and let me know, so I can include it in a future e-update and try to attend myself.
Stay Up to Date
One of the best ways to stay up to date with what is going on in Madison is to sign up for the legislature's notification tracking service. This service allows you to follow legislative activity in Madison. Once you create a free account you can sign up to receive notifications about specific bills or committees as well as legislative activity pertaining to a subject area (i.e. agriculture, veterans). You can sign up for this service at notify.legis.wisconsin.gov.
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If you have any thoughts regarding the subject of this E-Update, please feel free to contact me.
State Capitol Room 109 West - PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708 Toll-Free (888) 534-0087 or (608) 266-7506 Email: Rep.Edming@legis.wisconsin.gov
