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REPRESENTATIVE RIPP PASSES CRUCIAL FARM MACHINERY BILL AND DISABLED PARKING LEGISLATION
Madison- The Wisconsin State Assembly passed several bills last week authored by Representative Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) aimed at keeping farm machinery legally on the roadways and addressing increased challenges faced by disabled individuals in accessing basic services.
Known as the “Implements of Husbandry” bill, SB 509 addresses shortcomings in current law that regulate weight and practices for farm machinery on local and state roadways. The bill creates new categorized definitions of different types of agricultural equipment that reflect the wide array of equipment currently in use. It also deletes outdated and unworkable restrictions on farming operations that prohibit use of agricultural equipment at night and on weekends. It increases the total weight and axle weight allowed for agricultural operators by 15% over current law (increased to 23,000lb per axle and 92,000lb gross vehicle weight) and allows very wide machinery (over 15 feet in width) to be operated on the road without permitting.
“This bill balances the need for increased weight and capacity with the necessity to maintain public safety and manage impacts on our infrastructure. We need to make sure we are protecting the taxpayers’ investments in our roadways while still promoting and protecting Wisconsin’s Number One industry,” Ripp said. “This bill ultimately ensures the continued success of agriculture and grows our economy by updating our statutes to reflect the modern standards in the industry.”
The other bills passed last week concern issues brought forward by the Council on Physical Disabilities over the last year.
AB 824 – There is currently a lack of available personnel to provide needed enforcement even when violations are reported to local law enforcement. This bill allows local governments, at their discretion, to use non-deputized staff or appointees to assist in parking enforcement. The bill is left open for local governments to decide if and how they will take advantage of this ability.
AB 825 – Current law allows penalties for illegally parking in a disabled parking space of between $50 and $300. This bill changes the minimum applicable fine for parking in a handicapped space from $50 to $150. The maximum fine remains at $300.
AB 828 – Current law specifies requirements for providing a minimum number of disabled parking spaces in parking lots with 26 spaces or more. This bill creates an additional requirement that in facilities with four or more spaces reserved for disabled individuals, one of the four and 10% of any additional spaces be reserved and designed specifically for vehicles equipped with lift gates for wheel chairs. This bill only applies to parking structures with the clearance for life van access.
“With the growing number of disabled veterans returning with serious physical impairments and the increasing average age of our population, we need to look at these issues now,” Ripp said. “These bills will ensure that Wisconsin law continues to recognize the difficulties some of our citizens experience every day.”
The Wisconsin Assembly approved these measures with broad bipartisan support. They now go to the Senate for approval.
LAST DAYS OF SESSION: IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
In addition to the Implements of Husbandry bill and disabled parking legislation mentioned above, several other important pieces of legislation passed the Assembly during its last likely week of session.
SB 300- Oral Chemotherapy Legislation: prohibits health insurance policies, and self−insured governmental and school district health plans, that cover injected or intravenous and oral chemotherapy from requiring the insured to pay a higher co-payment, deductible, or coinsurance for oral chemotherapy than is required for injected or intravenous chemotherapy, regardless of the formulation or benefit category determination by the policy or plan. The bill as amended allows the insurance companies to choose parity for chemotherapy coverage or to put a cap on the out-of-pocket costs which is no more than $100 for a 30-day supply.
AB 541- the sales and use tax exemption for equipment used in a fertilizer blending, feed milling, or grain drying operation. Historically, this equipment has been considered part of a manufacturing process that is exempt from Wisconsin sales tax if the machinery is not a real property improvement. Recently, the Department of Revenue’s interpretation of existing law has led to equipment that had previously been considered exempt to no longer be exempt. The bill clarifies long-standing interpretations of Wisconsin’s tax code to ensure that specific agribusiness processing equipment is exempt from sales and use tax, regardless of where that equipment is located and whether it is in some way connected to real property.
AB 574- designation of agricultural enterprise areas: allows an additional one million acres of farmland to be designated as part of an Agricultural Enterprise Area. Currently, local communities can voluntarily pursue the designation of an Agricultural Enterprise Area, or AEA, by submitting a petition to DATCP. An AEA must consist of contiguous parcels, include at least five eligible farms, and be primarily used for agriculture. Farmers with land in a designated AEA may enter into farmland preservation agreements.The AEA program was created as part of the Working Lands Initiative in the 2009-2011 Biennial Budget, and authorized DATCP to allow up to one million total acres of designated AEA land. Currently, DATCP has 25 authorized AEA’s consisting of approximately 750,000 acres; this cap will likely be reached by the end of 2014.
OTHER RIPP BILLS PASS THE ASSEMBLY
Bills promote consumer protection and business growth
Madison- Three bills authored by State Representative Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) were passed in February that address issues with public records scamming and hindrances on winery expansion.
The first measure, AB 592, would put specific perimeters on solicitations that companies can send consumers. Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in deed-processing schemes that target new and existing homeowners. Homeowners receive official-looking notices recommending they obtain a deed to their home in order to confirm their ownership in the property for a fee of $80 to $90. However, these deeds are often readily available for almost no cost from the local Register of Deeds.
“These scamming companies are taking advantage of Wisconsin consumers during one of the most important purchases of their lives,” Ripp said. “Often these solicitations are so official-looking that overwhelmed new homeowners will pay the fee without realizing it is not required. This bill maps out certain requirements so these letters are more easily identified as unnecessary.”
The second and third bills, SB 452 and 453, reduce burdensome red tape on Wisconsin wineries that can prevent business expansion. The first would allow underage persons to participate in a tour of the winemaking process with or without a parent present, allowing those persons to attend with extended family and/or friends. The bill does not allow underage persons to sample during the tour, but would promote tourism for traveling families and friends looking for activities that everyone can enjoy together.
The second would add wineries to the list of acceptable furnishers of taste samples at Trade Shows. Under current law, a manufacturer, rectifier, or wholesaler of intoxicating liquor may furnish taste samples free of charge. However, wineries are currently not listed as an acceptable furnisher. Winemakers may attend Trade Shows to give presentations, but cannot furnish samples, a restriction that constrains winery expansion.
“One of the most direct ways to increase prospective business in the food and beverage industry is by offering samples at Trade Shows and we need to reduce these regulations where we can to promote business growth,” Ripp said. “It is also important to note that both of these bills bring wineries in line with breweries.”
All three bills passed with broad support in the Assembly. They all now go to the Governor’s desk for signatures.
HONORING GERALD L. TRUMM
Last Tuesday on the Assembly floor, I had the honor of recognizing a truly amazing individual from the district (Poynette), Gerald L. Trumm. Trumm served overseas in Cambodia in 1970 and was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and Army Commendation medals for his valiant and noble service to our great country. After returning home to Wisconsin, he dedicated nearly four decades of his life to the Department of Natural Resources before passing away last year.
Rep. Ripp with the Trumm family presenting Assembly Joint Resolution 108, honoring the life and the military and public service of Gerald L. Trumm
Rep. Ripp with the Trumm Family
4-H CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Last Wednesday, 4-H groups from all over the state came to celebrate the 4-H Centennial, 100 years of Wisconsin 4-H youth development! As a farmer and former 4-H kid, I was so proud to meet with kids from my district who enjoy promoting and celebrating agriculture as much as I do. Here's to hoping for another 100 years of personal development in head, hearts, hands, and health!
Columbia County 4-H members talking with Rep. Ripp
FOX-WISCONSIN HERITAGE PADDLES 2014
Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers has partnered with the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway since 2010 to host annual public paddle events. Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway, a non-profit organization, seeks to preserve, promote and celebrate the heritage of our rivers. The groups have identified special opportunities along the route of many of their paddle events to observe and enjoy an element of the historical, cultural, environmental or natural heritage of the area.
For more information, please go to the following link: Wisconsin Paddlers
CONTACT ME
As in the past, I would continue to encourage you to contact my office with ideas for this next legislative session and on individual pieces of legislation. Now more than ever your ideas and opinions need to be heard, so we can begin to get Wisconsin back to work. Please contact my office at 608-266-3404 or email me at Rep.Ripp@legis.wisconsin.gov, or stop by my Capitol office at 223 North. I look forward to hearing from you. As always, I will continue to work across the aisle to find common ground and move legislation forward.
Please share this update with your friends and neighbors within the 42nd Assembly District and if there is anyone you know who would like to be included, please respond to this email with their email address.