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RIPP LEGISLATION WILL HELP UW AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Bill aids in the purchase and sale of agricultural land
Madison- The Wisconsin State Assembly passed legislation authored by Representative Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) in its last week of session that would make it easier for the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to buy or sell agricultural land used for research on behalf of the UW-Madison campus.
Under current law, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and UW-Madison are required to bring any sale, lease, purchase, or exchange of agricultural land before the State Building Commission for approval. Because of this, agricultural lands that become available for sale may be sold before the university can make it through the approval process with the commission.
Under Assembly Bill 717, the proposal provides limited authority to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to buy, sell, lease, and exchange agricultural land used by UW-Madison without the approval of the Building Commission. The proposal requires the properties involved in the sale, purchase, lease, or exchange must serve the purpose of agricultural instruction and research. It also stipulates that new construction projects on those lands would still be subject to current State Building Commission protocols and approvals.
“The current legislative process can often take a substantial amount of time and can put the UW in a situation where they may lose the opportunity to sell or obtain valuable agricultural land,” Ripp said. “This bill will give the Board of Regents the necessary flexibility to avoid those situations, but would still maintain an adequate level of oversight for construction on those lands.”
Additionally, any net proceeds from the sale, purchase, lease, or exchange of agricultural land would be placed in a non-lapsable fund. Those funds would be available for future purchase of agricultural land or for the erection of facilities for research and instruction in animal husbandry, agricultural engineering, and agricultural and life sciences at UW-Madison. However, the funds used for the erection of facilities would still need the approval of the State Building Commission.
“This bill is a vital part of the CALS and the UW’s infrastructure reinvestment plan,” Ripp continued. “Allowing for potential ag land sales and purchases like those in Arlington and other locations in a timely manner will provide a unique opportunity to address a long-term development problem for the university and to secure vital research assets for the future.”
The Wisconsin Assembly approved AB 717 with broad bipartisan support. The proposal has already been approved by the Wisconsin Senate and was signed by the Governor this past Tuesday.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYED REACHES HISTORIC HIGH
DWD’s most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revisions find that Wisconsin's total employment grew by 20,700 year-over-year to a record high of 2,972,100 in December, while the number of unemployed declined by a significant 26,800 over the year. The state's labor force participation rate increased to 68.0 percent in December, outpacing the national rate of 62.6 percent. A preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.3 percent in December 2015, which is 0.1 percent increase from November, below the national unemployment rate of 5.0 percent for the month, and below the state's rate of 5.2 percent in December 2014.
WISCONSIN HOME SALES INCREASE
Home sales increased 10.4 percent last month compared to January 2015. The latest from the Wisconsin REALTORS Association also shows a significant increase in the median price of a home. That is now $148,700, up 10.1 percent from January 2015. The REALTORS says inventories drop significantly. The state had 36,450 unsold homes last month, the first time that number fell below 40,000 since the association started tracking in 2009. Those factors are having an effect on people's ability to afford homes, but the association says it is "not as much as expected." That's because family incomes are rising and mortgage rates are still low right now.
IT'S TAX SEASON!
With tax season in full swing and the April 15th deadline just over a month away, I encourage you to visit www.IRS.gov/freefile and take advantage of free tax preparation and e-filing services available through the IRS Free File program. Powered by The Free File Alliance, a coalition of 13 industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the IRS, the Free File program provides free access to the industry’s most innovative and secure tax software.
Every taxpayer with a 2015 Adjusted Gross Income of $62,000 or less may visit www.IRS.gov/freefile to prepare, complete and e-file their federal tax returns at no cost. Free state return options are also available.
In addition, Free File provides basic online e-filing services, called Free File Fillable Forms, to all taxpayers regardless of income. Free File can also be used to e-file an extension for free. Free File also helps taxpayers with the new health care requirements. Using Free File, most taxpayers will simply have to check a box to report health care coverage for the entire year.
If you have any questions, please let me know!
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.