This week, two bills I authored were signed into law by the Governor.  The bill signings took place at Taliesin, in Spring Green, and at the Lafayette County Courthouse.

There have been many highlights since being elected to the Assembly in November of 2014, but having bills become law that positively impact the people of the 51st Assembly District is among the top. This week I joined Governor Walker as he signed two bills into law that I was proud to author: the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail Bill, and the Lafayette County Drug Task Force Bill.

The Lafayette County Drug Grant solves the growing problem of drug abuse in our community. Too many of our friends and family members are suffering from the devastating effects of drug use. It’s time that Lafayette County once again joins a drug task force. That’s what Assembly Bill (AB) 771 accomplishes by providing the necessary funds for drug law enforcement and enables the Sheriff’s Department to better coordinate enforcement efforts with surrounding counties.

This was a main concern of mine when I first decided to run for office – how to fight rural crime and drug use. Our local governments need help in this ongoing battle. We need to give our law enforcement the tools they need to combat this tragic problem. One of our chief law enforcers, Lafayette County Sherriff Gill was a relentless advocate for this bill throughout the whole process. I am so grateful for his strong support. Moving forward, we’ll continue to work together to keep our communities safe from this horrible epidemic.

Governor Walker also signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 512. Thanks to this bi-partisan law, visitors to our communities will clearly know how to locate the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the area. As I’m sure many of my constituents know, Frank Lloyd Wright was a Wisconsin native who designed stunning homes and various buildings throughout our state. In order for tourists to take full advantage of these historic sites, the Frank Lloyd Wright trail offers a clear guide for identifying these sites in communities from Richland County to Kenosha County. This trail is a fitting tribute to one of Wisconsin’s most accomplished residents, and encourages people from all over the world to enjoy the works of this great architect.

The trail is perfect timing as summer vacations will be here before we know it. As Southwest Wisconsin folks know, we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the state, and it’s no surprise that tourism brings in millions of dollars in revenue each year. I’m excited to have the opportunity to show off these extraordinary buildings.

Both of these laws passed through the Legislature with broad bi-partisan support. I’m truly grateful for the backing of my colleagues and for Governor Walker signing them into law. It’s encouraging to me when I see what can happen when legislators work across party lines to accomplish the real results that our communities are looking for. Its laws like these that have helped make this a strong bi-partisan session, with over 94 percent of new laws having received support from both republicans and democrats. These are the type of results that I remain committed to achieving, and am passionate about for the future.
 

Cabinet on the Road in Southwestern Wisconsin

Recently, I've had the pleasure of attending some local events, in addition to meeting with people at the Capitol in Madison.

This week I attended several different "Cabinet on the Road" events throughout area with various state agencies.  Secretary Ben Brancel of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), and I had the opportunity of taking a tour of Quality Liquid Foods in Dodgeville, and meeting with President/CEO Cory Berg and his staff.  QLF is an innovative leader in the developing and manufacturing of liquid feed supplements and cooked low moisture blocks for animals. For over 37 years, QLF has been an American family owned company with a reputation for marketing products based on quality, consistency and service.

(Pictured L to R; Cory Berg, President/CEO of QLF, Rep. Novak, Secretary Ben Brancel (DATCP)

I also was able to sit down with Wyman Winston, Executive Director of Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), Farshad Maltes, Director of Business Development at WHEDA, Wally Orzechowski, Executive Director of Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program (SWCAP), and Troy Maggied, Executive Directer of the Southwetern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. We discussed many different areas of policy, including how to better help our communities meet affordable housing needs, while encouraging business growth, and job creation in the area.

(Pictured L to R; Troy Maggied, Farshad Maltes, Wally Orzechowski, Wyman Winston, Rep. Novak)

We ended the day at Wisconsin's First Capitol Historical Site in Belmont, where we had ended the day with Cabinet members. During the meeting, we recapped the days events; whether it was meeting with business owners and staff, touring local businesses, veterans, county board chairs, and many other members of Southwestern Wisconsin. It was a great opportunity to have the Cabinet down in the area to highlight the area.

Wrap up photo of the Cabinet at the First Capitol Historic Site in Belmont

Tools for Tax Season

As income tax season rolls on, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) has several tools available online to assist taxpayers.

Wisconsin E-file. Wisconsin taxpayers can use Wisconsin e-file to securely and confidentially file their Wisconsin tax returns for free! The fill-in tax forms do the math to help prevent errors and allow for direct deposit or withdrawal from a taxpayer's bank account.

1099-G Lookup. Taxpayers can now access their 2015 Form 1099-G form on the Wisconsin Department of Revenue secure and confidential 1099-G Lookup. This form provides information about your state tax refund, which you must include as income on your federal tax return if you itemize deductions.

Estimated Tax Payments. Wisconsin law requires that taxpayers pay tax on their income as it becomes available to them. Their employer will generally withhold income tax from their wages. However, if they have taxable non-wage income or other income not subject to withholding, they may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments. Check the department's estimated tax payments inquiry application and use this information to verify the amount of estimated tax payments claimed on their Wisconsin return.

Filing Inquiry. DOR has again made available an online application that lets filers check if they have filed a return. This tool was introduced last year to give taxpayers a way to be proactive about protecting their refund. Citizens who have not yet submitted their return, but receive notice that their return was submitted should call Customer Service, at (608)266-2772, to let us know of potential fraud.

Where's My Refund? Taxpayers can check on their refund 24 hours a day, seven days a week by visiting their website, utilizing the WI Revenue mobile app (available in the App Store or Google Play), or calling the automated refund line: 866-WIS-RFND (866-947-7363) or (608) 266-8100.

Pay Online. Taxpayers can that owe taxes can make their payment online.

Have other questions? DOR's website includes videos and common questions about several topics to assist taxpayers. Taxpayers can also call DOR Income Tax customer service at (608)266-2772 for assistance.

 

Sincerely,