According to Assembly tradition, retiring members get the opportunity to preside over a portion of their final floor day. 

Representative Larson chaired Thursday's debate on Assembly Bill 562.

The Assembly ended the 2015-2016 legislative session with two marathon sessions on Tuesday, February 16, and Thursday, February 18.  I am happy to say that Assembly Bill 606, a bill I introduced to require licensed private detectives to take continuing education credits, passed on a voice vote and is now in the Senate.

The many bills the Assembly passed this week included packages that address college affordability, mental health reform, and Alzheimer's/dementia care.  In addition to these packages, the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 450, which will prohibit local governments from forbidding employees to ask people who have been charged with certain crimes about their immigration status.  AB 450 will prevent the creation of "sanctuary cities" in Wisconsin.  If someone charged with a crime is also an illegal immigrant, the appropriate authorities should be informed, and this bill will allow the question to be asked.  The Assembly also passed Senate Bill 434, which revises Wisconsin's Managed Forest Law program, and Assembly Bill 874, which seeks to clarify the rights and responsibilities of high-capacity well owners while continuing to give DNR the authority to regulate wells.  The Assembly also honored the life and service of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in Assembly Joint Resolution 113.

The Assembly also concurred in Senate Bill 295, which allows online voter registration and makes several other changes to the registration and voting processes, including allowing veterans with valid, unexpired veterans ID cards to use those cards as proof of identity at polling places.

At the present time, the Assembly does not plan to meet again.  However, it is my understanding that the Senate will meet once more, in March, to complete its business, and any bills that have passed both houses will be submitted to Governor Walker for his approval.  As always, you can watch the floor debates on WisconsinEye or follow them on WisPolitics' Quorum Call blog.

As the Assembly wraps up its work, I announced yesterday my decision to retire from the Assembly at the end of my current term.  Representing the 67th Assembly District has been a wonderful and humbling experience, and it has been a great honor to be your voice in Madison.  I believe I accomplished much that I hoped to achieve when I first took office in 2011, and while there is still a lot I would like to see happen at the Capitol, the time is right to step aside so I can spend more time with my family.

Having said that, my staff and I will continue to work hard for you until my term ends in January 2017, so please continue to contact us if you need assistance or wish to share your comments about issues that are important to you.