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State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707

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Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov

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SENATE COMMITTEES:

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Committee on Government Operations, Public Works, and Telecommunications

Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges

Special Committee on Reporting of Child Abuses and Child Neglect

 


 

 

April 24, 2014


Dear Friends and Neighbors -

This newsletter will highlight my upcoming Cashton office hours, the bill signing at Cashton Farm Supply, my tour of local producers, as well as information on the E-Cycle Wisconsin program and a DNR interactive fish map. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these or any other state legislative issues. 

Sincerely,

Jennifer Shilling
State Senate, District 32
 

Cashton Office Hours
On Monday, April 28th, I will be holding in-district office hours at the Public Library in Cashton. Everyone is welcome to come and discuss their thoughts or concerns regarding legislation, or any state government issue with me. If you are unable to attend, but still have questions or concerns, feel free to contact my office via email at Sen.Shilling@legis.wi.gov or by phone at 1-800-385-3385.

Information:
Monday, April 28th, 2014
1:00-2:00pm
Cashton Memorial Library
720 Broadway Street
Cashton, WI 54619

Additional in-district office hour times and locations will be announced later this spring, so stay tuned!
 
Bill Signing at Cashton Farm Supply
Legislation I co-authored with Republican Senator Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls) was recently signed into law by Gov. Walker at a special ceremony in Cashton. The bill, Senate Bill 448 (SB 448), corrects a flaw in the state’s assessment of equipment that is used by local agricultural manufacturers like Cashton Farm Supply.

I’m proud that we were able to find bi-partisan support for this important piece of legislation. As we continue to look for ways to create jobs and grow small businesses, we need to remember that our local family farms and agricultural producers are a vital part our economic success.

The recent decision by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to tax certain equipment that was used in the manufacturing process unfairly targeted agribusiness producers like Cashton Farm Supply and drew the attention of local officials. As a co-author of SB 448, I worked with legislators across the state to address this issue and shepherd the bill through the legislative process.

With the signing of SB 448, we can begin to level the playing field for local businesses like Cashton Farm Supply and encourage the growth of our small family farms and regional agricultural economy. This common-sense change is a step in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to strengthen our local family farms and community agricultural producers.
 
Tour of Local Producers
Last week, the staff from Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA) arranged for us to tour a few local businesses they work with. MOSA is a non-profit, full-service organic certifier and one of the most respected names in organic certification. And they’re located right in downtown Viroqua!

                    
Jenny Cruse (MOSA Inspection Manager), Senator Shilling, Cori Skolaski (MOSA Executive Director), and Anne O’Connor (MOSA Marketing and Communications Manager).

Our first stop was the Westby Cooperative Creamery where we sat down with general manager, Pete Kondrup, to learn about the history of the business and their growth and success over the past decade. Pete showed us around the new distribution center and we sampled yogurt and cheese curds.

      
Westby Co-op Creamery general manager Pete Kondrup shows us around the distribution center.

After the Creamery, we were off to Kickapoo Coffee where owners Caleb Nicholes, T.J. Semanchin and the rest of the team showed us around their production facility located in the Food Enterprise Center. While there, we were able to watch Kickapoo Coffee’s customer support and education specialist Trevor Gruehn practicing for the USBC Brewers Cup competition. Trevor is one of 20 in the country to qualify for the competition and we were there just in time to sample his competition brew.

    
T.J. Semanchin shows us around the facility.

   
Cheers! Sampling Trevor’s competition cup of coffee.

Next we grabbed lunch at the Driftless Café in Viroqua. Owners Luke and Ruthie Zahm grew up in the Driftless region and have worked across the Midwest. They recently returned home to the area and purchased the Café. The Driftless Café sources their foods locally, and Luke and the Café were recently named Edible Madison’s Local Hero in the Chef/Restaurant category.

We ended the day with a quick tour around the MOSA building. It was great to meet the staff who are working hard to keep up with the growing demand of organic products and certifying more and more new, growing and transitioning businesses every day.

Thanks to Jenny, Cori, and Anne for organizing an interesting and informative day!

 
E-Cycle Wisconsin Program
If you are starting to Spring Clean, remember to recycle old and unused electronics like computers, cell phones and TVs. State law bans most electronics from Wisconsin landfills and incinerators due to the harmful chemicals that they contain and can be leaked into the ground. Also, the steel, aluminum, plastic and precious metals inside electronics are commodities that have value and can be reused.

E-Cycle Wisconsin is a program run by the Department of Natural Resources and funded by electronic manufacturers, and there's more than 450 locations around the state to recycle electronics. By June, state residents will have recycled almost 150 million pounds of electronics since 2010!

Visit the E-cycle website here for more information about E-cycle program and collection sites.
 

Interactive Map Shows Locations of All Fish Species in Wisconsin
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently created an interactive map that allows anglers and fish enthusiasts to see where their preferred fish species are located. The research tool shows fish survey results from up to 130 years ago, and the map allows anyone to search for over 160 fish species by either county or habitat types.

To view a video on the interactive map, click on the picture. If you want to check out the map, click here.
 
Calendar of Events
Date Event Location
April 24th World's Largest Office Party La Crosse
April 25th Fleis Nightfall Frolic - 5K Run/Walk Onalaska
April 25th Arbor Day - Prairie du Chien Trail of Presidents Prairie du Chien
April 26th League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area Legislative Breakfast La Crosse
April 26th State VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Loyalty Day Parade and Program Viroqua
April 26th La Crosse Neighbors Day 2014 La Crosse
April 26th North Crawford's Annual Spring It On! Health Lifestyles Event Soldiers Grove
April 26th Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine and Cheese Festival La Crosse
April 26th Annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk La Crosse
April 27th La Crosse Earth Fair La Crosse
April 28th Sen. Shilling Cashton Office Hours Cashton
April 28th La Crosse Workers Memorial Day Ceremony La Crosse
May 1st Opening of State Bike Trails Sparta
May 3rd Festival Foods Grandad Half Marathon La Crosse
May 3rd Third Annual Bowl-A-Thon Fundraiser La Crosse
State Legislation Update
Signed into Law:
AB-693. Providing funding for a crime prevention program in the city of Milwaukee and making an appropriation. ACT 263
AB-710. Alerts for missing adults at risk. ACT 264
AB-768. Authorizing Marquette University to create a police department and employ university police officers. ACT 265.
AB-173. Special distinguished registration plates associated with Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. ACT 266.
AB-726. Providing that cannabidiol is not a tetrahydrocannabinol and dispensing cannabidiol as a treatment for a seizure disorder. ACT 267.
SB-250. Temporary alcohol beverage retail licenses issued to fair associations. ACT 268
AB-746. Limits on liability for persons offering agricultural tourism activities. ACT 269
SB-617. Ordinances, variances, and rules relating to the constructing or altering of, or adding to, public buildings and buildings that are places of employment, the creation of a building code council, and inspections of public buildings and buildings that are places of employment. ACT 270
SB-152. Exemption from regulation for certain annuities. ACT 271
SB-502. Authorizing ordinances and resolutions that specify a greater number of parcels into which certified survey maps may divide land. ACT 272
AB-422. Raffles that involve the racing of plastic or rubber ducks ACT 273
SB-517. Collection of certain utility arrearages by a municipal utility and the provision of municipal service to tenants. ACT 274
AB-208. Special registration plates expressing support for the family members of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. ACT 275
AB-684. Various changes in the unemployment insurance law. ACT 276
SB-520. Rule-making procedures and modifying and repealing various rules promulgated by the Department of Financial Institutions. ACT 277
SB-581. Rule-making procedures and modifying and creating administrative rules related to long-term care insurance. ACT 278
SB-582. Own risk and solvency assessments, supervisory colleges, consolidated hearings for mergers of insurance companies, proxy voting by mutual policyholders, a presumption and exceptions with respect to the disclosure of insurance-related information. ACT 279
AB-835. Limiting the security a town or municipality may require as a condition of plat approval. ACT 280
AB-376. The net worth of providing proof of financial responsibility for certain solid waste facilities. ACT 281
SB-299. An exemption from the county property tax levy for municipalities on Madeline Island and Washington Island that levy taxes for airports or for public health or economic development services. ACT 282
AB-441. Information on a person who is required to register as a sex offender and notification of law enforcement when certain sex offenders change residential addresses. ACT 283
AB-723. Authorizing the village of Biron to allocate positive tax increments from Tax Incremental District Number 2 in the village to Tax Incremental District Number 3 in the village. ACT 284
AB-412. Exemption of outside salespersons from the minimum wage law. ACT 285
AB-712. Exempting employers from keeping records of the hours of employment of an employee who is exempt from the overtime pay requirements who is not compensated on an hourly rate basis. ACT 286
AB-512. Expanding the requirement of county board approval of a town amendment of its zoning ordinances. ACT 287
SB-531. Eligibility for a broker’s or salesperson’s license or a time-share salesperson’s certificate of registration following a criminal conviction, immunity for employing real estate brokers in certain actions. ACT 288
AB-729. Classified research at University of Wisconsin System institutions and exemption from open records requirements. ACT 289
AB-594. Renewable energy portfolio standards. ACT 290
AB-803. Substance abuse by employees performing work on public utility projects located in public rights-of-way and passing emergency or roadside vehicles stopped on or near the highway. ACT 291
SB-434. Requirements and local ordinances related to certificates of food protection practices. ACT 292
SB-150. Local ordinances regarding possession of marijuana or a synthetic cannabinoid. ACT 293
SB-251. Therapeutic alternate drug selections in nursing homes, performance of patient services by a pharmacist, and the practice of pharmacy. ACT 294
AB-730. Rule-making procedures and modifying and repealing various rules promulgated by the Department of natural Resources. ACT 295
SB-497. Agency discretion in imposing penalties for minor violations of rules by small businesses and granting rule-making authority. ACT 296
SB-516. Local airports and the process for enacting aerial approach ordinances. ACT 297
AB-589. Issuance by a first class city of a license for a retail food establishment and a permit for a restaurant or bed and breakfast establishment. ACT 298
AB-769. The definition of project costs under the tax incremental financing program. ACT 299
AB-596. Renewable resource credits, removal of certain natural gas service laterals, natural gas public utility service in municipalities, and granting rule-making authority. ACT 300
AB-444. Fee imposed on the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste at licensed solid waste and hazardous waste disposal facilities. ACT 301
AB-744. Licenses for new dairy plants, food warehouses, food processing plants, retail food establishments, and meat establishments. ACT 302
AB-745. Milk procurement fees. ACT 303
SB-344. Disclosing ownership of a dam to prospective buyers of certain real property and updating disclosure reports for certain real property. ACT 304
SB-512. Deposits on the sale of certain lead acid batteries. ACT 305
SB-478. School district expenditures for community program and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority. ACT 306
AB-780. Eliminating voluntary intoxication as a defense to criminal liability. ACT 307
AB-801. establishing a process for the return of unclaimed property by the state. ACT 308
SB-553. Administration of medications at a camp. ACT 309
SB-513. The information contained in referendum questions to authorize exceeding county levy limits. ACT 310
AB-707. Extending the time certain injunctions remain in effect. ACT 311
AB-695. The regulation of motor vehicle air conditioners. ACT 312
AB-539. Emergency vehicles operated as escorts for vehicle processions. ACT 313
AB-581. Advertising related to adoption or other permanent physical placements of a child, delegation of parental power regarding the care and custody of a child for more than one year, unauthorized interstate placements of children, requesting a study of adoption disruption and dissolution. ACT 314
AB-33. Extends the time period for counties to seek reimbursement from prisoners for expenses associated with confinement in jail. ACT 315
AB-743. The operation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on highway bridges. ACT 316
AB-556. Strip searches. ACT 317
SB-321. Limitation of a property owner’s liability when lands are used for noncommercial aviation. ACT 318
SB-339. The price of a Class A raffle ticket. ACT 319
AB-593. Rule-making procedures and repealing administrative rules relating to the estate tax and the county operating levy rate limit. ACT 320
AB-464. Providing notice of forearm prohibition when serving notice for certain injunction hearings and process for surrendering firearms following the granting of certain injunctions. ACT 321
AB-176. Temporary restraining orders and injunctions for domestic abuse, child abuse, individuals at risk, and harassment, confidential name change petitions, and ex parte orders with a judge substitution. ACT 322
SB-160. Training standards for law enforcement officers regarding domestic abuse incidents and complaints, and law enforcement reports following a domestic abuse incident. ACT 323
SB-448. The sales and use tax exemption for equipment used in a fertilizer blending, feed milling, or grain drying operation. ACT 324.
AB-824. Enforcement of parking violations involving spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. ACT 325
AB-825. Parking violations involving spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. ACT 326
AB-828. Parking spaces reserved for persons with physical disabilities. ACT 327
AB-226. Grants to technical college district boards under the Workforce Advancement Training Program. ACT 328
AB-260. Enrollment requirements for recipients of talent incentive grants. ACT 329
AB-532. Changing the names, Wisconsin higher education grants, and tuition grants, to Wisconsin grants. ACT 330
SB-63. The composition of the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board. ACT 331
AB-515. Rule-making procedures and repealing various rules promulgated by the Department of Workforce Development. ACT 332
AB-494. The waiver of fees imposed on waste disposal of at a solid or hazardous waste disposal facility. ACT 333
SB-451. Extended out-of-home care to 21 years of age for children with individualized education programs, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from rule-making procedures, and granting rule-making authority. ACT 334
AB-674. Placement of a child in a shelter care facility under a voluntary agreement. ACT 335
SB-540. Authorizing a school board to create a capital improvement trust fund. ACT 336
SB-504. Waiver of a parent’s right to counsel in a contested adoption or an involuntary termination of parental rights proceeding for failure to personally appear as ordered by the juvenile court. ACT 337
AB-612. Allowing a victim of a crime to view portions of a presentence investigation report. ACT 338
SB-498. Notifications concerning the assertion of rights under a patent or pending patent. ACT 339
AB-488. Involuntary commitment proceedings and limited appearance by corporation counsel. ACT 340
AB-552. The definition and practice of dentistry for professional licensing purposes. ACT 341
SB-599. Accessing and obtaining patient health records by public defenders. ACT 342
SB-668. Notifications to law enforcement officers and dissemination to the public when registered out-of-state sex offenders enter a community. ACT 343
AB-270. Additional providers in the volunteer health care provider program and proof of financial responsibility and malpractice insurance requirements for certain advanced practice nurses serving as volunteer health care providers. ACT 344
SB-518. A duty of podiatrists, chiropractors, dentists, and optometrists to inform patients of treatment options and granting rule-making authority. ACT 345
AB-5. Sales and property tax exemptions for property used by commercial radio and television stations. ACT 346
AB-410. Nonconforming uses and manufactured home communities. ACT 347
AB-409. Investigation of deaths involving a law enforcement officer. ACT 348
AB-107. An entertainer’s surety bond. ACT 349
AB-124. Inattentive driving. ACT 350
SB-325. Controlled substances. ACT 351
SB-437. Designation of agricultural enterprise areas. ACT 352
SB-482. Snowmobile safety program field training requirements. ACT 353
SB-311. A dental hygienist’s administration of nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia and practice of dental hygiene. ACT 354
SB-75. Operating certain three-vehicle combinations on highways. ACT 355
SB-395. Cosmetologist training hours and exemption of makeup artists from barbering and cosmetology licensure requirements. ACT 356
SB-212. Instructional programs for nurse aides. ACT 357
AB-506. Professional land surveyors; the practice of professional land surveying; surveying land abutting navigable waters; various changes regarding platting, surveying, and certified maps. ACT 358
SB-387. Use of special identification cards for persons with physical disabilities. ACT 359
SB-534. The regulation of mortgage loan originators, mortgage brokers, and mortgage bankers. ACT 360
AB-516. Rule-making procedures and modifying certain rules promulgated by the Department of Workforce Development for the administration of the laws governing traveling sales crews. ACT 361
AB-620. Human trafficking, human trafficking victims, property forfeitures, rights of victims, admitting evidence of past actions, definitions of certain offenses. ACT 362
AB-262. Motor vehicle registration, motor carrier appeals, rulemaking procedures, and modifying and repealing various rules promulgated by the Department of Transportation. ACT 363
AB-278. Definition of common motor carrier. ACT 364
AB-714. Yielding to an overtaking vehicle. ACT 365
AB-715. The cancellation of a motor vehicle title or registration for fraud on the Department of Transportation. ACT 366
AB-716. Expiration of motor vehicle operator’s licenses issued after cancellation. ACT 367
AB-812. Fraudulent motor vehicle emission inspection reports. ACT 368
SB-341. The maximum width of, and projecting loads on, vehicles carrying poles, pipes, girders, and similar materials. ACT 369
SB-269. Penalties for violation of certain moped dealer and recreational vehicle dealer requirements. ACT 370
SB-270. Motorcycle operator’s licenses and rider courses. ACT 371
AB-429. Requirements for persons officiating at a marriage. ACT 372
AB-613. Modifying the duties of a county clerk; the counties in which a board of election commissioners is required; and staffing of a board of election commissioners in populous counties. ACT 373
AB-637. Adulterated, misbranded, and unsanitary food. ACT 374
AB-536. Prohibition on tracking the location of a cellular telephone by law enforcement without a warrant. ACT 375
SB-648. Allowing county and municipal prisoners to be imprisoned in a bordering county within or outside of the state. ACT 376
SB-509. Operation of agricultural vehicles on highways. ACT 377
SB-547. Adaptive management plans for reducing discharges of phosphorus and total suspended solids into the waters of the state and statewide variance to the water quality standard for phosphorus for certain dischargers. ACT 378
AB-17. The restoration of information from an original birth certificate after adoption. ACT 379
SB-499. Creating a property tax exemption for a nonprofit youth baseball association. ACT 380


If you would like to read the bill texts or track the status of these bills online, please feel free to visit the state legislative website at www.legis.state.wi.us and enter the proposal number in the column on the left.

 

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