Mary speaks on the Assembly Floor during passage of AB 407

Assembly Bill 407, legislation to provide additional funds for the Wisconsin Snowmobile Program, advanced through the state Assembly during floor session last night. The bill was passed by a wide bipartisan margin of 89-6.

Snowmobilers have a proud tradition of independent funding, and for over a decade have asked for this opportunity to generate much needed additional revenue. AB 407 brings Wisconsin’s trail user fees in line with neighboring states, and will provide a more reliable level of funding to maintain the Northwoods as a premier riding destination.

As the local tavern, restaurant and lodging owners know, a good snow here is like “pennies from heaven.” Recent years with little to no snowfall had left the Snowmobile Program Fund depleted and severely delayed trail work projects. We know the volunteer base needed to maintain the trails has also been declining, as older riders age and young people coming into the sport have many more competing interests for their time.

AB 407 will breathe new life into the snowmobile program to address these recent trends. The bill, with limited exceptions, requires all snowmobiles to display an annual trail use sticker, generating millions in extra revenue for trail funds. Previously, this sticker had been required only for snowmobiles not registered in Wisconsin.

The bill also encourages trail volunteers and new rider recruits by providing the option of a discounted trail pass for members of a local snowmobile club. The trail sticker rates are as follows: $30 resident user; $10 club member; $50 non-resident user, non-club member. Under the bill, snowmobile registration will transition to a 3-year cycle, remaining at the current $30 amount.

As the author of this legislation I worked to garner the support of both the Governor’s Council on Snowmobile Recreation, and the statewide Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs. It also gained major support from the tavern and restaurant industries, along with lodging groups and other tourism organizations.

The bill is expected to be taken up in the state Senate in early March.
 

This week I introduced Assembly Bill 770 along with Sen. Tom Tiffany and Rep. John Nygren to create a heating assistance loan guarantee program. This effort is another piece of the puzzle to alleviate the financial burden the propane crisis has placed on Wisconsin residents. The bill will help middle-class homeowners acquire low-interest loans, guaranteed in part by the state, to purchase propane and other heating supplies.

We know that thousands of people across our state understandably did not budget for this crisis and do not have enough money to pay their heating bills. In addition to the assistance currently available for low income individuals, this bill will help ensure those in the middle class are also able to pay their propane bills and heating expenses.

In January, Governor Walker declared a state of emergency due to the propane shortage and established a $3 million loan guarantee program, administered through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) which has provided propane dealers with financing so they can quickly purchase and distribute propane to those in need. Assembly Bill 770 works by targeting assistance at consumers that don’t qualify for low income assistance through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP).

Homeowners will be able to acquire low-interest loans to purchase propane or other heating supplies that are approved by WHEDA. Similar to the drought assistance program that currently exists, WHEDA will guarantee the loans and pay a portion of the interest rate charged. The loans cannot exceed $2,500 and to be eligible a borrower’s household income cannot exceed 200 percent of the median family income in the county in which they reside.

Assembly Bill 770 was passed by the state Assembly during floor session last night by a vote of 94 – 1. The bill now heads to the state Senate.

 Today, Governor Scott Walker announced an additional $500,000 has been released from the Department of Administration’s Division of Energy Services to the Keep Wisconsin Warm Fund (KWWF). KWWF is a statewide, non-profit charitable organization that provides energy-related crisis assistance.

The state funding comes from Wisconsin’s federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. By law, the State must use LIHEAP funds to assist citizens at or below 60 percent of the state median income. For a family of four, 60 percent of the state median income is $47,485.

The additional state funding directed to KWWF for resident’s meeting the federal low-income eligibility requirements will allow KWWF to redeploy existing private contributions to help citizens between 61 and 80 percent of state median income who do not qualify for traditional low-income energy assistance.

“I would encourage every citizen and company in the state who is able to make a contribution to the Keep Wisconsin Warm Fund to do so,” Governor Walker said. “Even with rising temperatures, the supply and financial impacts of the propane shortage will be with us for a while. Wisconsinites coming together to help those most in need is yet another example of the fine character of the people of this state.”

Previously, the state released $1 million to KWWF in January to ensure as many people as possible can be assisted during the propane shortage. The Keep Wisconsin Warm Fund has agreed to temporarily allow an increase in their income limit for propane households from 61 percent of State Median Income (SMI) to 80 percent SMI, will allow propane households to potentially receive an increased maximum benefit of $600, and has temporarily adjusted their policy to allow propane households the ability to potentially receive two benefit payments in a year. Through KWWF, over $750,000 has already been distributed to citizens between the 60-80 percent range.

The Governor has also announced additional state resources to aid in this crisis. WHEDA is making it easier for small businesses to obtain fuel, by expanding its $3 million Propane Guarantee Program created last week specifically for propane dealers following Governor Walker’s declaration of a State of Emergency. Under the expansion, existing small businesses would also be allowed to apply to purchase propane or propane equipment. The application and approval process is being streamlined to help businesses make purchases more quickly.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that Wisconsin residents can get propane in their tanks,” said Governor Walker. “While there is no silver bullet that will fix the current propane crisis, my administration has been moving forward with initiatives aimed at helping residents across the state keep the heat on during this bitterly cold winter.”

WHEDA is taking on greater risk because it will be providing loan guarantees to businesses across a spectrum of industries. To mitigate the additional risk, the guarantee will be limited to the lesser of 50 percent of the loan amount or $25,000 per borrower. The borrower will also be required to sign a personal guarantee. The lender will share at least half the risk on the loan, thereby limiting the number of high risk loan guarantee applications that are submitted.

The expansion of and changes to the Propane Guarantee Program were approved last Friday by WHEDA’s Internal and Members Loan Committees. For more information on resources to help deal with the current propane crisis available through WEDC, please visit www.inwisconsin.com. For more information about WHEDA’s expanded Propane Guarantee Program, please visit www.wheda.com.

Thank you to all who attended last week’s meeting with DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp in Antigo. We had nearly 75 people present, some of whom drove quite long distances to attend. Main topics of discussion included deer management, Managed Forest Law, the wetland permitting process, and shoreland zoning.

DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and Northern Region Director John Gozdzialski with Mary Czaja