The very first bill I had signed into law after becoming an elected representative was the "Slow Down TO Get Around" bill which doubled the fines for moving violations committed while going around sanitation trucks. A constituent of mine had lost a leg while doing his job and I believed we needed to take action to help prevent these sort of accidents from happening in the future.
Unfortunately in 2018, another horrific accident resulted in the death of three girl scouts and one adult who were volunteering picking up trash as part of the Adopt-a-Highway program. This has led to the drafting of another bill designed to help increase safety for those who are doing a public service on our roads.
I along with Rep. William Penterman drafted SB 653 which will double the fines for motorists who fail to follow traffic laws through the designated cleanup area.
Our bill had its first hearing last week and I'm hopeful we can get it before the governor in short time. I know we cannot stop every tragedy like this from happening, but we can always take steps in the aftermath to help reduce the likelihood of them occurring.
Business Plan Contest
Since its inception in 2004, the mission of the Governor’s Business Plan Contest has been to encourage entrepreneurs in the startup stage of tech-enabled businesses in Wisconsin. The contest links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert advice, high-quality education, management talent and possible sources of capital.
To get started, contestants must create a simple account at govsbizplancontest.com. All entries are submitted through the website.
Wisconsin residents 18 years old and older are eligible, as are teams from Wisconsin-based businesses, schools and more. Businesses or teams from outside the state are also eligible to compete if they demonstrate intent to base or expand their business in Wisconsin. Entrepreneurs may also enter multiple ideas, though each idea must be separate and distinct.
Companies or individuals that have not received angel or venture capital in the current form are eligible to enter. The 2022 competition will take place in stages, including a new pitch deck for phase 3.
In Phase 1, which is open until 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, 2022, the contest will accept idea abstracts on the website. Entries should be roughly 250 words (or no more than 2,000 characters, including spaces) and will be graded by the pool of BPC judges.
The top 50 idea abstracts will advance to Phase 2. In Phase 2, which runs from Feb. 18 to 5 p.m. March 12, 2022, the top 50 idea abstracts will submit an executive summary.
The top 20 executive summaries will advance to Phase 3. A mentored “boot camp” for contestants will be held during this phase. In Phase 3, which runs from April 4 to 5 p.m. April 25, 2022, the top 20 executive summaries will prepare “pitch decks” with voiceover audio up to 15 minutes long. Contestants in Phase 3 will get a free six-month license to use the AirDeck Inc. platform to build their pitches. Judges will review the videos and pick three finalists from each of the four categories to advance to the final live presentation round. Mentored practice sessions will be offered to the top 12 in late May. The top 12, or “Diligent Dozen,” will square off with live presentations during the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in June 2022.
To enter, become a judge or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit govsbizplancontest.com.
