Seven More Marklein Proposals Pass the Senate
Successful 2017-18 Legislative Session Comes to a Close

 
MADISON – Six bills and one resolution authored by State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) passed the State Senate today. In total, more than 30 initiatives authored by Senator Marklein became law during the 2017-18 Legislative Session.
 
The bills passed today authored by Senator Marklein include:
 
Assembly Joint Resolution 100 –Whitespace: Encourages the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable use of “white-space” technology, the unused spectrum between TV channels, which can deliver internet access faster and more efficiently.
 
Assembly Bill (AB) 917 – Telecommuter Forward! Certification: Creates certification for communities with great broadband to promote themselves to telecommuters and employers who hire them.
 
AB 356 – EMT License Renewal Extension: Extends the licenses for EMT and first responders from two to three years, reducing the burden on overworked, rural volunteers.
 
AB 259 – Federal Tax Compliance: Conform portions of the Wisconsin tax code to recent changes in the Internal Revenue Code made through the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, minimizing confusion for individuals and businesses when filing taxes.
 
AB 766 – Traveling Sport Medicine Professionals: Allows doctors on sports teams visiting Wisconsin to treat members of their team without fear or professional risk.
 
AB 822 – Financial Institution Modernization Act: Makes a number of statutory improvements to update regulations for banks and credit unions, and seeks to level the playing field among state-chartered and federally-chartered financial institutions in Wisconsin.
 
AB 897 – Investing in Early Stage Business: Eliminates an additional fee for a Qualified New Business Venture that is headquartered in Wisconsin, but has incorporated in another state. Wisconsin was the only state to charge this fee before any revenue has been earned.
 
“The Telecommuter Forward! Certification program will be a helpful promotional tool for communities with great broadband to market themselves as ideal places for telecommuters to live and for businesses to recruit,” Marklein said. “This bill builds on the Broadband Forward! Certification program I authored which passed into law last session and the $11 million more allocated for Rural Broadband Expansion Grants I championed in the state budget.”
 
“Rural communities are struggling to attract and retain volunteer first responders and emergency medical technicians due in part to burdensome regulations. Assembly Bill 356 extends the licenses for EMT and first responders from two to three years, reducing the burden on overworked, rural volunteers without putting the safety of our communities at risk,” Marklein said.