Economic Development Legislation Coming in 2016
Date Tue, Dec. 22, 2015 - 3:49pm By Hamilton
Senators Gudex and Darling announce Economic Development Plan Sen. Rick Gudex (R – Fond du Lac) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R – River Hills) announced last week their plans to introduce a series of bills designed to increase economic development across the state. According to their press release, the bill package will reduce red tape, […]
Bills of Note: Big Legislation Signed Into Law & Potential Residency Requirements for Contractors
Date Tue, Dec. 22, 2015 - 3:45pm By Hamilton
Governor Walker Signs GAB Overhaul and Campaign Finance Changes Governor Walker has signed two bills making changes to campaign finance laws and splitting the Government Accountability Board (GAB) into an Elections Commission and an Ethics Commission. Walker partially vetoed the GAB bill, modifying it to require lawmakers from both parties to provide the governor with […]
UPDATE: Redistricting Lawsuit Moves Forward
Date Tue, Dec. 22, 2015 - 3:39pm By Hamilton
Last week, a panel of three federal judges ruled that a case filed by twelve Wisconsin Democrats against the state’s legislative redistricting plan can move forward. The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), representing Government Accountability Board (GAB), had argued that the plaintiffs lacked standing to file suit, as they did not have a challenger from […]
State Supreme Court Primary Election – February 16
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:56am By Hamilton
The race started off unusually early this year with two candidates declaring their candidacies in mid-June. They are Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Joe Donald and State Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Kloppenburg. Judge Donald was appointed to the bench in 1996. Judge Kloppenburg was elected to the state court of appeals in 2012. Following Justice […]
New North Summit Meets in Oshkosh
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:51am By Hamilton
Business leaders from across Northeast Wisconsin attended the 12th Annual New North Summit in Oshkosh last week to discuss ways to develop business and recruit jobs to the area. New North Inc. is an organization comprising of business leaders in 18 counties in Northeast Wisconsin. The summit focused on ways to recruit IT and manufacturing […]
Collateral Source Legislation Introduced
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:50am By Hamilton
Assembly Bill 539/Senate Bill 405, introduced by Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), would allow evidence of payments to be submitted as evidence in personal injury or underinsured motorist cases when a jury must decide on the reasonable value of a claim. Under current law, defendants are not allowed to introduce […]
Legislation Would Limit Liability for Sponsors of Minor Drivers
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:44am By Hamilton
A new bill that would limit the liability imputed to a parent or other adult sponsor of a minor’s driver’s license was reviewed during a public hearing in the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary this week. Assembly Bill 540/Senate Bill 408, which was introduced by Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), […]
Legislation Introduced to Allow Purchase of Water & Sewer Utilities
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:38am By Hamilton
Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) have introduced Assembly Bill 554/Senate Bill 432, which creates a process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease water or sewer utilities in Wisconsin. Under current law, if a municipality seeks to sell or lease any utility, the municipality must first pass a […]
Congress Passes Long-Term Transportation Bill
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:36am By Hamilton
In early December, Congress passed the Fixing America’s Transportation Act (FAST ACT) with bipartisan support. The legislation provides funding to improve surface transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit systems and passenger rail network. The bill will provide $305 billion in funding over the next five years. This is the first long-term transportation bill in a […]