Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David T. Prosser Jr. has announced he will retire from the highest court in Wisconsin later this summer with four years left in his term. In his letter of resignation Justice Prosser said, “Public service was the career I chose at an early age. The goal has been fulfilled… For me, […]
Law Creates New Funding Stream for Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
Date Thu, May. 5, 2016 - 2:32pm By Hamilton
A bill that would create a new dedicated funding stream for law enforcement to fight internet crimes against children was signed by Gov. Scott Walker as 2015 Wisconsin Act 369 in April 2016. The law transfers $1 million from an existing appropriation for drug law enforcement to a new appropriation for investigating internet crimes against […]
New MU Law Poll: Cruz leads; Bradley gains on Kloppenburg; Walker’s approval rating improves
Date Thu, Mar. 31, 2016 - 11:47am By Hamilton
The nation’s politicos are buzzing after the Marquette Law School Poll found Ted Cruz is up with a ten-point lead over Donald Trump in the April 5 Wisconsin presidential primary. If Trump loses in Wisconsin, the GOP is one step closer to a brokered or contested convention. Among the Republican candidates, Trump has led in […]
Tobacco License Bill Signed by Governor
Date Thu, Mar. 31, 2016 - 10:33am By Hamilton
Assembly Bill 628/Senate Bill 528, authored by Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) makes changes to the circumstances and procedures under which the city of Milwaukee can suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a cigarette and tobacco products retailer license. The legislation passed the Senate and the Assembly via voice votes […]
Signed into Law: Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail
Date Thu, Mar. 31, 2016 - 10:29am By Hamilton
On March 21, the governor signed Assembly Bill 512 into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 270, creating a new “Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail” through Wisconsin. The bipartisan bill passed the Assembly and Senate a few weeks before. Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville), Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) introduced the legislation, […]
Signed into Law: Tourism Entity Clarified
Date Wed, Mar. 30, 2016 - 3:52pm By Hamilton
On March 30, Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 714 into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 301, clarifying the definition of a tourism entity that collects room tax. The bill recently passed the Assembly and Senate with no opposition. The legislation, authored by Rep. Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah) and Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton), makes technical changes to […]
Social and Financial Impact for Health Care Mandates Legislation Signed into law
Date Wed, Mar. 30, 2016 - 3:50pm By Hamilton
On March 30, Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 543 into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 288. Authored by Rep. John Jagler (R-Watertown) and Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield), Act 288 prevents the legislature from holding a hearing on or taking a vote on legislation that creates new health care insurance mandates until after it has received a […]
PSC Reform Bill Signed into Law
Date Wed, Mar. 30, 2016 - 3:45pm By Hamilton
On March 30, 2016, Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 804, otherwise known as the Public Service Commission (PSC) Reform Bill, into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 299. Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) introduced Assembly Bill 804 and Senate Bill 654. The PSC developed the legislation through many discussions with PSC […]
Signed into Law: Prohibition of Regulating Auxiliary Containers
Date Wed, Mar. 30, 2016 - 3:43pm By Hamilton
On March 30, amongst many other bills, Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 730 into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 302. The law prohibits political subdivisions from regulating auxiliary containers. More specifically, a city, village, town, or county cannot regulate the use of or create a fee for containers (bag, cup, bottle, etc.) made of cloth, […]
Group Hails Civil Litigation Reform Successes – Some Offense, Some Defense
Date Wed, Mar. 30, 2016 - 3:25pm By Hamilton
According to their end of session lookback, Wisconsin Civil Justice Council continued to advance civil litigation reforms this past session, albeit without the sweeping reforms seen in the prior two sessions. WCJC recently released their end of session report noting the following enacted reforms: Repeal of “False Claims for Medical Assistance Act” – Signed into […]