The State Senate has passed an amended version of the legislation that would allow a new arena to be built for the Milwaukee Bucks with state money. The Senate passed the amended legislation, Senate Bill 209, in a 21-10 vote with very mixed party lines. The Republican senators that voted for the legislation include Alberta […]
Bills of Note: 30 Bills Signed Into Law
Date Wed, Jul. 8, 2015 - 7:12pm By Hamilton
Governor Scott Walker signed 30 bills into law at the Capitol on July 1. This included bills relating to motorcycle lighting, air pollution, controlled substances for optometrists, microbeads, GPS tracking, camping units and election law changes. Motorcycle Lighting Introduced in March by Representative Jagler (R–Watertown) as Assembly Bill 100, this bill permits a motorcycle to […]
Bills of Note: Mergers and the TIF Bill Package
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:43am By Hamilton
This week in The Hamilton Consulting Group’s Bills of Note series, we provide you with an update on the status of each bill in the tax increment financing (TIF) bill package. In addition, we included an overview of the bill to merge the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and the Wisconsin Economic Development […]
Bills of Note: TIF and Screenings for Newborns
Date Thu, Mar. 5, 2015 - 7:22pm By Hamilton
In this week’s edition of Bills of Note, we update you on the tax increment financing (TIF) bill package and a bill that requires newborns be screened for lysosomal storage disorders. TIF Bill Package The tax increment financing bill package is a product of the 2014 Legislative Council study committee on TIF – also referred […]
Legislature in Midst of Extraordinary Session on “Right to Work”
Date Fri, Feb. 27, 2015 - 9:43am By Hamilton
Last week, legislative leaders announced an extraordinary session of the Wisconsin legislature to pass Right to Work legislation. Soon after the announcement, Governor Scott Walker said he would sign Right to Work into law if the bill reaches his desk. Right to Work laws are designed to protect employees from being forced to pay dues […]
TIF Bill Package to be Introduced
Date Thu, Feb. 12, 2015 - 5:51pm By Hamilton
The Joint Legislative Council recommended that the eight Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) bills submitted by the Legislative Council Study Committee on TIF be introduced to the full legislature with a 19-0 vote, with three members not present. The approval allows the eight TIF bills to advance into the normal legislative process. The recommendations are outlined […]
Assembly Republicans Release 2015-2016 Legislative Agenda
Date Wed, Oct. 29, 2014 - 3:34pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly Republicans have released their agenda for the 2015-2016 legislative session. Without surprise, the agenda reiterates Assembly Republicans’ commitment to lean government, low taxes, and a strong economy. The agenda also highlights education, child welfare, and public assistance policy. Here are some of their goals: Embracing Government Reform Controlling agency growth Continuing the Right to Rules Project […]
TIF and Structured Settlement Payments Study Committees to Meet Next Week
Date Thu, Oct. 2, 2014 - 3:15pm By Hamilton
Two Legislative Council Study Committees will be meeting next week on Thursday, October 9, at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and Hamilton Consulting will be there to follow the proceedings. The Study Committee on the Review of Tax Incremental Financing will meet at 10 AM on Thursday in Room 413 North. At the meeting, members of […]
WPRI Study Finds Long-Term Benefit in Lower Taxes
Date Thu, Oct. 2, 2014 - 2:03pm By Hamilton
A new Wisconsin Policy Research Institute study finds Wisconsin would “benefit long-term from lower taxes and a different tax mix.” The study continues by stating that “approximately 11.6 percent of personal income typically goes to pay an array of taxes – a higher percentage than in at least two-thirds of other states.” WPRI examined […]
Walker Signs TIF Bill with Bipartisan Support
Date Thu, Apr. 3, 2014 - 3:48pm By Hamilton
Governor Walker signed Senate Bill 252, which allows the Department of Revenue (DOR) to reduce the base value of certain tax increment finance districts that have suffered significant declines from their original values. As one of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) top legislative priorities, this bill is another example of the retooling that’s continually […]