On Feb. 6, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held a public hearing on two bills that would change agency rule-making process in Wisconsin. AB 384, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), would put expiration dates on administrative rules. SB 745, authored by Sen. David […]
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Regulatory Reform Bills
Date Fri, Feb. 16, 2018 - 9:44am By Hamilton
3M Legislative Day 2018
Date Fri, Feb. 2, 2018 - 10:13am By Hamilton
3M held their annual legislative day in Madison this week. With four plants in Wisconsin and as the manufacturer of products the state uses, 3M makes it a priority to have routine communication with legislators and policy makers on issues that are important to the company and the Wisconsin plants. Tuesday evening 3M had an […]
Bills of Note: PSC
Date Fri, Oct. 27, 2017 - 9:34am By Hamilton
The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin staff, as they have in previous sessions, have drafted a bill of modest process reforms for consideration by the legislature. This session, PSC staff are working legislation to: Exempt from the need for PSC approval a rebuild of an existing transmission line (and associated facilities) provided that not […]
Dane County Judge Vacates DNR-Approved Agricultural Well Permits
Date Fri, Oct. 13, 2017 - 11:13am By Hamilton
On October 11, Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn, Dane County Circuit Court, vacated seven high-capacity well permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and remanded another. Clean Wisconsin convinced the court DNR had a public trust duty to deny the permits despite no statutory language that requires such action. Clean Wisconsin filed the suit […]
Bills of Note: Nonferrous Mining
Date Fri, Sep. 15, 2017 - 9:08am By Hamilton
At the end of August, Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) and Rep. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) introduced a bill that would make changes to Wisconsin’s regulations on nonferrous metallic mineral mining. Among other provisions, the bill would: repeal the prohibition on sulfide ore permits, change the location at which groundwater standards may apply at nonferrous metallic mining […]
Signed by Governor: High Capacity Wells
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2017 - 4:46pm By Hamilton
On Thursday, June 1, Gov. Scott Walker signed into law 2017 Wisconsin Act 10 that changes statutes regarding the repair, replacement, reconstruction or transfer of high capacity wells. The legislation, authored by Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) eliminates the need for the Department of Natural Resources to provide additional approval for an owner of […]
Wisconsin Rural Water Association, Others Hold Municipal Government & Utility Day
Date Fri, May. 12, 2017 - 9:05am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA), joined by other municipal government and utility organizations, held the annual Municipal Government & Utility Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Wednesday. Local officials and utilities met with their legislators about issues impacting local governments and municipal utilities. Kicking off the day, Rep. Mike Kuglitsch, chair of the […]
Bills of Note: High Capacity Wells
Date Fri, Mar. 31, 2017 - 10:17am By Hamilton
Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) introduced legislation (SB 76) in February that would change laws regulating the repair, replacement, reconstruction or transfer of high capacity wells. Rep. Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel) introduced its counterpart AB 105 in the Assembly. The bill would eliminate the need for the Department of Natural Resources to provide additional approval […]
Bills of Note: Leading on Lead
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:32am By Hamilton
Sen. Cowles (R – Green Bay) and Rep. Thiesfeldt (R – Fond du Lac) recently introduced SB 48/AB 78, called “Leading on Lead Act.” The bill has received significant bipartisan support, with a total of 47 co-sponsors supporting the authors’ efforts. The bill allows water utilities to provide financial assistance to remove private lead laterals. […]
Gov. Walker Appoints New PSC Commissioner
Date Fri, Feb. 24, 2017 - 11:09am By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker announced this week that Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Lon Roberts will replace current Public Service Commissioner Phil Montgomery whose term on PSC ends next month. Montgomery had served 12 years in the Wisconsin Assembly before his six-year term on PSC. Roberts, Montgomery’s replacement, was a partner and president at a law […]