The Assembly is set to vote next week on a resolution that calls for a constitutional convention. SJR 18/AJR 21, authored by Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown), proposes that Wisconsin apply to Congress for the calling of a constitutional convention to create an amendment requiring the federal government to operate under […]
JFC Continues Budget Votes (May 16-25)
Date Fri, May. 26, 2017 - 10:04am By Hamilton
May 16 Kicking off the third week of executive sessions, on Tuesday, May 16 the Joint Finance Committee continued to take votes on pieces of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 budget. The May 16 session included issues in Elections Commission, Ethics Commission, general items in the Department of Administration, care and treatment services in the […]
Bills of Note: Credit Card Skimmers
Date Thu, May. 25, 2017 - 3:04pm By Hamilton
Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) recently introduced a bill (SB 133/AB 196) that would criminalize credit card skimmers in Wisconsin. Credit card skimmers are small electronic devices that can be attached to card readers or ATMs that collect credit card information and lead to identity theft. The bill makes it […]
JFC Takes First Executive Action on 2017-19 State Budget
Date Fri, May. 12, 2017 - 10:13am By Hamilton
Monday, May 1 The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) held its first executive session on May 1 on Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 state budget. As with previous years, JFC typically takes up the less controversial, smaller budget items first and saves the big items – transportation, education and Medicaid – for last. Kicking off their […]
Bills of Note: REINS Act
Date Fri, May. 12, 2017 - 9:51am By Hamilton
On May 2, the Senate voted 19-14 to pass the REINS (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) Act. The bill (SB 15/AB 42) was reintroduced this session by Sen. Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Rep. Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) after passing the Assembly last session, but stalling in the Senate. The version passed by the […]
Floor Report: May 2 & 10
Date Fri, May. 12, 2017 - 9:21am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Senate and Assembly were in session on Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday, May 10 to take up a variety of bills. Notable in the Senate’s May 2 session was passage of the REINS Act. [link] The REINS (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) Act, SB 15, would require approval from the […]
Bills of Note: Clinician Training Grants
Date Thu, May. 11, 2017 - 4:31pm By Hamilton
Rep. Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake) and Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) recently introduced AB 227/SB 161, relating to clinician training grants. The bill would provide training grants to advanced practice clinicians (APCs) such as physician assistants and advanced practice nurses, especially in rural areas. The bill provides $750,000 per year for the next two years […]
JFC to Begin Taking Budget Votes Monday, May 1
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 10:27am By Hamilton
The legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will begin taking votes on the 2017-19 budget on May 1. JFC plans to meet once the first week of May and then twice a week until they are finished. Typically, JFC begins their executive session with the less controversial budget proposals and saves the “big-ticket” items – transportation, […]
JFC Finishes Public Hearings
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 10:11am By Hamilton
Last week, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) held their second – and last – week of public hearings on Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 state budget. The first public hearings took place on April 3, 5 and 7. JFC heard from agency heads at the Capitol on March 28-30. They begin votes in executive session […]
PLAs and CBD Oil Bills Signed
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:33am By Hamilton
On Monday, April 17, Gov. Scott Walker signed into law 2017 Wisconsin Act 3, requiring government to be neutral regarding the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). On that same day, he also signed 2017 Wisconsin Act 4, which allows for possession of CBD oil with written documentation from a Wisconsin-licensed doctor. Act 3 requires […]