The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) met for three days this week to hear testimony from state agencies on the governor’s proposed budget. Legislators posed questions to the department secretaries on the implementation of budget proposals and asked other questions pertaining to agency services. On Tuesday, March 28, legislators heard from the Department of Administration (DOA), […]
JFC Holds Agency Briefings
Date Fri, Mar. 31, 2017 - 10:45am By Hamilton
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) met for three days this week to hear testimony from state agencies on the governor’s proposed budget. Legislators questioned department heads on the implementation of budget proposals, and inquired about various agency services. Both Republicans and Democrats on JFC posed tough questions on the budget’s biggest proposals, including moving state […]
Special Session Bills Move Through Committees
Date Fri, Mar. 31, 2017 - 10:21am By Hamilton
The Joint Finance Committee acted this week on several special session bills as part of Wisconsin’s Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda. Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) introduced 11 special session bills in late February, and committee hearings took place in March. We anticipate the legislature will be on the floor the first week of […]
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 […]
School Start Date Legislation Re-emerges
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 10:09am By Hamilton
It was less than 20 years ago when the tourism industry successfully lobbied the legislature to pass a law that required schools to start on or after Sept. 1. Since its implementation, the industry has had to defend why this policy change has been good for the state of Wisconsin. Sen. Alberta Darling (R – […]
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. […]
Floor Report: March 7 and March 9
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:30am By Hamilton
Both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature were on the floor this week to take up a variety of bills. The Assembly and Senate convened on Tuesday, March 7 and the Assembly went back in on Thursday, March 9. Below is a summary of some of the highlights. On Tuesday, the Senate voted on Senate […]
Special Session Bills Update
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:26am By Hamilton
Rep. John Nygren (R – Marinette), co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, and a leader on Heroin, Opiate, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Agenda, introduced 11 special session bills on opioid abuse in late February. Companion bills were also introduced in the Senate. Assembly and Senate Committees have begun to hold hearings and […]
Opioid Special Session Bills Introduced
Date Fri, Feb. 24, 2017 - 11:59am By Hamilton
Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, and a leader on opioid abuse legislation, introduced 11 special session bills on opioid abuse in the Assembly. The bills were also introduced in the Senate by the Committee on Senate Organization. The bills are being scheduled for hearings in the upcoming […]
Joint Audit Committee Holds DOT Audit Hearing
Date Fri, Feb. 24, 2017 - 11:28am By Hamilton
The Joint Audit Committee held a public hearing Wednesday, Feb. 22 on the January audit of the Department Transportation’s highway program. The audit found increased expenditures, inaccurate cost estimates and deteriorating state roads. At the beginning of the hearing, the committee questioned the two state auditors. Legislators expressed concern about the upcoming DOT budget. Joint […]