Passed in the Senate: Limits on Liability Imputed to an Adult Sponsor of a Minor Driver

Sen. Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) have championed legislation to limit the liability that may be imputed to an innocent parent or other adult who sponsors a person under the age of 18 in obtaining a motor vehicle operator’s license. Under current Wisconsin law, Wisconsin is one of only eight states in which […]

Continue Reading ›

Economic Development Legislation Coming in 2016

Senators Gudex and Darling announce Economic Development Plan Sen. Rick Gudex (R – Fond du Lac) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R – River Hills) announced last week their plans to introduce a series of bills designed to increase economic development across the state. According to their press release, the bill package will reduce red tape, […]

Continue Reading ›

Collateral Source Legislation Introduced

Assembly Bill 539/Senate Bill 405, introduced by Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), would allow evidence of payments to be submitted as evidence in personal injury or underinsured motorist cases when a jury must decide on the reasonable value of a claim. Under current law, defendants are not allowed to introduce […]

Continue Reading ›

Legislation Would Limit Liability for Sponsors of Minor Drivers

A new bill that would limit the liability imputed to a parent or other adult sponsor of a minor’s driver’s license was reviewed during a public hearing in the Assembly Committee on the Judiciary this week. Assembly Bill 540/Senate Bill 408, which was introduced by Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), […]

Continue Reading ›

Legislation Introduced to Allow Purchase of Water & Sewer Utilities

Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) have introduced Assembly Bill 554/Senate Bill 432, which creates a process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease water or sewer utilities in Wisconsin. Under current law, if a municipality seeks to sell or lease any utility, the municipality must first pass a […]

Continue Reading ›

Sen. Gudex Will Not Seek Re-election

Senator Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) recently announced he would not be seeking re-election to the 18 Senate District. The first term state senator was elected in 2012 and will complete his four year term following the 2016 fall election cycle. Sen. Gudex, the president pro tempore of the Senate, serves on the Committee on […]

Continue Reading ›

What’s Left?

This week the legislature adjourned their fall floor period and Extraordinary Sessions for 2015. With the passage of John Doe, Campaign Finance, and Government Accountability Board reforms many wonder, what’s left? Yesterday’s Marquette Law School poll identified waning support for both political parties in the legislature, which means passing policies that message well at home […]

Continue Reading ›

Legislature Passes GAB Reform

On Monday, the Assembly met in an Extraordinary Session to pass the final changes to the bill that eliminates Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board (GAB). GAB was under fire from Wisconsin Republicans for not living up to its intended mission as an independent board controlled by non-partisan judges. Republican legislators believed the Board was led by […]

Continue Reading ›

Legislature Seeks More Control Over State Employee Health Insurance Programs

Private Consultant Concludes State Could Save Up to $50 Million, Annually, if State Self-Insures Monday, November 16, the Assembly concurred in legislation passed by the Senate to give the legislature more control and authority over state employee health insurance programs. Joint Committee on Finance Co-Chairpersons Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) […]

Continue Reading ›

Legislature Attempting to Exert Additional Control Over State Employee Health Insurance Plan

Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairpersons Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) introduced and championed Assembly Bill 394 to empower JFC to review and approve changes proposed by the Group Insurance Board to the health plan for state employees. The assembly passed AB 394 by a vote of 90-2 on October 27. Friday, […]

Continue Reading ›