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 […]
Legislation Introduced to Allow Purchase of Water & Sewer Utilities
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:38am By Hamilton
Sen. Gudex Will Not Seek Re-election
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:34am By Hamilton
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 […]
What’s Left?
Date Fri, Nov. 20, 2015 - 12:18pm By Hamilton
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 […]
Legislature Passes GAB Reform
Date Fri, Nov. 20, 2015 - 12:14pm By Hamilton
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 […]
Legislature Seeks More Control Over State Employee Health Insurance Programs
Date Fri, Nov. 20, 2015 - 11:50am By Hamilton
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) […]
Legislature Attempting to Exert Additional Control Over State Employee Health Insurance Plan
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2015 - 10:46am By Hamilton
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, […]
Structured Settlements Bill Signed Into Law
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2015 - 10:43am By Hamilton
Governor Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 129 into law this week, creating a new set of statues to govern the transfer of structured settlement payments. With the bill’s signing, Wisconsin joined 48 other states that previously had structured settlement transfer provisions already in place. In response to structured settlement rules at the federal level codified […]
Legislature Releases $350 Million in Additional Bonding for Transportation
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2015 - 10:37am By Hamilton
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) has approved a motion to release $350 million in bonding for transportation projects. The motion will allow $200 million in bonding for 2015-2016, and $150 million in 2016-2017. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requested $200 million on October 19, which would require JFC to approve the request with no […]
Building Materials Tax Exemption Passed by Senate
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2015 - 10:34am By Hamilton
In an extraordinary session last week the Senate passed Senate Bill 227, a bill that will allow contractors to directly purchase construction materials on behalf of their tax-exempt clients without paying the sales tax. The proposal was originally included in the tax reform package of the budget by the Joint Finance Committee. However, the governor […]
Senate Passes Campaign Finance Reforms Bill with Significant Changes to Coordination Restrictions
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2015 - 10:31am By Hamilton
New campaign finance reforms continue to make their way through the legislative process. The reforms completely rewrite Chapter 11 in Wisconsin statutes and make significant changes. The Senate passed the bill 17-15 with an amendment, which made the following changes to the bill: Lowers the monetary threshold triggering registration for political action committees (PACs) and […]