This month Gov. Walker has signed 56 pieces of legislation into law, nearly doubling the number of Acts in the books for the 2013 Legislative Session.

Senate Bill 274 – With this legislation, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development expects they will be able to serve approximately 23,000 jobseekers with disabilities over the next two years. The legislation increases state funding for vocational rehabilitation services by $2,108,900 for the 2013-2014 fiscal year and $2,096,700 in the 2014-2015 fiscal year. This allows the Department of Workforce Development to receive federal funds of $7,792,000 in 2013-2014 and $7,747,000 in 2014-2015. The federal funding is only available with a 21.3 percent state match. Sen. Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Rep. Shankland (D-Stevens Point) sponsored the legislation. This is Act 58.

Senate Bill 331 – Beginning in the 2014–15 school year, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will provide incentive grants to school districts that promote career and technical education programs. For every pupil that completes an approved, industry-recognized certification program, the DPI will award grants of $1,000 per pupil to school districts. Senate Bill 331 was authored by Sen. Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) and Rep. Petryk (R-Eleva). The bill unanimously passed both the Senate and Assembly and is Act 59.

Senate Bill 334 – Awards scholarships in conjunction with the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) to students of excellence that are enrolled fulltime at a technical college. Between one and six scholarships will be available at each school, depending on the number of students. HEAB will fund $1,125 of the scholarship with a matching contribution from the technical college. Senate Bill 334 was authored by Sen. Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) and Rep. Krug (R-Town of Rome). The bill unanimously passed the Senate and passed the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. It is Act 60.

Assembly Bill 194 – Allows the hunt of certain animals with a crossbow and establishes an open season for hunting with a crossbow and information to be included on certain hunting licenses applications and certain hunting tags. Sen. Farrow (R-Pewaukee) and Rep. Czaja (R-Irma) authored this legislation, which passed the Senate on a voice vote and concurred by the Assembly with strong bi-partisan support. The bill is Wisconsin Act 61.

October Special Session Assembly Bill 4 – This measure doubles the incentive to preserve historic structures built before 1936 by increasing state tax credits from 10 percent to 20 percent of the restoration budget. Sen. Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and Rep. Vos (R-Rochester) sponsored the bill, which passed the Senate on 31-2 vote and the Assembly on a 88-4 vote. The bill is Act 62.

Senate Bill 51 – The legislation increases the minimum number of required math and science credits for high school students from two to three, gives school boards the flexibility to count one qualifying computer science course as a math credit, and allows students to count one math or science credit toward completion of a career and technical education course. The bill was introduced by the Joint Legislative Council and shepherded by Sen. Olsen (R-Ripon) and Rep. Klenke (R-Green Bay). It is Act 63.

Assembly Bill 380 – Creates a cumulative preference system for applicants for each year they do not receive a sturgeon spearing permit, and changes the start date that permits can be transferred to minors from Nov. 1 to October 1 of each year. Sen. Ellis (R-Neenah) and Rep. Steineke (R-Kaukauna) authored this bill, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 64.

Assembly Bill 61 – Allows retailers to file civil action against underage individuals who attempt to purchase alcohol. Sen. Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) and Rep. Jacque (R-De Pere) authored the legislation, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 65.

Senate Bill 290 – Requires mortgage servicers to provide a payoff statement that closing agents can rely upon and reduces the delay in receiving a clear title for homeowners. Sen. Harsdorf (R-River Falls) and Rep. Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) authored Act 66, which passed the Senate 32-1 and passed the Assembly on a voice vote.

Senate Bill 310 – Clarifies the definition of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and a utility-terrain vehicle (UTV) and corrects current statutory language regarding crossings at a bridge, culvert, or railroad. Sen. Harsdorf (R-River Falls) and Rep. Severson (R-Osceola) authored the bill, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 67.

Assembly Bill 174 – Streamlines the payment of county medical examiners by removing the stipulation that they be paid semimonthly. Sen. Harsdorf (R-River Falls) and Rep. Murtha (R-Baldwin) authored the bill, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on a voice votes. The bill is Act 68.

Senate Bill 189 – Allows the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish an electronic means to receive reports of statutory violations, and gives DNR authority to use its current citation procedure when regulating discharge of certain materials into wetlands. Sen. Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) and Rep. Mursau (R-Crivitz) authored the bill, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on a voice votes. The bill is Act 69.

Senate Bill 190 – Eliminates the requirement that publicly owned sewage treatment or collection systems have more than one wastewater discharge permit. Sen. Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) and Rep. Ott (R-Forest Junction) authored Act 70, which passed both houses by unanimous consent.

Assembly Bill 8 – Prohibits local governments from imposing restrictions on hunting with a bow and arrow or crossbow within a municipality except within 100 yards of a building, unless the owner of the building allows such hunting. Rep. Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) and Sen. Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) authored Act 71.

Senate Bill 134 – Authorizes the DNR to spend up to $564,500 each fiscal year on sea lamprey control activities. Act 72 was authored by Sen. Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Rep. Weininger (R-Green Bay). It unanimously passed both houses.

Assembly Bill 373 – Allows property and casualty insurance providers to deliver electronic notices and documents, if the consumer has given consent. Sen. Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Weininger (R-Green Bay) authored the bill, which passed the Senate and Assembly on a voice vote. The bill is Act 73.

Senate Bill 314 – Streamlines application permits for related residential, commercial, or industrial development. Sen. Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Murphy (R-Greenville) authored the legislation, which passed the Senate 18-15 and unanimously passed the Assembly. The bill is Act 74.

Assembly Bill 352 – Allows for the placement of net pens in navigable waters with a statewide general permit. Sen. Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Bies (R-Sister Bay) authored Act 75, which passed both houses with strong bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 179 — Modifies landlord-tenant law concerning notices of domestic abuse, the recovery of damages, and abandoned property. Sen. Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) authored Act 76.

Assembly Bill 119 – Permits merchants to sale a more effective pepper spray and allows minors to carry pepper spray when it is purchased by their parents. Sen. Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) authored Act 77, which passed on a voice vote in both houses.

Assembly Bill 248 – Simplifies the process for parents and guardians who are trying to put a security freeze on the credit report of a minor, or those over the age of 16. Sen. Schultz (R-Richland Center) and Rep. Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) authored the bill, which via voice vote. The bill is Act 78.

Senate Bill 40 – Allows law enforcement officers to search residence or property of certain individuals on parole or under supervision, if the individual is believed to have committed a crime or is in violation of the terms of their probation. Sen. Leibham (R-Sheboygan) and Rep. Endsley (R-Sheboygan) authored the legislation, which passed the Senate and Assembly on a voice vote. The bill is Act 79.

Senate Bill 183 – Voids county shoreland zoning ordinances when an area is incorporated. Sen.Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) and Rep. Mursau (R-Crivitz) authored Act 80.

Senate Bill 278 – Limits public access to managed forest land that is located in a proposed mining site. Sen.Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) and Rep. Schraa (R-Oshkosh) authored Act 81.

Assembly Bill 359 – Allows the DNR to lease state forest land within the town of Boulder Junction to the Boulder Junction Shooting Range for a maximum term of 30 years. Sen. Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) and Rep.Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) authored the bill, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 82.

Assembly Bill 62 – Broadens the definition of an “intoxicant” to include substances that are inhaled ingested, or consumed. Rep. Bies (R-Sister Bay) and Sen. Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) authored Act 83, which passed both houses on voice votes.

Assembly Bill 28 – Aligns the state’s laws regarding sexually violent persons with recent psychological standards and treatments. The Joint Legislative Council authored Act 84, which passed both houses on voice votes.

Assembly Bill 30 – Clarifies the law governing the transportation of game into Wisconsin from another state or from tribal land. The Joint Legislative Council’s Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations authored Act 85, which passed both houses on voice votes.

Senate Bill 346 – Eliminates grants for stage II vapor recovery systems, which are now obsolete. Sen. Lazich (R-New Berlin) and Rep. LeMahieu (R-Cascade) authored the legislation, which passed both houses via voice votes. The bill is Act 86.

Assembly Bill 415 – Under this bill, counties are no longer on the hook for the cost of razing buildings as municipalities are granted expanded collection powers. Sen. Olsen (R-Ripon) and Rep. Nygren (R-Marinette) authored this bill, which passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and Assembly on a voice vote. The bill is Act 87.

Assembly Bill 11 – Requires registered sex offenders notify schools with the date, time, and place of planned visits or face legal penalty. Sen. Olsen (R-Ripon) and Rep. Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) authored Act 88, which passed the Senate on a voice vote and the Assembly on a 95-1 vote.

Assembly Bill 191 – This bill modifies the penalty for communication theft from a Class C forfeiture to a Class C misdemeanor. Sen. Farrow (R-Pewaukee) and Rep. Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) authored this bill, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 89.

Senate Bill 220 – Lenghtens the time during which tax increments may be allocated and expenditures for projects costs may be made for Tax Incremental District Number 1 in the village of Wales. Sen. Farrow (R-Pewaukee) and Rep. Kapenga (R-Delafield) authored this bill, which passed the Senate on a 32-0 vote and the Assembly on a voice vote. The bill is Act 90.

Senate Bill 371 – Modifies nitrogen oxide emission standards for certain simple cycle combustion turbines. Sen. Farrow (R-Pewaukee) and Rep. Kerkman (R-Powers Lake) authored Act 91, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes.

Senate Bill 384 – Replaces Wisconsin trust statutes with the Wisconsin Trust Code and changes estate recovery and divestment provisions relating to public assistance programs. Sen. Farrow (R-Pewaukee) and Rep. Sanfelippo (R-West Allis) authored Act 92, which passed the Senate with a 32-1 vote and the Assembly on a voice vote.

Senate Bill 258 – Under this legislation a student must fill out and return a concussion information sheet once per year in order to participate in an athletic activity. Sen. Farrow (R-Pewaukee) and Rep. Ripp (R-Lodi) authored this bill, which passed both houses on voice votes. The bill is Act 93.

Senate Bill 240 – Modifies the commercial driver license application to benefit individuals holding a military commercial drivers license. Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Ripp (R-Lodi) authored this legislation, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 94.

Assembly Bill 280 – Updates the law on police vehicle lights. Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Ripp (R-Lodi) authored this legislation, which passed both houses on voice votes. The bill is Act 95.

Assembly Bill 281 – Updates the law on school bus lights. Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Ripp (R-Lodi) authored this bill, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 96.

Senate Bill 119 – Ratifies a compact between several states and Canadian provinces to provide mutual aid in managing an emergency or disaster. Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Petryk (R-Eleva) authored Act 97, which passed both houses on voice votes.

Senate Bill 118 – Creates a third deputy adjutant general in the Department of Military Affairs. The position will be responsible for coordinating disaster response services as well as domestic assistance requests. Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Petryk (R-Eleva) authored this legislation, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 98.

Assembly Bill 282 – Exempts semitrailers whose total length does not exceed 53 feet from over length vehicle permits. Sen, Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Spiros (R-Marshfield) authored Act 99, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes.

Senate Bill 247 – Brings the state’s commercial motor vehicle out-of-service law in line with federal regulations. Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Spiros (R-Marshfield) authored Act 100, which passed both houses on voice votes.

Assembly Bill 200 – Authored by Rep. Kramer (R-Waukesha) and Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon), Act 101 removes Wisconsin’s previously dubious reputation of having the worse lemon law in the nation. The new law makes a number of changes, including: 1) eliminating mandatory double damages, 2) adding time for manufacturers to deliver a comparable vehicle, 3) reducing the statute of limitations, 4) adding a good faith requirement, and 5) clarifying what it means for a vehicle to be out of service. The bill was passed with bi-partisan support.

Assembly Bill 271 – Modifies the corporate powers of Marine Corps League corporations. Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Rep. Born (R-Beaver Dam) authored this legislation, which passed the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 102.

Senate Bill 110 – Historic military vehicles can now be registered by the DOT and the Kei class of off-road vehicles are exempt from registration. Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep. Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake) authored this legislation, which passed Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 103.

Assembly Bill 449 – The bill aligns Wisconsin law with the federal definition of direct sellers. Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep. Knodl (R-Germantown) authored Act 104, which passed the Senate with a 18-15 vote and the Assembly on a voice vote.

Assembly Bill 27 – Authored by Rep. Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend), Act 105 reins in excessive attorneys’ fees by setting tiers for contingency fees as a percent of recovered amounts ranging from 25% to 5%. Transparency is achieved through the requirement that a copy of the executed fee contract be posted online. In addition, the private attorney must maintain time records and keep detailed records of expenses, disbursements, etc. for four years after the contract terminates.

Assembly Bill 169 – Allows municipalities to authorize alcohol consumption on commercial quadricycles. Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend) and former Rep. Stone (R-Greendale) authored Act 106, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes.

Senate Bill 275 – Updates the law related to the circuit court clerks and administrative proceedings of municipal courts. Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep. Ott (R-Mequon) authored this bill, which passed the Senate and Assembly on voice votes. The bill is Act 107.

Senate Bill 294 – Allows the assistant attorney general to access felony reports in which the assistant attorney general has original jurisdiction. Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep.Ott (R-Mequon) authored this bill, which passed both houses on voice votes. It is Act 108.

Senate Bill 295 – Enables firearms dealers to deliver information to the Department of Justice in multiple ways. Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep. Ott (R-Mequon) authored Act 109, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes.

Senate Bill 296 – Streamlines the relationship between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and trial law enforcement agencies with regard to the transaction information for management of enforcement system (TIME system) by eliminating the requirement that DOJ submit a plan to the Joint Committee on Finance. Sen. Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep. Ott (R-Mequon) authored Act 110, which passed both the Senate and Assembly on voice votes.

Assembly Bill 139 – Authored by Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon) and Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), Act 111 protects Wisconsin physicians and hospitals from unnecessary and costly lawsuits. Passed on a bipartisan vote, the Act overturns the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in Jandre v. Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund and clarifies the proper standard for physicians when informing patients of alternate medical modes of treatment and about the benefits and risks of those treatments.

Senate Bill 336 – Increases the appropriation to the state’s youth apprenticeship grant program by $500,000 for fiscal years 2013−14 and 2014−15. Act 112, which was sponsored by Sen. Harsdorf (R-River Fall) and Rep. Nerison (R-Westby), passed the Senate unanimously and the Assembly by a vote of 94-1.

Senate Bill 333 – Authorizes the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to creates a transitional jobs program, modeled after Milwaukee’s program, outside of Milwaukee. Sen. Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Weatherston (R-Racine) sponsored Act 113, which passed by a bi-partisan majority of both houses.