Last week, the legislature met and voted on an array of bills. I voted in favor of all but one.
AB 9 broadens the statutes to encompass every “epinephrine delivery system” for the purposes of possession, administration, and dispensing.
AB 14 provides protections for individuals who purchase farm equipment, similar to the protections in place for the purchasers of automobiles.
AB 109 requires one-half credit of financial literacy for high school graduation.
AB 166 updates the definition of “sexual contact” for the purposes of crimes against children to include when a victim is made to touch ejaculate, urine, or feces of any person.
AB 200 will require data transparency from the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), which will aid the legislature in understanding the extent of how long license applications are taking for each profession.
AB 201 requires data transparency from DSPS, which will aid the public and prospective licensees in understanding the extent of license backlogs by profession.
AB 202 allows DSPS to complete its investigation as to whether the circumstances of an arrest, conviction, or other offense are substantially related to the circumstances of the licensed activity without reviewing certain types of violations. This legislation will create better flexibility for what DSPS can look at in a background check, decreasing the time they spend in legal review.
AB 203 revises the language regarding the effect of the renewal date to specify that the renewal date is the date on which a credential expires and before which a credential holder must submit a complete renewal application in order to maintain without interruption the rights, privileges, and authority conferred by the credential.
To hear me speak on why this bill is so critical for our workforce, click here or on the photo above.
AB 204 revises each two-year renewal period in the health and business professions to four-year renewal periods.
AB 205 will allow out-of-state licensed business professionals to transition to the Wisconsin workforce quickly and efficiently without being limited while their license gets approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
AB 206 requires DSPS to determine, for each health care provider credential, whether the profession’s reciprocity standard requires an examination of the equivalence, comparability, or similarity of a prior issuing state’s or territory’s credentialing requirements. This legislation will require data transparency from DSPS, which will aid the public and prospective licensees in understanding what states WI healthcare licenses have reciprocity with.
AB 68 changes the death of another person by manufacture or delivery of a schedule I or II controlled substance from a class C felony to a class B felony, thus enforcing imprisonment and a stronger penalty.
I voted no on this bill. While it was marketed as an anti-fentanyl bill, the presentation was disingenuous at best. If the bill targeted fentanyl and similar drugs, I would have supported the bill. But it wasn’t. Instead, it applies to ALL Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 drugs (pretty much all controlled substances).
Committee on Campaigns and Elections Testimony
Last week, I testified before the Committee on Campaigns and Elections with my Democratic colleagues on four bills we worked on together regarding safe and fair elections. The bills were as follows:
AB 299 requires a military voter to provide their federal Department of Defense (DOD) number on the application for an absentee ballot.
AB 298 protects people’s right to vote by creating a more accountable system when a municipality seeks to close a polling location.
AB 283 will help municipalities face a smaller financial burden when conducting special elections, which tend to occur at least once every biennium.
AB 282 states that if a municipality broadcasts canvassing proceedings live in any election, including by live stream on the Internet, the municipality must record the broadcast, and the municipal clerk must retain the recording for 22 months.
I am excited to have been working across the aisle on this legislation and hope to see it pass on the floor with bipartisan support.
Committee on Colleges and Universities Testimony
Last week, I also testified before the Committee on Colleges and Universities on AB 86, which addresses the unfair practice of scholarship displacement, which is the situation where a student has their college financial aid package reduced due to receiving a private scholarship.
I decided to write this legislation after a constituent reached out, concerned that his daughter’s need-based college financial aid package had been reduced after UW-Madison found out she had received a separate private scholarship. This bill bans the practice of scholarship displacement for “last-dollar” scholarships by the UW system, tech colleges, and private, non-profit colleges, with a few exceptions.
Manitowoc County Dairy Breakfast
There was another great turnout this past Sunday for the Manitowoc County Breakfast on the Farm. Thanks to everyone who showed up and helped make this event successful!
Greenleaf Incorporation Referendum – June 20th
Last year, a state board approved the incorporation of part of the town of Wrightstown into the village of Greenleaf in Brown County. This proposal incorporates about 320 acres of the town into the village. The remaining 32.3 square miles remain as the town of Wrightstown.
Now, voters in Greenleaf will vote yes or no on an incorporation referendum on Tuesday, June 20th.
Before it goes to a vote, there will be a meeting tonight for residents to learn about the proposal. This meeting will be an open forum Wednesday, June 14th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Wrightstown Town Hall.
In-District Events
Thursday, June 22nd, will be Sundae Thursday at Central Park in Two Rivers from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sundaes will be served for a quarter, and there will be children’s games, inflatables, an ice cream eating contest, and a free concert!
The Maribel Lions Picnic and Parade will be June 24th and 25th at the Maribel Village Park (14905 Mulberry St., Maribel). The parade will be on Sunday, the 25th, at 11:30 a.m. and will go through downtown Maribel, south down Highway T, and east of 147 towards the village hall. For more questions regarding this event, visit Manitowoc County – Maribel Lions Picnic & Parade (manitowoccountywi.gov).
De Pere’s Art in the Park will be June 25th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m at Voyager Park (100 William St, De Pere). For more information regarding this event, visit Art in the Park – De Pere Area Chamber of Commerce (deperechamber.org).
Sunday, June 25th, will be the Food Truck Rally at Quarry Park in Greenleaf from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Head on down to the library for some friendly competition! Every Tuesday from 6-7:30pm, the Lester Public Library in Two Rivers (1001 Adam St.) hosts a Family Game Night. Games and popcorn are provided.
