Question of the Week
What safeguards do you think are needed to prevent unelected officials from overstepping their authority? Click here to answer!
Committees
This week, I participated in two important committee hearings. As chair of the Science, Technology, and AI Committee, I led an informational hearing on cybersecurity, exploring best practices and strategies to strengthen our state’s digital infrastructure. Later, in the Government, Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency (GOAT) Committee, we held a public hearing on the Red Tape Reset package, and I also had the opportunity to testify on AB 277.
During the Cybersecurity Informational Hearing, we heard from a variety of experts and organizations, including Microsoft, the Department of Justice, Fortinet, Deloitte, Google, Wisconsin Technology Council, the Director of State Courts, Accenture, and the Division of Enterprise Technology.
The presentations covered best practices for cybersecurity and how implementing them can benefit the state of Wisconsin. Thank you to all of the speakers for coming and discussing this important issue!
This Week in the GOAT Committee we heard four bills as part of the Red Tape Reset Package:
- AB 274 – Addresses the expiration of administrative rules
- AB 275 – Provides a process for challenging the validity of administrative rules and includes an appropriation.
- AB 276 – Updates requirements for statements of scope for administrative rules.
- AB 277 – Ensures agencies justify any costs for proposed administrative rules.
These bills are designed to cut unnecessary red tape, increase transparency, and protect families, small businesses, and local communities.
Senator Julian Bradley and I testified on our bill, AB 277/SB 289, part of the Red Tape Reset Package, during the GOAT Committee hearing. Currently, agencies can issue new regulations as long as their projected costs stay under ten million dollars, but this loophole allows dozens of smaller rules to accumulate into a heavy burden on families, small businesses, and local governments. AB 277 closes this loophole by requiring agencies to justify any costs — and if they can’t, they must fix, offset, or bring the rule to the Legislature for approval. The bill restores accountability and transparency, protects communities through a “net-zero” approach, and ensures legislative oversight, promoting trust, fairness, and good governance while strengthening Wisconsin’s economy.
Session
This week, the Wisconsin State Assembly convened for a full floor session where we debated and voted on topics related to housing, local government, and several key resolutions — and I’m pleased to share that all bills passed. Below are the bills and resolutions we voted on:
Bills Passed
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AB 37: Personalized registration plate fees for Gold Star Family special plates.
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AB 82: Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee.
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AB 181: County forest administration grant eligibility.
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AB 194: Modifications to housing programs under WHEDA.
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AB 210: Changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships.
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AB 214: Town clerk and treasurer appointments, publication requirements for proposed budget summary and notice of public hearing, and discontinuance of highways.
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AB 221: All-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles with out-of-state registrations.
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AB 271: Camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles.
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AB 280: Workforce housing and childcare awards under the business development tax credit.
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AB 294: Membership on the Board of Nursing.
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AB 302: Authorized lights for funeral procession vehicles.
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AB 346: Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles.
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AB 366: Emotional support animals in housing; falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal; and providing a penalty.
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AB 375: Modifications to the historic rehabilitation tax credit.
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AB 424: Requirements for the rental of mobile and manufactured homes.
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AB 449: Local regulation of accessory dwelling units.
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AB 450: Applicability of commercial building code to certain buildings.
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AB 451: Residential tax incremental districts.
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AB 452: Subdivision plat approvals.
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AB 453: Required approvals of rezoning requests related to residential development, contents of and consistency of local ordinances with local comprehensive plans, certain tax incremental district project costs related to residential development, and tax incremental district lifespan extension.
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AB 455: Condominium conversion reimbursement grant program.
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AB 456: Changes regarding the laws governing real estate practice.
Resolutions Adopted
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AJR 11: Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jim Soletski.
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AJR 85: Congratulating the UW–Whitewater Baseball Team on their 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship.
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AJR 86: Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jim Rooney.
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AJR 91: Recognizing the U.S. Navy’s 250th birthday.
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AJR 95: Designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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AJR 96: Proclaiming the months of October 2025 and October 2026 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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AJR 97: Proclaiming October 2025 as Careers in Construction Month.
In-District Events
This weekend I had the opportunity to attend Winneconne’s Annual Fall Fest on Saturday and both the Larsen-Winchester Lions Club Pancake Breakfast and the Town of Algoma Volunteer Fire Department Pancake Breakfast on Sunday! All three events were a blast — I always enjoy connecting with community members and celebrating what makes our area so special!
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REMINDER: Listening Session This Saturday!
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This month, we honor the strength and courage of those who are and have battled breast cancer — including Nancy Cappellow (left), Gail Zeamer (middle), and Anne Zellner (right), whose memory continues to inspire us — and we stand with those still fighting today.
That’s why I’m proud to co-author Assembly Bill 263 (Gail’s Law) — a bipartisan, life-saving, and cost-saving measure — with Representative Cindi Duchow , Representative Amanda Nedweski, and Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara. This important bill would make diagnostic breast exams and supplemental screenings for women with dense breast tissue more affordable, because early detection saves lives.
Please reach out to your state legislators and encourage them to support AB 263 — together, we can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
Cybersecurity Month
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Check out today’s Cybersecurity
Tip:
- Use strong passwords — Weak passwords make it easy for hackers to guess or crack your accounts. A strong password keeps your information secure.
- Create a different password for each account — If one account gets hacked, the others stay protected. Don’t let one breach open every door!
- Use a password manager — It securely stores all your passwords in one place, helps you create stronger ones, and saves you from the stress of remembering them all!
Blue Books
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If you would like a Blue Book, please email my office, and we will send one to you! |
Capitol Visits
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Planning a trip to Madison? Schedule a visit with me at the Capitol! Email my office! |
Follow me on Social Media!
Stay connected by following me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates from the Capitol and around the district. You can also visit my legislative website at https://legis.wisconsin.gov/
