Legislative Update
This week, the Committee I chair, the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, passed a number of items out of committee. Those items include the following bills.
– Assembly Bill 553 – The Campus Free Speech Bill. This bill ensures free speech and academic freedom at University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. It establishes due process in disciplinary proceedings and creates penalties for schools that violate students’ free speech rights.
– Assembly Bill 551 – The Student Free Press Bill. This bill establishes that a K-12, UW-System or technical college student has a right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school sponsored media that is controlled by the school.
– Assembly Bill 545 – Since technical college district boards have the power to levy taxes and borrow money, this bill requires that district board members be U.S. citizens.
– Assembly Bill 370 – To keep Wisconsin’s best and brightest students in the state, this bill requires the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to establish a guaranteed admission program for students who rank at the top of their high school class.
– Assembly Bill 239 – This bill expands the definition of “eligible veteran” for the purposes of a tuition and fee remission program for eligible veterans’ spouses and children. Under the bill, the tuition and fee program’s definition of “eligible veteran” is expanded to include a person who has served on active duty for 20 or more years and who is on active duty in the time immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the person’s spouse or child registers at a technical college or UW System institution.
I am also a co-author of all of these bills. The bills are now ready to be taken up on the floor of the full State Assembly.
Fall Back One Hour
Be sure to set your clocks back one hour this weekend!
Fall Color Report
The leaves are changing, and the Wisconsin Fall Color Report is online again this year. Click on the image above to view our State’s beautiful fall foliage report from across the state.
Upcoming Events
Daylight Savings Time Ends at 2:00 a.m.
November 5
Veterans Day
November 11
Gun Deer Season Begins
November 18
Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade
November 21
Thanksgiving
November 23
Small Business Saturday
Area Local Downtowns
November 25
A Very Neenah Christmas
Downtown Neenah
December 1
Electric City Christmas Parade
Downtown Kaukauna
December 5
State Capitol Tours
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The best way to experience the beauty and grandeur of Wisconsin’s Capitol building (located at 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53702) is to see it for yourself. It is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free tours are offered daily, year round except on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Tours start at the information desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m. A 4:00 p.m. tour is offered weekdays (Monday – Friday), excluding holidays, during Memorial Day through Labor Day. Plan on spending 45-55 minutes for a tour. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are open during the summer months. Groups of ten or more can make an on-line reservation for a tour of the State Capitol or call (608)266-0382.
