Committee on Children and Families (11/1)
Last week was another busy week full of committees! To start, last Wednesday, I testified before the Committee on Children and Families on AB 376. This legislation will double the child support payments in the event of a convicted sexual assault that leads to the birth of a child. This concept would still be allowed if the parental rights of the perpetrator were terminated.
I believe that in the event of convicted sexual assault that leads to the birth of a child, where only one party consented to the sexual activity, the criminal should bear both halves of the financial responsibility for the raising of the child.
Committee on State Affairs (11/1)
Last Wednesday, I testified before the Committee on State Affairs on AB 42. Under current law, the secretary of the Department of Administration (DOA) is required to establish a committee for each state construction project under the department’s supervision, except certain emergency projects, for the purpose of selecting an architect or engineer for the project.
This legislation prohibits DOA selection committees from refusing to select a one-person architecture/engineering (A/E) firm for a state project that has an estimated cost of less than $2,000,000. The agency may still set the threshold up to $7,400,000, which is the threshold for multi-person A/E firms. This legislation will make the sector more competitive, especially for the smallest of businesses. I think our small businesses ought to be able to compete with the large businesses for state projects as long as they are capable of doing the project.
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety (11/2)
Last Thursday, I testified in the Senate on SB 461. This bill creates a transitional work opportunity program administered by the Department of Corrections for eligible inmates in Wisconsin’s low- and moderate-security-risk prisons. Inmates would have the opportunity to be housed in county prisons or stay at their state prison to be closer to work sites.
Creating better work opportunities for the incarcerated plays a role in reducing the recidivism rate, meaning fewer cases to file in district attorney and public defender offices. It would also further expand the pool of workers for businesses facing current workforce shortages.
Session (11/7)
Yesterday, the Assembly met for session to vote on a number of bills. I voted in favor of them all.
AB 95 provides that if someone has been removed from a local office for cause, they are ineligible to hold that office in the future. Current law states only that they are ineligible to fill the vacancy that results from their removal.
AB 97 (SB 85) would allow lake protection and rehabilitation districts to notify property owners of meetings and special assessments via email.
AB 98 (SB 105) would allow the Department of Natural Resources to enter into agreements with local snowmobile clubs and allow signs to go up on the snowmobile trails.
AB 136 (SB 140) would repeal the requirement that matching funds for dam removals be provided in order to receive a grant for dam removal only, as it was previously in law.
AB 157 (SB 159) will require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create a single report every 2 years that outlines goals and priorities for habitat work on lands the division oversees.
AB 171 (SB 207) eliminates an outdated and undefined term to allow municipalities to apply for grants to cover the costs, up to $5,000, for wildlife abatement or control projects and seeks to rectify a long-standing problem with the state’s grant program for controlling nuisance wildlife.
AB 174 (SB 208) states that personnel at public-use or military airports acting within all applicable state and federal permits may legally take actions with firearms to control the impact of nuisance wildlife.
AB 238 (SB 239) shifts the responsibility of supplying communications equipment for the off-road vehicle trails and routes from the Off-Road Vehicle Council to the DNR-Law Enforcement section of statutes.
AB 284 allows a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state to be authorized to install and maintain a “tribal nation welcome sign”.
AB 370 provides a pathway for guaranteed admission for the “Top Five Percent” of our high school scholastic performers.
AB 545 will add US citizenship to the list of requirements for serving on a Wisconsin Technical College Board.
AB 546 ratifies the collective bargaining contract for state employees in the public safety collective bargaining unit negotiated for the 2023–25 biennium under the State Employment Labor Relations Act.
AB 547 ratifies the collective bargaining contract for state employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit negotiated for the 2023–24 fiscal year under the State Employment Labor Relations Act.
AB 548 creates a Wisconsin-Ireland Trade Commission between the State of Wisconsin and the Republic of Ireland to promote and advance mutual economic interests between Wisconsin and Ireland.
AB 549 allows each Technical College to qualify for up to a $1 million grant that could be used to purchase manufacturing training equipment or update existing facilities to accommodate the equipment.
AB 550 updates the current technical education equipment grant program, which was established in 2017.
AB 551 affords certain rights and protections to student journalists who are public school pupils or students enrolled in a University of Wisconsin System institution or technical college.
AB 553 seeks to establish freedom of expression and academic freedom standards on University of Wisconsin campuses and technical colleges across the state.
This bill stands up for the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1 of the Wisconsin Constitution and upholds the rights of free speech for our students. To hear my floor speech on AB 553, click here or on the photo above.
AB 554 changes certain race-based programs or requirements in higher education. In general, the bill modifies these programs and requirements so they apply to all disadvantaged students regardless of their ethnicity.
In-District Events
Saturday, November 11th, will be the Holiday Craft Extravaganza at Camp Tapawingo (915 W Tapawingo Road, Mishicot) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, November 11th, will be Holiday Photos with the Alpacas at the LondonDairy Alpaca Ranch (6827 State Hwy 147, Two Rivers) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, November 12th, will be Holiday Photos with the Alpacas at the LondonDairy Alpaca Ranch (6827 State Hwy 147, Two Rivers) from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, November 25th, will be the Redbird Holly Craft Faire at East De Pere High School (1700 Chicago St., De Pere) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, November 25th, will be the Two Rivers Christmas Parade of Lights in Downtown Two Rivers at 5:30 p.m.
