2nd Assembly District Update: May 4, 2026

Data Centers and Other Miscellaneous Bills

This week’s update looks at technology and communication, consumer protection, and energy and utilities bills. The Assembly passed 7 consumer protection bills in January and February.

AB840 implements certain requirements for data centers including: requiring the PSC to ensure no costs associated with the construction or extension of electric infrastructure for the data center is placed on their residential customers; requires that any renewable energy meant to primarily serve the data center is located at the facility; requires bonding by the tech company for the restoration of the land to its original state when the project ends; and restricts water usage with reporting requirements.

It was extremely disappointing that the Assembly Democrats, Governor Evers, and other left leaning groups fought us so hard and prevented the passing of these safeguards for our communities.

Because they were able to prevent these regulations from being put in place at the state level, we have to take this fight to the local level. That’s why, as a member of my Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors, I worked with my fellow board members just this past week to pass an 18 month moratorium on data center construction while we put our heads together to develop reasonable standards and regulations that put our citizens, their checkbooks, and our communities first.

In the meantime, I have begun working on a more comprehensive bill for next session to address all the concerns I have heard from my constituents regarding data centers.

AB554 requires the labeling of any lab-grown meat sold in Wisconsin to be labeled as lab-grown meat. The governor vetoed this bill failing our farmers and others concerned about this product.

AB664 prevents cellular service providers from using or maintaining any equipment that uses electronic components and provides high speed, switched, and broadband telecommunications capability that is manufactured by a foreign adversary.

AB892 clarifies that digital asset staking is not a security under the state’s securities laws.

SB537 was signed into law by the Governor as 2025 Wisconsin Act 97. This law prohibits the importing, manufacturing, or sale of previously deployed airbags and nonfunctional and counterfeit airbags.

AB907 was signed into law by the Governor as 2025 Wisconsin Act 198. This law creates two new requirements for drawing of the state lottery. DOR may utilize a mechanical, electrical, or computerized drawing method to ensure the selection of the winner is random. DOR must contract with an independent firm to perform an audit of the drawing processes and review technologies employed by DOR.

AB894 establishes requirements for selling gift cards and certificates, including that the expiration can not be less than 5 years after the card was sold, and it places strict provisions on when a dormancy, inactivity, or service fee can be imposed.

Technology and Communications Bills

The Assembly passed 5 technology and communication bills in January and February.

AB377 establishes English as the official language of the state and requires all written and oral communication from the government to be in English. The bill also allows AI interpreting to be used when an interpreter is needed.

AB415 prohibits state agencies from allowing the use of social media, software, and generative AI that is owned or controlled by a foreign adversary on state-owned devices. The governor vetoed this bill.

AB673 prohibits the use of a genetic sequencer produced in or by a foreign adversary. The bill also prohibits the storage of any human genome sequencing data of a Wisconsin resident at a location within the borders of a country that is a foreign adversary. The governor vetoed this bill.

AB974 creates a new appropriation of all money received as interest earnings of the public affairs network fund and directs that money to be used to fund WisconsinEye through a grant. The bill also creates conditions for WisconsinEye to receive the funds.

AB909 creates a joint legislative committee to be known as the Data Efficiency Study Steering Committee with the purpose of conducting a comprehensive study of inter-agency data sharing practices within state government.

Energy and Utilities Bills

The Assembly passed 3 energy and utilities bills in January and February.

AB751 was signed into law by the Governor as 2025 Wisconsin Act 193. This law specifies how fuel costs should be estimated by utilities, providing more stability in electrical rates.

AB472 creates a nuclear energy generation tax credit, establishes nuclear energy as a high-priority energy option, provides tariffs for very large customers, and allows utilities to recover precertification costs through rates.

I authored this bill to help establish and incentivize the construction and use of nuclear plants in Wisconsin. This bill will help utilities and energy producers begin the process of establishing nuclear plants and benefit residents by helping to create reliable and cost-effective energy.

SB556 was signed into law by the Governor as 2025 Wisconsin Act 163. This law expands utility aid payments for municipalities to include energy storage facilities and liquified natural gas storage facilities.

In-District Events

Friday, May 8, Mishicot FFA Plant Sale at 660 Washington Street, Mishicot from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. More information can be found here.

Saturday, May 9, Kellnersville First Responders Spring Raffle and Brat Fry at 807 Main St, Kellnersville from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. More information can be found here.

Saturday, May 9, Riverside Rally Car Show at Riverside Park, Kaukauna from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. More information can be found here.

Friday, May 15, Trivia Nigh Benefiting Mishicot Agriscience and FFA at K-City Pub and Grill, Kellnersville from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. More information can be found here.

Saturday, May 23, Memorial Day Celebration at 18424 Tisch Mills Rd, Denmark from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. More information can be found here.

Sunday, May 24, Memorial Day Celebration at 18424 Tisch Mills Rd, Denmark from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. More information can be found here.

Saturday, May 30, Mishicot FFA Alumni Tractor Pull at Mishicot Community Athletic Complex, Mishicot from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. More information can be found here.

Sunday, May 31, Tractor Pull at Larrabee Sportsman’s Club, Mishicot from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 7, Brown County Breakfast on the Farm at Tinedale Farms, Wrightstown from 8:00 a.m. to noon. More information can be found here.

Wednesday, June 10, Music in the Park at 7431 Dickinson Rd, Greenleaf from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.