Recent Legislative Activity
The following bills and
resolutions passed the second house last week:
Senate
SB-103: Income and franchise tax credit for research and research
facilities.
SB-145: Deferred prosecution agreements: bad checks.
SB-483: Income/franchise tax exemption for sales/use taxes paid on
purchase of Internet equipment used in the broadband
market.
SB-546: Identification and cleanup of properties that are environmentally
contaminated; properties with residual contamination; modifies
environmental remediation tax incremental financing program;
exempts local governmental units from solid waste management
standards with respect to certain properties; liability of certain
persons for environmental contamination on property on which a
cleanup has been conducted.
SB-619: Business mergers, conversions and other business
combinations.
SB-677: Village of Kimberly TIF district.
SB-681: Changes to impact fee law;
Assembly
AB-4: Nonrefundable individual income tax credit for certain amounts
relating to health savings accounts that may be deducted, or are
exempt from, federal income taxes.
AB-55: Immunity of private campground owners and operators.
AB-850: Regulation of piers.
AB-1021: Inadmissibility of a statement of apology or condolence by a
health care provider.
Line Item Veto Amendment
SJR-33: The Assembly receded from its position on Senate
Joint Resolution 33 on April 25, 68-25.
The joint resolution, a constitutional amendment being considered on
first consideration, would prohibit the governor from creating new
sentences with an item veto.
May Declared Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin
Gov.
Jim Doyle and the Wisconsin Assembly have proclaimed May (AJR-99)
as Manufacturing Month.
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is coordinating a number
of activities this month to promote manufacturing, and is partnering
in the celebration with Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension
Partnership, Wisconsin Economic Development Association, and
Wisconsin Technical College System.
Assembly Adopts Proposed Amendment to Limit State Revenues
(TPA)
At approximately 4:30 am on Friday, the State Assembly
adopted a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a
limitation on state general fund revenues.
Unlike previous proposals, the version adopted does not
directly impact local government revenues and expenditures. The
proposal does, however, prohibit unfunded mandates.
The proposed amendment also would prohibit the use of
segregated funds for “other purposes” and restricts the purposes for
which the state may borrow. Please see the Legislative Fiscal
Bureau Summary of Revenue Limits issued on April 28 for additional
information and detail.
Senate leadership has promised a vote on some version of the
proposed constitutional amendment for Thursday of this week,
following a recommendation of the Senate Select Committee on the
Taxpayer Protection Amendment.
If the proposal passes both Houses, it will still have to be
passed in identical form next session before it can be submitted to
the people on a statewide referendum.
Price Gouging Measure Passes the Assembly
Assembly
Bill 786 passed the State Assembly in the early morning hours
April 28. The Consumer Gas Gouging Protection Act prohibits
companies from excessively increasing gas prices within a three week
time period. In addition, it establishes a penalty for each gouging
violation of up to $10,000, and gives the state Attorney General
authority to investigate and enforce violations.
Another “price-gouging” bill (SB-358)
that would prohibit selling goods and services at excessive prices
during periods of abnormal economic disruption is expected to be
taken up in the Senate floor session Wednesday.
Governor Doyle Announces $3.8 Million in Sign/Road Marking
Awards
Gov. Doyle announced 90 awards totaling nearly $3.8
million in state funds that will enhance the visibility of traffic
signs and roadway markings across the state to assist aging drivers
and pedestrians.
The awards are administered through the Traffic Signing and
Marking Enhancement Grants program. Eligible projects include
brighter pavement markings such as centerlines, edge lines, cross
walks or lane use arrows, and increasing the brightness or size of
roadway signage.
Under the “enhanced mobility” program, the state will
reimburse municipalities for up to 75 percent of eligible project
costs with municipalities providing a 25 percent local share to the
limit of the award. Work on the projects will be completed over the
next three years.
A statewide
list of award recipients is available on the WisDOT Web
site.
For
more information on legislation of interest to CTCW members, go to
the CTCW
Tracking Report.
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