WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6, 2017
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN MACCO ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
 
Rep. John Macco, chair of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, announced a new purpose and mission for the committee for the remainder of the 2017-18 session.  
 
Four new members have been added to the committee and four new subcommittees have been established with the intent to totally review Wisconsin's tax code.  
 
The four subcommittees established are:
  • Subcommittee on Sales and Use Tax headed by Rep. Kevin Petersen
  • Subcommittee on Personal and Corporate Income Taxes headed by Rep. Bob Kulp
  • Subcommittee on Local Government Taxes and Funding headed by Rep. David Steffen
  • Subcommittee on Excise Taxes and Fees headed by Rep. Shannon Zimmerman
Each subcommittee will execute on their mission statement by reporting each of the following:
  • History and purpose of taxation device 
  • Current problems with taxation device
  • Solutions or possible changes to taxation device
Each subcommittee will then present their findings to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and be combined into a comprehensive plan.  
 
Each subcommittee will have three members, two Republicans and one Democrat. The subcommittees will have the same rules for committee notices and open records, but the committee will report to the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Macco. Speaker Vos has appointed the following new members to the committee: Reps. Hutton, Kulp, Zimmerman and Spreitzer. 
 
"We need to start thinking big when it comes to taxes," said Rep. Macco. "Our plan will be a revenue neutral approach that will revolutionize our state economy. The faster we can get this job done the faster we will have an economy equipped to allow 21st Century jobs, families and retirees to thrive in Wisconsin!" 
FALL FLOOR SESSION

The Wisconsin State Senate will be on the floor on Tuesday, November 7.

The Wisconsin State Assembly will be in session on Tuesday, November 7, and Thursday, November 9.
SENATE CALENDAR FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2017  
 
Senate Bill 52 - time limit on a restrictive custody sanction under the Serious Juvenile Offender Program. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 53 - expungement of certain offenses committed before the age of 25 and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 54 - recommendation to revoke parole, probation, and extended supervision if a person is charged with a crime. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 135 - revocation of operating privilege for certain offenses related to operating while intoxicated, operating after revocation, making an appropriation, and providing a criminal penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 173 - remediation of contaminated land; air pollution control requirements for certain manufacturing facilities constructed on formerly contaminated land; reassigning tax deeds on tax delinquent brownfield properties; creating a new method for the creation of environmental remediation tax incremental financing districts; loans and repayment assistance by a political subdivision for certain brownfield revitalization projects and collection of the debt by special charge; state trust fund loans for brownfield projects; conversion of business improvement districts; and annexations to business improvement districts and neighborhood districts. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 175 - procedures related to a sale of foreclosed property by a sheriff or referee. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 385 - therapeutic diets in certain long-term care facilities. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 387 - limiting the authority of local governments to regulate development on substandard lots and require the merging of lots; requiring a political subdivision to issue a conditional use permit under certain circumstances; standards for granting certain zoning variances; local ordinances related to repair, rebuilding, and maintenance of certain nonconforming structures; shoreland zoning of, and the removal of material from the bed of, certain small, private ponds; inverse condemnation proceedings; and the right to display the flag of the United States. WCA opposes this bill.
 
Senate Bill 388 -  review by the Department of Safety and Professional Services of the state electrical wiring code applicable to one-family and two-family dwellings; the legal description required for recording an easement for the construction, operation, or maintenance of sewer lines or facilities; expanding the use of tax incremental financing for workforce housing development and requiring a reduction in the amount of certain impact fees; effect of changes in requirements for development-related permits or authorizations on persons who apply for the permits or authorizations; exempting certain vehicles delivering propane from class B highway weight limitations and certain special or seasonal weight limitations; elimination of the forestation state property tax; reviews of and reports on bills and proposed administrative rules that affect housing; general permits to place riprap on the bed of a navigable water; and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 406 - mitigation requirements applicable to wetland individual permits. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 153 - aggrieved parties petitioning for a recount and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 450 - retail sales of alcohol beverages at the Ozaukee County fairgrounds. WCA supports this bill.
Assembly Bill 494 - allowing local public officials to receive anything of value that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation or the Department of Tourism is authorized to provide. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 499 - the regulation of nonferrous metallic mining, prospecting, exploration, and bulk sampling, repealing administrative rules relating to wetlands, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 529 - requirements for certain services covered under the Medical Assistance program. WCA is monitoring this bill.
ASSEMBLY CALENDAR FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

  Assembly Bill 112 - grants for treatment and diversion programs. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 120 - information required to be included in class 2 and class 3 legal notices. WCA supports this bill.

Assembly Bill 479 - limiting the authority of local governments to regulate development on substandard lots and require the merging of lots; requiring a political subdivision to issue a conditional use permit under certain circumstances; standards for granting certain zoning variances; local ordinances related to repair, rebuilding, and maintenance of certain nonconforming structures; shoreland zoning of, and the removal of material from the bed of, certain small, private ponds; inverse condemnation proceedings; and the right to display the flag of the United States. WCA opposes this bill.

Assembly Bill 480 -  review by the Department of Safety and Professional Services of the state electrical wiring code applicable to one-family and two-family dwellings; the legal description required for recording an easement for the construction, operation, or maintenance of sewer lines or facilities; expanding the use of tax incremental financing for workforce housing development and requiring a reduction in the amount of certain impact fees; effect of changes in requirements for development-related permits or authorizations on persons who apply for the permits or authorizations; exempting certain vehicles delivering propane from class B highway weight limitations and certain special or seasonal weight limitations; elimination of the forestation state property tax; reviews of and reports on bills and proposed administrative rules that affect housing; general permits to place riprap on the bed of a navigable water; and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 497 - mitigation requirements applicable to wetland individual permits. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 501 - FoodShare healthy eating incentive pilot program and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 160 -  sales by the state or a political subdivision to employees. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 198 - weight limit exceptions for vehicles equipped with idle reduction technology or natural gas fuel systems. WCA opposes this bill.
PROPOSED ASSEMBLY CALENDAR FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Assembly Joint Resolution 47 - the rights of crime victims. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 275 - the prohibition against adults knowingly permitting or failing to take action to prevent the illegal consumption of alcohol beverages by underage persons. WCA supports this bill.

Assembly Bill 310 - funding for first responder and emergency medical technician training and certification and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 351 - body cameras on law enforcement officers. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 355 - neglect of a child and providing criminal penalties. WCA opposes this bill.

Assembly Bill 356 - licensure or certificate renewal for certain emergency medical services personnel and ambulance service providers. WCA is monitoring this bill.
Assembly Bill 384 - the expiration of administrative rules. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 389 - soliciting an intimate representation from a minor and providing a criminal penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 473 - therapeutic diets in certain long-term care facilities. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 538 - transfer for emergency detention and warning of dangerousness.  WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 566 - service of certain pleadings and other papers by electronic mail. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 581 - venue requirements for domestic abuse, child abuse, and harassment cases. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 131 - identification and location information assigned to documents filed or recorded in the county register of deeds offices and registration of farm names by recording in the register of deeds office. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 198 - weight limit exceptions for vehicles equipped with idle reduction technology or natural gas fuel systems. WCA opposes this bill.

Senate Bill 202 - the prohibition against adults knowingly permitting or failing to take action to prevent the illegal consumption of alcohol beverages by underage persons. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 238 - funding for first responder and emergency medical technician training and certification and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 239 - upgrading service levels for ambulances in rural areas. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 339 - Huber release for probationers confined in a county jail or county house of correction pending disposition of revocation proceedings. WCA supports this bill.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  See a complete listing of weekly hearings here.
UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS/EVENTS
  • November 17 - Health and Human Services Steering Committee
  • November 30 - December 1 - Wisconsin County Human Services Association Fall Conference. Register at www.wicounties.org. 
  • November 30 - Agriculture, Environment, and Land Use Steering Committee
  • December 15 - WCA Board of Directors
See a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings here.
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?  

As a member-benefit, the Wisconsin Counties Association offers access to The Wheeler Report, WisPolitics, and WisconsinEye.

If you would like to subscribe to any one of these news services, please contact Amy Dias, Office Manager at [email protected] or at 866.404.2700.
QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about any legislative items, please feel free to contact any member of WCA's Government Affairs Team.

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
[email protected]

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188