WEEK OF MARCH 13, 2017
2017-2019 STATE BIENNIAL BUDGET

Last week the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released its summary of the 2017-19 state biennial budget. View the summary here.

The co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance also released a tentative schedule for action on the state budget:

Agency Briefings:
*    Monday, March 27
*    Tuesday, March 28
*    Wednesday, March 29
*    Thursday, March 30

Public Hearings:
*    Monday, April 3 - Platteville
*    Wednesday, April 5 - Milwaukee
*    Friday, April 7 - Marinette
*    Tuesday, April 18 - Spooner
*    Wednesday, April 19 - Ellsworth
*    Friday, April 21 - TBD

Executive Sessions are expected to start May 2.
WCA REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS START THIS WEEK! 

Each odd-numbered year, the Wisconsin Counties Association holds legislative briefings across the state to educate members on legislative issues affecting counties.  This year, our legislative briefings will include a discussion on WCA's 2017-2018 Legislative Agenda, a review of the 2017-19 state biennial budget, as well as answer member questions regarding legislative initiatives.

Following please find a list of the dates, times, and locations of the 2017 Regional Legislative Meetings. Please feel free to attend whichever meeting is most convenient for you.

Southeast District

Monday, March 13, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Country Springs Hotel
2810 Golf Road
Pewaukee, WI 53072
Counties in District: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha

North Central District
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Menominee Casino Resort
N277 Wisconsin 55
Keshena, WI 54135
Counties in District: Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood

East Central District
Thursday, March 16, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
The Meadows Conference Center
850 Kepler Drive
Green Bay, WI 54311
Counties in District: Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan, and Winnebago

Southern District
Monday, March 20, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
North Star Conference Center at Comfort Inn & Suites
5025 County Road V
DeForest, WI 53532
Counties in District: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, and Sauk

Northwest District
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Flat Creek Inn & Suites
10290 Highway 27 South
Hayward, WI 54843
Counties in District: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn

West Central District
Thursday, March 23, 2017
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Holiday Inn Eau Claire South
4751 Owen Ayres Court
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Counties in District: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix

Western District
Friday, March 24, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Radisson Hotel La Crosse
200 Harborview Plaza
La Crosse, WI 54601
Counties in District: Adams, Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 13, 2017

Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  For a complete listing of weekly hearings, please visit here .

Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Senate Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government, 10:00 a.m.
January 2017 Special Session Senate Bill 2 - treatment and diversion programs and making appropriations. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 42 - publication of proceedings of meetings held by certain governmental bodies. WCA supports this bill.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Assembly Committee on Children and Families, 10:00 a.m.
The committee is holding an informational hearing. The Department of Children and Families will provide an overview of the department.

Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 66 - leases of real property for executive agencies and a plan to relocate the Department of Children and Families headquarters. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry, 12:30 p.m.
The committee will hear invited testimony and presentations from the Wisconsin County Forest Association and their partners regarding timberland health, management, harvests, funding, and recreation in Wisconsin. Following the presentation, the committee will receive briefings from the Department of Natural Resources on the Managed Forest Law and Brownfield Program.

Senate Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations, 11:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 11 - child labor permits and modifying references to child labor in the statutes. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Committee on Regulatory Reform/Assembly Committee on Agriculture, 9:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 76/ Assembly Bill 105 - replacement, reconstruction, and transfer of an approved high capacity well, recommendation of special groundwater measures by the Department of Natural Resources, and metering requirements and grants for certain high capacity wells. WCA is monitoring these bills.

Assembly Committee on State Affairs, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 115 - the authority of the departments of administration, children and families, workforce development, justice, and health services to allocate federal grant money for civil legal aid. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 116 - the creation of the Interagency Legal Aid Coordinating Council. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, March 16, 2017
Senate Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs, 10:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 85 - use of the construction manager-general contractor process for highway project contracting, major highway project reports, and cost-benefit analyses of certain services related to transportation. WCA is monitoring this bill. 
 
For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website. 
UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?

wispolitics
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 dias@wicounties.org or at 866.404.2700.
QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team:

Kyle Christianson, Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
christianson@wicounties.org

Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs
608.663.7188
diedrick@wicounties.org

Dan Bahr, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
bahr@wicounties.org

Marcie Rainbolt, Government Affairs Associate
608.663.7188
rainbolt@wicounties.org

Chelsea Fibert, Government Affairs Assistant
608.663.7188