WEEK OF APRIL 24, 2017
JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR BUDGET EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

The JCF announced its tentative calendar for state biennial budget executive sessions. The tentative dates are as follows:

    *    Monday, May 1
    *    Tuesday, May 9
    *    Thursday, May 11
    *    Tuesday, May 16
    *    Thursday, May 18
    *    Tuesday, May 23
    *    Thursday, May 25
    *    Tuesday, May 30 
WEEKLY BUDGET WEBINARS TO START NEXT MONDAY, MAY 1

The state biennial budget is generally the single most important legislative document relating to county budgets and operations. Nearly every legislative decision has an impact on the way in which counties provide services, and understanding what decisions are being made can help inform the response by counties.

Again this biennium, the WCA Government Affairs Team will be hosting weekly budget webinars on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. during state budget deliberations. During this webinar, WCA staff will update participants on the actions and impacts of the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) budget deliberations from the previous week and the week to come, and will also invite participants to ask questions and offer feedback.

The first weekly budget webinar will be held on Monday, May 1 at 9:00 a.m.

How to Sign Up
To join this FREE webinar, visit https://wicounties.adobeconnect.com/budget/ each Monday morning. This link will remain active throughout the budget process.

COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 24, 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 .

Monday, April 24, 2017

Joint Committee on Finance, 1:30 p.m.
Assembly Bill 123 - the information technology block grant program, the broadband expansion grant program, waiving certain fees and appraisals, and making appropriations. WCA supports this bill.

Assembly Bill 234 - creating an Interagency Council on Homelessness and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 241 - mitigating the benefit drop-off in Wisconsin Shares. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Senate Committee on Revenue, Financial Institutions and Rural Issues, 1:00 p.m.
Senate Bill 89 - tax administration changes, the police and fire protection fee, defining restaurant for purposes of alcohol beverage regulation, lottery ticket couriers, background investigations of persons associated with the lottery, and providing a criminal penalty. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Senate Bill 120 - a sales and use tax exemption for building materials that become a part of a facility for a technical college district or for the University of Wisconsin. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Assembly Committee on Tourism, 1:30 p.m.
Assembly Bill 180 - snowmobile trail use stickers and trail aids and supplemental trail aids for snowmobile trail maintenance. WCA supports this bill.

Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection, 10:00 a.m.
Senate Bill 160 - sales by the state or a political subdivision to employees. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Assembly Committee on Judiciary, 11:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 93 - expungement of certain offenses committed before the age of 25 and making an appropriation. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 117 - allowing district attorneys, deputy district attorneys, and assistant district attorneys to engage in the private practice of law for certain civil purposes. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Bill 178 - allowing court commissioners to issue search warrants for certain civil violations. 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. 
FLOOR SESSIONS
  • The Senate is scheduled to be on the floor at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2 and 11:00 on Wednesday, May 10.
  • The Assembly is scheduled to be on the floor on Tuesday, May 2 at 1:00 p.m. and
    Wednesday, May 10 at 1:00 p.m.
UPCOMING WCA MEETINGS
  • July 13 - County Organization and Personnel Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Judicial and Public Safety Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Health and Human Services Steering Committee
  • July 14 - Taxation and Finance Steering Committee
  • July 17 - Agriculture, Environment, and Land Use Steering Committee
  • July 17 - Transportation and Public Works Steering Committee
  See a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings here.
HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE SESSION WITH US?

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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