WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13, 2017
SENATOR SHEILA HARSDORF APPOINTED AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

Last week Governor Scott Walker appointed Senator Sheila Harsdorf secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

Following the appointment, Governor Walker issued an executive order calling for a special election to fill the seat vacated by Senator Harsdorf.  The special election will be held January 16, 2018. 

State Representative Adam Jarchow (R-Balsam Lake) has announced his intent to seek election to the senate.  As of this morning, State Representative Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) also announced he would be running for the seat. No Democrat has yet announced a run for the seat at the time of this publication.
 
A primary for the seat will be held December 19, 2017.
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY FLOOR SESSIONS

With the end of the Fall Floorperiod, the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly will not be on the floor again until the new year. The next regularly scheduled floorperiod is January 16-25, 2018. Although the session schedule has the last floorperiod in mid-March, there is speculation that the Legislature may complete its work by the end of January.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13, 2017

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

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight, 1:00 p.m.
Assembly Bill 297 - preference in state and local government contracts and procurement for materials manufactured in the United States. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Local Government, 10:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 636 - removal of certain county officers. WCA supports this bill.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, 9:30 a.m.
Assembly Bill 585 - alerts for missing veterans who have a service-related health condition. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Rural Development and Mining, 11:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 572 - the collection and maintenance of certain public library data by the Division for Libraries and Technology, authorizing small, rural libraries to apply for information technology block grants and educational technology training grants, and making appropriations. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, 11:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 506 - the responsibilities of the Law Enforcement Standards Board. WCA is monitoring this bill.

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
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 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
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