Dear WH&LA Lodging Member:
We have a few updates for you today:
Coronavirus Latest
Today, Governor Tony Evers declared a
Health Emergency in Wisconsin in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus
. Executive Order 72 designates the state Department of Health Services as the lead agency to respond to the public health emergency, and directs DATCP to enforce prohibitions against price gouging during an emergency. On a conference call with numerous statewide organizations at noon today, the Governor’s staff noted that while there is no prohibition against large gatherings or events, they have issued the following guidance:
- Potential for attendance from older adults, individuals with underlying health care conditions, or other vulnerable groups
- Potential for attendance from individuals from a wide range of geographic areas across Wisconsin, the United States, or other countries
- The setting of the event, particularly if it involves sustained interaction between attendees in close physical proximity
By implementing limitations on mass gatherings DHS is intending to slow the spread of this epidemic to a level such that the healthcare system is able to maintain quality care for patients. Mass gatherings during an outbreak of a particularly infectious disease such as COVID-19 have the potential to result in large numbers of ill people that can quickly overwhelm local hospitals and clinics.
In this light, today the Wisconsin Department of Tourism announced that the
Governors Conference on Tourism
, scheduled to start this Sunday, has been
postponed until May 26 – 28
.
On the federal level, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has been meeting with White House staff and today sent a letter to members of Congress to pursue some relief for the lodging industry, which is getting hard-hit with cancellations that are causing losses, as they debate a new bill to mitigate the economic challenges around the country due to this pandemic.
For information on Coronavirus status at the state level, go to the
DHS website
.
Senate Bills Advance
Yesterday, two bills we have been working on passed out of Senate Committee unanimously (special thanks to our Contract Lobbyist Kathi Kilgore!), that will now go to the full state Senate for consideration on March 24, their last day of session:
- AB 683/SB 646 Substitute Amendment on Room Tax/Marketplace Providers. Note: The Legislative Council created a two page summary that notes the original bill on page one - which did NOT pass - and the second page summarizes the Substitute Amendment, which DID pass.
- AB 869 with Amendment 3 on DNC Closing Hours – this was amended numerous times, with the final package in Amendment 3 passed unanimously by Committee. This includes enabling municipalities in 14 counties to extend bar hours until 4:00 am only during the 4 weeknights of the DNC.
Best,
Trisha
