Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839
MADISON – Governor Scott Walker signed thirty-six bills into law today at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Senate Bill 198 – This bill harmonizes state and federal law to provide that heavy-duty vehicles with idle reduction technology and vehicles that operate on natural gas may exceed certain weight limits. Authored by Senator Jerry Petrowski (R—Marathon) and Representative John Spiros (R—Marshfield), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 85.
Senate Bill 248 – This bill creates a state herb classification to the list of state symbols in the Wisconsin Blue Book and designates Ginseng as the state herb. Authored by Senator Jerry Petrowski (R—Marathon) and Representative John Spiros (R—Marshfield), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 86.
Senate Bill 392 – This bill authorizes a municipality to enact an ordinance to authorize the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on certain highways within the territorial boundaries of the municipality. Authored by Senator Howard Marklein (R—Spring Green) and Representative Todd Novak (R—Dodgeville), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 87.
Assembly Bill 188 – This bill makes changes to laws governing Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in Wisconsin, including modifying the educational requirements for taking the CPA exam and requiring the Account Examining Board to write rules establishing continuing education requirements for accountants. Authored by Senator Howard Marklein (R—Spring Green) and Representative Dale Kooyenga (R—Brookfield), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a vote of 95-1. It is Act 88.
Assembly Bill 345 – This bill permits the Department of Corrections, in cooperation with local governments, to begin the release planning in the county an inmate will be released in by allowing state inmates to be confined in county jails, county houses of correction, or tribal jails under a Department of Corrections contract. The bill also allows an inmate to leave the local facility to participate in employment-related activities. Authored by Senator Daniel Feyen (R—Fond du Lac) and Representative Michael Schraa (R—Oshkosh), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 89.
Senate Bill 101 – This bill makes changes to the affidavit transfer procedures when administering a decedents estate to allow a personal representative to be transferred certain properties under the affidavit procedure. Authored by Senator Daniel Feyen (R—Fond du Lac) and Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R—Fond du Lac), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 90.
Assembly Bill 266 – This bill makes several changes to the eligibility requirements for the Technical Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program, including changes to enrollment and grade point average requirements and clarifying the satisfactory progress requirement. Authored by Senator Daniel Feyen (R—Fond du Lac) and Representative Scott Krug (R—Nekoosa), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 91.
Assembly Bill 250 – Part of the Right the Rules initiative, this bill repeals grant programs for which no funding has been appropriated since 2011-12, the related appropriation and administrative code chapter. Authored by the Assembly Committee on Education, the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 92.
Assembly Bill 251 – Part of the Right the Rules initiative, this bill combines the following four chapters of the Department of Public Instruction’s administrative code into one chapter: Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Grants, Grants for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Programs, Grants for Peer Review and Mentoring, and Grants for Tribal Language Revitalization. Authored by the Assembly Committee on Education, the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 93.
Assembly Bill 280 – The bill directs each school board to adopt academic standards for financial literacy and incorporate instruction in financial literacy into the curriculum in grades K to 12. Authored by Senator Chris Kapenga (R—Delafield) and Representative Scott Krug (R—Nekoosa), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 94.
Assembly Bill 450 – This bill would allow licensed vendors to continue to sell and serve alcohol at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds for on premise consumption. Authored by Senator Duey Stroebel (R—Saukville) and Representative Rob Brooks (R—Saukville), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 95.
Senate Bill 238 – This bill allows Emergency Medical Responder services (previously known as First Responders) to apply for funding from the Funding Assistance Program for training and examination costs. Under current law, only EMT services could apply. Authored by former Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R—River Falls) and Representative Jesse Kremer (R—Kewaskum), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 96.
Senate Bill 239 – This bill, as amended, allows Emergency Medical Practitioners to practice at the highest level they are trained for, regardless of the level their ambulance service is licensed for. Authored by former Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R—River Falls) and Representative Jesse Kremer (R—Kewaskum), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 97.
Assembly Bill 306 – The bill makes various law changes relating to sales of pseudoephedrine products, including requiring the implementation of an electronic system for recording, tracking, and blocking the illegal sale of pseudoephedrine products. The bill also changes to the procedures that must be followed by the purchaser and seller in connection with the sale of a pseudoephedrine product. Authored by former Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R—River Falls) and Representative Cody Horlacher (R—Mukwonago), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a vote of 96-1. It is Act 98.
Assembly Bill 444 – The bill allows hospice employees to properly dispose of a deceased patient’s controlled substances, with proper authorization, through a drug disposal program. Authored by former Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R—River Falls) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R—Markesan), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 99.
Senate Bill 119 – This bill creates an industrial hemp pilot program to be administered by DATCP. The pilot program is to study the growth, cultivation and marketing of industrial hemp and to establish rules for the industrial hemp program in a manner that maximizes opportunity within the boundaries of federal law.
In addition, DATCP has 90 days to have a system for licensing growers participating in the industrial hemp pilot program and charging an annual fee.
While federal law currently only allows for a pilot program, SB 119 provides a framework for Wisconsin if there is a change in federal law that expands industrial hemp. This framework would allow for Wisconsin farmers to diversify their crop production and grow industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity.
Authored by Senator Patrick Testin (R—Stevens Point) and Representative Jesse Kremer (R—Kewaskum), the bill passed the Senate on a vote of 33-0 and was concurred by the Assembly on a vote of 92-0. It is Act 100.
Senate Bill 385 – This legislation changes DHS administrative code to allow attending physicians to delegate the prescribing of a nursing home resident’s diet, including a therapeutic diet, to a licensed or certified dietitian. Authored by Senator Patrick Testin (R—Stevens Point) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R—Markesan), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 101.
Senate Bill 131 – The bill makes several changes pertaining to documents recorded with a county register of deeds including removing the assignment of a volume and page number to each document, increasing the blank space requirement for condominium plats, and deleting obsolete provisions. Authored by Senator Luther Olsen (R—Ripon) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R—Markesan), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 102.
Senate Bill 220 – This bill eliminates the irrelevant rules associated with the Heritage Tourism Pilot Program, which was statutorily repealed in 2001. The bill also eliminates irrelevant rules pertaining to the Percent for Art Program, which was eliminated in 2011. Authored by Senator Luther Olsen (R—Ripon) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R—Markesan), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 103.
Assembly Bill 253 – This bill standardizes foreclosed property procedures throughout the state. Authored by Senator Luther Olsen (R—Ripon) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R—Markesan), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 104.
Assembly Bill 201 – This bill expands the list of traffic violations for which the Department of Transportation must suspend a violator’s operating privilege and require attendance at a vehicle right-of-way course, and increases the penalties for certain offenses. Authored by Senator Luther Olsen (R—Ripon) and Representative Janel Brandtjen (R—Menomonee Falls), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 105.
Senate Bill 299 – This bill allows teacher training programs approved by the Association Montessori Internationale to meet Wisconsin requirements for licensure. Authored by Senator Luther Olsen (R—Ripon) and Representative Joel Kitchens (R—Sturgeon Bay), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 106.
Senate Bill 382 – This bill changes the tuberculosis testing requirement for school employees to a screening requirement and expands the practitioners who can conduct that screening. Authored by Senators Luther Olsen (R—Ripon) and Dave Hansen (D—Green Bay) and Representative Eric Genrich (D—Green Bay), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 107.
Assembly Bill 317 – This bill establishes an expedited alternative process for repealing unauthorized rules when an agency determines it no longer has the authority to promulgate the rule, and requires agencies to biennially report on and address unauthorized and redundant rules. Authored by Senator Steve Nass (R—Whitewater) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R—Markesan), the bill passed the Senate on a vote of 19-13 and was concurred by the Assembly on a vote of 62-34. It is Act 108.
Senate Bill 430 – This bill provides that, if a requirement of the one- and two-family dwelling code applies to a manufactured home or an attachment to a manufactured home, the manufactured home owner must comply with that requirement. If the manufactured home is located in a manufactured home community, the operator of the manufactured home community is not responsible for that compliance. Authored by Senator Frank Lasee (R—De Pere) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R—Markesan), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 109.
Senate Bill 455 – This bill makes various changes to laws governing real estate practice. Authored by Senator Frank Lasee (R—De Pere) and Representative Scott Allen (R—Waukesha), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 110.
Assembly Bill 60 – This legislation provides that under state classified service the word “engineer” can only be used as a classification title if the employed individual is either a registered professional engineer with the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, and Professional Land Surveyors; or has a bachelor of science degree in engineering. Authored by Senator Steve Nass (R—Whitewater) and Representative Tom Weatherston (R—Caledonia), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a vote of 96-0. It is Act 111.
Assembly Bill 494 – This bill allows local public officials to receive items of value from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation or the Department of Tourism for the purpose of promoting trade or hosting individuals to promote business, economic development, or tourism. Authored by Senator Steve Nass (R—Whitewater) and Representative Tyler August (R—Lake Geneva), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 112.
Senate Bill 453 – This bill implements requirements of the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, relating to the regulation of appraisal management companies (AMCs). Under the bill, AMCs are required to obtain a license before performing appraisal management services for compensation, advertising appraisal management services, or holding itself out as an AMC. Authored by Senator David Craig (R—Town of Vernon) and Representative Scott Allen (R—Waukesha), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 113.
Senate Bill 186 – This bill designates a route in Milwaukee County upon which high-wide loads may be operated with a permit from the City of Milwaukee. A “high-wide” load is a motor vehicle that exceeds general state limitations on motor vehicle size, that is transporting property, and that is not more than 28 feet wide or 23 feet tall. Authored by Senator David Craig (R—Town of Vernon) and Representative Joe Sanfelippo (R—New Berlin), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 114.
Senate Bill 177 – This bill codifies current requirements relating to the maintenance and accessibility of drainage district corridors. This bill also generally precludes local governments from restricting a drainage board’s ability to provide maintenance of district corridors. Authored by Senator Van Wanggaard (R—Racine) and Representative Joe Sanfelippo (R—New Berlin), the bill passed the Senate on a vote of 33-0 and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 115.
Senate Bill 258 – This bill requires dental practices to preserve patient records for an amount of time determined by the Dentistry Examining Board, and to transfer patient records if requested by a patient or person authorized by the patient. Also under the bill, a contract between a dentist or dental hygienist and another party for practicing dentistry or dental hygiene may not require the dentist or dental hygienist to meet a minimum quota for the number of patients seen or procedures performed. Authored by Senator Van Wanggaard (R—Racine) and Representative David Steffen (R—Green Bay), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 116.
Senate Bill 128 – This bill authorizes court commissioners to issue search warrants in matters involving a civil violation of a state or local prohibition against driving while having a prohibited alcohol concentration or while under the influence of an intoxicant, a controlled substance, a controlled substance analog, or any combination of an intoxicant, a controlled substance, and a controlled substance analog. Under current law, court commissioners may authorize search warrants in criminal matters. Allowing court commissioners to issue search warrants for first time OWI cases will provide law enforcement an additional option in obtaining a warrant. Many rural counties have few judges. In these counties, law enforcement oftentimes have difficulty obtaining a warrant in a timely manner which is critical in these cases. Authored by Senator Van Wanggaard (R—Racine) and Representative Andre Jacque (R—De Pere), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 117.
Assembly Bill 497 – Under this bill, as, amended, if DNR issues a wetland individual permit to a public utility or a cooperative association organized for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, water, or power to its members, DNR may not require mitigation unless the discharge authorized by the wetland individual permit will result in a permanent fill of more than 10,000 square feet of wetland. Authored by Senator Devin LeMahieu (R—Oostburg) and Representative Dave Steffen (R—Green Bay), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 118.
Assembly Bill 529 – This bill clarifies to Wisconsin health care providers that DHS’s Medicaid program covers services prescribed or ordered by physicians and non-physicians alike when the order is made within the provider’s scope of practice. Specifically, the bill affirms that Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (APNP) and Physician Assistance (PA) orders are covered by the DHS Medicaid program. Authored by Senator Leah Vukmir (R—Brookfield) and Representative John Nygren (R—Marinette), the bill passed the Senate on a voice vote and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 119.
Assembly Bill 153 – The bill adjusts the criteria under which electoral candidates may request a recount. In an election where 4,000 or fewer votes are cast, a candidate may request a recount only if his or her vote total is within 40 votes of the leading candidate. In an election of greater than 4,000 votes cast, a candidate’s vote total must be within 1 percent of the leading candidate. Authored by Senator Devin LeMahieu (R—Oostburg) and Representative Ron Tusler (R—Harrison), the bill passed the Senate on a vote of 20-13 and was concurred by the Assembly on a voice vote. It is Act 120.
