Madison, WI – Those participating in Wisconsin’s burgeoning hemp industry scored a win on Tuesday with the passage of the Growing Opportunities Act through the State Senate. The bill, authored by Senators Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) and Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and Representatives Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) and Dave Considine (D-Baraboo), would transition Wisconsin’s hemp pilot program into a permanent one – a move made possible by the passage of the 2018 federal farm bill last December. “Hemp is Wisconsin’s comeback crop,” said Sen. Testin. “This bill works to build confidence at every level of the hemp industry. Farmers, processors, retailers, and customers need to

Madison, WI – Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) announced that the State Senate passed four of his bills and two important joint resolutions during floor session today. “I appreciate the support from my colleagues for the important initiatives we passed today,” Marklein said. “It is an honor to work on legislation that was developed by residents of the 17th Senate District. The best legislation comes from those who are living and working in our communities every day.” “The idea for Assembly Bill (AB) 195 was brought to me by school district leaders in my Senate district,” Marklein said. “Teachers from many

Madison – The Wisconsin State Senate is giving unanimous support to four bills authored by State Senator Alberta Darling which will help protect vulnerable citizens of our state. The bills will help protect victims of sexual assault, stop sex trafficking, protect homeless teens, and stop the diabetes epidemic in our state. Senator Darling says she is grateful the bills received overwhelming support. “I’m proud to author these important bills which help protect the vulnerable in Wisconsin,” Darling said, “They will help make our state safer and healthier.” Assembly Bill 52 will allow 17-year-olds from broken homes or living on the streets

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) today announced that his offices will be open on Columbus Day, October 14, 2019. Staff in both the Washington, D.C. and Fond du Lac offices will be here to serve constituents of the Sixth District on Monday. If you would like to contact Congressman Grothman’s office, please call 202-225-2476 (Washington, D.C.) or 920-907-0624 (Fond du Lac), or visit grothman.house.gov. “When I was a lawyer in the private sector, it was always frustrating that the government would be off for federal holidays while I was working,” said Grothman. “Now that I work in government, I want my

MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents is poised to push forward with a controversial plan to limit campus speech that, according to One Wisconsin Institute Executive Director Analiese Eicher, appears targeted at appeasing right-wing politicians instead of protecting the rights of students, faculty and staff. With mere days’ notice, the measure to modify the University of Wisconsin administrative code was included on the agenda of the Board of Regents meeting to be held on the UW-Superior campus. “The Board of Regents seems to be more interested in pandering to right-wing politicians than protecting free speech,” said

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MADISON – Today, the Wisconsin Senate passed AB 195 which modifies the license to teach based on reciprocity.  This legislation changes a license to teach based on reciprocity from an initial license to a provisional license.  This change allows the Department of Public Instruction to issue a lifetime license to a classroom teacher that was educated out of state and successfully completes six semesters (three school years) of teaching in a Wisconsin school.   During the 2018-2019 school year, the Department of Public Instruction issued 409 teacher licenses based on reciprocity.  This number is derived from the 2017-2019 state budget,

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MILWAUKEE, WI – Senate Democrats filed a discharge petition to force a vote on the Protect Pre-Existing Conditions Act, which would undo the Trump administration’s new junk insurance plans that don’t cover people with pre-existing conditions. In response, Protect Our Care Wisconsin state director Joe Zepecki issued the following statement: “Any senator who votes against this resolution sends a clear message: they don’t support protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Voters made clear they want these protections, but Senate Republicans and President Trump continue to sabotage our health care and let insurance companies discriminate against the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions,