Madison – Today the Wisconsin State Assembly held a floor session and passed two bills authored by State Representative William Penterman (R – Columbus). “I am proud to be off to a fast start to our legislative session,” said Rep. Penterman. “Wisconsinites expect their legislators to work hard for them, and that is what this session has been about.” Under current law, University of Wisconsin campuses are exempt from honoring DOT-issued disability identifications for disabled individuals. Assembly Bill 49 closes that loophole and requires the same disabled parking privileges for UW campuses as the rest of the state. “Disabled individuals

Madison – Representative Chanz Green (R-Grand View) issued the following statement after voting in favor of legislation prohibiting state and local governments in Wisconsin from banning the sale or use of products based on their energy source. “Wisconsin residents should have the freedom to choose what best fits their needs when it comes to everyday appliances and motor vehicles,” said Rep. Green. “Taking away the choice for a consumer to choose which product best fits their needs would have major ramifications on Northern Wisconsin.” Minnesota is proposing two bills, H.F. 1715 and 1716, that would block the sale of common landscaping appliances like lawn

Madison, WI – The Wisconsin State Assembly today passed a bill targeting carjacking. The bill increases the penalty for carjacking with the use of a weapon from a Class C felony to a Class B felony. The bill also renames the crimes of “operating vehicle without owner’s consent” to simply “carjacking.”  Class C felonies are punishable by a $100,000 fine and up to 40 years in prison. By changing the classification to a Class B felony, carjackers using weapons could face up to 60 years in prison. “I can’t imagine the terror that someone must feel when they’re being pulled

Madison, WI – Today, Representative Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger) voted for Assembly Bill 141 and Assembly Bill 142 to prevent the state and local governments from prohibiting the sale of products based on their energy source. After passage of both bills, he released the following statement: “Consumers deserve options when it comes to purchasing goods. Unfortunately, in several areas controlled by Democrats there is an effort to restrict consumer freedom. Several states are moving to ban the sale of new vehicles with gas-powered engines and there are even efforts to ban items like gas- powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers. “If

Madison, WI – Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly unanimously passed Assembly Bill 36, which would create a timeline for the processing of sexual assault kits by the State Crime Lab. The bill, authored by State Representative David Steffen (R-Howard) and State Senator Jesse James (R-Altoona), builds upon legislation passed last session that worked to eliminate the state’s backlog of sexual assault kits bycreating processing and protocol requirements for law enforcement and health care professionals. “I am thrilled that the Assembly unanimously passed this bill, which will ensure that sexual assault kits are promptly processed by the State Crime Lab. Victims

MADISON, WI – Today the Wisconsin State Assembly was in session. The Legislature passed a number of bipartisan bills. Representative Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) had the following statement: “Rather than debating issues back and forth, today we were able to set aside our differences and passed meaningful legislation. I was proud to vote for proposals that support our farmers, protect our environment, and address the processing of sexual assault kits.” “I urge my Republican colleagues to support key provisions in Governor Evers’ proposed budget like expanding access to affordable childcare, workforce initiatives, and shared revenue. If we were able to set

MADISON – Today, State Representative Alex Joers (D-Middleton) delivered his first speech on the floor of the Assembly since being elected. He spoke on Assembly Joint Resolution 22, a resolution he authored with Senator Dianne Hesselbein honoring Earth Day. The resolution passed on a voice vote with bipartisan support. Representative Joers released the following excerpts from his speech:  “53 years ago, our United States Senator Gaylord Nelson had long been concerned about the deteriorating environment in our world. So, to energize a public consciousness about air and water pollution, he brought together a bipartisan, multi-generational effort in a call for

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Kaul today sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, requesting that the Commission look back at the 2018 Energizer acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ global batteries and lighting segment. “I am deeply concerned that this transaction has resulted in increased prices for consumers and the loss of family-supporting union jobs in Wisconsin,” said Attorney General Kaul. “The cursory look that the Federal Trade Commission took in 2018 needs to be reviewed.” Energizer’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ global batteries and lighting segment resulted in the combination of the number one and number two battery

Madison – Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield) released the following statement after his bill to address a disturbing rise in carjackings in Wisconsin passed on the floor of the Assembly:  “Pumping gas, going to the library, and unloading groceries at home should not be dangerous activities,” said Rep. Spiros. “Unfortunately, there is a sense of fear for many as we see the dangerous, and sometimes fatal, results of a dramatic rise in carjackings.”  Senate Bill 76 passed with strong bipartisan support on the floor after a unanimous vote out of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary. It defines carjacking in state statute and

Kenosha – Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Somers) is disgruntled and disappointed today after the Republican majority on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted to deny Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding for the Pelican River Forest project in northern Wisconsin.  The project has been called the largest land conservation effort in state history.  “I’m outraged but definitely not surprised that Republicans have denied state stewardship funding for this historic conservation opportunity. They tried to stall the project indefinitely, hiding behind a loophole in committee rules. When called on it, they voted it down instead.  It continues a recent pattern of Republican opposition to the Knowles-Nelson

MILWAUKEE – County Supervisor Felesia A. Martin and Alderman Lamont Westmoreland will host a community forum for neighbors in the Kops, Cooper, and Nash parks communities to discuss parks and neighborhood safety on Thursday, April 20 at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church (8424 W. Center Street, Milwaukee 53222) at 6 p.m.  “Thank you to the Kops, Cooper, and Nash parks residents for their ongoing engagement with our office,” said Supervisor Martin. “These folks are prime examples of who and what creates strong, vibrant, and safe neighborhoods. Everyone has a role to play and one of the key roles of residents is to engage with one another, elected officials,

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today that he is seeking applicants for the Dane County Circuit Court – Branch 12 and the La Crosse County Circuit Court – Branch 3. The appointments will fill vacancies being created by Judge Chris Taylor’s resignation from the Dane County Circuit Court following her election to the Court of Appeals – District IV and Judge Todd Bjerke’s retirement from the La Crosse County Circuit Court, effective July 31, 2023. The new judges will complete terms ending July 31, 2024. To apply, please email a completed application form and supporting materials to GOVJudicialAppointments@wisconsin.gov. Applications must be