Madison – Representative Shae Sortwell (R-Gibson) released the following statement today after testifying in the Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue yesterday on three bills aimed at benefitting Wisconsin seniors and students:
“The first bill I author (Senate Bill 229) focuses on senior property tax relief. I continue to hear from my constituents about their concerns on soaring property tax bills. This hits our seniors the hardest when they are on a fixed income. Increased costs on a fixed income are unsustainable for Wisconsin’s seniors. This piece of legislation provides up to a $500 annual refundable individual income tax credit for those of federal retirement age to cover property tax increases on their primary residence.”
“The other two bills seek to help Wisconsin students. To address Wisconsin’s school psychologist shortage, Senate Bill 241 creates a loan forgiveness program for graduate students going into this field and working in areas of high need in our state. Modeled after the state’s teacher loan forgiveness program, school psychologist students would be eligible for $10,000 a year for up to three years of forgiveness. Growing this field would also help improve Wisconsin’s mental health services to our K-12 students.”
“Senate Bill 95 is a constituent bill seeking to end the unfair practice of scholarship displacement, which is when a student has their college financial aid package reduced due to receiving a private scholarship. My constituent’s daughter had her community scholarship from the De Pere Rotary Club stolen by UW-Madison through this process. Punishing those making the effort to earn outside scholarships disincentivizes academic success, places a further burden on the student to pay off their debt, and discourages donors from giving to private scholarship programs. I am hopeful we can get this legislation passed this session to have Wisconsin join the likes of Maryland and New Jersey in adopting this policy.”
Representative Sortwell is available for comment.
