MADISON… Legislation authored by Sen. André Jacque (New Franken) and Rep. William Penterman (Hustisford) to prevent enemy nations from owning Wisconsin land passed the Assembly Committee on Agriculture today on a bipartisan vote of 11-4.
As amended, Assembly Bill 30 would prohibit any foreign adversary from purchasing and owning property in Wisconsin. Only those countries identified under federal law as actively undermining the security and sovereignty of the United States would be affected, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Cuba. Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro was listed as a foreign adversary.
“This legislation is about protecting Wisconsin’s critical resources, including our farmland, our food systems, and our communities, from regimes that have repeatedly demonstrated hostile intent,” said Jacque. “The economic and national security threat of foreign adversaries owning and controlling Wisconsin lands and supply chains is not hypothetical, but one that is real, urgent and must be dealt with now.”
AB 30 has the support of leading agricultural groups in the state such as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the Dairy Business Association, and will now move to the full Assembly for a vote. Other legislative proposals authored by Sen. Jacque passing committee today include:
Reducing Agricultural Runoff (Assembly Bill 93) – Bipartisan clean water legislation authored by Sen. Jacque and Rep. Jeff Mursau (Crivitz) aimed at helping Wisconsin farmers generate income while reducing runoff pollution also passed committee today on a vote of 15-0.
Current law requires fertilizers produced from converting manure into compost to contain specific percentages of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium when distributed in Wisconsin. This makes organic products which use composting unsellable in our state. AB 93 removes this regulatory barrier to the economic viability of manure composting.
“This legislation is a ‘win-win’ measure that removes a barrier to making the environmental and agricultural best practice of manure composting more economically viable for Wisconsin farmers, while reducing the pressure on dairy farms to excessively spread manure,” said Jacque.
The companion SB 78 passed the Senate on a voice vote last April. This bill now moves to the full Assembly for consideration, and if passed, will move to the governor’s desk for approval.
Lemon Law for Implements of Husbandry (Assembly Bill 31) – Wisconsin has had a “lemon law” on its books since 1984 to protect those who purchase cars, trucks and SUVs. Authored by Sen. Jacque and Rep. Paul Tittl (Manitowoc), AB 31 is a bipartisan proposal that would extend similar consumer protections to cover defective agricultural equipment sold to Wisconsin farmers while under warranty. The bill passed committee today on a vote of 15-0.
“With the increased reliance Wisconsin farmers have on advanced technology, faulty agricultural equipment can mean significant financial costs and loss of valuable time,” said Jacque. “This bill will provide the same consumer protections all motorists receive against egregiously defective equipment.”
AB 31 requires farm equipment under warranty subject to repair four times, or out of service for thirty days, to be refunded or replaced. The bill now moves to the full Assembly for a vote. States already enacting lemon laws for farm equipment include Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota and Virginia. Similar legislation from last session, 2023 AB 14, passed the Assembly on a voice vote.
Expansion of Treatment Alternative and Diversion (TAD) Programs (Assembly Bill 178) – In the Assembly Judiciary Committee Thursday, bipartisan legislation to enhance public safety and efficiency within our state’s criminal justice system passed on a vote of 7-1.
Since its creation in 2005 Act 25, Wisconsin’s Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) program has provided effective assistance for non-violent offenders who need treatment for substance abuse and addiction to avoid incarceration. The TAD program operates in approximately 50 counties and in two tribes. AB 178 will expand treatment options to include mental health services.
“TAD programs reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and relieve pressure on our court system by focusing our limited criminal justice resources on those violent offenders who pose the greatest risk to our communities,” said Jacque.
AB 178 has a broad range of support from organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Wisconsin Medical Society, the National Alliance of Mental Illness Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference and many others. Rep. Paul Tittl (Manitowoc) is the lead author in the Assembly. Similar legislation (2023 SB 11) passed the Senate last session on a strong bi-partisan 29-3 vote.
