Madison, WI — The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA) commends the Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry for holding a public hearing on Senate Bill 456, the Wisconsin Forestry Revitalization Bill. This critical legislation aims to restore and strengthen Wisconsin’s forest products industry, a cornerstone of the state’s rural economy.
GLTPA Executive Director Henry Schienebeck testified before the committee on October 9, 2025, expressing strong support for the bill and gratitude to its authors—Senator Mary Felzkowski, Senator Romaine Quinn, Senator Rob Stafsholt, Representative Chanz Green, and Representative Jeff Mursau—for their leadership.
“For decades, Wisconsin’s forest products industry has been the backbone of our rural communities,” said Schienebeck. “Senate Bill 456 represents a bold and necessary step toward revitalizing this sector. By supporting infrastructure upgrades and enabling the development of a state-of-the-art biorefinery in Hayward, this bill will create a reliable market for low-value wood and woody biomass, improve forest health, and position Wisconsin as a global leader in sustainable aviation fuel production.”
The GLTPA represents over 1,000 members across Wisconsin and Michigan, including loggers, truckers, foresters, mills, landowners, and allied businesses. The association emphasized that the industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, including mill closures and the loss of nearly 30% of the region’s wood-consuming market.
Schienebeck noted that Wisconsin’s forests grow twice as much fiber as is harvested annually, but forest health is in decline due to increasing natural mortality and reduced harvesting on private lands. The proposed biorefinery would help reverse this trend by creating new demand for underutilized wood resources.
“Wisconsin is ready,” Schienebeck added. “We have the workforce, the experience, and a proud tradition of sustainable forest management. This bill will not only strengthen our economy—it will make our forests healthier and help reduce carbon emissions in international aviation.”
GLTPA urges swift passage of Senate Bill 456 and stands ready to support its implementation.
