MADISON, WI…Legislation to exempt taxes on qualified tips in Wisconsin was one of six bills authored by Senator André Jacque (New Franken) to pass the State Senate on Wednesday. Senate Bill 36 passed the Senate on a strong bi-partisan 21-12 vote. The Assembly approved the companion bill last week, but now must approve technical changes made by the Joint Finance Committee before a final version can be sent to the governor.
The initiative to eliminate the income tax on tips has been introduced and championed by Senator Jacque since 2019, when his proposal with former Rep. Cody Horlacher was the first of its kind in the nation. Under SB 36, Wisconsin law would mirror the federal tax exemption on tips enacted last year. Representative Ron Tusler (Harrison) is the lead author in the Assembly. The first $25,000 in cash or charged tips received would be exempt under the bill.
“To address the high cost of living taxpayers are confronted with daily, SB 36 will provide financial relief that will help high school students, young adults working their way through college, parents from single income homes and many others among Wisconsin’s working class who depend upon income they receive from tips in exchange for excellent service,” said Jacque.
Recent polling has shown broad support for Wisconsin eliminating the income tax on tips, including 79 percent Republicans and Independents, and 76 percent of Democrats.
“Eliminating taxes on tips has broad bi-partisan support, unanimously passing the US Senate, and was endorsed by both major presidential candidates in the last election. I was pleased Governor Evers included my proposal within his initial budget proposal,” said Jacque.
Other bills passing the Senate today include:
Protecting Adults at Risk (Assembly Bill 19) – Bi-partisan legislation authored with Representative Rob Kreibich (New Richmond) also passed the Senate today on a voice vote, which will increase penalties for crimes committed against “adults at risk” and protect survivors.
Wisconsin has a longstanding definition of an “adult at risk” which protects persons with a physical or mental disadvantage. AB 19 extends the same protections to at risk adults as those which currently apply to individuals over the age of 60, such as allowing courts to freeze their assets if the victim is threatened with financial exploitation. This legislation also allows for greater prison time for those who victimize at risk adults, increases the severity of certain sexual crimes, and allows adults to remotely participate in court proceedings when seeking a restraining order.
“Targeting and victimizing Wisconsin residents with mental or physical disadvantages must never be tolerated, and this legislation strengthens protections for some of the most vulnerable in our society,” said Jacque.
AB 19 unanimously passed the Assembly last week, and will now also be sent to the governor for his signature.
Foreign Adversary Land Ban (Senate Bill 7) – Legislation to prevent foreign adversaries from owning land in Wisconsin passed the Senate on a vote of 18-15. Representative William Penterman (Hustisford) is the lead author in the Assembly.
As amended, SB 7 would prohibit anyone from a country hostile to the United States from purchasing or owning property in Wisconsin, and require those who do so to divest. Only those countries identified under federal law as actively undermining the security and sovereignty of the United States would be affected, including China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and the Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela.
“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 land and supply chains is not hypothetical, but one that is real, urgent and must be dealt with now.
SB 7 has the support of leading agricultural groups in the state such as the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the Dairy Business Association, and is based on legislation that has passed with strong bipartisan support in other states. Its companion legislation, AB 30, is on the Assembly calendar on Thursday.
“Protecting our state from potential foreign threats should not be a partisan issue, and I am hopeful that the governor will sign it into law as soon as possible,” said Jacque.
No Patient Left Alone Act (Senate Bill 417) – Bi-partisan legislation authored with Representative Chuck Wichgers (Muskego) to protect the rights of long-term facility residents and hospital patients during a communicable disease outbreak passed the Senate 19-14.
SB 417 creates a compassionate, balanced approach to visitations during a pandemic. With the support of health advocacy groups such as the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR), the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association and the Wisconsin Health Care Association (WHCA), this legislation will allow such hospital patients and health care facility residents the opportunity for “compassionate care” visits, to include visits necessary for their physical or mental wellbeing, particularly during end-of-life situations.
Jurisdiction over Juveniles on Federal Enclaves (Senate Bill 253) – Historically, the federal government has exercised exclusive jurisdiction over state lands hosting federal facilities. But as more civilians work on U.S. military bases, fewer options and state resources are available to those facing criminal charges. Exclusive federal jurisdiction forces offenders into adult courts, where sentences tend to be harsher, and criminal conviction records impact juveniles for life.
With Representative Robert Brooks (Saukville) as lead author in the Assembly and introduced in consultation with and at the request of the Department of Defense state liaison office, SB 253 will allow Wisconsin to retain concurrent jurisdiction on federal lands when cases involve juveniles. The bill passed the Senate today on a voice vote.
“This legal arrangement allows for better suited, youth focused solutions, including more rehabilitative approaches, tailored to address crimes and misdemeanors by juvenile offenders,” said Jacque.
Regulating Campground Rides (Senate Bill 225) – In an attempt to eliminate duplicative regulations that campground owners who install and operate amusement rides face, this legislation was introduced with Rep. Calvin Callahan (Tomahawk). As amended, the bill will specifically allow campground owners to operate the popular “jumping pillow” pad without having to receive licenses from multiple state agencies. SB 225 unanimously pass the Senate today on a voice vote.
Senator André Jacque represents Northeast Wisconsin’s First Senate District, consisting of Door and Kewaunee Counties and portions of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties.
