Senate unanimously approves amended youth prisons bills

The Senate this afternoon unanimously passed a juvenile corrections bill that’s largely in line with the version the Assembly passed last month reviving a bill that had been stalled over Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s objections to several provisions as

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Senate concurs on Assembly change to drunk driving bill

The DOT would permanently revoke a license if the driver had two or more “qualifying convictions” and two OWI offenses within a 15-year period. The offenses that would be “qualifying convictions” include: second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by intoxicated use of

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Assembly gavels in, passes tweaked juvenile justice bill

A tweaked plan to overhaul the state’s juvenile corrections system is now on its way to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk after passing the Assembly 90-0. The bill would close the Lincoln Hills youth prison by Jan. 1, 2021, and require in its place new DOC type 1 facilities for the

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Senate signs off on $100 million school safety plan

The Senate Tuesday night signed off on its version of a plan aimed at increasing school safety on a 28-4 vote. The proposal, adopted as an amendment to AB 843, differs from the six special session bills Assembly Republicans had been considering in a public hearing earlier today. Still, it

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Bill to overhaul court procedures clears Senate with key amendment

The Senate today voted 18-14 to pass the so-called tort reform bill with key changes that got enough GOP lawmakers on board to pass it. The bill, which would change standards on legal processes and discovery over provisions regarding the retention of records, had received pushback from Sen. Van Wanggaard,

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Senate approves $7 million campaign to bring workers to Wisconsin

A bill that would set aside funding for a multi-million dollar marketing program to attract more workers to Wisconsin is now heading to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk after clearing the Senate 17-15. While the bill received some bipartisan support in the Assembly when it cleared that chamber last month, GOP

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Senate passes bill adding new regulations to landlord-tenant relations

The Senate signed off 18-14 on a bill that would make sweeping changes to landlord-tenant laws. The legislation, which previously cleared the Assembly, now heads to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk over Dem objections that it would disadvantage tenants by chipping away at provisions aimed to protect them. Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona,

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Senate unanimously approves amended youth prisons bills

The Senate this afternoon unanimously passed a juvenile corrections bill that’s largely in line with the version the Assembly passed last month reviving a bill that had been stalled over Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s objections to several provisions as well as the process. There was no debate before the

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Republicans approve revised child tax credit with Dem vote

The state Senate today signed off on a $100 per-child credit and a scaled back sales tax holiday as part of a deal GOP legislative leaders struck to move the stalled proposal. It only cleared the Senate because Sen. La Tonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, joined most Republicans in backing the plan.

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Senate approves resolution to move along stalled budgets

The Senate approved 18-14 along party lines changing chamber ruled to add a trigger to move the budget along if the Joint Finance Committee fails to complete by a deadline. The committee would have until June 30 in a budget year to finish its work on the document. If it

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Senate concurs on Assembly change to drunk driving bill

The DOT would permanently revoke a license if the driver had two or more “qualifying convictions” and two OWI offenses within a 15-year period. The offenses that would be “qualifying convictions” include: second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicles or homicide by negligent operation of a

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Bill to extend winery hours statewide clears Assembly

The Assembly signed off on a bill that would keep wineries in the state open longer. The bill would let wineries that have a “Class B” license authorizing the retail sale of wine extend their closing times from 9 p.m. to midnight, although it would also let municipalities establish more

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