The Assembly signed off on a bill that would require the state to obtain a conviction before police could keep and then sell property taken from those accused of a crime. The bill, which the chamber approved on a voice vote vote, also would require a court to find the

A scaled back version of a bill aimed at safeguarding teachers and addressing violent behavior in schools cleared the Assembly tonight 58-36. The so called “Teacher Protection Act,” from Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, now only consists of a provision to allow teachers who were the victims of an attack by a

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

A bill that would permanently revoke the driver’s license of someone who commits four or more OWI offenses cleared the Assembly tonight on a 84-10 vote. The legislation is one of a series of law-and-order bills that have passed the chamber in recent days, as lawmakers yesterday signed off on

The Assembly passed a bill to crack down on those who commit crimes while out on parole that includes a new amendment to add $350 million in borrowing to pay for a new adult prison. The bill, which also featured a provision to add assistant DA positions in more than

The Assembly signed off on a proposed sales tax holiday and $100-per-child tax rebate, sending it to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future. The provision cleared the chamber on a 61-35 vote with a number of new amendments: one that would let small retailers opt out of the

Two separate joint resolutions recognizing February as Black History Month cleared the Assembly this afternoon shortly after the chamber gaveled in for its third consecutive floor day this week. One resolution, AJR 109, is from Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha. The other, AJR 112, is from Dem Rep. David Crowley and

GOP state Reps. John Nygren and Mark Born today proposed adding assistant DA positions in 40 counties starting next year to address staffing shortages. The proposal, which carries a price tag of $3.9 million annually, will be proposed as an amendment to a Senate bill that would require the Department

Small, rural schools would get a $6.5 million bump in state aid, while low-spending districts would be able to collect more in property taxes under legislation the Senate approved 31-1 Tuesday. The bill, which now heads to the guv, was approved after Republicans rejected a Dem attempt to amend the

The Senate voted along party lines 18-14 to increase the penalties for those who commit fraud in obtaining unemployment benefits. Under current law, the penalties max out at $500 and 90 days in jail. Under the bill, which now goes to the guv, there would be four tiers of penalties.

The Senate voted 18-14 along party lines Tuesday to ease permitting requirements for some urban and rural wetlands, sending the bill to the guv. Dems, all of whom opposed the bill, slammed the legislation as a sop to developers that will come back to bite the state down the line

The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would limit the number of sexually violent offenders placed into distant rural communities. The bill, which cleared the Assembly in January, now heads to the guv. The legislation would require counties, through the formation of a temporary committee, to locate a single placement option

The state Senate voted 18-14 along party lines to ban the state from offering its employees health plans that cover abortion except in cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother. The Senate voted on the bill without debate, and the legislation now heads to the guv’s desk.

The Senate voted 23-9 Tuesday to approve the guv’s plan to create a reinsurance program for those Wisconsinites who purchase their health care through the federal individual marketplace. The vote clears the way for the bill to head to the Assembly, which also planned to take it up as part

The state’s historic rehabilitation credit would be boosted to $3.5 million per project starting July 1, instead of $500,000, under legislation the Senate approved Tuesday 29-3. The state program, which is a supplement to the federal credit, can equal up to 20 percent of expenses to rehabilitate certified historic structures.

The state would have to obtain a conviction before police could keep and then sell property taken from those accused of a crime under legislation the Senate approved 22-10. The bill, which now goes to the Assembly, also would require a court to find the property seized is proportional to

The state Senate today signed off along party lines on all but one of the guv’s welfare bills, clearing the way for the nine pieces of legislation to head to his desk. The package, backed by Republicans, includes: *SSAB 1, which would up the work requirement for FoodShare to 30

State agencies would have to provide lawmakers a detailed accounting of their spending every two years under legislation the Senate approved today via voice vote. That report would include the minimum level of funding required for each appropriation to achieve its objectives that does not exceed the prior fiscal year’s

Both houses of the Legislature will be in session today with loaded calendars as lawmakers begin the final sprint before adjourning for the year. That includes both houses taking up Gov. Scott Walker’s $200 million reinsurance plan. The Senate’s calendar also includes measures that would: *roll back permitting requirements for