Last week, the Assembly voted on well over 100 bills, so there is no shortage of material to talk about, but I wanted to take this opportunity to focus on some bills that passed last week that will stimulate Wisconsin's economy if signed into law.
Wisconsin's workforce is its most valuable asset. Our state economy depends on skilled workers in growing sectors like agriculture and natural resources. I am proud to report the state Assembly is committed to creating and retaining high-quality jobs for Wisconsin's future. Last week, the Assembly passed four bills to strengthen our state workforce and economy.
On Tuesday we passed Assembly Bill 83 to establish the Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council. This group of government officials, educators and business representatives will advise state agencies on measures to create and retain jobs related to agriculture, food and natural resources and develop programs to best prepare Wisconsin workers for employment in these important industries. Specifically, the council will work with the Department of Public Instruction, University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Technical Colleges System to coordinate a statewide education system to provide the skills that are the foundation of a rewarding career.
As we make this important investment in our state workforce, we also must help business owners create jobs. Assembly Bill 732 will provide a new income tax credit for 10 percent of a meat processing business' expansion or modernization project. A similar program for the dairy industry is included in the current budget. Meat processing is an important industry in our state, accounting for $12.3 billion in annual economic activity and the employment of nearly 90,000 people. This new tax credit will help meat processors modernize their equipment, expand their operations and create good-paying jobs.
We also passed Assembly Bill 763, a bill I authored which will allow members of a dairy cooperative to claim the Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investment Tax Credit for modernization or expansions of the dairy cooperative's processing plants. Under this bill, cooperative members will be eligible for a tax credit up to 10 percent of qualified investments, with the credit capped at $200,000 per processing plant. The credit will be distributed to members based on the amount of milk each member delivers to their cooperative.
The Assembly remains steadfast in our promotion of research and development in cutting-edge technologies. We passed Assembly Bill 671 which promotes re-investment in our states emerging industries, increasing the flow of venture capital into start-up companies. Wisconsin researchers are leading the world in biotechnology achievements and re-investment incentives are among the best ways to support this industry and evade a national economic slowdown.
Finally, on Thursday, the Assembly passed AB 760, establishing a framework to register and regulate professional employer organizations (PEOs). PEOs are often retained by small businesses to ease the administrative burden of human resource functions. PEOs can also offer robust benefits packages more typical to large companies. These organizations manage significant liabilities of wages, taxes and insurance and are not currently regulated by the state. The framework we approved will provide greater security for Wisconsin workers and assure that PEOs continue to offer their important services to small business owners.
Protecting today's workers and creating high-quality jobs for the future remains my commitment to the 80th District and I will continue to work with Assembly Republicans and Democrats to advance this important agenda.
- Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, serves the 80th Assembly District, which includes all of Green County and portions of Rock, Dane and Lafayette counties.
Wisconsin's workforce is its most valuable asset. Our state economy depends on skilled workers in growing sectors like agriculture and natural resources. I am proud to report the state Assembly is committed to creating and retaining high-quality jobs for Wisconsin's future. Last week, the Assembly passed four bills to strengthen our state workforce and economy.
On Tuesday we passed Assembly Bill 83 to establish the Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council. This group of government officials, educators and business representatives will advise state agencies on measures to create and retain jobs related to agriculture, food and natural resources and develop programs to best prepare Wisconsin workers for employment in these important industries. Specifically, the council will work with the Department of Public Instruction, University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Technical Colleges System to coordinate a statewide education system to provide the skills that are the foundation of a rewarding career.
As we make this important investment in our state workforce, we also must help business owners create jobs. Assembly Bill 732 will provide a new income tax credit for 10 percent of a meat processing business' expansion or modernization project. A similar program for the dairy industry is included in the current budget. Meat processing is an important industry in our state, accounting for $12.3 billion in annual economic activity and the employment of nearly 90,000 people. This new tax credit will help meat processors modernize their equipment, expand their operations and create good-paying jobs.
We also passed Assembly Bill 763, a bill I authored which will allow members of a dairy cooperative to claim the Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investment Tax Credit for modernization or expansions of the dairy cooperative's processing plants. Under this bill, cooperative members will be eligible for a tax credit up to 10 percent of qualified investments, with the credit capped at $200,000 per processing plant. The credit will be distributed to members based on the amount of milk each member delivers to their cooperative.
The Assembly remains steadfast in our promotion of research and development in cutting-edge technologies. We passed Assembly Bill 671 which promotes re-investment in our states emerging industries, increasing the flow of venture capital into start-up companies. Wisconsin researchers are leading the world in biotechnology achievements and re-investment incentives are among the best ways to support this industry and evade a national economic slowdown.
Finally, on Thursday, the Assembly passed AB 760, establishing a framework to register and regulate professional employer organizations (PEOs). PEOs are often retained by small businesses to ease the administrative burden of human resource functions. PEOs can also offer robust benefits packages more typical to large companies. These organizations manage significant liabilities of wages, taxes and insurance and are not currently regulated by the state. The framework we approved will provide greater security for Wisconsin workers and assure that PEOs continue to offer their important services to small business owners.
Protecting today's workers and creating high-quality jobs for the future remains my commitment to the 80th District and I will continue to work with Assembly Republicans and Democrats to advance this important agenda.
- Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, serves the 80th Assembly District, which includes all of Green County and portions of Rock, Dane and Lafayette counties.
