The Capitol Christmas Tree was officially lit last week Friday! This year’s theme is celebrating 175 years of Wisconsinites. The ornaments made by students all over the state reflect what Wisconsin means to those who represent Wisconsin. Come check out all the holiday décor at the State Capitol this holiday season.
Assembly Committee on Agriculture
The Assembly Committee on Agriculture met for an executive session on the following bills to be recommended for floor passage.
Assembly Bill 655 (AB 655), which I co-authored, relates to a transition to a grass pilot program and provides an appropriation. This bill was passed unanimously by the committee. AB 655 further expands on the progress made from our work on the Water Quality Task Force by creating a grazing pilot program.
Assembly Bill 440 (AB 440) relates to permits for the overweight transport of certain fluid milk products passed unanimously by the committee. This is a bill that I co-sponsored and authorizes the Department of Transportation to issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of fluid milk products in vehicle combinations that exceed general highway weight limitations.
Assembly Bill 419 (AB 419), which I am a co-sponsor of, relates to creating an online interactive carbon calculator for farmers to utilize and also passed the committee unanimously. This interactive carbon calculator administrated by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection can be used by farmers in this state to determine the carbon emissions produced directly and indirectly from their agricultural activities.
Governor Evers Signs Bills into Law
This week, Governor Evers signed numerous bipartisan bills into law that both the Assembly and Senate have passed.
Wisconsin Act 55: Ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Counseling Compact, allowing professional counselors to practice in other compact states and out-of-state professional counselors from compact member states to practice in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Act 58, which I co-sponsored, relates to time limits for processing sexual assault kits. This will create a six-month time limit for the state crime laboratories to process sexual assault kits and an expedited 60-day timeline under certain circumstances.
Wisconsin Act 60 Financial Literacy, which I was a co-sponsor of, was signed into law by Governor Evers. This bill requires one-half credit of personal financial literacy for high school graduation. Starting with students graduating in 2028, this will now mandate that students must earn at least half a credit in personal financial literacy. This course will cover topics such as financial mindset, education and employment, money management, saving and investing, credit and debt, and risk management and insurance. This is in addition to the existing statutory requirements for graduation.
Wisconsin Act 79 relates to Safe Haven Boxes, which I was a co-sponsor of. This expands the Safe Haven law to allow for “baby boxes,” devices where a parent can anonymously and safely leave their newborn infant at a hospital, police station, or fire station.
Wisconsin Act 85: Directs DHS to award a portion of the federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant as grants for suicide prevention programming. This requires the Department of Health Services to award grants of up to $25,000 with federal funds received under a federal community mental health services block grant to organizations or coalitions of organizations, including cities, villages, towns, counties, and American Indian tribes, for suicide prevention programming.
Wisconsin Act 86 relates to the Driver Education Grant Program. This will require the Department of Transportation to establish a driver education grant program under which it may provide grants to a person enrolled or seeking to be enrolled in a driver education course or a provider of such a course. The grant program will be funded by $6 million, which was set aside in the 2023-25 biennial budget. People under the age of 20 who are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch in the federal school lunch program and are enrolled in a public, choice, charter, or home school would be eligible to have costs covered.
Thank you to the Governor and Legislators who worked to get this package of bills passed and signed into law. The signing of these bills into law is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. Let us continue to work together for the betterment of our state. For the complete list of bills signed into law, you can read them here.
— Rep. Todd Novak represents Wisconsin’s 51st Assembly District. He can be reached at 608-237-9151 or email rep.novak@legis.wisconsin.gov.
