SEN. STROEBEL, SEN. ROTH, & REP. BROOKS TO INTRODUCE BILL CLOSING BOTH DARK STORE AND WALGREEN LOOPHOLES
Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) and Rep. Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) are seeking co-sponsors for LRB-1665, a bill that is a combination of last session's dark store and Walgreens reversal bills. Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton) is the lead co-sponsor on the bill. The League strongly supports the bill and will be urging other legislators to sign on as co-sponsors.

We anticipate that business groups like Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) will oppose and will be asking legislators to refrain from co-sponsoring. It is critically important that municipal officials and staff counter this opposition by contacting their legislators and urging them to sign on to LRB-1665, Sen. Stroebel, Sen. Roth, and Rep. Brooks's legislation closing the dark store and Walgreens loopholes.

We also anticipate that Governor Evers' budget bill, which he will unveil next week, will include language closing the dark store and Walgreens tax loopholes.

This is one of the only policy issues being debated this session that will receive strong public support from both fiscally conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats.

More Information on dark store and Walgreens loopholes:


Email your legislators. We have prepared an email for you to send to your legislators using our Voter Voice system. Just click on the button below to send emails to your legislators urging them to sign on to the bill closing the dark store and Walgreens loopholes.
GOVERNOR TO INCLUDE BUDGET LANGUAGE DECRIMINALIZING POSSESSING 25 GRAMS OR LESS OF MARIJUANA
The Governor's budget proposal will also include: 

  • A medical marijuana program regulated and administered through the departments of Health Services and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. 
  • A procedure to expunge the records of those convicted of possessing, manufacturing or distributing less than 25 grams of marijuana who have completed their sentence or probation. 
  • Aligning Wisconsin's laws on CBD oil with federal standards. 
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE RECRUITING MUNICIPALITIES TO TESTIFY ON STRATEGIES FOR CREATING POSITIVE FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Rep. Scott Allen, chair of the Assembly Community Development Committee, seeks municipal officials and/or staff interested in presenting to the committee in April about landscaping, branding, streetscape and other methods their community uses to create a positive first impression for visitors.

For more information or to be considered for presenting to the committee, contact Curt Witynski.
MUNICIPAL LOBBY DAY THIS WEDNESDAY
Municipal officials and staff are invited to participate in the League's first lobby day of the session this Wednesday, February 20. We meet at 9:30 at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel on the Capitol Square. The agenda for the day is as follows:

9:30 -- 10:30 -- League staff provides briefing on issues that will be lobbied on
10:30-12:15 -- Meet with state legislators
12:30-1:30 -- Lunch and Speaker
1:30 -- Adjourn

More information about the lobby day and how to sign up for the League's lobby team is posted on the League's web site, here. If you have questions about joining the Lobby Team or lobby day, contact Gail Sumi at email.
JOIN US FEBRUARY 25 IN WAUPACA AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEAGUE'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Municipal officials and staff are invited to the PAR 4 Resort in Waupaca from 5:30-7:00 on Monday, February 25, to interact with League staff and learn more about the municipal agenda for the upcoming legislative session.

Please join us if you are able. There is no cost and no RSVP necessary. A light dinner will be served. For more information contact Gail Sumi.

Please share our 2019-2020 Legislative Agenda with your state legislators. A copy of the League's agenda is posted on our web site here.
IN THE NEWS 

Continued financial constraints push county officials to action
“We have a vision of wanting to have a good, financial, sustainable base from which we can grow along with our community … ,” Schauf said. “We … know that in order to really be effective and survive we cannot simply do that through … cutting and shrinking services. But at this point, in many areas that is our only option.”

“Budgeting in a way that makes sense is becoming more and more difficult for us as a county government because of the obstacles you see,” said Schauf, noting county officials have taken steps to reduce expenses through collaborations and innovative programs. “If we get no traction from the state of Wisconsin, we are going to have to start making decisions about … what it is you as policymakers would like to see as the future of this county.” Read the full article here.
RECENTLY INTRODUCED BILLS

No new bills affecting municipalities were introduced last week.
PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK

SB 13, Notification of changed property tax assessment for agricultural land. By Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue, and Financial Institutions, Tuesday, February 19, 10:00 a.m., room 300 Southeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.

SB 4, Broadens definition of “immobilization device" to allow communities to use other methods beside the Boot to immobilize a vehicle. Also authorizes a municipality to enter into a contract with a person that authorizes the person to immobilize motor vehicles. By Committee on Government Operations, Technology and
Consumer Protection on Tuesday, February 19, 12:30 p.m., room 201 Southeast, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.