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League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Ph: (608) 267-2380
(800) 991-5502
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It's Dark Store Day -- Tell your Legislator to Pass the Dark Store and Walgreens Reversal Bills
Today is
Dark Store Day, a statewide effort to focus media attention on the need for the Legislature to pass the League's dark store bills,
SB 292 and
SB 291, and return
common sense and fairness to how commercial properties are assessed in this state.
We invite all municipal leaders to participate in Dark Store Day
by communicating with your local media about the need for the
Legislature to take action in January to close the dark store tax avoidance strategy in Wisconsin.
Talking points and helpful background information for local leaders to use is posted on the League's website.
Press Conferences. Two simultaneous Dark Store Day press conferences are scheduled for
1:00 on December 11. All municipal leaders in the region are welcome to participate:
1. The Village of Ashwaubenon is hosting a press conference at the Ashwaubenon Community Center, 900 Anderson Drive.
2. The City of Wauwatosa is hosting a press conference in conjunction with the monthly meeting of the Milwaukee County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council at the Wauwatosa Public Library, 7635 West North Avenue.
Action Step
: Use the following link to Voter Voice to email your state legislators and urge them to schedule SB 291/AB 387, reversing the
Walgreens
decision, and SB 292/AB 386, closing the dark store loophole, for a vote in January
when they return to the floor. https://www.votervoice.net/LWM/campaigns/55625/respond
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Governor Signs Social Host Bill into Law
Last Friday, Governor Walker signed
SB 202, into law as
Act 126, prohibiting an adult from allowing underage drinking on property the adult owns and occupies or property the adult occupies and controls. The League supports this legislation, which restores the ability of municipalities to enact and enforce social host ordinances.
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Public Hearings this Week on Three Bills Limiting Municipal Powers
State legislative committees have scheduled public hearings this week on the following three bills the League opposes:
1.
AB 361,
Requiring a referendum to implement a local vehicle registration fee (wheel tax). The bill applies retroactively, requiring communities that already have a local vehicle registration fee in place to conduct a referendum on whether it should be continued. The hearing before the
Assembly Committee on Ways and Means is 10:00 a.m. on December 14 in room 417 north, State Capitol.
The League will be testifying against this bill.
2.
SB 639,
The Landlords' bill
, limiting the ability of municipalities to inspect rental units only upon complaint. (Rep. Brooks is considering amending this provision and we are urging him to do so). The bill makes numerous other changes, including limiting rental inspection fees to the actual and direct cost of performing the inspection, and prohibiting landlord registration fees.
The hearing before the Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing and Trade is 10:00 a.m. on December 13 in room 411 South. The League will be testifying against the bill.
3.
SB 640,
T
he Developers' bill,
containing numerous municipal preemptions and limitations, including:
--Prohibiing a municipality from enacting or enforcing an ordinance relating to storm water management unless the ordinance strictly conforms to uniform statewide standards.
--Exempting a property that retains at least 90 percent of storm water from any
new or additional storm water system service charges.
--Prohibiting a municipality from prohibiting persons from working on a private construction project on a weekend.
The bill also imposes two new unfunded annual reporting mandates on municipalities. The hearing before the Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing and Trade is 10:00 a.m. on December 13 in room 411 South. The League will be testifying against the bill.
Action Step
: We need local officials to testify against
these bills at the public hearings this week. If you are unable to attend the hearings, please email committee members directly about your concerns. Committee member emails are posted on the committee's web page, linked above.
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In the News
Dark Store Day Designed To Push Legislature To Act
League Executive Director Jerry Deschane explains what they're hoping to accomplish by declaring December 11 as Dark Store Day in Wisconsin...
"....we're trying to highlight the fact that the tax burden is shifting away from big box commercial retailers and it's being put on the laps of home owners, small businesses, basically everybody except the big box retailers...."
Read the story here...
GOP lawmakers seek to increase state historic tax credits
The League of Wisconsin Municipalities supports the increase.
"We went from having no limits on the HTC program to having a severe limitation of $500,000 per project put in place," league deputy executive director Curt Witynski said. "We are pleased the Legislature is seriously considering increasing the per project cap to $3.5 million. This will return the HTC program to being a helpful tool for making rehabilitation of old urban properties more feasible for private developers."
Read the story...
Wisconsin on the verge of taking an important step to replacing its lead pipes
The
version of SB-48 unanimously passed by the Wisconsin Senate
gives utilities and the PSC a framework for accelerating LSL replacement. The law allows municipalities and private utilities to provide financial assistance to property owners to replace water service lines that contain lead that they own. The law does not explicitly define ownership but treats the portion of the line on private property as owned by the property owner and refers to it as a "customer-side water service line."
Read the story...
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Recently Introduced Legislation
SB 622/
AB 691
, Eligible Bidders at Foreclosure Sales. This bill limits who may bid at a sale of foreclosed property and requires a purchaser of foreclosed property to submit an affidavit to the clerk of court affirming that the purchaser is an eligible bidder.
Introduced by Sen. Olsen (R-Ripon) and Rep. Katsma (R-Oostburg).
The League supports this bill.
Comment to the League about this bill.
SB 626,
Denying a License Based on the Individuals Arrest and Conviction Record. This bill makes various changes to the fair employment law with respect to the ability of state and local governments to deny a license to an individual based on the individual's arrest or conviction record. Introduced by Sen. Darling (R-River Hills).
The League has not yet taken a position on this bill.
Comment to the League about this bill.
SB 627
/
AB 731
, Modifying
q
ualifications of newspapers eligible to receive compensation for publication of legal notice
s. Introduced by Sen. Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Rep. Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay). The League is neutral
on this bill.
Comment to the League about this bill
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SB 632,
Signatures and other Requirements for Alcohol Beverage License Applications
. This bill provides that alcohol beverage license application forms may not require more than one signature on behalf of the applicant and are not required to be sworn to or notarized. Forms for appointment of corporate agents of alcohol beverage licensees may not require more than one signature on behalf of the licensee. In addition, the bill provides that forms for cigarette and tobacco products retailer licenses are not required to be notarized. Introduced by Sen. Petrowski (R-Marathon City). The League is neutral on this bill. Comment to the League about this bill.
SB 634,
Preempting local governments from enacting or enforcing ordinances related to various employment matters
. The bill also prohibits local governments from imposing a minimum wage different that the state on: 1) an employee of a political subdivision; 2) an employee who performs work under a contract for the provision of services to a political subdivision; or 3) an employee who performs work that is funded by financial assistance from a political subdivision. Introduced by Sen. Kapenga (R-Delafield).
The League opposes this bill. Comment to the League on this bill.
SB 639, The Landlords' Bill. Limits municipal regulatory powers and ability to charge fees in numerous ways, including limiting the ability of municipalities to inspect rental units only upon complaint; limiting rental inspection fees to the actual and direct cost of performing the inspection; and prohibiting landlord registration fees. Introduced by Sen. Lasee (R-DePere). The League opposes this bill. Comment to the League on this bill.
SB 640
,
The
Developers' bill. C
ontains numerous municipal preemptions and limitations, including:
--Prohibiing a municipality from enacting or enforcing an ordinance relating to storm water management unless the ordinance strictly conforms to uniform statewide standards.
--Exempting a property that retains at least 90 percent of storm water from any new or additional storm water system service charges.
--Prohibiting a municipality from prohibiting persons from working on a private construction project on a weekend.
The bill also imposes two new unfunded annual reporting mandates on municipalities. Introduced by Sen. Lasee (R-DePere).
The League opposes this bill.
Comment to the League on this bill.
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Public Hearings this Week
SB 405,
Judicial Consideration of expert testimony offered by the municipality in defense of a claim for excessive assessment. By the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government on Tuesday, December 12 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 201 Southeast, State Capitol.
The League supports this bill.
SB 534,
Building and plumbing plan review and variances by cities, villages, towns, and counties for public buildings and places of employment and affecting related rules of the Department of Safety and Professional Services. By the Senate Committee on on Economic Development, Commerce and Local Government on Tuesday, December 12 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 201 Southeast, State Capitol.
The League is neutral on this bill.
AB 361
,
Requiring a referendum to enact a local vehicle registration fee.
By Assembly Committee on Ways and Means on Thursday, December 14, at 10:00 a.m. in room 417 North, State Capitol.
The League opposes this bill.
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