SESSION OFF TO A RELATIVELY SLOW START
As of February 3, 17 bills have been introduced in the Senate and 4 in the Assembly. These numbers are down from last session when 49 bills were introduced in the Assembly and 21 in the Senate by the same time. It appears the GOP dominated Legislature is moving slowly and cautiously knowing that Governor Evers can veto any bills he doesn't support. Governor Evers has emphasized that he will support bills with bipartisan backing. This places municipalities in a better position than last session to block or obtain modifications to bills sought by business or utility groups designed to reduce municipal regulatory powers.
JOIN US TONIGHT 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 TONIGHT, February 4, 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.
FIRST MUNICIPAL LOBBY DAY IS FEBRUARY 20
Municipal officials and staff are invited to participate in the League's first lobby day of the session on 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.
IN THE NEWS 

Communities Continue To Rethink Sex Offender Residency Rules
Jenna Merten, Brookfield city attorney, said the change will protect the city from future lawsuits.

"If we didn't take this action, our ordinance would be unenforceable and sex offenders could live anywhere," Merten said. Read the WPR story here .

Additional Resource: Read more about the case that prompted this action in an article by Claire Silverman, the League's Legal Counsel in the April, 2017 League-L (Legal E-Newsletter) here .
RECENTLY INTRODUCED BILLS

SB 13 , Notification of Changed Property Tax Assessment for Agricultural Land. Creates an exception to the requirement that an assessor notify a taxpayer when the taxpayer's property is assessed at a value that differs from the prior year's assessment. Under the bill, an assessor is not required to provide notification for an assessment of agricultural land if the difference between the two assessments is $300 or less. By Sen. Feyen (R-Fon du Lac) and Rep. Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac).  The League is neutral on this bill. Comment to the League on this bill draft .
PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK

No public hearings on municipal bills are scheduled for this week.