(from April 2004 News
in Brief)
Productive Two-Year Legislative Session Comes to a Close
The 2003/2004 regular
session of the Legislature was officially concluded on March
11th. For all practical purposes, that ends the two-year cycle
for introduction and consideration of legislation until the next
session of the Legislature convenes in January of 2005. The
Legislature will meet in late April and mid May to take up
limited business matters and review of gubernatorial vetoes.
It has been a very
productive session for APW in terms of passing legislation we
supported and not passing legislation we opposed. While we have
had good success in the Legislature, the Governor has final say
on whether to sign a bill into law and the full measure of how
productive this session has been cannot be taken until his
sign/veto decisions are finalized. Governor Doyle is in the
midst of his review and has until April 21st to complete his
decisions. A number of APW supported bills have not yet been
acted on by the Governor and are being considered for veto.
Below is a partial list of
bills of interest to APW and summary of the bill status.
Assembly Bill 21:
Required tarping on dump trucks. APW Position: Oppose. Status:
Did Not Pass.
Assembly Bill 516:
Construction permit exemption for engines covered under a
nonmetallic mining operating permit. APW Position: Support.
Status: Passed Assembly (63-32) Passed Senate (22-11) Sign/Veto
decision pending.
Assembly
Bill 602: Provides GPR to pay debt service on $565 million
general obligation bonds for highway funding. Roughly $70
million in annual cost savings to the Transportation Fund. Total
of $750 million in savings to the Transportation Fund over the
10 and 20 year life of the bonds. APW Position: Support. Status:
Signed into law on October 29, 2003. (Wisconsin Act 64)
Assembly Bill 655:
Streamlines air and water permitting and revises administrative
rule procedures. (Jobs Creation Act) APW Position: Support.
Status: Signed into law on January 22, 2004 (Wisconsin Act
118)
Assembly Bill 728:
Provides for Smart Growth notification to nonmetallic mineral
property owners and leaseholders. APW Position: Support. Status:
Passed Assembly (60-37) Passed Senate (20-13) Sign/Veto decision
pending.
Assembly Bill 732:
Eliminates duplicate financial assurance under NR135 and local
zoning. APW Position: Support. Status: Passed Assembly (60-38)
Passed Senate (Voice Vote) Sign/Veto decision pending.
Assembly
Bill 858: Prohibits the ability of local government to use
an amortization ordinance to eliminate a lawful nonconforming
use of buildings, structures, premise or fixtures. APW Position:
Support. Status: Passed Assembly (62-37) Passed Senate (24-9)
Sign/Veto decision pending.
Assembly Bill 926:
Regulation of high capacity wells. APW Position: Monitor
Status: Passed Assembly (99-0) Passed Senate (31-1) Sign/Veto
decision pending.
Senate Bill 61:
Provides for environmental self-audits and immunity from civil
penalties for certain violations. APW Position: Support. Status:
Passed Senate (25-8) Passed. Assembly
(Voice Vote) Sign/Veto decision pending. Note – SB 61 is a
modified version of AB 228, which was vetoed by the Governor
December 5, 2003.
Senate Bill 100:
Small Business regulatory reform measure. APW Position:
Support. Status: Passed Senate (22-11)
Passed Assembly (Voice Vote) Signed into law March 15, 2004.
(Wisconsin Act 145) Note – SB 100 is a modified version
of AB 267, which was vetoed by the Governor December 17, 2003.
Contact the APW Office in Madison for additional
information on any of the above listed legislation or other
bills of interest.
