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Legislative Update

April 16, 2004

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Legislative Session

The Legislature will not meet April 27-29.The veto session is still scheduled for May 11-13.

Bills signed into law by the Governor

Flanked by students at the UW-Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Student Union, Governor Doyle today signed the following into law:

AB-207. Bans smoking in and around University of Wisconsin System residence halls and dormitories and provides a penalty.
SB-474. Changes to 2003-05 authorized state building program. The enumeration adds four UW System building projects, including a $13 million renovation of Taylor Hall on the UW-Oshkosh campus, a $40 million UW-Madison Business School expansion and athletic facilities upgrades at UW-River Falls.

Earlier in the week, the Governor signed SB-261 (http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2003/data/SB-261.pdf) which includes a $2.6 million technology commercialization grant and loan program that could help to support UW economic development efforts through the SBDCs and WiSys.

Bills awaiting Governor's signature

SB-253. Allows four more UW institutions to charter K-12 schools with Board of Regents approval.
AB-830/SB-437. Funding for engineering instruction at the UW-Rock County campus.

Other News

Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee) was named to serve on the Joint Finance Committee, replacing Rep. Shirley Krug (D-Milwaukee) who is running for the 4th Congressional District seat being vacated by Democratic Congressman Jerry Kleczka of Milwaukee.

Tom Brien, a long-time Janesville City Councilman, will challenge Janesville firefighter Kevin Murray in the Democrat primary for the Assembly's 44^th District. Brien and Murray seek to replace Rep. Wayne Wood (D-Janesville), who is not seeking re-election.

Elise O'Meara Nooney of River Falls will challenge Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) Nooney is a former Navy nurse and a retired library circulation supervisor. Another challenger is Liz Jones, a working law student who is vice chair of the 3^rd Congressional district Democratic party.

Dave Magnum of Portage is exploring a run against U. S. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-2 Madison) in the 2nd Congressional District. Magnum, a Republican, owns several radio outlets in the state.

Citing health concerns, Rep. Bonnie Ladwig (R-Racine) will not seek re-election. She is a former Assistant Majority Leader.

The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board passed a resolution opposing TABOR, the Taxpayers’ Bills of Rights, at a special board meeting on Thursday. The resolution states that “WTCS does not support a constitutional amendment as the method for determining state and local fiscal management practices.”

End Note

A brief summary of Legislative action on bills affecting the UW System will be available next week. The Legislature will return for the May 11-13 veto session. An extraordinary session may be added to either of these calendars or later in the spring, to address AJR-55 (TABOR) and other issues.

For further information, contact Margaret Lewis at (608) 262-4464.