Government Relations
Legislative Update
March 12, 2004
Legislative Session
(NOTE: The Assembly adjourned its Extraordinary Session late Thursday until at least Noon on Tuesday, March 16. Currently, the Senate has recessed from its Extraordinary Session and is completing business on its regular session. Unless an item remains on the agenda for the Extraordinary Session, all bills not passed by BOTH Houses are dead.)
Bills to be signed by the Governor at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 15:
- AB-403. Regulates athlete agents who represent student athletes by enacting the Uniform Athlete Agents Act.
- SB-247./ AB-497. Electronic provision of certain orientation information for UW System students.
- SB-388./ AB-757. Increases bonding authority for UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
Legislation passed and sent to the Governor for signature:
- AB-207. Banning smoking in and around University of Wisconsin System residence halls and dormitories and provides a penalty.
- SB-513. (AB-869). Exemption from non-resident tuition in the UW System for certain veterans.
- AB-830./SB-437. Funding for engineering instruction at the UW-Rock County campus.
Bills that could still be passed by both houses before adjournment:
- SB-474. Enumerates four UW building projects in 2003-05 state building program.
- AB-799. Non-resident tuition exemption for dependents of certain active members of the armed forces. Passed voice vote.
Recent Committee Hearings
The Joint Committee on Finance met on Tuesday and took action on the following:
- SB-474. Enumerates four UW building projects in 2003-05 state building program. Substitute amendment (LRBs0383/3), removes new bonding for Ogg Hall; prohibits bid waiver and design build on projects, adopted 13-3). Passage recommended as amended, 16-0.
Bills Introduced
- SB-543. ECONOMIC RESEARCH CENTER (Plale) Establishes a Fiscal and Economic Research Center at UW-Whitewater. To Higher Education and Tourism.
Other News
After a long and passionate debate Thursday, the Senate passed AJR-66, which prohibits same-sex marriages, by a vote of 20-13. The measure now needs to be approved with the exact same language by both houses of the Legislature in the next legislative session before it goes to the public.
Wisconsin Revenue Secretary Michael L. Morgan announced this week that Wisconsin is expected to begin seeing some growth in employment. In the Department of Revenue’s latest Wisconsin Economic Outlook quarterly report (http://www.dor.state.wi.us ), Morgan notes that Wisconsin non-farm employment is expected to grow 1.2 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2005. Personal income in Wisconsin is expected to increase 4.4 percent in 2004 and 5.5 percent in 2005. State General Purpose Revenue taxes collected during the first seven months of fiscal year (FY) 2004 increased an adjusted 4.9 percent from $5.602 billion to $5.875 billion over the comparable period of FY 2003.
Sen. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative from Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District.
End Note
A comprehensive summary of Legislative action on all bills affecting the UW System will be prepared following adjournment. The Legislature is due back April 27-29 for a limited business session. A special session may be called in May to address AJR-55 (TABOR) and other issues.
For further information, contact Margaret Lewis at (608) 262-4464 or Doug Bradley at (608) 262-4463
Information on the Web
UW System Government Relations:
http://www.uwsa.edu/govrel/
UW System Budget:
http://www.uwsa.edu/budplan/
Wisconsin
Legislature:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/