WEDA legislative session recap

WEDA began the 2017-18 legislative session with an aggressive legislative agenda to enhance effective economic development tools; strengthen the Wisconsin’s workforce; build a more competitive business climate; and support a robust infrastructure. Thanks to the increased advocacy efforts of WEDA members from across state, the session provided some significant “wins” for economic development. For a quick recap of WEDA’s legislative successes, as well as a few disappointments, please see our 2017-18 Legislative Priorities Scorecard.

In addition, please see below a full list of legislation supported by WEDA that was signed into law during the 2017-18 legislative session:

  • Bill Number: Special Session AB 1
  • Bill Description: Creates a new Electronics and Information Technology Manufacturing Zone and provides a number of economic incentives for Foxconn Technology Group to locate in Wisconsin, including nearly $3 billion in refundable tax credits and a wide array of regulatory exemptions.
  • Bill Status: Special Session Assembly Bill 1 passed both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 Wisconsin Act 58 on 09/19/2017.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: SB 1
  • Bill Description: Increases, from 12% to 15%, the allowable ratio of Tax Incremental District (TID) value increments to total equalized value of taxable property in the village of Oostburg.
  • Bill Status: Senate Bill 1 passed both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 1 on 02/16/17.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: SB 49
  • Bill Description: Provides $35.5 million in new funding for rural broadband expansion, including $13 million for the Rural Broadband Expansion Grant program. The bill also establishes new priority criteria for grant awards under the broadband grant program.
  • Bill Status: The provisions of SB 49 were included in the 2017-19 state budget bill (AB 64), which was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 59 on 09/21/17.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT 

  • Bill Number: SB 75
  • Bill Description: Creates a non-refundable corporate income and franchise tax credit for contributions made by an employer to an employee’s college savings account.
  • Bill Status: Senate Bill 75 was passed both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 197 on 04/03/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: SB 173
  • Bill Description: Makes numerous modifications to current law regulating brownfield revitalization.
  • Bill Status: Senate Bill 173 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 70 on 11/27/17.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 266
  • Bill Description: Makes several changes to the eligibility requirements for the Technical Excellence Higher Education Scholarship Program.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 266 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 91 on 11/30/17.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT 

  • Bill Number: AB 420
  • Bill Description: Streamlines annual financial review and reporting requirements for certain Business Improvement District (BIDs).
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 420 was passed by both the Assembly and the Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 189 on 04/03/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 489
  • Bill Description: Increases the limit on investments eligible for the Angel and Early Stage Seed Tax Credit program from $8 million to $12 million for each qualifying business.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 489 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 234 on 04/03/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: SB 404
  • Bill Description: Creates an exemption to the $130 LLC filing fee for college students who establish a start-up business.
  • Bill Status: Senate Bill 404 was passed by both the Senate and Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 177 on 03/28/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 497
  • Bill Description: Provides that a wetland individual permit issued to a public utility may not require mitigation unless the discharge authorized by the permit impacts more than 10,000 square feet of wetland.
  • Bill Status: Assembly 497 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 118 on 11/30/17.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 508
  • Bill Description: Modifies current law regarding apprenticeships to prohibit apprentice to journeyman ratios from requiring more than one journeyman for each apprentice. It would also authorize the Department of Workforce Development to set the length of carpentry and plumbing apprenticeship programs.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 508 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 148 on 03/28/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 600
  • Bill Description: Authorizes the Town of Cable, WI (Bayfield County) to create a TID in the same manner as a city or village, despite not meeting current law valuation and population requirements.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 600 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 292 on 04/16/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 641
  • Bill Description: Codifies Wisconsin’s commercial building and plumbing review practices in state statute. They currently reside under the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 641 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 198 on 04/03/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 659
  • Bill Description: Requires that if the Wisconsin Department of Revenue recertifies the base value of a TIF district due to the district’s subtraction of territory, the municipality where the TIF district is located may increase its levy limit by an amount equal to 50% of the subtracted territory’s value increment.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 659 was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 223 on 04/03/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: SB 583
  • Bill Description: Makes numerous technical statutory changes to better align state securities law with federal securities rules. In addition, the bill authorizes brokers to advertise crowdfunding securities sold though a state approved Internet site.
  • Bill Status: Senate Bill 583 was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 213 on 04/03/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 547
  • Bill Description: Exempts nonfederal and artificial wetlands from certain Department of Natural Resources wetland permitting requirements.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 547 was passed by both the Assembly and Senate and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 183 on 03/28/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 745
  • Bill Description: Authorizes high school students to enter a full apprenticeship program in a student’s senior year, if all the following apply: The student is on track to graduate high school; 2.) The student has time to complete other school requirements; and 3.) The student is awarded high school credit for the apprenticeship.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 745 was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 273 on 04/12/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 773
  • Bill Description: Makes numerous changes to Wisconsin’s civil law procedures to streamline the process and reduce litigation costs for Wisconsin businesses and state and local governments.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 773 was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 235 on 04/03/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: SB 668
  • Bill Description: Increases the per project cap on state historic tax credit awards from $500,000 to $3.5 million.
  • Bill Status: Senate Bill 668 was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 280 on 04/16/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 811
  • Bill Description: Provides $6.8 million for WEDC’s Think-Make-Happen marketing platform, which is designed to retain and attract top talent to Wisconsin. The funding will be used to expand the platform’s reach and focus on key populations that are more likely to relocate to Wisconsin.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 811 was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 318 on 04/16/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

  • Bill Number: AB 917
  • Bill Description: Allows local governments to apply for state certification as a Telecommuter Forward! community. Certain requirements must be met that illustrates the local government’s commitment to promote the availability of broadband access and telecommuting options.
  • Bill Status: Assembly Bill 917 was passed by both the Senate and the Assembly and was signed into law as 2017 WI Act 342 on 04/16/18.
  • WEDA Position: SUPPORT

If you have any questions or would like more information on WEDA’s Legislative Priorities Scorecard or the legislation listed-above, please contact WEDA Legislative Affairs Director Michael Welsh at mwelsh@weda.org.