Many of the bills I work on here in Madison have a story behind them. Often, the ideas come from a constituent bringing an issue to my attention that needs legislative action. I wanted to use this column as a chance to tell the stories behind several bills I have been working on this session.

Senate Bill (SB) 3 – Wind Siting: The idea for this bill came from hearing concerns from many residents of southwestern Wisconsin and their local elected officials. Those I heard from had concerns about the industrial wind and solar projects being built in their communities with little to no input from local officials. After hearing their concerns, I proposed SB 3, which would require all municipalities where a proposed project would be located to pass a resolution either approving or rejecting the project. The goal of this bill is to restore control to local elected officials who currently have no say in the process.

SB 377 – Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial and SB 521 - Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial Highway Sign: SB 377 was introduced at the request of the Brooklyn-Oregon American Legion and the Oregon-Brooklyn VFW. It would add the Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial to future highway maps. SB 521, requested by the Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial Association, would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to install two signs on US Highway 18 recognizing the Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial.

These local groups do an outstanding job honoring area veterans. They have also shown the ability to fundraise for and maintain important community landmarks. Their efforts, and these memorials, deserve recognition.

SB 529 – Repealing Obsolete Tax Provisions: Nearly every bill we pass in Madison adds to the laws on the books. Our state statutes currently number over 8,000 pages. SB 529 actually deletes approximately 80 pages from statute. These 80 pages contain language associated with 25 tax provisions that can no longer be claimed or are expired. These outdated provisions can be repealed without affecting any Wisconsinite’s tax bills. This legislation is a step towards cleaning up our state statutes and simplifying our tax code.

Legislative Reference Bureau Draft (LRB) 2253 – Mississippi River Trail Signage: This bill was proposed to me by Sherry Quamme, chairwoman of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission. This legislation would highlight the Mississippi River Trail, a bike route located primarily along the Great River Road. It would approve signage to officially mark the trail, confirm the designated route, and increase tourism. Every municipality along the Great River Road has already approved these signs going up.

Requiring Schools to Serve Butter: It recently came to my attention that a school district I represent is no longer serving butter with their school lunches, instead opting for margarine. This is unacceptable in a farming community. Rep. Todd Novak (Dodgeville) and I plan to introduce legislation that would require school districts across the state to offer butter to students with their lunches.

These are the stories behind a few of the pieces of legislation that I am working on. The best ideas come from people like you! If you have any ideas for local legislation, call my team at the State Capitol – 608-266-0703 – or email me – Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov. My team is ready and willing to help navigate your state government, clear obstacles, and receive your input.