Tuesday, March 17 marked another day of session for the State Senate. We passed dozens of bills, including seven I authored. Many of these bills had already passed the Assembly and now head to the Governor for signature. While there are a few items I am disappointed that we were not able to get across the finish line, such as renewal of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, I believe that this was a successful session with a great deal of positive work done to make our state a better place to work, live, and raise a family.

Here are some of the highlights of our work:

A compromise on PFAS: PFAS, or “forever chemicals”, have been in the news over the past few years. PFAS are found in everyday items such as nonstick cookware and food packaging as well as firefighting foam and more. We have heard stories from communities across the state that have had to rely on bottled water for drinking, cooking, and even brushing their teeth because PFAS have contaminated their water supply. Funding to help communities address this issue was included in last session’s budget, but its release was delayed due to a disagreement between the Governor and the Legislature over how to treat innocent landowners. The Legislature sought to protect innocent landowners, those who either live on contaminated land or unknowingly spread PFAS following guidance from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). After years of bipartisan negotiations, I was glad to support legislation that releases this funding, protects innocent landowners, and helps clean up our water.

No tax on overtime: This week we passed legislation to exempt overtime pay from income tax. Some of the hardest working Wisconsinites are those who step up to cover extra shifts and keep our factories, hospitals, and supply chains running. By mirroring recent federal action, we are able to offer a small “thank you” to these workers who keep our state moving.

Making housing more affordable: Creating an environment that incentivizes construction of new workforce housing has been a priority of mine in the Senate. We passed a pair of bills that I co-sponsored aimed at alleviating pressure on the housing market.

One of these bills will give local governments the ability to create workforce housing tax incremental districts (TIDs). These TIDs will help lower the entry costs of development, making it easier for working families to access affordable homes. We also created a Workforce Home Loan Program using existing state funds. This program will provide interest-free second mortgages to support first time homebuyers who are being priced out of the market by high costs and interest rates.

Marklein bills: Seven of my bills passed on Tuesday. Many of them were brought to me by local community members.

We passed legislation that I authored with Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) to help small communities compete more effectively with bigger municipalities for grants and strengthen protections for EMS workers and other healthcare professionals who operate outside of traditional facilities when they face threats on the job. We also passed bills to expand access to state tax credits for small businesses in low-income and rural areas. Finally, we voted on legislation to add the Platteville Veterans’ Memorial to the state highway map. Each of these measures passed unanimously or with near-unanimous support.

If you need assistance with any state-related matters, please 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.