Governor's Budget Address Scheduled

Governor Scott Walker will be giving his budget address on Wednesday, February 20, at 7pm.

State Agencies Begin Informational Hearings

At the opening of each new legislative session, the state's various departments hold informational hearings to give legislators an overview of their agencies.  While the hearings are open to the public, only invited speakers are permitted to testify. See below for next week's hearings.

Assembly to Review All Administrative Rules

Rep. Daniel LeMahieu (R-Cascade), co-chair of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, announced a new project this week to reform Wisconsin's Administrative Code. The goal of the project, called "Right the Rules", is to review all 1,768 chapters in the Wisconsin Administrative Code in order to determine which rules should be revised or repealed (Right the Rules website). The task of analyzing each of the 1,768 chapters has been given to the Assembly's standing committees (Committee chapter assignments), which will hold public hearings on certain rules. The public is also invited to email Rep. LeMahieu with suggestions and concerns about specific rules. The entire review process is expected to extend beyond the current legislative session.

Registration Begins for Catholics at the Capitol

The registration form is now available for Catholics at the Capitol to be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison. The keynote speaker will be the Most Reverend Peter F. Christensen.

Registration is $37 per person and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Secondary or full-time post-secondary students can register for $12. The registration deadline is April 1, 2013. Registration materials are available on our website: www.wisconsincatholic.org.

Upcoming Hearings of Interest

(N.B. Only bills of interest are flagged. In most cases, committees will be considering other bills as well.)

Assembly Corrections

10am, Wednesday, January 30, 328-NW.

Department of Corrections (DOC) Informational Hearing.The DOC will provide an overview of the agency for committee members. Following the agency briefing, Wisconsin State Employee Unions Executive Director Marty Biel will provide an overview of corrections from the workers' perspective. Invited speakers only. No public testimony will be taken during the informational hearing.

Assembly Consumer Protection

10am, Tuesday, February 5, 300-NE.

Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Informational Hearing. The DATCP will provide an overview of the agency for committee members. Invited speakers only. No public testimony will be taken during the informational hearing.

New Bills of Interest

AB-1. Mining (Suder) Regulation of ferrous metallic mining and related activities, procedures for obtaining approvals from the Department of Natural Resources for the construction of utility facilities. To Jobs, Economy and Mining.