CapitalSky
2015-16, No. 55
February 1, 2016

In this Issue:


TIF Bills Available for Scheduling

Over 230 Bills Introduced in January

Recently Introduced Legislation

Hearings on Municipal Bills

League of Wisconsin Municipalities
 
Ph:  (608) 267-2380
       (800) 991-5502

 
TIF Bills Available for Assembly Leadership to Schedule for a Floor Vote in February
     
  

As the 2015-2016 session enters its last six weeks, the Legislature has an opportunity to enact significant improvements to the most effective economic development tool available to local governments, tax incremental financing.  The Assembly is poised to take up at least six and hopefully all eight bills recommended by the TIF study committee.  The Assembly Ways and Means Committee has voted to recommend passage of all eight bills.  The Senate has unanimously passed seven of the eight bills.  All that needs to happen next is for the Assembly Rules Committee to schedule the eight TIF bills for a floor vote in February. 

Each of the TIF bills make improvements and clarifications to the TIF law.  Each are the result of months of review, discussion, and compromise by various committees and legislators. The bills will significantly improve the accountability and transparency of the TIF process and will advance the original intent of the law -- to promote economic development, jobs, and tax base growth that would not have otherwise occurred without the use of tax incremental financing.   

The one TIF study committee bill that the Senate has not passed and which some members of the Assembly Republican caucus have expressed concerns about is SB 55/AB 136, which increases from 12 to 15 percent the amount of a community's equalized value that can be located in TIDs.  The League supports this bill and is working with other stakeholders to get both houses to pass it along with the other TIF study committee bills.

Action Step:  Contact your Assembly Representative and urge him or her to communicate support to Assembly leadership for passing all eight TIF study committee bills. 
Over 230 Bills Introduced in January

By the end of 2015, Assembly representatives had introduced 603 bills this legislative session. By the end of January 2016, they had introduced 837 bills.  Over 230 new Assembly bills were introduced in January as legislators try to move legislation before the session ends. Senate leadership has said the Senate's last floor period of the session will be in early March.  The Assembly Speaker has said that house's last floor date will be the end of February.   
Recently Introduced Legislation

AB 820, Duties of the Public Service Commission under the broadband expansion grant program and certification of political subdivisions under that program. The bill imposes priorities on the PSC in making broadband grants. Under the bill, the PSC must give priority to projects that promote 
economic development. Also, the PSC must give priority to projects in a city, village, town, or county that the PSC has certified as a Broadband 
Forward! community. To be eligible for that certification, a political subdivision must 
enact an ordinance for reviewing applications and issuing permits related to broadband network projects. The ordinance must provide for all of the following: a single point of contact; specified deadlines on the political subdivision's consideration of applications; specified requirements on the denial and approval of applications; filing by electronic or another means authorized by the PSC; and reasonable fees. The bill allows the PSC to develop a model ordinance that complies with the bill's requirements. If a political subdivision enacts an ordinance that is different from a model ordinance, the bill requires the political subdivision, when applying for certification, to submit a written statement describing the ordinance and how it differs from the model ordinance.  

The bill imposes the following prohibitions on a political subdivision that the PSC certifies as a Broadband Ready! community: requiring designation of a final contractor to complete a broadband network project; imposing application fees that exceed $100; imposing unreasonable fees; imposing moratoriums on applications, permits, or construction related to broadband network projects; discriminating 
among public utilities and certain other entities; requiring applicants to provide any service to the political subdivision, and, except for reasonable fees, requiring an applicant to make any payment to or on behalf of the political subdivision.

Also, the bill allows the PSC to decertify a political subdivision upon the request of a broadband service provider if the political subdivision fails to comply with an ordinance described above, modifies the ordinance, or violates a prohibition described above. In addition, the bill allows the PSC to hear complaints that a fee 
under an ordinance is unreasonable. In a proceeding on such a complaint, the bill specifies that a political subdivision has the burden of proving reasonableness.
By Rep. Quinn (R-Chetek). The League has concerns about this bill.  We were not involved in its development.  It appears to be drafted solely from the industry's perspective, with no input from local governments.  Comment on this bill to the League
Hearings on Municipal Bills 

AB 774, Relating to assessing certain items 
as real property for property tax purposes instead of as personal property. 
By Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, on Tuesday, February 2, at 9:00 a.m. in 417 North, State Capitol
. The League opposes this bill.

AB 720The redemption period and notice of sale applicable to a foreclosure action involving noncommercial property and procedures regarding abandoned property in a foreclosure action. By Assembly Committee on Housing and Real Estate, on Tuesday, February 2, at 2:00 p.m. in 300 Northeast, State Capitol. The League opposes this bill 

SB 459The regulation of navigable waters, wetlands and stormwater detention ponds.  By Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, on Wednesday, February 3, at 10:00 a.m. in 411 South, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.

AB 708, Zoning for peer-run respite centers. By Assembly Committee on Health, on Wednesday, February 3, at 10:00 a.m. in 415 Northwest, State Capitol. The League is neutral on this bill.     

AB 736, Proof of physical fitness requirement for certain local transit employeesBAssembly Committee on Health, on Wednesday, February 3, at 10:00 a.m. in 415 Northwest, State Capitol. The League supports this bill.   

AB 820Duties of the Public Service Commission under the broadband expansion grant program and certification of political subdivisions under that program. By Assembly Committee on Mining and Rural Development, on Thursday, February 4, at 10:00 a.m. in 328 Northwest, State Capitol. The League has concerns about this bill.