Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303
Madison – The “Back to Work Wisconsin” Special Session passed more pro-jobs legislation today to make a positive environment for job creation. Three pro-jobs bills are now headed to Governor Walker’s desk for his signature.
“The bills included in this special session are aimed at making it easier for employers to create jobs and I am pleased to see legislation headed to my desk that reforms regulations and makes it easier for small businesses to start-up and grow in Wisconsin,” Governor Walker said. “I thank legislators from both parties for working together in this productive special session.”
* Special Session Senate Bill 2, Leibham/Petryk, (33-0) – Makes several changes to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority’s small business development loan guarantee program. This bill awaits passage in the Assembly.
* The cap on the amount of a loan that may be guaranteed under the program is raised from $200,000 or 80 percent of the principal of the loan (whichever is less), to $750,000 or 80 percent of the principal of the loan (whichever is less).
* The definition of “small business” is expanded from businesses that employ up to 50 full−time employees to businesses that employ up to 250 full−time employees.
* Removes the requirement that the owner of a small business be actively engaged in the small business in order to qualify for the program.
* Removes the requirement that loans used to start a small business in a downtown store front must be used in a rural community.
* Special Session Senate Bill 3, Schultz/Marklein, (33-0) – Reduces the application fee from 2 percent of the person’s production expenditures or $5,000 (whichever is less), to 2 percent of the person’s production expenditures or $500 (whichever is less). This bill awaits passage in the Assembly.
* Assembly Bill 252, Petrowski/Lazich, Passed by Senate (Voice) – Allows for the transportation of agricultural crops exceeding weight limits (by not more than 15 percent) without permits from September 1 through December 31. This bill extends the current end date from November 30 to December 31. This bill now heads to Governor Walker’s desk for his signature.
* Assembly Bill 253, Petrowski/Lazich, Passed by the Senate (33-0) – Allows for the operation of a single vehicle with an overall length not exceeding 60 feet, and a two-vehicle combination with an overall length not exceeding 120 feet without permit on a highway if the vehicle is used by a pipeline company or operator, public service corporation, municipal utility, or a cooperative association (collectively a “utility”), or by a motor carrier operating under contract with a utility, for transportation of poles, pipe, girders, and similar materials. This bill extends the length from 40 feet for a single vehicle and 65 feet for a two-vehicle combination. This bill now heads to Governor Walker’s desk for his signature.
* Assembly Bill 254, Petrowski/Lazich, Passed by the Senate (Voice) – This bill increases the maximum overall length of a single vehicle that may be operated on a highway without an over length permit from 40 feet to 45 feet. This bill now heads to Governor
