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State of Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
January 17, 1997
The Honorable, The Senate:
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has completed a report on the farmland preservation program as directed by
1995 Wisconsin Act 27.
The department was required to examine alternative methods for administering the farmland preservation tax credit payback requirement for persons who withdraw from the program. In the first part of the report, we identify the shortcomings of the current tax credit payback process. In the second part of the report, we discuss three alternatives to the current process:
(1) Modification of the current process to track parcel data, tax information and ownership changes at the state level.
(2) Replacement of the tax credit payback with a flat fee on farmland that is converted to other uses.
(3) Elimination of the tax credit payback from the program.
Please feel free to call David Jelinski at (608) 224-4621 if you have any questions concerning this report.
Sincerely,
Alan T. Tracy
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Department of Administration
January 21, 1997
The Honorable, The Legislature:
Chapter 34, Laws of 1979, requires that when the Department of Administration maintains an office in Washington, DC, for the purpose of promoting federal/state cooperation, it should submit a report detailing the activities of the office and reporting the status of federal legislation of concern to the Legislature and other state agencies (Wis. Stats. 16.548(2)).
The report for the period October 1, 1996, through December 31, 1996, is attached.
Sincerely,
Mark D. Bugher
Secretary
State of Wisconsin
Revisor of Statutes Bureau
February 1, 1997
To the Honorable, the Senate:
The following rules have been published:
Sincerely,
GARY L. POULSON
Deputy Revisor
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Senate Bill 2
Relating to: regulation of various trading practices on the National Cheese Exchange.
Senator Chvala, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Bill 2 be placed at the foot of the calendar of January 30, 1997.
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Assembly Joint Resolution 10
Relating to: the life and public service of Oscar Laper.
Concurred in by unanimous rising vote.
Assembly Joint Resolution 13
Relating to: the life and public service of William Double.
Concurred in by unanimous rising vote.
Assembly Joint Resolution 15
Relating to: designating FFA (Future Farmers of America) Week.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution 15 be concurred in?
Concurred in.
Assembly Joint Resolution 17
Relating to: the life and public service of David M. Demos.
Senator Rosenzweig and Farrow, with unanimous consent, asked to be made cosponsors of Assembly Joint Resolution 17.
The question was: Shall Assembly Joint Resolution 17 be concurred in?
Concurred in.
Senate Bill 2
Relating to: regulation of various trading practices on the National Cheese Exchange.
Ordered to a third reading.
Senator Chvala, with unanimous consent, asked that the bill be considered for final action at this time.
Senate Bill 2
Read a third time.
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 28; noes, 5; absent or not voting, 0; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Adelman, Breske, Burke, Chvala, Clausing, Cowles, Darling, Decker, Drzewiecki, Ellis, Fitzgerald, George, Grobschmidt, Jauch, A. Lasee, Moen, Moore, Plache, C. Potter, Risser, Rosenzweig, Rude, Schultz, Shibilski, Weeden, Wineke, Wirch and Zien - 28.
Noes - Senators Buettner, Farrow, Huelsman, Panzer and Welch - 5.
Absent or not voting - None.
Passed.
Senator Chvala, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly.
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Senator Grobschmidt, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of the family of former Governor Martin Schreiber on the death of his father, and send deepest condolences to the family.
Senator Chvala, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of Jon Erpenbach of the Caucus staff on celebrating his 36th Birthday.
Senator Farrow, with unanimous consent, asked that when the Senate adjourn, it do so in honor of the family of Milwaukee County Executive John L. Doyne and send deepest condolences.
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Senator Chvala, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate adjourn until Wednesday, February 12 at 10:00 A.M..
Adjourned.
2:05 P.M.