Senator Roys is a proud alumna of NYU and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Sen. Roys served for four years as executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, working on issues like gender equality, health care access, and ending racial disparities, that she continues to champion in the Senate.
Sen. Roys served two terms in the State Assembly, winning her seat in 2008 by knocking on 20,252 doors and becoming the youngest then-serving state legislator. As Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair, Kelda was a visible figure during the Act 10 protests. In 2018, she ran an historic campaign for governor of Wisconsin.
For the last eight years, Kelda has run OpenHomes, the real estate startup she founded. She is also an active community leader who has served on many boards, and volunteered for her daughters’ school and preschool and taught Sunday school at her church.
Kelda is joined virtually today by her husband and partner of 13 years, Dan, their two young daughters, Arcadia and Avalon, her older stepdaughters Erin and Emily, and Kelda’s parents and sisters.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Bradley
“In November 2020, Julian Bradley was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate to represent the 28th District, which includes parts of Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, and Waukesha counties.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Wisconsin, Julian graduated from Central High School in La Crosse. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse with a degree in political science and economics. Julian worked as a telecommunications manager for Century Link from 2002 to 2019 and worked as an operations manager for Northwestern Mutual from 2019 to 2020. He currently resides in Franklin, Wisconsin.
In his first term, Senator Bradley will be utilizing his private sector experience by serving as chairman of the Senate Committee on Utilities, Technology, and Telecommunications and as a member of the Joint Committee on the Review of Administrative Rules.
An avid sports fan, and former pro-wrestler, Julian has been a long-time grassroots activist in the Republican Party, having been elected as a county chairman and to the Republican Party of Wisconsin executive committee. Julian likes to give back to the community by volunteering in his free time, especially focusing on career readiness and youth literacy.”
Senator LeMahieu Introduced Senator Wimberger
“Eric Wimberger was born and raised in DePere. He attended St. Cloud State University where he served as student body president, majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Political Science. Eric drove semi-trucks long haul before enrolling at Marquette University Law School.
Following graduation from Marquette, Eric commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. As a Judge Advocate he was stationed in Japan and Washington D.C., honorably discharged as a Captain.
Eric returned home to Green Bay in 2010 where he continued service to the community. He started his law practice and was recognized as a “Super Lawyer Rising Star.” He remains dedicated to making a positive difference in the community, including as a board member with the philanthropic Cloud Family Foundation. You can also find him often helping his mom make great family memories at her small business, Sweet Memories Candy Shoppe, in Lakewood.”
Senator Bewley Introduced Senator Pfaff
“Senator Brad Pfaff is a proud son of the rolling hills, coulees, and valleys of northern La Crosse County. He learned the value of hard work, resilience, appreciation for the land, and respect for his community while growing up on his family’s dairy farm.
Brad has spent the majority of his career working for the people of Wisconsin. He served in senior positions with the US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in the Obama Administration, and most recently as the Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Previously, Brad held positions in the Offices of US Representative Ron Kind and US Senator Herb Kohl.
Brad met his wife, Betty, a West Salem native, while he was a senior in high school at a 4-H leadership luncheon. They are the proud parents of two college-aged children.”
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Oath of Office
On Tuesday, December 22, 2020, Robert Wirch took and subscribed the oath of office in the County of Kenosha, which was administered by the Honorable Mary K. Wagner, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge.
On Monday, December 28, 2020, Melissa Agard took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Jill Karofsky, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Robert Cowles took and subscribed the oath of office in the County of Brown, which was administered by Senate President Roger Roth.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Julian Bradley, Patrick Testin, Brad Pfaff, Eric Wimberger, Mary Felzkowski, and Joan Ballweg took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Patience Drake Roggensack, Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Dan Feyen, Duey Stroebel, Alberta Darling, and Rob Stafsholt took and subscribed the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, which was administered by the Honorable Rebecca Bradley, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Lena C. Taylor, Kelda Roys, and LaTonya Johnson took and subscribed the oath of office in the County of Dane, which was administered by the Honorable Chris Taylor, Dane County Circuit Court Judge.
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Call of Roll
The roll was called, disclosing the presence of a quorum.
Pursuant to Senate Rule 15, the official attendance for session was: Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bernier, Bewley, Bradley, Carpenter, Darling, Erpenbach, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Johnson, Kapenga, Kooyenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roth, Roys, Smith, Stafsholt, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 31.
Absent with leave - Senator Cowles - 1.
Vacancies - 13th Senate District - 1.
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that all members of the Senate who are attending today’s session virtually be considered present and able to vote on today’s business.
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Leaves of Absence
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that Senator Cowles be granted a leave of absence for today's session.
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Chief Clerk's Entries
Amendments Offered
hist125658Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 2 offered by Senators Carpenter and L. Taylor. _____________
Petitions and Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Senate Majority Leader
January 1, 2021
The Honorable, the Senate:
I am resigning my position as Wisconsin State Senator effective immediately, as is required by the policy of the United States Congress.
It has been an honor to serve in this incredible institution, and I wish the incoming class of senators best of luck in the coming years.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
SCOTT FITZGERALD
Majority Leader
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Messages from the Assembly
By Kay Inabnet, assistant chief clerk.
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform you that the Assembly has
Adopted and asks concurrence in:
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Consideration of resolutions and joint resolutions not requiring a third reading
Senate Resolution 1
Relating to: notifying the assembly and the governor that the 2021-2022 senate is organized.
hist125649The question was: Adoption of Senate Resolution 1? The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 31; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 1; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bernier, Bewley, Bradley, Carpenter, Darling, Erpenbach, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Johnson, Kapenga, Kooyenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roth, Roys, Smith, Stafsholt, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 31.
Noes – None - 0.
Absent or not voting - Senator Cowles - 1.
Adopted.
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Senate Officers Oath of Office
The President, Chris Kapenga, the President Pro Tempore, Patrick Testin, the Chief Clerk, Michael Queensland, and the Sergeant at Arms, Edward A. Blazel, having been duly elected by the adoption of Senate Resolution 1, appeared together before the bar of the Senate, took and subscribed the oath of office which was administered by the Honorable Rebecca Bradley, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
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Remarks of President Kapenga
“Well, first, I just want to say as your new Senate President, officially, welcome to all the members.
I feel very privileged to be up here. I take this very seriously.
I do want to thank also the staff of the Chief Clerk’s office, LTSB. We’ve practiced a lot of extra things with the virtual items. And wanted to make sure all members, if they are not participating here, can participate flawlessly. So there was a significant amount of time put in by all these folks up front. I would just like to first give them all a round of applause.
Thank you team. We appreciate that.
I’m not going to go into a bunch of comments. I actually just wrote down three quick quotes on the position.
The first one is from Henry Roberts who wrote Roberts’ Rules of Order which is something that we follow. And, he wrote the role here is “for the majority is to give the minority a full, free opportunity to present their side of the case.” And, I will ensure that I do that. “And then for the minority having failed to win a majority to their views gracefully to submit and to recognize the action as that of the entire organization and cheerfully to assist in carrying it out until they can secure its repeal.”
So, that was a quote by Henry Roberts.
The second one, my staff actually had it engraved on the gavel, and it’s a quote from George Washington, who is one of my favorite Founding Fathers. And it says, “I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain (what I consider the most enviable of all the titles) the character of an honest man.”
That’s by George Washington.
And then the last one, Rob Marchant Senate Chief Clerk, for those of you who have been here for a while. “Enjoy presiding and don’t forget your sense of humor.” So, I will try to do that.
Thank you all for this honor.”
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President Kapenga introduced the Senators returning from the 104th Session: Senators Jacque, Carpenter, Kooyenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Nass, Ringhand, Marklein, Roth, Wanggaard, Bernier, Bewley, Erpenbach, Petrowski, and Smith.
