These bills are part of a package of bipartisan policing changes and are only a step toward making meaningful progress for a more just, more equitable, and safer state for everyone. While racism and racial disparities cannot be solved with any single bill or package of bills or person alone, we can and must do more. Although I am signing these bills, I have and will continue to urge the Legislature to take more meaningful action and send additional comprehensive legislation to my desk. The people of Wisconsin are demanding systemic change and reform in our state. They must be heard. And that means there is much more work left to do.
More than a year ago now, Lieutenant Governor Barnes and I announced a package of legislation aimed at increasing policing accountability and transparency. Months later, in August 2020 and in the wake of Jacob Blake being shot in Kenosha, I called a special session to take up the package of legislation. The Wisconsin State Legislature quietly gaveled out of the special session late last year without taking any action.
In addition to calling for action on the August 2020 Special Session on Policing Accountability and Transparency legislation, I also urge the Legislature to take action on several additional police accountability and transparency reforms that have been introduced or drafted but have not yet received any consideration in the Legislature despite ample opportunity. This includes bills from the "Enough is Enough" package, as well as bills drafted and not introduced by the Speaker's Task Force on Racial Disparities.
There is no excuse for these four bills being the only bills that get to my desk. Today is not the end, it has to be the beginning.
Sincerely,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Senate President
June 23, 2021
The Honorable, the Senate:
Pursuant to Senate Rule 46 (2)(c), I am writing to inform you that I have directed the following proposal to be withdrawn from committee and rereferred. I have obtained the consent of the appropriate standing committee chairsperson and the chairperson of the committee on Senate Organization. hist137009Senate Bill 258, relating to: an income tax deduction for an arrearage paid on behalf of a tenant for municipal utility service., withdrawn from the committee on Senate Organization and rereferred to the joint committee on Finance. Sincerely,
CHRIS L. KAPENGA
Senate President
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Messages from the Assembly
hist137042Pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1b), Senate Bill 203 shall be withdrawn from the Assembly message and taken up. Senate Bill 203
Relating to: the secure delivery of absentee ballots and providing a penalty.
Senator Kapenga, with unanimous consent, asked that the Senate stand informal.
hist137046The question was: Concurrence in Assembly Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 203? Concurred in.
Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that all action be immediately messaged to the Assembly:
Action messaged.
hist137061Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Bill 311 and Assembly Bill 297 be referred to the committee on Senate Organization. hist137063Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Bills 76, 191, 384 and 386 be placed at the foot of the 11th order of business on today’s calendar. _____________
Second reading and amendments of senate joint resolutions and senate bills
Senate Bill 241
Relating to: pen registers and trap and trace devices.
hist137059Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that the rules be suspended and the bill be given its third reading. Read a third time and passed.
Senate Bill 254
Relating to: extension of certain approvals and occupancy permits under the uniform dwelling code, extension of certain approvals that are subject to administrative, judicial, or appellate proceedings, waiver of interest and penalties on late 2021 property tax payments, and waiver of the timely payment requirement for filing certain property tax claims.
hist137068Senator Feyen, with unanimous consent, asked that Senate Substitute Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 254 be withdrawn and returned to author. hist137073The question was: Adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 254? Adopted.
hist137075Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that the rules be suspended and the bill be given its third reading. Read a third time.
The question was: Passage of Senate Bill 254?
The ayes and noes were required and the vote was: ayes, 30; noes, 0; absent or not voting, 3; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Agard, Ballweg, Bernier, Bewley, Bradley, Carpenter, Darling, Erpenbach, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Jagler, Johnson, Kapenga, Larson, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roys, Smith, Stafsholt, Stroebel, L. Taylor, Testin, Wanggaard, Wimberger and Wirch - 30.
Noes – None - 0.
Absent or not voting - Senators Cowles, Kooyenga and Roth - 3.
Passed.
Senate Bill 268
Relating to: compensation of election officials performing duties during a recount.
hist137078The question was: Adoption of Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 268? Adopted.
hist137079The question was: Adoption of Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 268? Adopted.
hist137081Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that the rules be suspended and the bill be given its third reading. Read a third time.
The question was: Passage of Senate Bill 268?
The ayes and noes were requested and the vote was: ayes, 18; noes, 12; absent or not voting, 3; as follows:
Ayes - Senators Ballweg, Bernier, Bradley, Darling, Felzkowski, Feyen, Jacque, Jagler, Kapenga, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, Petrowski, Stafsholt, Stroebel, Testin, Wanggaard and Wimberger - 18.
Noes - Senators Agard, Bewley, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Johnson, Larson, Pfaff, Ringhand, Roys, Smith, L. Taylor and Wirch - 12.
Absent or not voting - Senators Cowles, Kooyenga and Roth - 3.
Passed.
Senate Bill 270
Relating to: discontinuance of certain special group plates.
hist137085Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that the rules be suspended and the bill be given its third reading. Read a third time and passed.
Senate Bill 303
Relating to: local reporting requirements related to general transportation aids.
hist137089Senator LeMahieu, with unanimous consent, asked that the rules be suspended and the bill be given its third reading. Read a third time and passed.
Senate Bill 352
Relating to: manufacturing, distributing, or delivering fentanyl or fentanyl analogs and providing a penalty.
