AB233: Bill Text

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 233

April 2, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Moses, Swearingen, Armstrong, Born, Cabral-Guevara, Callahan, Edming, Dittrich, Duchow, Gundrum, Knodl, Krug, Mursau, Oldenburg, Petryk, Plumer, Rozar, Snyder, Tranel, Tusler, Vorpagel, Wittke, Zimmerman and James, cosponsored by Senators Marklein, Felzkowski and Feyen. Referred to Committee on Jobs and the Economy.

AB233,1,1 An Act relating to: grants for certain small businesses.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Small business grants

This bill requires the Department of Revenue to provide grants to businesses in this state that had total sales in 2019 of less than $7 million and suffered economic damage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also requires the governor to allocate $200 million from moneys received from the federal government pursuant to the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to make the grants.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB233,9137 Section 9137. Nonstatutory provisions; Revenue.

AB233,1,3 (1) Small business grants.

AB233,1,5 (a) Subject to par. (b), the department of revenue shall provide grants to any establishment that has its primary business activity in this state.

AB233,2,2 (b) An establishment described under par. (a ) may receive a payment under this subsection by filing an application with the department of revenue in the manner determined by the department. An establishment that satisfies all of following criteria is eligible to receive a payment under this subsection:

AB233,2,4 1. It holds a valid business tax registration certificate issued under s. 73.03 (50).

AB233,2,6 2. It had total sales of less than $7,000,000, as reported on its 2019 state sales tax returns.

AB233,2,7 3. It suffered economic damages in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AB233,2,8 4. It is not on the department of revenue's list of delinquent taxpayers.

AB233,2,10 5. It is not listed in the certification made by the department of revenue under s. 77.66.

AB233,2,11 6. It is not on the department of transportation's debarred contractors list.

AB233,2,23 (c) Of the moneys the governor accepts from the federal government under s. 16.54 pursuant to section 602 of the federal Social Security Act as amended by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, the governor shall allocate $200,000,000 to make the payments under this subsection. Before accepting applications for the grants under this subsection, the department of revenue shall submit to the joint committee on finance a plan for implementing this subsection. After receiving the plan, the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance may direct the department to implement the plan. In lieu of directing the department to implement the plan, the cochairpersons shall convene a meeting of the joint committee on finance within 14 days after the plan is submitted to either approve or modify and approve the plan. The department shall then implement the plan as approved by the committee.

AB233,2,24 (End)