The following was submitted by the office of state Sen. Van Wanggaard:
Governor Walker signed four bills authored by Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) into law this morning. The bills authored by Wanggaard help open doors for entrepreneurs and small business, allow on-duty military personnel to carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin, provides civil liability immunity for equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy and allows for Supreme Court rules to be published online. Senate Bill 81, co-authored by Representative Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), prohibits local governments from imposing occupational fees or licensing requirements on any new professions. Existing fees and requirements are grandfathered in. “These burdensome requirements serve as barriers for those looking to start a business or a new job,” said Wanggaard. “We need to open up avenues to grow our economy, instead of having government put up roadblocks. This bill should help grow our economy in many communities and encourage people’s entrepreneurial spirit.” Assembly Bill 75, co-authored with Representative Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc), allows active military personnel stationed in Wisconsin for longer than one year to obtain a Wisconsin concealed-carry “Men and women serving our country are highly trained in both firearms and safety,” said Wanggaard. “While they are stationed in Wisconsin, we should treat them like Wisconsin citizens. This bill allows them to have the same rights and privileges as any other Wisconsinite.” Senate Bill 126, co-authored with Senator Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Kerkman (R-Salem), expands civil liability immunity for equine activities. Under the bill equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted therapy are added to the equine activities which are immune from civil liability. Assembly Bill 443, co-authored by Representative Tyler Vorpagel (R-Plymouth), allows the Supreme Court to publish Supreme Court rule changes to their Internet site, instead of publishing the entire rule changes in the newspaper three times. The Supreme Court is still required to publish a summary of the rule change in the newspaper. “This little change is expected to save the Wisconsin judicial branch over $20,000 in the next year alone,” said Wanggaard. “AB 443 makes court operations more efficient, and saves taxpayer dollars. That’s the type of efficiency we should be looking for all across government.”
State Senate District 21, which Wanggaard represents, includes all of Western Kenosha County except Wheatland.