Please feel free to contact us with any questions: Chapter Director: Shahla Werner, PhD, shahla.werner@sierraclub.org 608-256-0565 and Volunteer Lobbyists: Jim Connors, seconnor@wisc.edu, 608-233-98553 and Caryl Terrell, Legislative Com. Chair, carylterrell@charter.net, 608-833-8828.
| Name |
Bill |
Issue (s) |
Status |
Sierra Club's Position |
| Clean Energy Jobs Act |
TBA |
Would create an energy efficiency standard by reducing electricity and natural gas use by 1-2% per year; increase use of renewable energy to 25% by 2025; authorize WI to participate in cap and trade to allow market forces to regulate greenhouse gases; creates a low carbon fuel standard and more. |
Contact your legislators today and urge them to support a strong Clean Energy Jobs Act to implement the Governor's Global Warming Task Force recommendations and protect our economy and environment. |
Support |
Clean Lakes Bill: Phosphorus Fertilizer Restriction
PASSED |
AB 3 / SB 5 |
Restricts the use and sale of fertilizer containing phosphorus and other turf fertilizer and providing a penalty. |
AB 3 passed the Assembly on February 24, 2009 before passing in the Senate on March 24, 2009. Governor Doyle signed 2009 Act 9 into law on April 14, 2009 |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on the Clean Lakes bill. |
Bienniel Budget
PASSED |
2009 AB 75
|
Budget provisions related to aquatic invasive species, coastal management grants, CAFO fees, Great Lakes Compact implementation, out-of-state waste, clean sweep, renewable energy, RTAs, Clean Air Act staff |
The state budget was signed on 06/29/09 as 2009 Act 28. The budget: approved RTAs for SE WI (not Milwaukee), Dane County, & Chequamegon Bay; provided staff and funds to implement the Great Lakes Compact; raised Tipping fees to $13/ton; re-established recycling innovation grants; restored clean sweep; did not restore Clean Air Act Staff, did not include $1,200 CAFO fee. |
Click here to read a memo that includes our position on select budget items. |
Designate Brunsweiler River as a Wild River
PASSED |
AB 7 / SB 6
|
Relating to designating a portion of the Brunsweiler River as a wild river. |
Passed the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources on 02/17/09. Passed by the full legislature on 02/24/09. Governor Doyle signed 2009 Act 7 into law on April 14, 2009! |
Support |
Designate Totogatic River as a Wild River
PASSED |
AB 43 / SB 47 |
Relating to designating a portion of the Totogatic River as a wild river. |
Passed the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources on 02/26/09 by a vote of 7-0. Passed Assembly on 03/26/09; Passed Senate by concurrence on 04/23/09; Governor Doyle signed 2009 Act 32 into law on 07/10/09. |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on Wild Rivers |
| Issue Ad Disclosure |
AB 63 / SB 43 |
This bill would reign in outside electioneering campaigns that are deceptive, ugly, and turnoff the voters from participating on Election Day. |
SB 43 Passed 3-2 in the committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing on 09/17/09. AB 63 was referred to committee on Elections & Campaign reform. |
Support |
| Impartial Justice Bill |
AB 65 / SB 40 |
Public financing of campaigns for the office of justice of the Supreme Court, making appropriations, and providing penalties. |
AB 65 passed committee on 4-3 on 10/21/09, passed (by concurrence) in Assembly 51-42 on 11/05/09; SB 40 passed the full Senate 19-13 on 11/05/09. |
Support |
| Would Allow Garbage Burning to Count towards Renewable Goals |
AB 88 |
If passed, this bill would allow garbage burning to count towards state RPS goals. |
Referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities 02/24/09. |
Oppose |
| Control Pollution from Open Burning |
AB 114 /
SB 119 |
Related to restriction of open burning of solid waste, illegal storage or disposal of waste tires, and providing a penalty |
Public hearing on AB 114 03/11/09 in Assembly Committee on Natural resources; Passed 9-5 on 03/19/09. Public hearing on SB 119 on 10/06/09. |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's statement on open burning. |
Restore Independence to the office of DNR Secretary
Governor Doyle vetoed AB 138 on 11/13/09; Click here to read our statement |
AB 138 /
SB 113 |
Related to the appointment and term of service of the secretary of natural resources and vacancies on the Natural Resources Board |
AB 138 passed the Assembly on 10/22/09; AB 138 passed the Senate 21-11-1 on 11/05/09. |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony to restore the Independent DNR Secretary |
| Changes to the Environmental Results Program & Environmental Improvement Program (PASSED* we did not fully support this bill) |
SB 126 |
Sierra Club supports the Green Tier portion, pages 4-12. We seek REPEAL of the Environmental Compliance Audit program page 13, sections 34-42. We seek repeal of sections 19 and 30. |
SB 126 passed the Senate on 04/28/09, and it was concurred in the Assembly on 06/18/09. Governor Doyle signed 2009 Act 30 into law on 07/08/09. |
Concerns:
Click here to read about our concerns on SB 126. |
| Increasing the Penalty for Littering in Wisconsin |
AB 139 |
This bill increases the maximum fine for littering from $500 to $1,000. We need to impose strong fines on people who improperly dispose of waste to keep our state clean and green. |
AB 139 passed the Assembly on 06/23/09. A public hearing was held in the Senate Environment Committee on 09/10/09. Passed the Environment Committee 4-1 on 10/07/09. |
Support |
| Incentives for Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings |
AB 205 |
Adopting changes to the Internal Revenue Code for state income tax purposes related to deductions for energy efficient commercial buildings. |
Public hearing on 05/12/2009.
Passed committee on Jobs, the Economy and Small Business, Ayes 13, Noes 0 on 06/16/09. Referred to the Joint Committee on Finance. |
Support |
Uniform Wind Siting Bill
PASSED |
AB 256 /
SB 185 |
Regulation of wind energy systems and granting rule-making authority. |
Public hearing held on 05/12/2009.
Passed by committee on Energy and Utilities, Ayes 10, Noes 2 on 07/08/09. SB 185 Passed the Assembly on 09/16/09; Concurred in the Senate 09/17/09. Governor Doyle signed 2009 Act 40 into law on 09/30/09. |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on the uniform wind siting bill. |
| Proper Automotive Engine Filter Disposal Bill |
AB 258 |
Requires Recycling of Used Engine Oil Filters; Provides a penalty. |
Passed the Assembly 82 - 13 on 06/23/09. Passed Senate Environment Committee on 10/07/09. Concurred in the Senate on 11/05/09. |
Support |
Keep electronic waste out of landfills
PASSED |
SB 107 /
AB 278 |
Relating to the sale, disposal, collection, and recycling of electronic devices, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing penalties. |
Amended and Passed Senate Committee on Environment 5 - 0 05/07/2009, Assembly Natural Resources Committee Hearing on 06/03/2009. Passed Senate 23 - 10 on 06/09/2009. Governor Doyle signed 2009 Act 50 into law on 10/23/09. |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on electronic waste |
Restrict Phosphorus in Cleaning Agents
PASSED |
AB 281 |
This bill would pertain to household products like dishwashing detergent. |
Passed the Assembly on 06/26/09 60-37. Passed the Senate on a voice vote on 10/27/09. AB 281 is headed to Governor Doyle to be signed into law. |
Support |
Removing Mercury from Consumer Products
PASSED |
AB 299 /
SB 200 |
Regulates the sale of products to which mercury has been added, including fever thermometers, manometers (instruments for measuring pressure), thermostats,
instruments and measuring devices, switches and relays, and household items. |
Public hearing on 07/29/2009, Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Public hearing in Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection committee on 08/13/09. Passed by the Assembly and the Senate on 09/22/09. Governor Doyle signed 2009 Act 44 on 10/06/09. |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on removing mercury from consumer products |
| Prevention of Invasive Species Introduction in Ballast Water bill |
AB 360 |
Requires treatment of ballast water to prevent invasive species introductions. |
Public hearing held on 09/02/09. |
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on the ballast water bill |
| Proper Waste Disposal Bill |
AB 372 |
Allows the DNR to regulate the disposal of solid waste from a household on the property where it is generated. |
Referred to committee on Natural Resources on 08/12/09. |
Support |
| Allowing Law Enforcement to Enforce Illegal Off-Road Vehicle Use |
SB 264 |
Expands current statutes that prohibit trespass with an (ATV), snowmobile, or off−road vehicle to apply to all property, rather than just private property. This will allow law enforcement officers to enforce these trespass provisions on all lands. |
Passed 7-0 on 10/05/09 by the
Senate Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources
Committee. Amended and passed on 10/27/09. |
Support |
| Creates a Non-Motorized Recreation & Transportation Trails Council |
SB 266 |
Creates the Nonmotorized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council
(council) in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) & requires the governor
to appoint and determine the number of members on the council. |
Passed 7-0 on 10/05/09 by the
Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources Committee. Amended and passed on 10/20/09. Referred to Assembly committee on
Tourism, Recreation and State Properties on 10/23/09. |
Support |
| Allowing Energy Efficiency to count toward WI Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) |
AB 401 /
SB 273 |
The Sierra Club strongly supports clean energy. But, there are better ways to provide incentives for innovative products than undermining our current RPS. This bill will result in less wind,solar, and biomass in Wisconsin. |
Public hearing on AB 401 held in Energy and Utilities committee on 09/15/09.
Public hearing on SB 273 in Senate committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail. |
Oppose
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on the bill to allow EE to count towards the RPS. |
| Repealing Nuclear Power Plant Construction Statute that Protects Citizens |
AB 516
SB 340 |
The Sierra Club strongly opposed removing common sense provisions that require the PSC to determine that building a new nuclear plant is the least cost option for ratepayers and that there is a federally licensed storage facility to store all of Wisconsin's nuclear waste for perpetuity. |
AB 516 was introduced on 10/23/09; referred to committee on Energy and Utilities. SB 340 was introduced on 10/08/09 and referred to
committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail. |
Oppose
Click here to read Sierra Club's Nuclear Energy Fact Sheet. |
| Protect Families from Toxic Chemicals in Plastic Bottles and Cups |
AB 405 /
SB 271 |
Prohibits the manufacture and sale at wholesale of certain baby bottles and cups for children that contain bisphenol A, creating labeling requirements, making an appropriation, and providing penalties. |
A Public hearing on SB 271 was held in the committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection on
Tuesday, November 10, 2009.
AB 405 is in the Assembly committee on Consumer Protection.
|
Support
Click here to read Sierra Club's testimony on the BPA-free kids bill, SB 271 |
| Gets Toxic Lead out of Wheel Weights |
SB 364 |
This bill would prohibit the
installation, sale, and distribution of wheel weights and other wheel balancing products that contain lead. Lead wheel weights can pollute Wisconsin waterways, and non-toxic alternatives are readily available. |
Referred to Senate Environment Committee on 10/23/09. |
Support |
