The biennial session of the Legislature is now in special session, with its last regular floor period having ended on March 13th. The only bill that is still
active is the budget repair bill. While it is possible that solid waste issues could be included in this bill, there are none presently incorporated.
Three solid waste measures were recently adopted by both houses, with four adopted by one house only, and several of these latter bills likely to be back on the
legislative agenda after its next session, which starts in January 2009. This update only includes those bills that were adopted by at least one house.
AB 266 allows landfill owners to invest in the obligations of federal agencies for their financial responsibilities. It was adopted by the Assembly on October 24,
2007, but was not acted upon by the Senate. Three groups registered as lobbying on this bill, with one in favor, one undecided and one not revealing its position.
AB 546/SB 284 would provide DNR with citation powers for open burning and the storage of scrap tires without a license or in violation of an approved plan of operation.
The Senate bill was adopted with an amendment on February 19, 2008, and sent to the Assembly, where it was not acted upon. Nine groups have lobbied in favor of this
legislation – four public interest and environmental groups, three solid waste industries groups, and the Wisconsin Counties Association, and one group – the Wisconsin
Farmer’s Union – has an undecided position with reservations.
AB 706 relates to brownfield cleanup and grants specific authority to local units of government, including cities, villages, towns, counties, metropolitan sewerage
districts, and town sanitary districts, to issue municipal obligations in anticipation of receiving proceeds from brownfields revolving loan program loans or grants.
It has been adopted by both houses.
Assembly Joint Resolution 93 declares, '...that in order to encourage proper disposal methods of prescription drugs and promote community efforts to facilitate the
proper disposal of prescription medication, the legislature does hereby proclaim June 7, 2008, as “Proper Drug Disposal Day.” ' It was adopted by both houses.
SB 346 would restrict the sales of specific products with mercury in them. Introduced on December 3, 2007, a substitute amendment was recommended for adoption by the
committee and it was then approved by the Senate on a 30-3 vote on February 19, 2008. It was not taken up by the Assembly. Eight groups have lobbied on this bill;
three environmental/citizen groups and a county in favor, the Wisconsin Hospital Association and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce with undisclosed positions and
the Wisconsin Dental Association and the Wisconsin Merchants Federation with an undecided position.
SB 397 would require manufacturers of specific electronic products to set up recycling programs for them and ban specific products from being disposed of in landfills.
Introduced on January 17, 2008, a substitute amendment was adopted by the Senate on a 30-3 vote on March 12, 2008. The Assembly voted not to suspend rules to take it
up. Fifteen groups have reported lobbying on this bill – one against, twelve in favor, one with an undisclosed position, and one with an undecided position.
SB 473 regulates the purchase and sale of scrap metal and other metal items and the determination of property value of scrap metal for a theft conviction. It was adopted
by both houses and became law in March as 2007 Wisconsin Act 64.
State legislation can be found on the Internet at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/; information on the lobbying efforts is
reported at http://ethics.state.wi.us/LobbyingRegistrationReports/LobbyingOverview.htm.
