It was a busy day in Madison as numerous bills were passed.
Firstly, the Milwaukee Brewers secured their stay in the city, with taxpayers slated to fund renovations for their ballpark.
Lawmakers gave the green light to a comprehensive package, allocating approximately $500 million in public funds for the enhancement of American Family Field.
Notably, half of the Republican faction in the State Senate opposed the measure, expressing reservations about the considerable financial burden on taxpayers.
The approved plan introduces adjustments to the stadium’s governing board and implements a new ticket tax for concerts at Am Fam Field.
Governor Evers has pledged to endorse the package, solidifying its transition into law. In tandem with these developments, legislators passed a comprehensive overhaul of Wisconsin’s liquor laws, signaling a potential demise for wedding barns.
The legislative body sanctioned a revision of the state’s outdated liquor code, impacting regulations for breweries, wineries, and liquor distributors.
The revised laws all but spell the end for wedding barns, restricting them to six events per year or necessitating the acquisition of a liquor license.
Supporters contend that these measures aim to enhance safety at wedding barns, particularly those that have operated as “bring your own beverage” (BYOB) venues for years.
However, critics argue that these changes favor the Tavern League, effectively eliminating competition for local bars and taverns by regulating wedding barns out of existence.
Additionally, Wisconsin is on the verge of implementing a new baby box law, as the State Assembly unanimously endorsed a plan permitting parents to surrender a baby within the initial three days.
State Representative Ellen Schutt clarified that this initiative enables cities to install baby boxes at accessible locations such as fire stations or other city buildings staffed around the clock.
Parents can utilize these boxes to anonymously surrender their infants, offering an alternative to in-person surrender procedures.
Notably, fifteen other states have already adopted similar baby box laws.
