XX43 Tourism.
XX44 Transportation.
XX45 Treasurer.
XX46 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority;
Medical College of Wisconsin.
XX47 University of Wisconsin System.
XX48 Veterans Affairs.
XX49 Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
XX50 Workforce Development.
XX51 Other.
For example, for general nonstatutory provisions relating to the State
Historical Society, see Section 9121. For any agency not assigned a two-digit
identification number or any provision that does not relate to the functions of a
particular agency, see number 51 (Other) within each type of provision. Separate
section numbers and headings appear for each type of provision and for each state
agency, even if there are no provisions included in that section number and heading.
Following is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations appearing in the
analysis:
DATCP Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
DCF Department of Children and Families
DFI Department of Financial Institutions
DHS Department of Health Services
DMA Department of Military Affairs
DNR Department of Natural Resources
DOA Department of Administration
DOC Department of Corrections
DOJ Department of Justice
DOR Department of Revenue
DOT Department of Transportation
DPI Department of Public Instruction
DSPS Department of Safety and Professional Services
DVA Department of Veterans Affairs
DWD Department of Workforce Development
ETF Department of Employee Trust Funds
JCF Joint Committee on Finance
LRB Legislative Reference Bureau
OCI Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
PSC Public Service Commission
SHS State Historical Society
TCS Technical College System
UW University of Wisconsin
WEDC Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
WHEDA Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
WHEFA Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
__________________________________________________________________
agriculture
Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports
The bill provides funding for DATCP to establish and administer the Wisconsin
Initiative for Agricultural Exports to promote the export of the state's agricultural
and agribusiness products.
Food security and Wisconsin products grant program
The bill allows DATCP to provide grants to food banks, food pantries, and other
nonprofit organizations to purchase Wisconsin food products.
Small farm diversity grant program
The bill authorizes DATCP to provide grants to farmers that have been in
operation for at least a year and that made less than $350,000 in gross cash farm
income in the year before applying for a grant. Grants may be used to develop a new
agricultural product or increase production of an agricultural product; to pay for
start-up costs for new agricultural production operations; to research and develop
new uses for food, feed, and fiber products; to develop on-farm processing of
agricultural commodities; or to develop an agritourism venue. Grants must be for
at least $5,000 but no more than $50,000.
In awarding grants, DATCP must give priority to applications that develop a
business plan with market research and income projections; demonstrate a high
probability of increased revenue, job creation, or enhanced viability; feature research
that is innovative and commercially plausible; demonstrate a high probability of
rapid commercialization; or demonstrate a commitment for funding from other
private or public sources or from the applicant.
A grant recipient must provide matching funds of 30 percent of the amount of
the grant and must submit annual reports to DATCP documenting grant money
expenses and results.
Value-added agricultural practices; technical assistance and grants
The bill allows DATCP to provide education and technical assistance related to
producing value-added agricultural products. Under the bill, DATCP may provide
education and assistance related to organic farming practices; collaborate with
organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate
organic farming; and stimulate interest and investment in organic production.
The bill also allows DATCP to provide grants to organic producers, industry
participants, and local organizations, which may be used to provide education and
technical assistance related to organic farming, to help create organic farming plans,
and to assist farmers in transitioning to organic farming.
The bill authorizes DATCP to provide grants to entities to provide education
and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing. DATCP is also
authorized under the bill to help farmers market value-added agricultural products.
Conservation grants
The bill requires DATCP to award grants to develop and provide education and
training to farmers about best practices related to grazing and pasture maintenance
and to provide cost-sharing incentive payments to farmers to develop and adopt
regenerative agricultural practices. DATCP may not allocate more than $320,000
for these grants in any single fiscal year.
Nitrogen optimization pilot program
The bill requires DATCP to create a nitrogen optimization pilot program, under
which DATCP awards grants to farmers to implement a project that has the potential
to reduce nitrate loading to groundwater in the area. The farmer must collaborate
with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of
Wisconsin–Madison, the Center for Watershed Science and Education at the
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, or the University of Wisconsin–Extension.
The bill requires the collaborating university to monitor a grant project on-site
and to use information gathered from grant projects to research nitrate loading
reduction methods, with a goal of making recommendations to agricultural
producers on optimizing nitrogen usage while improving water quality in this state.
The bill limits the total amount of a grant to both a farmer and the collaborating
university to $125,000. No more than 50 percent of this total amount may be
awarded to the collaborating university.
Regenerative agriculture practices grant program
The bill requires DATCP to award grants to provide cost-sharing for
conducting soil tests and other carbon sequestration analyses; updating nutrient
management software; studying the feasibility of a statewide carbon market;
assessing the market value of carbon sequestration; and, for agricultural producers,
implementing regenerative agricultural practices. DATCP may not allocate more
than $370,000 for these grants in any single fiscal year.
In conjunction with providing these grants, DATCP must also evaluate the
accuracy and efficiency of existing tools that calculate carbon credits generated by
producer-led watershed protection grant recipients; identify opportunities and
facilitate groups of agricultural producers to work together to generate carbon
credits; provide technical assistance to farmers and agricultural agencies and
professionals regarding carbon credit generation to help them choose whether to
collaborate with carbon credit project developers in the future; study the feasibility
of a statewide carbon market; and assess the market value of carbon sequestration.
Technical assistance for resource conservation
The bill creates a resource conservation technical assistance program in
DATCP for providing technical assistance to farmers related to increasing or
maintaining agricultural yields while promoting soil health, water quality, and
regenerative agricultural practices and for providing grants to local governments,
nongovernmental organizations, federally recognized American Indian tribes or
bands, businesses, and individuals.
Grants for hiring farm business consultants
The bill authorizes DATCP to provide grants to county agriculture agents of the
UW–Extension to help farm operators hire business consultants and attorneys to
examine their farm business plans and help them create farm succession plans.
Farm to School program: preference to districts with high free or
reduced-price meal eligibility
Current law requires DATCP to promote farm to school programs, which
connect schools with nearby farms to provide children with locally produced foods in
school meals. The bill requires that in awarding grants under the farm to school
program DATCP must give preference to school districts that have a high percentage
of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under federal law.
Farm to Fork grant program
The bill creates a farm to fork program, similar to the existing farm to school
program. Under the program, DATCP may provide grants to entities (other than
school districts) that have cafeterias to connect them to nearby farms to provide
locally produced foods in meals and snacks, to help the public develop healthy eating
habits, to provide nutritional and agricultural education, and to improve farmers'
incomes and direct access to markets.
Grants for meat processing facilities
The bill allows DATCP to award grants to meat processing facilities for the
purpose of promoting the growth of the meat industry in this state.
Meat processing tuition grants
The bill requires DATCP to provide grants to universities, colleges, and
technical colleges to reimburse tuition costs of students enrolled in a meat processing
program. Each tuition reimbursement covers up to 80 percent of the tuition cost for
enrolling in a meat processing program, limited to a maximum reimbursement of
$7,500.
Farmland preservation implementation grants
The bill authorizes DATCP to award grants to counties to implement a certified
county farmland preservation plan.
Grants for rural business and economic development
Current law allows DATCP to use certain funds to make loans for the
development of rural businesses or rural economic development. The bill allows
DATCP to also use these funds to provide grants for this purpose.
Grants for food waste reduction pilot projects
The bill requires DATCP to provide grants for food waste reduction pilot
projects that have an objective of preventing food waste, redirecting surplus food to
hunger relief organizations, and composting food waste. Under the bill, DATCP
must give preference to grant proposals that serve census tracts for which the
median household income is below the statewide median household income and in
which no grocery store is located.
County land conservation staff for climate change activities
Under current law, as part of the soil and water resource management program,
DATCP provides funding to counties for county conservation staffing. Current law
specifies the activities in which county conservation staff may engage with funding
provided under this program. The bill provides that this program may be used to
fund county conservation staff who focus on climate change and climate change
resiliency. The bill also creates an appropriation specifically for this purpose. A
county that seeks funding for this purpose must specifically indicate as such in its
annual grant request.
Concentrated animal feeding operations
Under current law, a person who operates a concentrated animal feeding
operation (CAFO) must have a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(WPDES) permit from DNR. A CAFO is a livestock operation that contains at least
1,000 animal units, that discharges pollutants into a navigable water, or that
contaminates a well. Current law requires a CAFO operator with a WPDES permit
to pay an annual fee of $345 to DNR. The bill increases the amount of this annual
fee to $545. The bill also requires a CAFO operator applying for a new WPDES
permit to pay a $3,270 application fee.
Water stewardship certification
The bill creates a grant program for DATCP to provide grants to reimburse the
costs for agricultural producers to apply for a certification of water stewardship from
the Alliance for Water Stewardship. The grants must be made directly to the
producer, and may not be used to pay the costs of operational changes needed to
achieve certification.
Planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters
Under the bill, DATCP must provide planning grants for establishing regional
biodigesters in the state. Biodigesters are used to break down organic material into
gas, liquids, and solids.
Reauthorizing State Fair Park Board rulemaking authority
The bill authorizes the State Fair Park Board to promulgate rules governing
the use of State Fair Park. Under current law, the board may not promulgate rules
unless a law specifically authorizes the board to do so.
Bonding for soil and water resource management
