Wisconsin State Senate Passes SB 434

Yesterday, Senate Bill 434, which passed on a bipartisan vote, makes the Managed Forest Law a more viable option for those landowners who want to keep growing the fiber needed by Wisconsin’s forest products industry.  While this is very encouraging, there is no rest for the weary as we work toward getting the Assembly’s companion bill 561 passed.

AB 561 moved out of the Environment and Forestry Committee, but the bill passed by only a 7 to 6 vote.  Although Representative Jeff Mursau, Chair of the Assembly’s Environment and Forestry Committee, has worked hard to develop and shepherd the bill, it is not certain that there will be enough votes in the Assembly to pass this bill.  However, we’re pounding the pavement, speaking with legislators and their staff and disseminating information.

What we’ve learned is that very few legislators understand what the MFL is all about, much less why it’s important that changes be made to keep it relevant given other competing land uses.  Their concerns can be alleviated but it requires taking some time to explain the complexity of the program to them.

WAFO urges all private woodland owners to call their state representatives.  Ask them to support AB 561.  If they have any questions you can’t answer, let us know so that we can schedule a meeting with them to discuss their concerns.

HERE ARE LINKS THAT PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THE BILLS

Proposal: AB561 (-3980) View Bill History
relating to: taxes on managed forest lands, eligibility for the managed forest land program, management plans for managed forest land, sale or transfer of managed forest land, productivity of managed forest land, closed managed forest land, forest production areas, natural heritage inventory, wildlife action plans, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority.

Fiscal Bureau Paper on MFL (and related programs) Bill:

http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lfb/bill_summaries/2015_17/0434_sb_434_managed_forest_law_and_related_programs_2_4_16.pdf