Gov. Scott Walker had a busy day in the office Wednesday, signing 11 bills into law. Here are the bills that his signature made official.
Painting Studios Liquor License Bill
The previous law prohibited issuing liquor licenses on the premises where another business exists, with exemptions including movie theaters, hotels, restaurants and bowling allies. This bill explicitly includes painting studios on the list of exemptions.
Paint and Sip studios allow people to take painting lessons while indulging in wine and other alcoholic beverages. The studios benefit from this signature as it will make it easier for them to obtain a liquor license.
This bill also allows unaccompanied patrons under the legal drinking age of 21 to be on the premises of painting studios.
Expansion on Domestic Abuse Jurisdiction for Courts
This bill expands the jurisdiction courts have to act in regards of domestic abuse, harassment cases and child and at-risk adult abuse. This bill clarifies when the court has personal jurisdiction for restraining orders or injunctions in cases of abuse for out-of-state victims.
2015 Act 4 signed today! Gives WI courts power to protect victims from abusers in other states @RepAmy31 @tmj4courtny pic.twitter.com/mKeruYyUhS
— End Domestic AbuseWI (@endabuseWI) April 8, 2015
Newspaper Recycling Fee Bill
This bill eliminates the newspaper recycling fee. The law previously required newspaper publishers to pay a newspaper recycling fee. This fee was based on the cost of the newsprint used to print the newspaper. If 33 percent of the fiber in the newsprint came from post-consumer waste, then newspapers didn’t have to pay the fee under the previous law. The bill also removes the minimum percentage for post-consumer waste in newsprint.
Human Trafficking Posters Bill
This bill requires the Department of Justice to create posters which have the National Anti-Human Trafficking Hotline printed on them. These posters are available to print on the DOJ website and establishments like truck stops, salons and hotels are encouraged to display the posters.
These posters are intended to raise awareness on human trafficking in Wisconsin.
Lawmakers introduce bill that would require posters made with anti-human trafficking hotline
Food Protection Certificate Bill
The law currently states a person must get a food protection practice certificate to be able to operate a restaurant through the Department of Health Services. This bill gives an alternative to this certificate. If the restaurant is operated and managed by five or fewer food handlers, the certificate holder can renew by completing recertification course that is approved by DHS.
Hard Alcohol Samples Bill
This bill allows grocery stores and any retailer with a liquor license to give out samples of hard alcohol. Patrons are allowed to have one 0.5 fluid ounce sample of hard alcohol per day. The samples for hard liquor will be allowed from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Assembly approves bill on hard alcohol samples in grocery stores
In a previous interview with The Badger Herald, Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, said this bill will help smaller distilleries, who have to compete against larger breweries and wineries.
Walker also signed bills regarding raffles, intimidation of a witness, incorporation of the town of Ledgeview, appealing a municipal court matter and laying out or altering a town line highway on Wednesday.
