Northwoods Reporter

Madison, Wis. — Legislation authored by Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (R-Cameron) was signed into law today, bringing about several important changes in Wisconsin. The bills, which received bipartisan support, aim to improve the well-being of the constituents of the 25th Senate District.

One of the bills, Senate Bill 109, allows electric cooperatives to operate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on public roadways for the purposes of line maintenance, construction, or restoration of power. This legislation was introduced with Representative Chanz Green (R-Grand View) and will enable utilities to conduct maintenance quickly after storms and power outages. Senator Quinn emphasized the importance of this bill, stating, "ATVs and UTVs have become an essential tool in accessing power line rights of way in areas of snow, wet ground conditions, fallen trees, and other rough terrain."

Another bill that was signed into law is Senate Bill 159, now known as 2023 Wisconsin Act 66. This legislation requires the Department of Natural Resources to create a biennial work plan that establishes priorities and goals for habitat work on lands managed by the DNR. The bill also mandates that the DNR report its progress under the work plan annually to the Legislature and the Natural Resources Board. Senator Quinn highlighted the significance of this bill in increasing transparency and accountability in managing the state's lands. He stated, "Residents of the state, especially those who love the outdoors and recreation, deserve to know how the state is managing their lands."

Senate Bill 251, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 70, focuses on improving the Council on Veterans Programs. This bill eliminates inactive groups from the Council and adds three veteran service coordinator positions to make the council more relevant and responsive to the needs of today's veterans. Senator Quinn emphasized the importance of including the perspectives of veterans from more recent conflicts and stated, "These new positions on the council will better match today's veteran population."

Another significant bill that was signed into law is Senate Bill 263, now known as 2023 Wisconsin Act 71. This legislation aims to allow seniors on SeniorCare to purchase 100-day supplies of certain prescription drugs. Senator Quinn introduced this bill after hearing from seniors who were confused about the sudden change in prescription drug supplies. He stated, "This legislation will save seniors, who may have transportation challenges, multiple trips to the pharmacy, which can also mean hours of time in rural areas."

These bills, along with others that were signed into law, demonstrate Senator Quinn's commitment to serving the well-being of the constituents in the 25th Senate District. Senator Quinn represents eight counties, including Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Burnett, Washburn, Barron, Price, and significant portions of Sawyer County.

With the signing of these bills, Wisconsin takes important steps towards improving infrastructure maintenance, habitat conservation, veteran services, and healthcare accessibility for seniors.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://mailchi.mp/861dcaba3931/quinn-bills-signed-into-law