The Assembly passed a bill on a unanimous vote Thursday that creates a new government office for small businesses. The bill aims to give small businesses a voice in Wisconsin's business realm.
The Flexibility and Enforcement Fairness Act changes the rules of business regulation, giving small businesses more of a voice in the regulatory process and making it easier for small businesses to comply with regulations.
""Almost every business organization is supporting this initiative because they know how important it is that we protect businesses in this state and that we have a stronger voice in advocacy for them in the regulatory process,"" state Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said at a press conference Thursday morning.
Barca said the bill is ""changing the framework"" of the regulatory process by helping businesses to stay in compliance instead of ""taking the heavy-handed approach.""
State Rep. Donna Seidel, D-Wausau, advocated a related Senate bill seeking to ""expand bonding for capital projects by local governments."" Seidel said the bill will allow local governments to issue tax-exempt bonds to fund projects with public benefits.
The Assembly also passed legislation that allows legislators to meet outside of Madison in cases of emergency. State Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, originally stalled the bill from passing, but lifted his objection, which allowed the bill to pass.
