| 1 | 1 | | LRB-5967/1 |
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| 2 | 2 | | EHS:skw |
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| 3 | 3 | | 2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE |
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| 4 | 4 | | 2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 1179 |
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| 5 | 5 | | March 22, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives SHANKLAND, RATCLIFF, BARE, |
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| 6 | 6 | | EMERSON, JOERS, MOORE OMOKUNDE, SINICKI and STUBBS, cosponsored by |
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| 7 | 7 | | Senators SMITH, AGARD, L. JOHNSON, LARSON and SPREITZER. Referred to |
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| 8 | 8 | | Committee on Rural Development. |
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| 9 | 9 | | AN ACT to renumber 196.504 (1) (ad) and 196.504 (1) (ae); and to create 196.504 |
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| 10 | 10 | | (1) (af) and 196.504 (2) (c) 1. i. of the statutes; relating to: prioritizing certain |
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| 11 | 11 | | farm projects under the broadband expansion grant program. |
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| 12 | 12 | | Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau |
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| 13 | 13 | | Under current law, the Public Service Commission makes grants to eligible |
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| 14 | 14 | | applicants for the purpose of constructing broadband infrastructure in underserved |
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| 15 | 15 | | areas. In making the grants, current law requires PSC to give priority to projects |
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| 16 | 16 | | that satisfy various requirements. This bill requires PSC to also give priority to |
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| 17 | 17 | | projects that expand fiber optic broadband lines to farms. The bill defines “farm” as |
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| 18 | 18 | | land primarily devoted to agricultural uses related to crop and animal production |
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| 19 | 19 | | that are referenced in a rule promulgated by the Department of Revenue. |
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| 20 | 20 | | The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do |
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| 21 | 21 | | enact as follows: |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 1. 196.504 (1) (ad) of the statutes is renumbered 196.504 (1) (ah). |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 2. 196.504 (1) (ae) of the statutes is renumbered 196.504 (1) (ak). |
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| 24 | 24 | | SECTION 3. 196.504 (1) (af) of the statutes is created to read: |
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| 30 | 30 | | 6 - 2 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-5967/1 |
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| 31 | 31 | | EHS:skw |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 3 ASSEMBLY BILL 1179 |
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| 33 | 33 | | 196.504 (1) (af) “Farm” means land primarily devoted to an agricultural use, |
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| 34 | 34 | | as defined in s. Tax 18.05 (1) (a) or (b), Wis. Adm. Code. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 4. 196.504 (2) (c) 1. i. of the statutes is created to read: |
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| 36 | 36 | | 196.504 (2) (c) 1. i. Projects that expand fiber optic broadband lines to farms. |
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| 37 | 37 | | (END) |
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