Bi-Partisan Legislation to Update County Population Threshold Passes the State Senate

  MADISON – Yesterday, the State Senate passed Assembly Bill 836, authored by Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), Representative Todd Novak (R- Dodgeville), Senator Luther Olsen (R- Ripon) and Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona). AB 836 will update references in state statutes to reflect current population numbers and prevent numerous laws designed specifically for Milwaukee County from being applied to Dane County. In the next census, Dane County will surpass 500,000 residents and would, without this change, be subject to laws written for application only in Milwaukee County, where for almost a century it has been the only county with a population greater than 500,000.   “I am glad to have worked on this bi-partisan bill to ensure that as Dane County grows, laws that were enacted specifically for Milwaukee County will not be arbitrarily applied to our county, as well,” said Rep. Subeck.   AB 836 updates over 200 references from 500,000 to 750,000, to ensure that the status quo continues for the laws as they apply to Dane County while making no changes to what in current law applies to Milwaukee County. It makes no changes to current powers or duties of county and local government in Wisconsin.   AB 836 has now passed both the State Assembly and State Senate and will now head to the Governor.   ###