Howard Marklein Wisconsin State Senator (District 17) | Official Facebook
Howard Marklein Wisconsin State Senator (District 17) | Official Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "a levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill creates an exemption to local levy limits in Wisconsin for regional emergency medical services, allowing cities, villages, towns, or counties to levy amounts without being restricted by current limits, provided the service area is at least 232 square miles or includes at least eight municipalities. The bill specifies that these funds must be used for costs related to regional emergency medical services, either through joint emergency service districts or intergovernmental agreements. Additionally, the bill exempts these levied amounts from being considered in eligibility calculations for the expenditure restraint incentive program. The bill states that the levy increase must align with specified inflation adjustments. This provision becomes applicable to levies imposed in December following the next January 1 after the bill's effective date.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Tony Kurtz (Republican-41st District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), and Senator Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), and Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), along with 24 other co-sponsors.
Howard L. Marklein has authored or co-authored another 20 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Marklein graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater in 1976 with a BBA.
Marklein, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state's 17th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dale Schultz.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB181 | 04/14/2025 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| SB172 | 04/03/2025 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB170 | 04/03/2025 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) |
| SB168 | 04/03/2025 | Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) |
| SB160 | 03/27/2025 | Designating the Tom Diehl Memorial Highway. (FE) |
| SB126 | 03/14/2025 | The effective date of certain provisions contained in 2023 Wisconsin Act 126 |
| SB96 | 03/07/2025 | Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE) |
| SB84 | 02/26/2025 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) |
| SB3 | 01/24/2025 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval |
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