Tony Kurtz, Wisconsin State Representative of 41st District | Official Website
Tony Kurtz, Wisconsin State Representative of 41st District | Official Website
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 establishes an exemption to local levy limits, allowing cities, towns, villages, or counties to levy amounts for costs related to regional emergency medical services without being constrained by current levy caps. This includes participation in joint emergency services districts or intergovernmental agreements, provided the service area is at least 232 square miles or comprises at least eight municipalities. Additionally, the bill mandates that levy increases from the previous year remain within the limit of the U.S. consumer price index change plus 5% to qualify for the exemption. The bill specifies that coordination of services must be overseen by a designated entity and states that amounts levied for regional emergency medical systems are excluded from calculations for eligibility in expenditure restraint incentive programs. This amendment applies to levies imposed in December following the effective date of the bill.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), and Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), along 24 other co-sponsors.
Tony Kurtz has authored or co-authored another 13 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Kurtz graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1989 with a BS.
Kurtz, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 41st Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Alex Dallman.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB197 | 04/15/2025 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| AB155 | 04/02/2025 | Designating the Tom Diehl Memorial Highway. (FE) |
| AB137 | 03/13/2025 | Maximum life and allocation period for Tax Incremental District Number 9 in the village of DeForest and the total value of taxable property that may be included in tax incremental financing districts created in the village of DeForest. (FE) |
| AB22 | 02/06/2025 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) |
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