Read A Breakdown Of What State Lawmakers Passed Tuesday In End-Of-Session Scramble

Update: This story is being updated to reflect votes on the various bills in the Senate and Assembly as they happen. Changes have been made below:

It’s officially the last minute for the Wisconsin state Legislature.

While it’s only mid-February, the state Assembly is scheduled to finish its 2015-2016 session later this week. That has majority Republican lawmakers scrambling to pass a wide range of bills before time runs out. The Assembly has more than 100 bills on its agenda Tuesday. The Senate has more than 50.

Here are a few of the issues on the packed Tuesday calendar:

Sales Of Water Utilities (Referred back to committee)

After Republican state senators made a last-minute change to their schedule Monday, adding a bill that would make it easier to sell municipal water or sewer utilities to private companies, they decided to refer it back to committee. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald declared it dead for this legislative session. Right now, utility sales have to be approved by referendum. This plan would have made the referendum optional. It was being pushed by the company Aqua America and fought by environmental groups, who worried it would make drinking water less safe in Wisconsin.

Laws That Protect Lakes (Passed)

State senators voted to scale back an Assembly bill that would have made it much easier for private landowners to dredge adjacent lakes. They passed the original bill without the Assembly provisions. They also passed another Assembly bill that limits the power of counties to restrict development.

Allowing New Nuclear Power Plants (Passed)

The Senate voted 23-9 to send a bill to the governor’s desk that lifts Wisconsin’s decades-old moratorium on new nuclear power plants. The measure’s sponsors concede it’s unlikely to lead to a new nuclear power plant being built here in the near future, but they say this at least provides the option. Environmental groups warn there will always be risks associated with storing and transporting nuclear fuel, and the state would be better off developing renewable energy.

Immigration (Passed)

Assembly Republicans are jumping head first into the immigration issue with two bills on Tuesday’s calendar. One of the bills, which passed 62-35, prohibits local ordinances that ban police from inquiring about someone’s immigration status. The other, which passed by the same margin, bans local governments from issuing photo identification cards in lieu of a driver’s license. It passed the Senate earlier Tuesday.

Electronic Voter Registration, With A Catch (Passed)

Wisconsin residents could soon have the option to register to vote online under a plan that passed the Senate last week and cleared the Assembly Tuesday. The catch: It would also eliminate special registration deputies, which is why groups like the League of Women Voters strongly oppose the plan.

Changing Rules For Legislators And County Executives (Passed)

A bill by Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald banning state legislators from also serving as county executives passed the Senate on a party-line vote. Fitzgerald says it prevents “double-dipping” by public officials. Democrats call it a blatantly partisan bill aimed at Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, who is running as a Democrat for the Senate seat being vacated by outgoing Republican Sen. Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac. The bill now goes to the Assembly.

Public Schools (2 of 3 Passed)

A bill, amended by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, that would reduce what public school districts can raise in property taxes when they lose students to private voucher schools was removed from the calendar. The Assembly passed a bill that would subject the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association to open records requests, a response to the WIAA advising schools not to use chants like “air ball” at basketball games. A plan to create new experience-based teacher licenses in subjects like agriculture and marketing also moved forward.

Walker’s College Tuition Plan (Passed)

Walker used his annual State of the State address this year to call for several bills aimed at college affordability, including a tax deduction for college loan interest and increased funding for technical college grants. While modest in scale, higher education leaders have praised the plans, while Democrats blasted them for not going far enough. The Assembly passed them Tuesday, but Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says his members will scale them back, citing the recent worse-than-expected state revenue forecast.

Penalizing Fraud (Passed)

It’s rare that Republicans and Democrats agree on the definition of “fraud,” but Tuesday proved to be the exception to the rule. The Assembly passed a bipartisan bill to criminalize fraud against the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. People who violate the plan could serve prison time. Another anti-fraud bill that passed the Assembly Tuesday is more contentious. It increases penalties for unemployment insurance fraud, a change that’s supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats.

Drug Treatment Programs (Passed)

A variety of drug treatment bills passed the Assembly unanimously, including one that would increase funding for drug treatment and diversion programs. They’re part of an ongoing effort by Marinette Republican Rep. John Nygren to combat opioids.

More Money For The Wrongfully Convicted (Removed from agenda)

A plan to increase what the state can award to people who’ve been wrongly convicted was removed from the Senate calendar Tuesday. It could resurface for a vote in March. The current lifetime cap is $25,000. This bill would raise it to $1,000,000. It passed the Assembly last week.

More Power For Landlords (Passed)

GOP Senators voted to send a bill to the governor’s desk that gives landlords the power to evict tenants if they suspect criminal activity. Landlords say it will help them ensure a safe living space for other tenants. Critics say it gives landlords too much power and domestic violence groups say it could end up inadvertently hurting domestic violence victims.

More Power For Debt Collectors (Passed)

Businesses known as “debt buyers” purchase consumer debt for pennies on the dollar. A bill that cleared the Senate Tuesday helps them pursue more of that debt in court. Another bill that passed on a voice vote opens up a new market for collections agencies: They could be hired by libraries to collect on overdue books.

Drunken Driving Penalties (Passed)

A bill that would make a fourth drunken driving offense a felonygot the Assembly’s approval, despite a significant cost consideration. The increased prison time for offenders comes with a price tag of at least $98 million, based on fiscal estimates.

State Agency Cost-Cutting (Passed)

In the months leading up to the introduction of the biennial budget proposal, state agencies are required to submit budget requests to the governor. A bill that just passed the Senate would require agencies to include a plan for cutting 5 percent of their expenses with each such request in the future.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story described a package of bills by Rep. John Nygren as an effort combat heroin abuse. The measures apply more broadly to prescription opioids. The story also incorrectly said the Senate would vote on drunk driving penalties. The Assembly is considering the measure. Another bill dealing with teacher certification was said to have not moved forward. It did indeed pass. It has been updated.