On Tuesday, March 1, Governor Scott Walker signed into law legislation granting the Board of Regents authority to approve sales and purchase of CALS agricultural research lands. It was one of 58 bills the governor signed at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday.

By returning authority for approval of land sales and acquisition to the Board of Regents, rather than the State Building Commission and Department of Administration, the college will have increased flexibility in managing the land holdings in our Agricultural Research Station network.

Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) sponsored the legislation in the state Senate. Representative Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) was the primary sponsor in the Assembly. Representatives Edward Brooks (R-Reedsburg), Mary Czaja (R-Irma), Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa), Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton), Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel) and Al Ott (R-Forest Junction) co-sponsored the Assembly Bill.

Earlier this year, the bill passed the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities and the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges. It passed the full Assembly and Senate on voice votes in February.

Senior Associate Dean Dick Straub said, “We are extremely pleased with the passage of this important legislation and for the support of the legislators who championed our cause. This increased flexibility will help us to respond more quickly when land we currently rent comes up for sale – a situation we expect at more than one location in the near future.”