(Not) Counting Trees

On Nov 1, the Assembly Forestry Committee will take public testimony on AB342.

The Legislative Reference Bureau summarizes the bill as follows:

Click here for press release from Governor's office.

This is an old press release (August), but one I had trouble finding initially. Luckily, the DNR posted it as part of their Wisconsin Forestry Notes, distributed by e-mail. (See here for subscription information.)

I've looked on AF&PA's website for the report with the data, but have not found it. 

Department of Revenue's Fiscal estimates (pdf) of the MFL changes (SB161) are available. Note that these are an incomplete assessment as the MFL is largely under the Department of Natural Resources' purview.

Considering a timber sale? Don't know where to start? Here are some resources for you to consider.

Publications

Our Hidden Government Benefits: The threat to democracy today is not the size of government but rather the hidden form that so much of its growth has taken.

The current version of the MFL changes moving through the legislature (SB161) would both (1) increase the amount landowner would pay to close land under the MFL and (2) shift which government units ultimately receive those closed area fees.

The MFL changes are finally hitting the mainstream media. This article appeared in the State Journal over the weekend. [Note: The Legislative Council Study has entered the Senate as SB161.]

Lawmakers eye changes for managed forestland law (WSJ)

The proposed changes to the MFL have entered the Wisconsin State Senate as Senate Bill 161 (includes progress and link to full text). The progress of the Bill can also be tracked by an rss feed.

Proposed legislative changes to the MFL: Implications for current, new, and renewing landowners A recently completed Legislative Council Special Committee has recommended seven changes to the Managed Forest Law. This Forestry Fact (#108) reviews those changes with a focus on their potential implications for woodland owners.

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