MADISON, WI – Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (R-Birchwood) on Wednesday voted in favor of legislation he authored to prevent exorbitant fee increases on agricultural producers as well as to protect school children from inappropriate communications with teachers and other school staff.
Last year the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) used its rulemaking power to increase fees at an extreme level on animal truckers, dealers, markets, deer farms, fish farms, and certificates of veterinary inspection. In response, Senator Quinn introduced Senate Bill 622 to prevent the fee increases and maintain them at current levels.
“The state agency proposal raises fees to astronomical levels without any regard for the sustainability of livestock producers and dealers,” Quinn said. “In one example an Animal Market Class A license would jump from $420 to a whopping $7,430 – an increase of nearly 1700%!”
SB 622 removes the ability of bureaucrats to raise these fees and instead places the current fees in statute.
“Unelected bureaucrats should not be able to drive farmers out of business or put a huge financial burden on their backs,” Quinn said. “We must put the decision-making process back in the hands of the elected legislature to protect our constituents from massive fee increases.”
SB 622 passed the State Senate on a bipartisan vote of 22-11.
The State Senate also voted unanimously on Quinn’s legislation to require that schools have a policy on appropriate communications between school employees and students. The policy must specify appropriate content and methods of communication with students during and outside school hours and requires the policy to include a range of consequences for those who violate it.
“Technology keeps changing and students and staff are in a world where there is a lot of communication outside of school hours on a number of different platforms,” Quinn said. “There have been numerous recent examples where a teacher has sent inappropriate messages and photos to students. While obviously inappropriate to most people, we want to make sure schools have clear guidance on these types of communication to set clear boundaries that protect students and staff.”
Additionally, the bill requires schools to provide annual training to employees on identifying, preventing, and reporting grooming and professional boundary violations. The Department of Public Instruction has trainings modules available regarding grooming and the bill offers the flexibility to use those or a different training that complies with the legislation.
Both bills authored by Quinn now advance for consideration in the State Assembly before they can reach the desk of Governor Evers to be signed or vetoed.
Last Update: Feb 12, 2026 1:47 pm CST
