Rep. Joel Kitchens of Sturgeon Bay hopes to tackle many of the initiatives halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. The legislation created in the aftermath of the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality and his bills on birth control and education were among the several items passed by the Assembly that were unable to reach the Senate for approval due to COVID-19 precautions. Much of the year was then dedicated to pandemic-induced issues, such as helping constituents receive unemployment benefits. Kitchens says many of the initiatives he would like to see move forward will likely be impacted by the budget.

Kitchens says they have built a strong business climate over the last 10 years, which could help in the state’s recovery from the pandemic. The Wisconsin State Legislature is set to convene for the 2021 session on January 4th.