Rising reading scores, honoring local residents and passing bills in the Assembly were among the highlights of the past year for state Rep. Joel Kitchens.
In his final update of 2025, the Sturgeon Bay Republican highlighted his top 10 accomplishments of the year. Topping the list was securing Gov. Tony Evers’ signature on his bill banning cellphones in Wisconsin schools. Under the new law, educators would be able to take a tougher stance on cellphone use during classroom time. With mental health declining among young people since the advent of smartphones, Kitchens said he is hopeful the law will make a difference statewide.
Bills on school consolidation, drone bans over schools, birth control and a property tax exemption for Northern Sky Theater also made the list, though Kitchens acknowledged he will need help from colleagues in the Senate to get those measures across the finish line and to Evers for approval.
Honoring former Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon and Door County Sheriff’s Department employee Carl Waterstreet were also among the year’s highlights. The full list of accomplishments is available below.
FROM REP. JOEL KITCHENS 12/30 UPDATE
Honorable Mention:
Door and Kewaunee County Days - Once again, around 60 people from our area came to Madison to lobby for issues that are important to residents of Door and Kewaunee County. Lawmakers and staff heard about issues affecting our area. I've heard from many of my colleagues that the visits are very effective and informative.
Reading Scores Rise after Act 20: Last session, I authored the Right-to-Read Act to change the way Wisconsin schools teach reading. I'm very happy to report we are already seeing dramatic improvements in reading. Children in the Mequon-Thiensville, at the end of the 2024-25 school year, 58% of students scored at or above the 50th percentile on early literacy screenings. After implementing Act 20 this fall, 84% of the district's students in kindergarten through second grade scored at or above the 50th percentile for early literacy proficiency. This spring, teachers in Oshkosh talked about how well phonics is working in their district. One teacher said, "My newcomer, who started the year with minimal English, grew 419%… at the very same time, my highest readers grew 338% and 286%. That never happened before.”
10. Northern Sky Theater Bill Passes Assembly - Northern Sky’s outdoor theater draws thousands every year, generating significant sales tax revenue for the state and county. Additionally, Northern Sky pays the DNR 6% on ticket sales, snacks, and merchandise for shows in Peninsula Park. Unfortunately, a rainout on a two-show night can cost the company as much as $20,000 in losses, making their financial situation precarious. My bill exempts Northern Sky Theater from property taxes, adding it to the existing group of theaters in Wisconsin that are exempt from property taxes. The bill is now in the State Senate awaiting further action.
9. Common-Sense Budget Approved - After months of negotiating, we ended up with a bipartisan budget plan that actually cuts taxes by more than $1.3 billion and increased special education funding by $500 million. Beginning in tax year 2025, individuals, 67 years old and older won't pay taxes on the first $24,000 of retirement income. For married, joint filers, that number is $48,000. We already don’t tax Social Security benefits in Wisconsin, so a large majority of retirees will pay no state income tax. The budget even eliminates taxes on electricity and natural gas bills, saving $178 million!
8. Birth Control Bill Passes Assembly - The Assembly overwhelmingly approved my bill allowing pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives. Studies show that increased access to contraceptives plays a larger role in reducing abortions than new restrictions in the law. I am pro-life and this is probably the best and most effective way to limit or prevent abortions. Currently, 30 states and more than 100 countries allow women to receive birth control from their pharmacists. It is supported by nearly every major medical group. My bill passed by a vote of 87-10 and is now in the State Senate.
7. Assembly Approves Drone Bans over Schools - My office was contacted by constituents about a situation in which a drone repeatedly flew over a Brown County elementary school during recess and was taking photos of children. School officials contacted police, but were told there wasn’t anything they could do about it. My bill bans flying a drone over a school without prior authorization from the school board or governing body with jurisdiction over the school. The bill is now in the State Senate awaiting action.
6. Veterinarian Loan Bill Passes Committee - New veterinarians average more than $150,000 in student load debt. It’s hard to make up that kind of money in a rural area – especially when urban areas can pay more. The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities unanimously approved my bill to encourage more veterinarians to move to rural parts of Wisconsin. The bill creates a loan repayment program which will provide up to $25,000 per year, for up to four years, for new veterinarians who commit to full-time practice in designated rural counties.
5. Battery Safety Bill Introduced - Whether we know it or not, almost everyone is walking around with a potential fire hazard that can very quickly reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The same high-powered batteries that power our phones and other devices can become unstable and catch fire if damaged. They can be especially dangerous when thrown in the trash, posing serious risks to public health and employee safety. My bill establishes a battery stewardship program requiring battery makers to join or create battery stewardship organizations (BSOs), which are responsible for collecting and recycling certain batteries sold in Wisconsin. Beginning January 1, 2027 (or one year after the bill’s enactment), producers may not sell covered batteries or products containing them unless they are part of a DNR-approved stewardship plan. The goal is to mitigate these types of fires, improve recycling, and reduce landfill disposal.
4. Consolidation Bills Pass Assembly - According to the Department of Administration, Wisconsin’s student population is expected to decline by 200,000 people by the year 2050. The drop is blamed on the state’s declining birth rates. State schools already saw a drop of 53,000 students from 2013-14 to 2023-24. Nearly 70% of districts experienced a decline. I authored and co-authored a series of voluntary consolidation bills to help districts get ahead of this population drop with voluntary incentives to combine school districts and resources. This will not only help save taxpayers money, it will also help provide better educational opportunities for students.
3. AJ Dillon Named "Hometown Hero" - The Wisconsin State Assembly honored the former Green Bay Packer running back as a Hometown Hero for his work in the community. Dillon and his wife Gabrielle launched the Dillon Family Foundation in July of 2024 to target food insecurity and to support youth. Their “Carry for a Cause” initiative delivered 1,400 backpacks filled with food for children and families in need throughout Door County and Green Bay. AJ has spent countless hours supporting the Boys and Girls Club of the Bay and Lakes Region. He even wrote a children’s book. At a time when so many of the people our kids idolize end up letting them down, AJ is a person every parent would be happy to have their kids emulate.
2. Carl Weatherstreet Named First Responder of the Year - I had the honor of presenting Door County Sheriff Department Professional Standards Captain, Carl Waterstreet, with the 2025 First Responder of the Year for the First Assembly District. In 2023, Carl and his son, Connor, came to me with a bill to help first responders find missing people sooner. That bill is now law thanks to Carl’s leadership. The Kelsey Smith Act requires wireless providers to turn over the device location information to law enforcement without a warrant. Wisconsin became the 31st state to pass the bill into law.
1. Cellphones banned in Wisconsin schools - Teachers will now be able to get the full attention of their students. Governor Tony Evers signed into law a bill that I authored which allows schools to restrict cellphone use during class time, providing educators with a stronger tool to enforce existing policies. Studies show that excessive cell phone and social media use have taken a serious toll on the mental health of young people. Since smartphones and social media became prevalent in 2010, the mental health of young people across the world has rapidly declined. The impact on young girls has been particularly severe. Suicide among girls has nearly tripled during that time. Making matters worse, the average age children get their first cell phone is 10. School cellphone bans have been universally positive in the U.S. and across the world. In Orlando, schools report that students are more engaged, with less bullying and early reports show a dramatic improvement in test scores.
