The draft bill currently being developed to update the Managed Forest Law DOES NOT include language to rescind the ban on the leasing of private lands in the program. Read the language that WAFO offered to the bill to rescind the leasing ban. Landowner testimony could be key to seeing the law changed.
Although exact times and locations have not yet been set, the bill authors, Rep. Jeff Mursau (Chair of the Assembly Environment and Forestry Committee) and Sen. Tom Tiffany (Chair of the Senate Forestry Committee) are hoping to hold the first hearings on the bill in Madison on December 8th or 15th and in Antigo on December 16th . These dates are tentative and subject to change given the bill has yet to be formally introduced.
Landowners are encouraged to attend one or both of these hearings to testify about why this bill needs to include language about rescinding the ban on leasing. All committee members have been provided Leasing Ban Talking Points on why this needs to be done.
Stay tuned. We’ll post information when the bill is formally introduced and the actual hearing dates and times have been set.
2 Responses to “Update on Efforts to Repeal the MFL Leasing Ban”
Randy & Karen Cooper
We own 110 acres in Oconto County, Town of Mountain, with most of it entered in MFL, pre-2005 program. I would try to attend the hearings. Thanks.
Kristie Kasbohm
Thank you Randy and Karen! We will meet at the Capitol at 11 am in room 415 NW to review our testimony. We look forward to seeing you there!