Central Wisconsin News

The new bill authored by State Sen. Patrick Testin seeks to modify regulations for a specific Tax Incremental District in Middleton, aiming to adjust value limits and lifespan restrictions, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE)".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill exempts Tax Incremental District (TID) Number 6 in the city of Middleton from the current law's 12% cap on the total equalized value of taxable property included in a new or amended TID relative to the city's overall taxable property value, provided the district is established by June 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill prohibits extending the lifespan of TID Number 6 for housing stock improvements beyond the standard term, even if other conditions for such an extension are met. This creates an exception specifically for Middleton's TID Number 6, altering the limits and potential longevity of this TID compared to standard regulations.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Tony Kurtz (Republican-41st District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), Senator Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), and Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), along eight other co-sponsors.

Patrick Testin has co-authored another two bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Testin graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point in 2011 with a BS.

Testin, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2017 to represent the state's 24th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Howard Marklein.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB24	02/05/2025	Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE)