Joel Kitchens, Wisconsin State Representative for 1st District | www.facebook.com
Joel Kitchens, Wisconsin State Representative for 1st District | www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "creating a rural creative economy development grant program. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes a rural creative economy development grant program to be administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Grants, capped at $50,000, are awarded on a competitive basis to cities, villages, towns, counties, American Indian tribes, economic development organizations, and nonprofits in Wisconsin. Grant funds must be used to boost tourism, enhance visitor experiences, or promote community development through creative enterprises in rural areas, such as expanding public arts performances, renovating public spaces, and supporting community-based arts education and business accelerator programs. Recipients are required to match the grant with nonstate funds, with in-kind contributions limited to 25% of the match. WEDC is required to report on the effectiveness of this program to the Joint Committee on Finance by May 1, 2027.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (Republican-25th District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District), Senator Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District), and Senator Patrick Testin (Republican-24th District), along 19 other co-sponsors.
Joel Kitchens has co-authored or authored another 25 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Kitches graduated from Ohio State University in 1979 with a BS.
Kitchens, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2015 to represent the state's 1st Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Garey Bies.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB159 | 04/02/2025 | Creating a rural creative economy development grant program. (FE) |
| AB119 | 03/11/2025 | Transfer of nursing home beds |
| AB90 | 02/28/2025 | Copies of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records. (FE) |
| AB79 | 02/28/2025 | Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution |
| AB43 | 02/17/2025 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| AB2 | 02/03/2025 | Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time |
Alerts Sign-up