Bill
AB 619
Wisconsin AB 619 would authorize a $150 million public debt grant to build/operate an aviation biofuel facility and create tax credits for companies in designated zones to catalyze
Note on sources: the documents provided contain materials for two different bills that share the number “AB 619.” One is a Wisconsin bill (title you supplied: tax credit for aviation biofuel manufacturing, state public‑debt grant, appropriation) with an accompanying Wisconsin Department of Administration fiscal estimate. The other is a California urgency bill (authored by Ransom) directing Cal Fire and CDCR to evaluate the Ventura Training Center and reporting requirements for training formerly incarcerated individuals. Both are summarized below; the primary focus is the aviation biofuel bill that matches your title.
Purpose and intent
- To incentivize domestic aviation biofuel manufacturing by (1) authorizing a state grant for an aviation biofuel manufacturing facility funded by public debt, (2) creating tax incentives (income and franchise tax credits) for firms located in designated “aviation biofuel manufacturing zones,” and (3) making related appropriations and program authority (administered by state economic and natural resources agencies).
Key provisions
- Authorizes the state to contract $150 million of public debt to fund a grant to construct/operate an aviation biofuel manufacturing facility (targeted in fiscal year 2026).
- Directs how grant funds are to be awarded and imposes operational and reporting conditions on the grant recipient (including monitoring, audit, and enforcement provisions).
- Authorizes the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to create one or more aviation biofuel manufacturing zones and to certify businesses in those zones to claim income and franchise tax credits for qualifying aviation biofuel projects.
- Designates state agencies (including DNR Division of Forestry, Bureau of Community Financial Assistance (CFA), and WEDC) responsible for administration, monitoring, and compliance.
Fiscal impact (Wisconsin DOA estimate, 11/12/2025)
- Estimated annual state cost (debt service + staff): ~$12,248,100.
- Debt service on $150 million at assumed 5% interest over 20 years: ≈ $12,223,900 per year.
- Ongoing administrative staffing and related costs: ≈ $24,200 per year (estimated 10% workload for grant manager and technical/legal staff; elevated workload for ~5 years).
- Long‑term: debt service payments assumed for 20 years; monitoring/admin workload projected to be higher over about 5 years then decline.
- Revenue impact from the tax credit is not quantified in the fiscal note provided and therefore the net fiscal effect is uncertain/indeterminate beyond the debt service and administrative costs.
Who is affected
- State: agencies administering grants and programs (DNR, WEDC, CFA), and the state budget (debt service funded from designated fund — fiscal note references the Forestry Account of the Conservation Fund).
- Private sector: businesses that develop aviation biofuel projects—those within designated zones could claim tax credits; a grant recipient (selected facility) would receive the $150M‑funded grant subject to restrictions.
- Local governments: limited direct cost implications in the fiscal note; potential local economic development effects where projects locate.
Timing and procedural notes
- Fiscal estimate dated 11/12/2025; bill materials show introduction and committee referral activity consistent with late 2025 legislative action in Wisconsin.
- Debt authorized to be contracted in fiscal year 2026; debt service assumed for 20 years.
Uncertainties / considerations
- The size and timing of tax credits (and resulting revenue loss) are not quantified in the provided fiscal estimate, so net budgetary impact is unclear.
- Grant conditions, recipient selection criteria, and zone certification rules (WEDC) will materially affect effectiveness and fiscal outcomes.
Purpose and intent
- To evaluate the Ventura Training Center program that trains formerly incarcerated individuals (California Conservation Camp participants) for firefighting careers and to assess expansion feasibility.
Key provisions
- Requires Cal Fire (Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) and CDCR (Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) to jointly evaluate the Ventura Training Center, including:
- How to streamline enrollment for formerly incarcerated individuals after successful Conservation Camp service.
- Ways to increase the share of graduates entering the firefighter workforce.
- Feasibility of establishing additional centers in other regions.
- Requires a written report to specified legislative committees by January 1, 2026.
- The evaluation/report requirement is repealed January 1, 2030.
- Declared an urgency statute to take immediate effect, citing firefighter shortages and catastrophic fire risks.
Status (from provided actions)
- Referred and advanced through California legislative committees in spring 2025; held under submission in Assembly Appropriations as of 05/23/2025.
If you want, I can:
- Produce a one‑page fact sheet focused only on the aviation biofuel bill (with bullets on fiscal mechanics, eligibility, and implementation tasks), or
- Draft suggested amendment language to clarify budget offsets and tax credit limits for the aviation biofuel proposal.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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