Sen. Knodl and Rep. Donovan Receive PIA’s Legislative Excellence Award
On Tuesday, PIA board members traveled to the Wisconsin State Capitol to present the annual Legislative Excellence Award.
The Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin’s Legislative Excellence Award is given annually to a member of each house who demonstrates support for PIA priority issues and leads efforts to keep Wisconsin a flourishing place for independent agents to do business.
Senate Recipient: Senator Dan Knodl
PIA is pleased to announce that Senator Dan Knodl of the 8th Senate District is the Senate recipient of PIA’s 2023 Legislative Excellence Award.
Senator Knodl was the author of several PIA priorities this session, including the standalone legislation to repeal the personal property tax, which was adopted into 2023 Wisconsin Act 12.
PIA Past President Ryan Butzke presented the award to Sen. Knodl at the State Capitol alongside several members of the Board of Directors.
“Senator Knodl is an outstanding advocate for small businesses in the state of Wisconsin,” said Butzke. “His continued efforts to repeal the personal property tax have finally been realized and are going to make a difference for countless small businesses including the many agencies PIA represents. We cannot overstate our thanks.”
In addition to his efforts to repeal the personal property tax, Sen. Knodl authored additional PIA-backed initiatives, such as legislation to curb reckless driving offenses (2023 Wisconsin Acts 1 & 9) and legislation to create a driver’s education grant program for students who qualify for the federal school lunch program (2023 Wisconsin Act 86). All of these initiatives were passed and signed during the 2023-24 Legislative Session. He authored priority legislation that is currently moving through the process that will streamline the prosecution of catalytic converter thefts.
Thank you to Senator Knodl for his work on behalf of small businesses and public safety!
Assembly Recipient: Representative Bob Donovan
PIA is pleased to announce that Representative Bob Donovan of the 84th Assembly District is the Assembly recipient of the 2023 PIAW Legislative Excellence Award.
Representative Donovan was the author of 2023 Wisconsin Acts 1, 9 and 86, which were priority issues for PIA during the 2023-2024 Legislative Session. Wisconsin Acts 1 & 9 were passed into law in the spring of 2023 and were based on recommendations made by Milwaukee’s City-County Reckless Driving Task Force. Wisconsin Act 86 established a driver’s education grant program for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in the federal school lunch program. All three initiatives passed and were signed into law during the 2023-24 Legislative Session.
PIA’s Executive Director Pete Hanson presented the award to Representative Donovan with members of the PIA Board of Directors.
“Reckless driving has a staggering economic and human cost, which our members witness firsthand as insurance agents,” said Hanson. “Representative Donovan has been a leader in making Wisconsin roads safer by authoring legislation to help curb reckless driving offenses and to proactively help get more educated drivers on the road. We are so thankful for all the work he has done and continues to do.”
Thank you, Representative Donovan, for your work to keep our roads safe!