Todd Novak

For the 2021-2022 Legislative Cycle, Representative Novak serves on the following committees[7]

• Assembly Committee on Local Government (Chair)
• Speakers Task Force on Water Quality (Chair)
• Assembly Committee on Agriculture (Vice Chair)
• Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice & Public Safety
• Assembly Committee on Mental Health
• Assembly Committee on Rural Development
• Assembly Committee on Environment

In his inaugural term in the State Assembly, Novak authored a bill creating the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail which links the architects notable creations using existing roadways.[8]

On February 11, 2019, Speaker Vos appointed Novak chairman of a 16 member bipartisan task force on water quality. The task force was created to provide recommendations on assessing and improving the quality of surface water and groundwater throughout the state of Wisconsin. The task force has traveled extensively throughout the state, visiting the cities of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Janesville, Racine, Lancaster, LaCrosse, Mauston, Stevens Point, Menomonie, Tomahawk, Marinette, and Superior holding public hearings to gather information on specific concerns in the various regions of the state.[9]

Representative Novak authored two bills as a result of the task force findings. The first bill, 2019 Assembly Bill 790 increases funding for Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation staff. The bill also adds new language calling for conservation staff to work to implement the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).[10] The CREP leverages federal and state funding to compensate farmers to voluntarily decommission farm land and implement conservation practices.[11] The second bill, 2019 Assembly Bill 801 provides funding to the University of Wisconsin System to implement the Freshwater Collaborative. The Freshwater Collaborative Program is designed to address two unique challenges relevant in Wisconsin, Agriculture Water Management, and Water Quality Safety and emerging contaminants. As part of the Freshwater Collaborative, the UW System will work to establish and develop a variety of undergraduate programs focused on preparing the Wisconsin Workforce to address Water Management and Water Quality safety issues while expanding opportunities for research and collaboration across campuses.[12]

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