Joel C. Kitchens (Rep.), 1st Assembly District
Born Washington, DC, September 20, 1957; married; 3 children. Graduate Ballard H.S. (Louisville, Ky.) 1975; B.S. Ohio St. U. 1979; D.V.M. Ohio St. U. 1983. Large animal veterinarian. Member: Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church; Wis. Veterinary Medicine Assn.; American Veterinary Medicine Assn. Sturgeon Bay Bd. of Education, 2000-14.
Elected to Assembly 2014. Biennial committee assignments: 2015 — Education (vice chp.); Agriculture; Environment and Forestry; Financial Institutions; Tourism; Workforce Development.
Telephone: Office: (608) 266-5350; (888) 482-0001 (toll free); District: (920) 743-7990.
E-mail: Rep.Kitchens@legis.wisconsin.gov
Voting address: 1117 Cove Road, Sturgeon Bay 54235.
Mailing address: Office: Room 10 West, State Capitol, P.O. Box 8952, Madison 53708.
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Content referencing Joel Kitchens
Wisconsin Could Expand School Cell Phone Ban
GOP wants to toughen law passed in October with 'bell-to-bell' ban on phones.
Mar 3rd, 2026 by Corrinne Hess
Wisconsin Assembly Is Done Legislating for 2026
Here's what lawmakers got done -- and left unfinished.
Feb 23rd, 2026 by Brittany Carloni
State Could Pay Vets To Work in Rural Counties
Program is similar to existing grants offered to doctors, dentists who practice in rural areas.
Nov 14th, 2025 by Hope Kirwan
Republican Bill Encourages School District Mergers
As enrollment declines in Wisconsin, can consolidation create efficiencies, save money?
Nov 13th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
Dual Enrollment Bill Aims To Make It Easier For High Schoolers To Take College Classes
One-in-four high school students already participate, but with stark divides based on district.
Oct 14th, 2025 by Corrinne Hess
Assembly Republicans Announce Package of Education Bills
Plus four task forces. With jabs at Democratic proposals.
Sep 10th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
Bipartisan Bill Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Birth Control
30 states have similar law. But bill may face opposition in Senate.
May 13th, 2025 by Anya van Wagtendonk
Widespread Opposition at Hearing to Bill Requiring Parental Approval for Pronoun, Name Changes
GOP-bill draws opposition from legislators, those testifying.
Mar 7th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
Assembly Passes Bill Banning Cell Phones in Classrooms
Republicans say ban would improve learning and mental health. Democrats call it an unnecessary attack on local control.
Feb 20th, 2025 by Rich Kremer
$50 Million for Reading Instruction Will Return to State Surplus
Supreme Court won't rule on Evers vs. Legislature battle before end of fiscal year.
Feb 17th, 2025 by Corrinne Hess
GOP Lawmakers Propose Cell Phone Bans in Schools
Most schools in Wisconsin restrict use by students. Several states have passed bans.
Feb 12th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
Funding For Wisconsin Reading Law Goes to State Surplus If Not Used by June 30
Republican legislators won't release funds, saying they don't trust how DPI will spend it.
Jan 15th, 2025 by Corrinne Hess
Department of Public Instruction Asks Lawmakers To Approve New Reading Curriculum
Proposal overrides the Literacy Council, which DPI says failed to meet deadlines.
Feb 21st, 2024 by Corrinne Hess
Assembly Committee Votes To Overhaul Voucher School Funding
Governor Evers has already signaled his opposition.
Feb 15th, 2024 by Baylor Spears
Wisconsin Reading Law Could Be Amended For Bilingual Learners
Parents, educators concerned about reading tests being conducted in English.
Nov 18th, 2023 by Corrinne Hess
Assembly Bill Would Allow Milwaukee, Other Cities To Count Absentee Ballots Early
Day-before processing seeks to end late night results.
Nov 1st, 2023 by Baylor Spears
Legislators Battle Over Redistricting Bill
Democrats, civic groups argue bill has loophole to maintain Republican control over drawing of legislative maps.
Oct 20th, 2023 by Anya van Wagtendonk
Bill Would Allow New Bars To Offer Indoor Cigar, Pipe Smoking
City of Milwaukee could support the bill, but raised questions over regulation.
Oct 19th, 2023 by Sophie Bolich
Proposal Would Require Insurance Coverage Of Additional Breast Cancer Screenings
The secondary tests, which can cost thousands of dollars, would be covered for at-risk patients
Jul 14th, 2023 by Anya van Wagtendonk
Assembly Passes Bill To Overhaul How Reading Is Taught
DPI gives support after changes. Plus: Pharmacists could prescribe birth control, alcohol regulations overhauled.
Jun 22nd, 2023 by Anya van Wagtendonk
Even After Change, DPI Opposes Reading Bill
Issue centers on proposal to hold third graders back.
Jun 16th, 2023 by Corrinne Hess
Despite Legal Gay Marriage, Wisconsin Laws Still Centered On Husband and Wife
From birth certificates to court documents, same-sex parents have concerns.
Jun 16th, 2023 by Matthew DeFour
Republicans Have $50 Milllion, Science-Based Plan To Revamp How Children Learn To Read
DPI Superintendent says bill is "non-starter" as it includes 3rd grade retention requirement.
Jun 9th, 2023 by Corrinne Hess
Bipartisan Bill Allows Pharmacists To Prescribe Birth Control
Shortage of primary-care doctors in many parts of state limits access to birth control.
Jun 7th, 2023 by Baylor Spears
Bipartisan Plan Aims To Change How Children Learn To Read
Phonics-focused curriculum would be modeled after efforts in more than 30 other states.
May 12th, 2023 by Corrinne Hess
Republicans Propose Exceptions To Wisconsin’s 1849 Abortion Ban
But Senate Majority Leader says he won't let proposal move forward, become political football.
Mar 16th, 2023 by Anya van Wagtendonk
Bill Would Require Armed School Resource Officers
Republican proposal requires all schools to track crimes, hire officer after enough incidents.
Mar 6th, 2023 by Isiah Holmes
MPS Literacy Coach Films Reading Series Across Wisconsin
Dannette Justus films readings of children's books at interesting locations and Wisconsin landmarks.
Jun 16th, 2022 by Jonah Beleckis
Democrats Walk Out Of Assembly Committee
Citing COVID-19 risk and no Republicans wearing masks. 'This is so far from real democracy.'
Sep 15th, 2021 by Ruth Conniff
Will Supreme Court Act on Mask Mandate?
State high court has sat on case for months, could decide fight between governor and Legislature.
Feb 6th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
Republicans End Mask Mandate, Evers Puts It Back In Place
Governor issues new health order after Republicans end his prior one.
Feb 4th, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
State’s Partisan Divide the Worst Ever?
‘The worst it's ever been,’ says one legislator. Are voters echoing politicians or vice versa?
Jan 24th, 2021 by Nora Eckert and Anya van Wagtendonk
Lawsuit Demands State Mail Ballots to Voters
Activist groups say April election excluded voters, demand mailed ballots to all this fall.
May 19th, 2020 by Shawn Johnson
4-Year-Old Kindergarten Gets Bipartisan Support
Senate taking up bills in committee that would expand early childhood education programs.
Oct 7th, 2019 by Ruth Conniff
Working for Clean Energy a Tricky Task
Polls show bipartisan support, but how you talk about it matters.
Aug 30th, 2019 by Melanie Conklin
Finally, Some Leadership on Teen Mothers
Republican and Democratic legislators offer separate bills to provide broader access to contraceptives.
Aug 21st, 2019 by John Torinus
Gerrymandering Bill is Bipartisan
Three Republican legislators are co-sponsers of bill calling for nonpartisan redistricting.
Jul 12th, 2019 by Laurel White
Electric Scooters Could Return This Year
Bill working its way through state Legislature to legalize electric scooters.
May 8th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
Farmers, Environmentalists Applaud Water Quality Trading Bill
GOP bill would create a clearinghouse to trade credits from reducing water pollution.
Feb 28th, 2019 by Hope Kirwan
No Choice in 36% of Legislative Races
Gerrymandering and decline in number of candidates leaves 2.5 million residents with no choice.
Jun 14th, 2018 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Assembly Approves Rollback of Wetlands Protection
Bill backed by WMC, Kochs, could destroy 1 million acres of wetlands.
Feb 19th, 2018 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
GOP Legislators Push Harsher Bail Rules
State constitutional amendment opposed by defense lawyers, supported by City of Milwaukee.
Feb 1st, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
GOP Legislative Districts Heavily White
Republican assembly districts are up to 96% white, senate districts as high as 95% white.
Jan 15th, 2018 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Politics May Doom School Funding Panel
Nearly everyone agrees system needs reform, but can’t agree how to do it.
Jan 8th, 2018 by Steven Walters
New Approach to Funding Schools Needed
Blue Ribbon Commission studying the many problems with current approach.
Dec 18th, 2017 by State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout
Big Agriculture Rewards Legislators
Industry wants high capacity wells, gives $220,000 to key committee members.
Mar 15th, 2017 by Matt Rothschild
Water Woes Big Issue in Fall Elections
Water pollution hotly debated in key legislative races and Feingold vs Johnson.
Aug 7th, 2016 by Andrew Hahn
Bacteria Taints State’s Drinking Water
169,00 households served by private wells that tested positive for coliform bacteria.
May 3rd, 2016 by Ron Seely
Walker “Listening Sessions” Not for All
Invitations are closed to media and for invited guests only.
Feb 15th, 2016 by Steven Walters
Conservation Voters Convene
Former congressmen Obey and Petri make a League of Conservation Voters fundraiser a stop on their bipartisan road trip.
Nov 1st, 2015 by Michael Horne
