Representative Vinnie Miresse is a long-time Portage County resident who has dedicated himself to serving his community and Wisconsin as a volunteer, entrepreneur, family man, and local elected leader.
During his first term in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Rep. Miresse prioritized bipartisan collaboration and meaningful compromise. Working with a Republican-controlled legislature and a Democratic Governor, he authored, co-authored, or co-sponsored over 70 bills that were signed into law. Notably, he served as the lead author on the reauthorization of funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which supports public land purchases, land and water conservation, habitat restoration and preservation, and the maintenance of Wisconsin’s public lands. Additionally, his work with the Wisconsin Counties Solid Waste Management Association (WCSWMA) led to the passage of Assembly Bill 713 (Act 170), creating an industry-funded battery stewardship program to provide free battery recycling statewide.
In the spring of 2026, Rep. Miresse concluded his tenure on the Portage County Board of Supervisors, where he had served since 2017. During his time on the Board, he served as First Vice-Chair and held leadership roles on numerous committees, including Chair of the Solid Waste Management Board, Chair of the Portage County Healthcare Center Committee, Chair of the Diversity Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Human Resources Committee. He is a graduate of both the Emergency Services Citizen Academy and the UW-Extension Local Government Leadership Academy.
Beyond his legislative work, Rep. Miresse actively volunteers with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Central Rivers Farmshed, and CREATE Portage County, and serves on the executive board for WCSWMA.
In the Assembly, Rep. Vinnie:
- Authored, coauthored, and sponsored 584 bills and resolutions over 70 bipartisan bills were signed into law by Governor Tony Evers:
- AB 257: Ensuring rural healthcare in WI with a dedicated license for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- AB 97: Extends Medicaid for postpartum women and baby to 12 months after giving birth.
- AB 263: Gail’s Law- making sure women get enhance breast cancer screenings and the healthcare they need.
- AB 130 & 131: Ensuring PFAS contamination clean up and access to clean drinking water for all communities affected.
- AB 201: Protecting our children from ‘sextortion’ which involves criminal tricking or coercing a victim to provide sexually explicit material.
- AB 968: Protecting our seniors from fraudsters by placing safeguards on “crypto kiosks.”
- Some of his proposed bills, include:
- LRB-1296: Expanding the Homestead Tax Credit
- LRB-1300: Healthy School Meals for All
- LRB-1302: Less for Rx: Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board & Lowering Healthcare Costs
- LRB-5637: Healthy Food Incentive Program
- LRB-5640: Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants and Something Special from Wisconsin
- LRB-5694: Wisconsin Agricultural Exports Program
- LRB-5357: Farmland Preservation Program and Agricultural Enterprise Area Updates
As a local elected leader, Vinnie:
Authored the Portage County Fair Maps Referendum.
Authored both Portage County Medical and Recreational Marijuana Referendums.
Co-created both Portage County Healthcare Center Referendums.
Secured nearly $500,000 in SLRF funding for Central Rivers Farmshed’s future growth launching new farming and food production-related businesses
Vinnie’s entrepreneurial spirit began at 9, when he began mowing lawns in summer and raking leaves in fall for elderly neighbors, so he could buy baseball cards and treats from the local corner store.
At 13, Vinnie applied for a workers permit and got his first job, as a $2.90/hour dishwasher and bus boy, and also worked in the construction trades.
Miresse earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where he studied history, anthropology, and music. During and after college he worked at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station (CWES), teaching environmental education as a head naturalist and site manager. Vinnie also funded his college education by playing jazz, folk, funk, country, and Latin music with various ensembles. After moving to the mountain West, Vinnie survived solely on the performing arts; teaching percussion and playing with world-class musicians and touring acts.
During the 2008 recession, Vinnie returned home to Wisconsin. He worked at Central Waters Brewing Company and Northwind Renewable Energy, before starting his own residential remodeling business. He specializes in energy efficiency, building science, renewable energy, natural building technologies, and sourcing local materials. He and his family also practice regenerative agriculture in their urban setting, cultivating over 30 species of perennial edibles and a modest orchard of apples, pears, peaches, plums, and cherries.
Vinnie and his wife, Gina, lived in the Amherst area for many years before moving to Stevens Point where they currently reside with their two children. In his spare time, Vinnie is an under-appreciated chauffeur and personal chef for his kids (parents will get this joke). Vinnie, Gina, and their children enjoy savoring the arts, traveling, backpacking, hunting and fishing, gardening, supporting family farms, buying local, and cooking amazing meals for their family with homegrown, local fruits and veggies.
