The Wisconsin Assembly met February 22, 2024. See the floor calendar here. This floor session carried over to the following day due to the number of bills on the calendar. Also this month, both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature met February 13 and 20 (Senate, Assembly) and the Assembly also met on February 15. The […]
Assembly Floor Session: February 22, 2024 (PFAS, EV Infrastructure, Health Policy)
Date Mon, Feb. 26, 2024 - 9:00am By Hamilton
Assembly Floor Session: February 15, 2024 (ROFR, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement)
Date Mon, Feb. 26, 2024 - 7:52am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly met February 15, 2024. See the floor calendar here. Also this month, both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature met February 13 and 20 (Senate, Assembly) and the Assembly met again on February 22. The Assembly passed 32 bills. Most of the bills on the calendar dealt with various aspects of criminal justice […]
PSCW Leadership Changes: Valcq Leaving, Strand Confirmed, Huebner Rejected, Nieto Appointed
Date Wed, Jan. 31, 2024 - 11:52am By Hamilton
Several leadership changes have occurred at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), the state’s utility regulator. Chairperson Rebecca Valcq announced she is resigning from the commission effective this Friday, February 2 (news coverage here and here). In the same announcement, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced that he had selected current Commissioner Summer Strand to […]
Senate and Assembly Floor Sessions: January 16, 2024
Date Wed, Jan. 31, 2024 - 11:40am By Hamilton
Both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature met January 16 to vote on bills, resolutions, and executive appointments. Also this month, the Assembly met January 18 and 25. This was the first floor day of the new year, and January will be one of the last regular floor periods of the 2023-24 legislative session. The Assembly […]
Gov. Evers Acts on 18 Bills, Vetoing Energy Source and Workforce Legislation
Date Thu, Aug. 17, 2023 - 9:44am By Hamilton
Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced August 4 that he had taken action on 18 bills passed by the Wisconsin Legislature, signing eight into law and vetoing ten others. Aside from his partial vetoes of the 2023-25 state budget, these were the first vetoes issued by Gov. Evers in 2023. The new laws, numbered 2023 Wisconsin […]
Joint Finance Committee Budget Votes: May 23 and 25, June 1
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2023 - 11:41am By Hamilton
The Joint Committee on Finance (Joint Finance Committee or JFC) of the Wisconsin Legislature continues its work on the 2023-25 state budget, taking votes to reshape the budget as initially proposed by Gov. Tony Evers (D). The committee began the process on May 2 by voting to remove many new programs and significant changes to […]
Senate and Assembly Floor Sessions: June 7
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2023 - 11:22am By Hamilton
Senate (floor calendar) The Senate met on June 7 to consider a variety of measures. The chamber passed 17 Senate Bills, including transportation-related bills on driver contact records, snowmobile trail signs, probationary licenses, temporary license plates, agricultural road grants, and safety, mapping, and communication aids for ATV/UTV organizations. The Senate also passed natural resources-related bills […]
WEC Energy Group, Consumer Advocates Negotiating “Ability to Pay” Pilot Program
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2023 - 11:09am By Hamilton
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a utility bill relief program for low-income households could soon be put to the test in Wisconsin. Organizations that advocate for utility customers are working with WEC Energy Group, a large investor-owned electric utility, to develop a pilot program that would cap utility costs at six percent of household […]
Gov. Evers 2023-25 Executive Budget Highlights
Date Thu, Feb. 16, 2023 - 11:48am By Hamilton
Gov. Evers gave his third biennial budget address on February 15, unveiling his 2023-25 executive budget. He proposes an operating budget of $103.8 billion over the next two fiscal years, adding a net 816.55 FTE positions. For comparison, the 2021-23 state budget spent $87.5 billion with a net reduction of 174.19 FTE positions. The complete […]
PFAS Update: Senate Natural Resources Committee Holds Informational Hearing
Date Wed, Feb. 8, 2023 - 10:35am By Hamilton
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy held a public hearing on PFAS on January 31. The hearing was for information only (no specific bills were discussed) and featured select speakers invited by committee chair Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay). During the hearing, Sen. Cowles stated that the Legislature will take action on PFAS […]