The legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will begin taking votes on the 2017-19 budget on May 1. JFC plans to meet once the first week of May and then twice a week until they are finished. Typically, JFC begins their executive session with the less controversial budget proposals and saves the “big-ticket” items – transportation, […]
JFC Finishes Public Hearings
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 10:11am By Hamilton
Last week, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) held their second – and last – week of public hearings on Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 state budget. The first public hearings took place on April 3, 5 and 7. JFC heard from agency heads at the Capitol on March 28-30. They begin votes in executive session […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rejects Recusal Petition
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:40am By Hamilton
Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a petition to change its recusal rules. The proposal, submitted in January by 54 retired judges and justices, would have required judges and justices to recuse themselves if they received donations past a certain contribution threshold from litigants or attorneys in a case. Under the petition, the threshold […]
PLAs and CBD Oil Bills Signed
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:33am By Hamilton
On Monday, April 17, Gov. Scott Walker signed into law 2017 Wisconsin Act 3, requiring government to be neutral regarding the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). On that same day, he also signed 2017 Wisconsin Act 4, which allows for possession of CBD oil with written documentation from a Wisconsin-licensed doctor. Act 3 requires […]
Bills of Note: Delivery Drones
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:30am By Hamilton
On March 29, Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) introduced a bill (SB 148/AB 191) that would legalize delivery drones in Wisconsin. The bill would authorize personal delivery devices (PDDs) on sidewalks and crosswalks, provided that it meets certain requirements and follows rules of the road for pedestrians. A personal delivery device […]
Bills of Note: Prevailing Wage Repeal
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:28am By Hamilton
Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) and Rep. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) introduced a bill, SB 216, on April 20 that would repeal Wisconsin’s prevailing wage laws. Gov. Scott Walker had originally included the repeal in his 2017-19 state budget, but the Joint Finance Committee removed the provision as a non-fiscal policy item. Prevailing wage laws currently on […]
Committees Vote on Remaining Special Session Bills
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 9:26am By Hamilton
The last of Rep. John Nygren’s (R-Marinette) 11 special session bills to combat the state’s opioid addiction crisis continue to move through Assembly and Senate committees. The Assembly passed nine of these special session bills as part of the Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda in its Tuesday, April 4 floor session, and the […]
Walmart Capitol Day 2017
Date Thu, Apr. 13, 2017 - 10:21am By Hamilton
Walmart held its annual Wisconsin Capitol Day on April 5 with store managers, regional managers, market managers and assistants from around the state. The all-day event began with a welcome from Speaker Pro Tempore Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Sen. Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). Following the legislators’ welcome, attendees were given a briefing […]
Floor Report: April 4 – April 6
Date Thu, Apr. 13, 2017 - 9:06am By Hamilton
Last week, the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate were in session to take up a variety of bills. The floor session was originally scheduled for just Tuesday, April 4, but due to delays, the Senate reconvened on Wednesday, April 5 and the Assembly on Thursday, April 6. In the Senate, SB 76, the high […]
April 4 Elections Update: Evers Wins Easily, Ziegler Unopposed
Date Thu, Apr. 13, 2017 - 8:44am By Hamilton
Both the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the race for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court ended as expected on Tuesday, April 4. In the contest to lead the state’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI), incumbent Tony Evers was re-elected to his third term with approximately 70% of the vote. Evers defeated challenger Lowell Holtz, […]