With the legislature finished for the 2017-18 session, Gov. Scott Walker has been busy signing legislation into law. So far this session, Walker has signed 273 bills, and a handful of others passed by both chambers of the legislature are eligible for signing in the upcoming weeks. Highlights of bill signings over the past several […]
Signed By Governor: School Safety, Apprenticeships, Civil Litigation Reforms & More
Date Fri, Apr. 13, 2018 - 9:16am By Hamilton
Gov. Walker Calls June Special Elections
Date Wed, Apr. 11, 2018 - 11:02am By Hamilton
After a series of court decisions and appeals, Gov. Scott Walker has called special elections to fill the vacant Senate District 1 and Assembly District 42. Walker had previously declined to hold special elections because he argued the legislature would wrap up session before new legislators would be elected. The vacancies came after the appointments of […]
Proposed Legislative Study Committees Distributed
Date Wed, Apr. 11, 2018 - 10:38am By Hamilton
Each interim summer, the Wisconsin Legislative Council provides legal and policy support to several study committees established by the Joint Legislative Council. The Joint Legislative Council co-chairs Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) and Rep. Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) have distributed a list of nine proposed study committees for the 2018 interim. Joint Legislative Council members will vote […]
DHS Projects a $59.7 Million GPR Balance in Medicaid for the 2017-19 Biennium
Date Wed, Apr. 11, 2018 - 10:12am By Hamilton
On March 30, the Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted its quarterly report to the Joint Finance Committee chairs, detailing the latest Medicaid projection for the 2017-19 biennium. DHS estimates the state will end the biennium in June 2019 with a balance of $59.7 million general purpose revenue (GPR) and $145.6 million in all funds. […]
Gov. Walker’s Autonomous Vehicle Committee Continues to Collect Information
Date Tue, Apr. 10, 2018 - 1:00pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker’s Steering Committee on Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment held their sixth meeting on March 28 in Madison. Over the next few months, the committee will draft a report with recommendations to the governor on how to coordinate testing and operation of autonomous and connected vehicles on Wisconsin’s roadways. The report […]
Dallet Elected to Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date Thu, Apr. 5, 2018 - 3:36pm By Hamilton
On April 3, Wisconsin voters elected Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Dallet to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Progressive candidate Dallet defeated her opponent, conservative Judge Michael Screnock, 56 to 44 percent. When Dallet replaces retiring Justice Michael Gableman on the bench in August, the court’s conservative majority will shift from 5-2 to 4-3. While […]
Legislature Passes Common Sense Civil Litigation Reforms
Date Fri, Mar. 23, 2018 - 9:21am By Hamilton
In their March 22 extraordinary session, the Wisconsin Assembly concurred in AB 773, which contains a number of important civil litigation reforms, including discovery and class action rules. The bill now heads to Gov. Scott Walker for his signature. AB 773 is a major victory for Wisconsin businesses and will significantly reduce the cost of […]
Floor Report: Senate and Assembly Wrap Up Priority Issues of 2017-18 Session
Date Fri, Mar. 23, 2018 - 9:18am By Hamilton
The Senate and Assembly met this week for what is likely the last floor votes of the 2017-18 session. Although the Assembly had said they were finished in February, Senate changes to priority issues led the Assembly to meet in extraordinary session on Thursday. In the extraordinary session, the Assembly passed gun safety legislation outside […]
Court Orders Gov. Walker to Call Special Elections
Date Thu, Mar. 22, 2018 - 5:18pm By Hamilton
A Dane County judge this week ordered Gov. Scott Walker to call special elections for the vacant Senate District 1 and Assembly District 42. The districts were vacated early this year when Sen. Frank Lasee (R-DePere) and Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) were appointed to the Walker administration. Walker had previously declined to hold special elections […]