Both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature met on February 15 for floor sessions to vote on bills and resolutions. Below, we review a few notable items. Senate Floor Calendar, February 15 The Senate passed 39 bills and six resolutions, including: Senate Bill (SB) 365, which makes changes to the broadband expansion grant program administered by […]
Legislative Update: Lawsuit Lending; Building Trades; GOP Workforce Package
Date Wed, Feb. 16, 2022 - 6:07pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislature appears poised to finish its business by March 10, the last regular session day on its 2021-22 calendar. With that, many bills are moving quickly through the legislative process. Here, we review some notable items. Hearings this week on lawsuit lending reform A bill (AB 858/SB 842) to reform lawsuit lending in […]
Gov. Evers Signs 21 Bills, Including Telehealth Definitions; Vetoes Four More
Date Sun, Feb. 13, 2022 - 4:01pm By Hamilton
On February 4, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced his actions on 18 bills recently presented to him by the Legislature. The governor signed 14 bills into law and vetoed four others. Notably, Gov. Evers signed Senate Bill (SB) 309 and SB 488. SB 309, now 2021 Wisconsin Act 121, incorporates the definitions of “telehealth” and […]
Senate and Assembly Floor Sessions: January 25
Date Wed, Feb. 2, 2022 - 4:21pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Senate met on the morning of January 25 for a floor session to vote on bills and resolutions, while the Assembly met that afternoon to take a series of votes. The Assembly also met on January 20, which we covered in this article. Senate Floor Calendar, January 25 The Senate passed 55 bills […]
Assembly Floor Session: January 20
Date Wed, Feb. 2, 2022 - 4:19pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly met on January 20 for a floor session to vote on bills and resolutions. Both the Assembly and Senate also met on January 25, which we covered in this article. Assembly Floor Calendar, January 20 The Assembly passed 39 bills and three resolutions, mostly via voice votes. Notably, the Assembly voted 95-0 […]
Governor and Legislative Leaders Differ Over State Surplus Plans
Date Wed, Feb. 2, 2022 - 4:17pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s latest budget projections brought good news, with the state now projected to end the 2021-23 fiscal biennium with a $3.8 billion surplus. As we reported in January, Wisconsin ended its most recent fiscal year with a balance of $1.18 billion, its largest positive balance ever as calculated using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The […]
Legislative Update: Remaining Floor Dates; State of the State Address
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:26pm By Hamilton
Remaining Session Dates Each house of the Wisconsin Legislature is expected to meet once or twice monthly in January, February, and March, and then adjourn for the remainder of the year. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) has confirmed that the Senate plans to finish its work by March 10, the final day of the […]
State Budget Update: GAAP Balance; Withholding Tables; Lottery Credit
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:23pm By Hamilton
State Records Large Positive GAAP Balance According to a press release from Gov. Tony Evers (D), Wisconsin’s General Fund recorded its largest positive balance ever, as calculated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year. The state ended the most recent fiscal year with a balance of $1.18 billion. […]
Six Candidates on the Ballot for Milwaukee Mayor
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:21pm By Hamilton
The City of Milwaukee is set to elect a new mayor for the first time since 2004. Former Mayor Tom Barrett resigned on December 22, 2021 and was sworn in as United States Ambassador to Luxembourg the following day. Because of the timing of Barrett’s resignation, the special election for mayor will coincide with the […]
Interim President Thompson Leaving UW System in March
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:19pm By Hamilton
University of Wisconsin System Interim President Tommy Thompson has announced he will leave his post on March 18. In a January 7 letter to Board of Regents President Edmund Manydeeds, Thompson wrote that he is leaving so that the university system can prepare to onboard his successor. The UW System Board of Regents is looking […]