The Senate met for its only remaining floor day in February and is expected to reconvene the week of March 17. Perhaps the most notable action of the day did not occur on the floor. After placing the highly anticipated reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program on the calendar, Senate Republicans pulled the bill, citing […]
Speaker Vos Announces His Retirement
Date Thu, Feb. 19, 2026 - 7:40pm By Hamilton
Robin Vos announced he will not seek reelection, bringing to a close his record-setting tenure as Wisconsin’s longest-serving Assembly speaker. He said a heart attack in November helped confirm his decision to step away after more than two decades in office. First elected in 2004 and speaker since 2013, Vos played a key role in […]
Assembly Floor Session 2-12-26
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 11:45am By Hamilton
On February 12, the Assembly convened to consider a range of bills affecting policies within the state’s university system, including high-profile issues such as campus free speech, admissions policies, and faculty governance appointments. Most of these measures are divided along party lines. However, the chamber also approved several bills by voice vote, including legislation aimed at […]
Senate Floor Session 2-11-26
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 9:48am By Hamilton
While the Assembly plans to use nearly all of its available February floor days, the Senate plans to convene for only two days this month. The first of those sessions occurred on February 11, when the upper chamber met to pass a series of administrative rules along party lines and took up several controversial transgender […]
Assembly Floor Session 2-10-26
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 9:47am By Hamilton
The Assembly kicked off its February floor days on February 10 by taking up bipartisan legislation to update the statutes governing the Opportunity Attraction & Promotion program, as well as a series of remedial bills to clean up various state agency statutes. The headlining bill of the day was the WisconsinEye plan, a rare bipartisan […]
Senate Floor Session 1-21-26
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 9:46am By Hamilton
On January 21, the Senate held its first floor day of 2026. The Senate took several partisan votes, including legislation prohibiting foreign adversaries from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in Wisconsin and the so-called “tax on tips” bill, which creates an income tax exemption for cash tips received by employees. The Senate also passed several […]
Assembly Floor Session 1-22-26
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 9:45am By Hamilton
On January 22, the Assembly continued its work to advance legislation as the number of remaining calendar days in the session grows limited. The most notable action of the day was passage of legislation to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which advanced along partisan lines amid disagreements over funding levels and proposed limitations on land […]
Who’s Leaving and Why It Matters: Open Legislative Seats to Watch in Wisconsin
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 9:26am By Hamilton
As Wisconsin heads into the 2026 election season, a growing number of state lawmakers have publicly announced they will not seek another term, setting the stage for significant turnover in both chambers of the Legislature. While retirements are not unusual in an election year, the number of open seats already confirmed could have meaningful implications […]
Wisconsin Medicaid Director Bill Hanna to Step Down
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 9:25am By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s top official overseeing the state’s Medicaid program, Bill Hanna, has announced he will be leaving his post as Medicaid Director for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on February 20, 2026 after more than two years in the role. Hanna, who was appointed Medicaid Director in January 2024 after serving as the department’s deputy […]
Destinations Wisconsin and Wisconsin School Bus Association Hold Legislative Days
Date Fri, Feb. 13, 2026 - 9:24am By Hamilton
Last week, members of Destinations Wisconsin and the Wisconsin School Bus Association traveled to Madison to participate in Legislative Day activities at the State Capitol, meeting with lawmakers to share priorities and advocate for their respective industries. Members of Destinations Wisconsin met with local Senators and Representatives to discuss key issues affecting the travel and […]