The implementation of new maps will perhaps have the most immediate impact to the State Assembly where Republicans have maintained large comfortable majorities for the past decade. That cushion will not be the case for the next several cycles and instead we will likely see tightening of the margins and potentially a flip from GOP […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Holds Oral Arguments on “400-Year” Partial Veto
Date Tue, Oct. 22, 2024 - 2:23pm By Hamilton
October 9, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held oral arguments in a case challenging Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto that extended school revenue increases for 400 years. The lawsuit challenging the partial veto was brought by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), the state’s largest business lobbying association. In the 2023-25 state budget bill, the legislature included […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court to Consider Legislative Review Over Administrative Rule-Making
Date Tue, Oct. 22, 2024 - 2:08pm By Hamilton
Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an unsigned order agreeing to take up another issue in a lawsuit filed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers in October 2023. Earlier this year, the court divided the case into three separate issues, all centered around the scope of the legislature’s authority. The recent order focuses on whether […]
Statewide Races Still Tight
Date Tue, Oct. 22, 2024 - 2:07pm By Hamilton
No surprise here – the two statewide races in Wisconsin continue to be extremely tight. Recent polling from the Marquette Law School shows close races in Wisconsin for both the U.S. Presidential and Senate contests. In the Senate race, incumbent Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) is neck-and-neck with Republican challenger Eric Hovde. Similarly, in the Presidential […]
State Ended Fiscal Year 2023-24 with $4.6 billion surplus
Date Tue, Oct. 22, 2024 - 2:07pm By Hamilton
The Department of Administration reported the state ended the 2023-24 fiscal year with $4.6 billion in the general fund, about $400 million more than expected, due in part to higher-than-anticipated revenues and deferred spending. The current fiscal year 2024-25 is also looking positive, with revenues up 4.3% compared to the previous year, driven by increases […]
EdVest May Now Be Used for Apprenticeship Costs
Date Mon, Oct. 21, 2024 - 4:08pm By Hamilton
Bipartisan legislation, authored by Reps. Binsfeld (R-Sheboygan) and Joers (D-Middleton) and Sens. Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton) and Hesselbein (D-Middleton), updated Wisconsin law to newly allow for Wisconsin’s 529 college saving program, EdVest, to be used for additional expenses, including apprenticeships. 2023 Wisconsin Act 148 also increases the state income tax deduction for contributions to $5,000, indexed for […]
Legislative Study Committee on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Continues Work
Date Wed, Sep. 18, 2024 - 10:30am By Hamilton
The Legislative Council Study Committee on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence continues to meet and learn more about the use of AI in a variety of industries. Chaired by Sen. Julian Bradley, the committee includes legislators and members of the public. The Committee has met three times since it began its work in July. Typically, […]
State Senate Race Preview
Date Wed, Sep. 18, 2024 - 9:45am By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s new state legislative maps will very likely result in a narrowing of Senate Republicans’ current 22-11 majority. Running on staggered four-year terms, 16 of the Senate’s 33 seats are up for election. Three of those seats are considered toss-ups, two of those seats are “lean” to “likely” Democrat while the other 11 seats are […]
State Agencies Submit 2025-27 Budget Requests
Date Wed, Sep. 18, 2024 - 9:42am By Hamilton
The 2025-27 state budget development process is now underway. On September 16, Wisconsin state agencies submitted their 2025-27 state budget requests to the governor and Department of Administration (DOA). In his June budget instructions to the state agencies, Governor Evers directed agencies to assume zero budget growth (with a few exceptions like exceptions for K-12 school aids […]
Dane County Judge Upholds Gov. Evers’ Partial Veto of Literacy Bill
Date Fri, Sep. 13, 2024 - 2:32pm By Hamilton
Late August, Dane County Judge Stephen Ehlke rules Gov. Evers’ partial veto of 2023 SB 971 (signed into law as 2023 Act 100) was consistent with the Wisconsin Constitution granting governors the ability to partially veto appropriation bills. 2023 Act 100 in conjunction with the 2023-25 state budget act created an early literacy program designed […]