Wisconsin’s first major upgrade to its Commercial Building Code in more than a decade takes effect Sept. 1, 2025, adopting 2021 International Building Code standards with state-specific adjustments. The update applies to commercial and multi-family residential buildings. The change follows a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling in Evers v. Marklein that struck down as unconstitutional key […]
After Evers v. Marklein Decision, Wisconsin’s Updated Building Code Takes Effect
Date Thu, Aug. 14, 2025 - 3:01pm By Hamilton
JFC State Budget Updates: June 10th, 12th & 17th
Date Fri, Jun. 20, 2025 - 9:22am By Hamilton
6/10 Tuesday June 10th the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) met again for an executive session to consider motions for the following agencies. The committee includes 12 Republican members and 4 Democrat members; all 12-4 and 4-12 vote tallies were among party lines. With a two 13-3 votes each time one of the 4 democrats voted […]
Wisconsin Medicaid Faces Enrollment Shifts, Largest Cost-to-Continue and Potential Federal Funding Changes
Date Fri, May. 9, 2025 - 10:31am By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s Medicaid program is undergoing several developments, including a decline in enrollment, increased funding needs to maintain current services, and potential changes at the federal level that could impact future funding and operations. Enrollment Changes Following Policy Shift BadgerCare Plus enrollment fell below 900,000 in March 2025, marking the lowest total since August […]
Natural Resources Board Restarts Rulemaking for PFAS Groundwater Standards
Date Fri, Apr. 18, 2025 - 8:57am By Hamilton
On April 9, The Natural Resources Board approved starting a new rulemaking effort to establish groundwater standards for six PFAS compounds, following an earlier attempt initiated in fall 2022 to regulate four PFAS at levels as low as 4 parts per trillion (ppt). The previous proposal stalled because its estimated implementation and compliance costs exceeded […]
Medicaid Projected End Fiscal Year with a Small Surplus
Date Thu, Jan. 9, 2025 - 2:22pm By Hamilton
Medicaid is projected to end the biennium with a $1.2 million surplus in state dollars, according to a recent report from the Department of Health Services (DHS), though earlier estimates had predicted a $29.4 million surplus. The revised projection reflects higher-than-expected rate increases for managed care programs—over 8% for long-term care organizations and 5.7% for […]
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 […]
Evers v. Marklein (Separation of Powers)
Date Mon, Jul. 22, 2024 - 2:10pm By Hamilton
In Evers v. Marklein (2024 WI 31), the court held that oversight power exercised by a legislative committee over decisions made by a state agency to use already-appropriated funds violated the separation of powers established by the Wisconsin Constitution. This decision may have significant implications for Wisconsin politics and policy. While the immediate effect of […]
PSCW Leadership Changes: Valcq Leaving, Strand Confirmed, Huebner Rejected, Nieto Appointed
Date Wed, Jan. 31, 2024 - 11:52am By Hamilton
Several leadership changes have occurred at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), the state’s utility regulator. Chairperson Rebecca Valcq announced she is resigning from the commission effective this Friday, February 2 (news coverage here and here). In the same announcement, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced that he had selected current Commissioner Summer Strand to […]
Gov. Evers Discusses Workforce, Healthcare, PFAS in Sixth State of the State Address
Date Wed, Jan. 24, 2024 - 11:07am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) delivered his sixth annual State of the State address on January 23 before a joint session of the Wisconsin Legislature. The address was delivered in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. The governor’s office has released the prepared remarks and a video recording of the speech. […]
PFAS Update: DNR Pauses PFAS Groundwater Rulemaking
Date Wed, Jan. 3, 2024 - 12:13pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced a pause of its rulemaking to establish groundwater standards for several PFAS compounds. This is due to the requirements of Wisconsin’s REINS Act, a 2017 law that requires legislative authorization of any administrative rule with a compliance and implementation cost totaling at least $10 million over a two-year period. […]