On Aug. 16, the Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the state’s first municipal customer side lead pipe removal program. In March, Gov. Scott Walker signed the Leading on Lead Act (Act 136) into law, thereby paving the way for water utilities to provide financial assistance to replace water laterals on private property containing lead. The […]
First Municipal Customer Side Lead Pipe Removal Program Approved
Date Wed, Aug. 22, 2018 - 4:12pm By Hamilton
1332 Waiver Approved
Date Mon, Jul. 30, 2018 - 1:30pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker announced this week that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Department of the Treasury have approved Wisconsin’s 1332 Waiver, the state plan for creating a reinsurance program for health carriers. HHS has waived the requirement for a single risk pool in the individual market under the Affordable Care […]
Online Sales Tax Scope Statement Approved
Date Mon, Jul. 30, 2018 - 1:23pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker has approved a Department of Revenue (DOR) scope statement amending rules related to the collection of online sales taxes. The rule will allow DOR to collect Wisconsin’s 5 percent sales tax from online sellers without a physical presence in the state beginning on Oct. 1, 2018. The scope statement says the rule […]
Gov. Walker’s Autonomous Vehicle Committee Releases Final Report
Date Thu, Jul. 12, 2018 - 3:40pm By Hamilton
At the end of June, the Governor’s Steering Committee on Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment submitted their final report to the governor. The report is a required deliverable under Executive Order #245. For the past nine months the steering committee convened monthly to hear presentations from a variety of stakeholders and discuss the […]
Supreme Court Ends Agency Deference
Date Thu, Jul. 12, 2018 - 12:21pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently issued a decision (Tetra Tech v. Department of Revenue) that ends the “agency deference” doctrine. Previously, Wisconsin courts deferred to regulatory agencies when interpreting statutory provisions that ultimately define agencies’ own power and reach. Under the decision, courts will continue to give “due weight,” or respectful consideration, to agencies’ expertise […]
DHS Projects $102 Million Medicaid Surplus for 2017-19 Biennium
Date Thu, Jul. 12, 2018 - 9:41am By Hamilton
On June 29, the Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted its quarterly report to the Joint Finance Committee co-chairs, detailing the latest Medicaid projection for the 2017-19 biennium. DHS estimates a $102.4 million surplus in General Purpose Revenue (GPR) by the end of the biennium (June 30, 2019). The latest projection is $43.7 million more […]
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Balance
Date Wed, Jun. 13, 2018 - 1:22pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker has announced the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund reached $1.65 billion in May. The Trust Fund has been increasing since its lowest level (negative $1.68 billion) in 2011. The UI Trust Fund is financed by approximately 140,000 Wisconsin employers that are covered under the program, which is administered by the Department […]
Walker Releases 2019-21 Agency Budget Directives
Date Thu, May. 24, 2018 - 10:47am By Hamilton
Earlier this month, Gov. Scott Walker provided agencies with directives for preparing their budgets for the 2019-21 biennium. Walker requested agencies be “aggressive” in identifying savings and emphasized that agencies be “good stewards of taxpayers’ money.” In a letter to agencies, Walker asked agencies to focus on making higher education more accessible, improving Wisconsin’s health […]
Walker Announces New DOC Secretary
Date Thu, May. 24, 2018 - 8:50am By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker’s office announced this week that Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Jon Litscher is retiring from the agency. Walker has appointed DOC Deputy Secretary Cathy Jess to replace Litscher beginning June 11. Litscher previously served as DOC secretary from 1999-2003 and returned in 2016. He has also served as the secretary of the […]
OCI 1332 Waiver Notice of Completion
Date Tue, May. 22, 2018 - 2:07pm By Hamilton
On May 9, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent Wisconsin a letter noting that CMS has determined the Officer of Commissioner of Insurance’s 1332 Waiver application to be complete. The 1332 Waiver is the state plan for creating a reinsurance program for health carriers. The notice of completion triggers the beginning […]