On Wednesday, November 5, the Assembly Committee on Science, Technology & Artificial Intelligence convened an informational hearing to examine the rapid growth of artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies and the implications of large-scale data-center developments in Wisconsin. The session provided a deep dive into how the state can position itself for digital-infrastructure investment while balancing energy, workforce, […]
Dems Circulate Legislation to Reauthorize the Stewardship Program
Date Thu, Aug. 28, 2025 - 9:57am By Hamilton
This week, Democratic lawmakers announced their version of bill to extend the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program (KNSP) for six years at $72 million annually. Their plan would also create a 17-member oversight board to review large projects, with safeguards to keep projects moving if the board does not act on time. The lead authors, Sen. Jodi […]
Rep. Kurtz and Sen. Testin Circulate Stewardship Proposal
Date Fri, Jun. 6, 2025 - 9:34am By Hamilton
Rep. Tony Kurtz (R – Wonewoc) and Sen. Patrick Testin (R – Stevens Point) are circulating legislation to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program through 2030 at $28.25 million per year—lower than the current funding and far below Governor Evers’ proposed $100 million annually. Their plan would also cap most individual land purchases at $1 million, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Session in Review: Wisconsin Legislature 2023-24
Date Tue, Apr. 30, 2024 - 12:11pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislature stands adjourned for the 2023-24 session and is not expected to reconvene until January 2025. This session, Gov. Tony Evers (D) signed 272 bills into law and vetoed 73 others. He also issued partial vetoes to the state budget and three other spending-related laws. With adjournment, all bills introduced this session have […]
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on JCF Oversight of Stewardship Program
Date Tue, Apr. 30, 2024 - 12:09pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is considering a legal challenge from Gov. Tony Evers (D) to the Wisconsin Legislature’s committee oversight power over the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Oral arguments before the court were held April 17; news coverage is available here, here, and here. Specifically, the lawsuit from Gov. Evers alleges that a provision giving the […]
Governor Signs 24 New Laws, Vetoes GOP Tax Cut Bills
Date Fri, Mar. 15, 2024 - 12:40pm By Hamilton
Since our last update in late February, Gov. Tony Evers (D) has signed 24 bills into law and vetoed three others. The Assembly’s last scheduled floor session was February 22, while the Senate held what we anticipate will be its final day of floor votes on March 12. The Legislature is not expected to reconvene […]
Assembly Floor Session: February 22, 2024 (PFAS, EV Infrastructure, Health Policy)
Date Mon, Feb. 26, 2024 - 9:00am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly met February 22, 2024. See the floor calendar here. This floor session carried over to the following day due to the number of bills on the calendar. Also this month, both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature met February 13 and 20 (Senate, Assembly) and the Assembly also met on February 15. The […]
Assembly Floor Session: February 20, 2024 (Education, Natural Resources, Economic Development)
Date Mon, Feb. 26, 2024 - 7:58am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly met February 20, 2024. See the floor calendar here. This floor session carried over to the following day due to the number of bills on the calendar. Also this month, both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature met February 13, the Senate also met February 20, and the Assembly met February 15 and […]