2022 Legislative Preview
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 7:50pm By Hamilton
In 2022, the Wisconsin Legislature is expected to continue committee work and floor votes for the first few months of the year and then adjourn at some point in the spring. Here are a few key bills we will be watching: Assembly Bill (AB) 296/Senate Bill (SB) 309: Defining “telehealth” and “free and charitable clinics” […]
Legislative Update: Governor Acts on 34 Bills in December
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 1:07pm By Hamilton
In December, Gov. Tony Evers (D) has taken action on 34 bills, signing 27 of them into law and vetoing seven others. The bills were presented to the governor automatically on December 2. During a two-year legislative session in Wisconsin, bills that have passed both houses of the Legislature are periodically sent to the governor […]
With Legal Challenges Pending, OSHA Suspends Vaccine Rule
Date Fri, Nov. 19, 2021 - 8:49am By Hamilton
Earlier this month, the federal government released the details of two administrative rules affecting an estimated 100 million workers or more, about two-thirds of the United States’ active labor force. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure that their employees are either vaccinated against COVID-19 or […]
Legislative Update: Floor Votes and Executive Actions from November and October
Date Thu, Nov. 18, 2021 - 5:50pm By Hamilton
November While redistricting has been the most contested legislative issue over the last few months (click here for our most recent coverage), the Wisconsin Legislature and governor have also been working on other priorities. The Senate and Assembly each met once during November to vote on redistricting proposals and other matters. Notably, both houses in […]
DWD and DOA Clarify Jurisdiction Over Worker’s Compensation Cases
Date Thu, Nov. 18, 2021 - 5:46pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Departments of Administration (DOA) and Workforce Development (DWD) have reached an agreement on the handling of contested worker’s compensation hearings in Wisconsin. The worker’s compensation program provides an exclusive remedy for claims involving workplace injuries, ensuring that injured workers are compensated while also protecting employers from excessive litigation costs. On November 9, the […]
Wisconsin COVID-19 Update: Pfizer Vaccine Available to Kids Five and Older
Date Thu, Nov. 18, 2021 - 5:44pm By Hamilton
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Available to Children Ages Five and Up Following approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control, children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In Wisconsin, that age group includes about 500,000 kids. The Wisconsin Department of Health […]
Biden Administration Releases Employer Vaccine Rules
Date Thu, Nov. 4, 2021 - 6:49pm By Hamilton
The federal government has released the details of two administrative rules affecting more than 100 million workers in the United States, about two-thirds of the country’s active labor force. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure that their employees are either vaccinated against COVID-19 […]
Wisconsin COVID-19 Update: Federal Health Emergency Renewed; Employers Awaiting Details of National Vaccine Mandate
Date Fri, Oct. 22, 2021 - 8:40am By Hamilton
On October 15, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra signed an order to renew the federal public health emergency due to COVID-19. The extension will last for 90 days, into mid-January 2022. This is the seventh time that the COVID-19 health emergency has been extended since it began January 31, […]
Wisconsin COVID-19 Update: State Employees Must Vaccinate or Test Weekly; State, Milwaukee Fund Vaccine Incentives
Date Mon, Sep. 27, 2021 - 4:30pm By Hamilton
As of September 27, Wisconsin had administered about 6.34 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with 3.1 million Wisconsin residents or 53.5 percent of the state’s population fully vaccinated. The state’s seven-day average of new confirmed cases was 2,603 cases per day. That number peaked in November 2020 at around 6,500 cases per day. About 7,930 […]
DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk Has Retired
Date Thu, Sep. 9, 2021 - 11:01am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk has retired as of September 10. Governor Tony Evers (D) announced one week earlier that Willems Van Dijk would retire and that Deb Standridge would take her place starting September 13. Previously, Standridge directed Wisconsin’s temporary care site for COVID-19 patients at State […]