Joint Finance Committee Budget Votes: June 8, 13, 15

The Joint Committee on Finance (Joint Finance Committee or JFC) of the Wisconsin Legislature has nearly completed its work on the 2023-25 state budget. This article reviews notable provisions adopted by JFC during its three most recent meetings, affecting nine major state agencies. JFC is expected to hold its final budget session later today, June […]

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Legislators Propose Hospital Price Transparency Requirements

Several legislators have authored a bill to create hospital price transparency requirements in Wisconsin. The authors, Sens. Felzkowski (R-Irma) and Bradley (R-Franklin) and Reps. Brooks (R-Saukville) and Rozar (R-Marshfield), are referring to the legislation as the “Know Your Healthcare Costs Act.” The bill requires hospitals to create a publicly available, machine-readable digital file containing a […]

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Assembly Floor Sessions: April 2023

April 18 (floor calendar) The Assembly met April 18 and passed five resolutions, including recognizing Earth Day and honoring the lives and public service of former Gov. Anthony Earl and former UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank. The Assembly passed the following bills, primarily related to local government administration and the operation of miscellaneous programs: AB 36: […]

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Legislative Council Approves 2022 Study Committee Bills

The Joint Legislative Council (JLC) recommends special committees to study major issues identified by the Wisconsin Legislature, typically during even-numbered years after the regular session has adjourned.  In April 2022, JLC established seven study committees consisting of legislators and members of the public. Those committees held hearings and developed policy recommendations. On March 23, JLC met […]

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VIDEO: Wisconsin Legislature Recognizes American Red Cross Month (March 2023)

The Wisconsin Legislature, by unanimously adopting Assembly Joint Resolution 14, has recognized March 2023 as American Red Cross Month in Wisconsin. AJR 14 passed the Assembly on March 14 and the Senate concurred in the resolution on March 22. The resolution was authored by Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) and Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan).

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Alliance of Health Insurers Urges CMS Not to Cut Medicare Advantage

The Alliance of Health Insurers (AHI) recently urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider deep cuts to the Medicare Advantage program which CMS had proposed. If the cuts take effect, AHI expressed concern that over 608,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in Wisconsin alone will experience major premium increases and lose many of […]

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Gov. Evers 2023-25 Executive Budget Highlights

Gov. Evers gave his third biennial budget address on February 15, unveiling his 2023-25 executive budget. He proposes an operating budget of $103.8 billion over the next two fiscal years, adding a net 816.55 FTE positions. For comparison, the 2021-23 state budget spent $87.5 billion with a net reduction of 174.19 FTE positions. The complete […]

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Kirsten Johnson Appointed DHS Secretary as Agency Releases State Health Plan, Equity Report

Kirsten Johnson Appointed DHS Secretary On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced the appointment of Kirsten Johnson as secretary of the Department of Health Services (DHS). Most recently, Johnson was the Milwaukee Commissioner of Health for two years and previously spent 10 years as the director and health officer of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health […]

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In Fifth State of the State, Gov. Evers Announces Budget Proposals

Gov. Tony Evers (D) delivered his fifth annual State of the State address on the evening of January 24 before a joint session of the Wisconsin Legislature. The address was delivered in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin Capitol Building. The governor’s office has released the full text of his prepared remarks as well as […]

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State Budget Issues: Taxes, Medicaid, PFAS

With another legislative session comes another biennial state budget bill, and Wisconsin is expected to have a surplus of $7.1 billion when the current fiscal biennium ends June 30. The 2023-25 state budget will occupy much of the Legislature’s attention for the next few months. In last night’s State of the State address, Gov. Tony […]

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