Late August, Dane County Judge Stephen Ehlke rules Gov. Evers’ partial veto of 2023 SB 971 (signed into law as 2023 Act 100) was consistent with the Wisconsin Constitution granting governors the ability to partially veto appropriation bills. 2023 Act 100 in conjunction with the 2023-25 state budget act created an early literacy program designed […]
Dane County Judge Upholds Gov. Evers’ Partial Veto of Literacy Bill
Date Fri, Sep. 13, 2024 - 2:32pm By Hamilton
SCOWIS Finishes 2023-24 Term with High-Profile Cases, Record Low Number of Decisions Overall
Date Mon, Jul. 22, 2024 - 2:20pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court appears to have concluded its 2023-24 regular term. The court typically finishes an annual term by releasing a series of decisions in June and July. According to one Wisconsin historian, the court issued the fewest decisions during this one-year term since at least 1900. Undoubtedly the most high-profile decision issued by […]
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 […]
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 […]
Key Issues as 2023-24 Session Nears Conclusion: Budget Surplus, Redistricting, Abortion
Date Wed, Jan. 31, 2024 - 12:39pm By Hamilton
As we approach the end of the 2023-24 legislative session in Wisconsin, several key political and policy issues are dominating conversations among the Republican-led Wisconsin Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers (D). Budget Surplus, Taxes, Child Care, and Workforce Gov. Evers and Republican legislative leaders are still at odds over what to do with the remainder […]
Senate Floor Session: October 17 (Special Session Bill, Executive Appointments, Other Legislation)
Date Tue, Oct. 24, 2023 - 1:27pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Senate met once in October for a floor day to vote on bills, resolutions, and executive appointments. See this article for coverage of the Assembly’s October floor days. Also see the regular and special session floor calendars for the day. Special Session Bill and Budget Veto Override Perhaps most notably, the Senate voted […]
Fall 2023 Floor Period: Taxes, Child Care, and Redistricting Emerge as Key Issues
Date Wed, Sep. 27, 2023 - 9:43am By Hamilton
Between the Republican-led Wisconsin Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers (D), both sides were dissatisfied with aspects of the 2023-25 state budget and are seeking legislation to address those issues. After a quiet summer following passage of the budget, legislators resumed regular committee and floor activities in early September. The Assembly and Senate are each expected […]
Assembly and Senate Floor Sessions: September 12 and 14
Date Wed, Sep. 27, 2023 - 8:53am By Hamilton
After a quiet summer following passage of the 2023-25 state budget, the Wisconsin Legislature resumed regular committee and floor activities in early September. The Assembly and Senate are each expected to hold several floor days in October and November and again over the first few months of 2024 before adjourning the 2023-24 session. See this […]
UPDATED: Fiscal Bureau Provides Updated Budget Numbers for 2023-25
Date Thu, Jul. 20, 2023 - 3:29pm By Hamilton
Following the enactment of the 2023-25 state budget (Act 19), the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) has released several memos on the budget, including the effects of partial vetoes issued by Gov. Evers. General Fund Projections Through 2027 According to this memo, the state is projected to have a balance of just over $4 billion at […]
2023-25 State Budget: Signed Into Law With 51 Partial Vetoes
Date Thu, Jul. 6, 2023 - 12:17pm By Hamilton
On July 5, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced his signing of 2023 Act 19, the Wisconsin state budget for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, which began July 1. The two-year budget, assembled by the Republican-led Joint Committee on Finance, appropriates $97.4 billion. For comparison, the 2021-23 budget allocated $87.5 billion. The final version of the budget […]