Governor Evers Signs Bill Including COVID Liability Protections, UI Reforms
Date Fri, Feb. 26, 2021 - 9:24am By Hamilton
On Thursday, February 25, Governor Tony Evers signed 2021 Act 4, legislation including both COVID liability protections and reforms to the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) system. The bill cleared the Legislature with widespread support, passing the Senate by 27-3 on February 18 and the Assembly by 89-0 on February 23. Senate President Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield), […]
Legislators Reintroducing Physician Assistant Modernization Bill
Date Fri, Feb. 26, 2021 - 9:22am By Hamilton
A bipartisan group of legislators are reintroducing legislation to update how Wisconsin regulates physician assistants (PAs). This group includes Senators Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls), Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), and Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) and Representatives Nancy VanderMeer (R-Nekoosa), James Edming (R-Glen Flora), and Dave Considine (D-Baraboo). Similar legislation passed the Assembly on a voice vote in February […]
Governor Signs DOR Bill, Including Provision on PPP Loans
Date Fri, Feb. 26, 2021 - 9:21am By Hamilton
On Thursday, February 18, Gov. Evers signed into law the first act of the 2021 legislative session, a bill making various changes to the laws administered by the Department of Revenue. Among other mostly routine changes, the law conforms Wisconsin tax law with the federal code as of December 31, 2020, for the purposes of […]
Drug Costs, Child and Long-Term Care, and Marijuana Legalization Will be Focuses of Gov. Evers’ Budget Proposal Next Week
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:30am By Hamilton
Governor Tony Evers will unveil his proposed 2021-23 state budget following his budget address on Tuesday, February 16. In various statements and press releases since the beginning of the year, the governor has previewed some of the policies and funding priorities that he will propose. Prescription Drug Prices On February 3, Gov. Evers announced that […]
Governor Vetoes AB 1 and Orders a New Health Emergency and Mask Mandate
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:24am By Hamilton
After a contentious first month of the new legislative session, Governor Tony Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 1 (AB 1), the first bill to reach his desk this year. AB 1, a comprehensive proposal to address COVID-19 in Wisconsin, included broad protections from COVID-19 liability claims for businesses, non-profits, and other entities, Unemployment Insurance reforms sought […]
Assembly, Senate Health Committees Approve PBM Bill; Senate Committee Approves Five Others
Date Fri, Feb. 12, 2021 - 9:14am By Hamilton
On Thursday, February 11, the Senate and Assembly health committees passed AB 7/SB 3, companion versions of a bill authorizing the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) to license and regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The Assembly committee passed the bill unanimously, while Senator Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) was the only one to vote no […]
Assembly Adds Contested Provisions Back to AB 1; Senate Makes a Minor Addition and Passes the Assembly’s Updated Version
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:15am By Hamilton
Earlier this week, the Assembly and Senate again considered Assembly Bill 1 (AB 1), a comprehensive COVID-19 response package that was introduced at the start of the session by Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and quickly passed by the Assembly along partisan lines. AB 1 was then amended by the Senate via Senate Substitute Amendment 1 […]
Senate Votes to Terminate Governor Evers’ Latest Public Health Emergency and Related Mask Mandate; Assembly Defers for Now
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:09am By Hamilton
On Tuesday, January 19, Gov. Evers issued Executive Order #104, declaring a new statewide public health emergency related to COVID-19. Pursuant to this order, the governor also issued Emergency Order #1, requiring individuals to wear face coverings while indoors or in an enclosed space (other than a private residence), if other individuals not from the […]
Senators Release “Public Safety PACT” Bills on Law Enforcement, Use of Force
Date Fri, Jan. 29, 2021 - 9:00am By Hamilton
On Wednesday, January 20, Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) released draft versions of a package of bills, collectively called the “Public Safety PACT,” regulating law enforcement and use of force incidents in Wisconsin. The bills were circulated for co-sponsorship with a February 5 deadline. All the bills except for one, currently titled LRB-0157, are co-sponsored by […]
Assembly and Senate Pass Differing COVID-19 Plans; Gov. Evers Endorses Senate Version
Date Thu, Jan. 14, 2021 - 5:08pm By Hamilton
The 2021-22 legislative session is officially underway here in Wisconsin. Right out of the gate, both the Legislature and Governor Evers have focused on passing another COVID-19 response package. Back in April, the Legislature passed and the governor signed Wisconsin Act 185. Many of the provisions included in Act 185 have since expired. Late last […]