Medicaid Expansion Bill Circulating
Date Wed, Aug. 7, 2019 - 10:29am By Hamilton
This week, Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Rep. Daniel Riemer (D-Milwaukee) circulated legislation (LRB 2962) to expand the eligibility level for the state Medicaid program to up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line. Under the Affordable Care Act, states which expand Medicaid receive enhanced federal funding. The bill requires the Department of Health […]
Employment Bills Introduced in Wisconsin Legislature
Date Wed, Aug. 7, 2019 - 10:25am By Hamilton
This session, Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced several bills that would create new legal causes of action against employers and could be costly to Wisconsin businesses if enacted. Read below for descriptions and the status of each of the bills. SB 40/AB 40 – Wage Claims Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Somers) and Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) […]
Legislature Files Lawsuit Against AG to Enforce Extraordinary Session Laws
Date Wed, Aug. 7, 2019 - 10:19am By Hamilton
Republican legislative leadership have filed a petition for original action in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, seeking to enforce sections of the 2018 extraordinary legislation that require legislative oversight of attorney general settlements. The Legislature’s petition and memo in support state that Attorney General Josh Kaul reads the 2017 Act 369 settlement review provisions as not […]
Water Quality Task Force Continues to Meet Around the State
Date Fri, Aug. 2, 2019 - 10:42am By Hamilton
The Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality is continuing to meet around the state to hear testimony from stakeholders and hold public hearings. Recent task force meetings have been held in Sturtevant, Tomahawk and Stevens Point. Sturtevant On July 11, the task force traveled to southeastern Wisconsin to hear about wastewater and cleanup programs. First, […]
Floor Report: Assembly and Senate Send Step Therapy, Electric Scooters, DOT Bills to Governor
Date Wed, Jun. 26, 2019 - 5:36pm By Hamilton
The Assembly met on June 18 and 20 to approve short calendars before taking up the 2019-21 state budget this week. In their floorperiod to take up the budget on Wednesday, the Senate approved several additional bills from the Assembly, sending them to the governor’s desk. On June 18, the Assembly voted to pass SB […]
Legislature Passes State Budget
Date Wed, Jun. 26, 2019 - 5:32pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislature passed its version of the 2019-21 state budget on Wednesday, June 26, sending the budget to Gov. Tony Evers for review. The budget largely adopts provisions approved by the Joint Finance Committee (JFC), along with an amendment that adjusts language to make it more difficult for Gov. Evers to use his line-item […]
Marketplace Providers Tax Bill Advances in Committees
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:06pm By Hamilton
Legislation from Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) and Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) is advancing in the Wisconsin Legislature that would make clarifications related to the collection of online sales taxes from out-of-state retailers. The bill comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 in South Dakota v. Wayfair that states may collect online sales tax […]
Water Quality Task Force Meets in Mauston & La Crosse
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:01pm By Hamilton
The Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality convened for two more meetings this week in Mauston and La Crosse. In La Crosse on June 13, the task force first heard from the Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA). Overall, WRWA emphasized that the task force should recognize that water issues and regulations affect small rural systems […]
Floor Report: Senate Approves Step Therapy, E-Scooters
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 2:43pm By Hamilton
The Senate met for floor votes on June 5, taking up a number of issues including drug step therapy protocols, electric scooters, and abortion-related bills. The Assembly plans to meet next on June 18 and June 20. Budget votes in the Senate or Assembly will also likely take place later this month, as the 2019-21 […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Reinstates Extraordinary Session Laws in SEIU Case
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 2:27pm By Hamilton
On June 11, the Wisconsin Supreme Court granted a stay on the temporary injunction in the extraordinary session challenge SEIU v. Vos, reinstating provisions of the legislation that had been blocked by a Dane County Circuit Court. Additionally, the Supreme Court stayed proceedings on the case in the lower court, cancelling the trial on guidance document […]