Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Unemployment Insurance Program
Date Thu, May. 28, 2020 - 4:17pm By Hamilton
On May 27, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held an informational hearing on Wisconsin’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. The hearing was held as Wisconsin unemployment numbers are at record highs, and many Republican legislators are criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’s administration for reports of major backlogs in UI requests. As noted in the […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Declares Safer at Home Order Unenforceable
Date Wed, May. 13, 2020 - 6:28pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has issued a 4-3 decision in Legislature v. Palm, declaring the Department of Health Services’s (DHS) “Safer at Home” order unenforceable and immediately striking down the order. The court held that the Safer at Home order is a “rule” that was required to go through statutory rulemaking processes and that the […]
Legislature Files Legal Challenge to DHS “Safer At Home” Order Extension
Date Mon, Apr. 27, 2020 - 11:44am By Hamilton
On April 16, Gov. Tony Evers directed Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to extend Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Order to May 26 under Emergency Order #28. Less than a week later, the Republican-led Wisconsin Legislature filed a lawsuit challenging DHS’s authority to issue such an order. DHS issued the order under Wis. Stat. §§ […]
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council, Business Coalition Call for Additional Liability Protections to Help Reopen and Restart the Wisconsin Economy
Date Mon, Apr. 27, 2020 - 11:25am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC) and a coalition of 40 Wisconsin businesses and chambers of commerce are calling for the Legislature to enact civil liability protections to help Wisconsin businesses as the state begins to reopen the economy. The Wall Street Journal recently editorialized calling for quick action, noting plaintiff attorneys are already targeting reopening […]
Gov. Evers Signs COVID-19 Legislation
Date Thu, Apr. 16, 2020 - 1:49pm By Hamilton
Yesterday, the Wisconsin state Senate unanimously passed and Gov. Tony Evers signed AB 1038, the comprehensive legislative package to address COVID-19. With the governor’s signature, the bill is now enacted as 2019 Act 185. Gov. Evers statement on the COVID-19 bill. Hamilton Consulting summary of the COVID-19 bill.
Assembly Passes COVID-19 Legislation
Date Tue, Apr. 14, 2020 - 3:50pm By Hamilton
On April 14, the Wisconsin Assembly met in its first ever virtual session to pass legislation addressing COVID-19. The Senate is expected to pass the bill, also in virtual session, on Wednesday. With the Assembly passing the bill on a bipartisan basis, it is expected that Gov. Tony Evers will sign the bill into law. […]
After Court Rulings, In-Person Voting Proceeds in Supreme Court Election
Date Wed, Apr. 8, 2020 - 1:58pm By Hamilton
After rulings from the Supreme Court of the United States and the Wisconsin Supreme Court the night before election day upheld the April 7 date and absentee voting requirements, Wisconsin’s election for state Supreme Court proceeded with few changes. In-person voting was held, and absentee voter requirements were largely the same (though at record high […]
What’s Left This Session?
Date Fri, Mar. 6, 2020 - 11:34am By Hamilton
With the Wisconsin Assembly likely adjourned for the 2019-20 legislative session, there are a few items left on the table for the Senate to act on when it meets for the last time at the end of the month. Some notable items that the Senate could take up: DNC hours. AB 869 would extend bar […]
Latest Bills Signed & Vetoed by Gov. Evers (March 2020)
Date Fri, Mar. 6, 2020 - 9:47am By Hamilton
After February floor votes, the Assembly and Senate sent many bills to Gov. Tony Evers for review. In the past several weeks, Gov. Evers has signed into law nearly 80 bills and vetoed several others. Signed into Law On Feb. 28, Gov. Evers signed several law enforcement bills, including: AB 633 (Act 105), clarifying […]
Floor Report: Assembly Adjourns Regular Session, Second-To-Last Senate Floor Day
Date Fri, Feb. 21, 2020 - 2:08pm By Hamilton
After meeting on Feb. 11 and 18, the Assembly met last night, Feb. 20, for what Speaker Vos publicly said would be the last day of regular session until January 2021. The Senate met on Feb. 19 and has indicated it will meet for one more regular session day in late March before adjournment. With […]