Fiscal Bureau Issues Budget Analysis; Finance Committee Schedules Agency and Public Hearings

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has released its plain-language summary (tables, agency-by-agency) of Gov. Tony Evers’ (D) executive budget proposal for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium. The document explains, in plain narrative terms along with simple financial tables, how state agencies, programs, and policies currently work and how the budget would affect them. Legislators rely on this […]

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Assembly and Senate Floor Sessions: March 2023

The 2023-24 legislative session has been off to a relatively slow start, with the Assembly and Senate each holding only one day of floor votes each in January and none in February. The Assembly voted earlier this week and each house is expected to meet one day next week. Assembly: March 14 (floor calendar) The […]

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Tracking the Senate Confirmation Process for the Evers Administration Cabinet

In a January interview, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said that the Senate would work to hold confirmation hearings on department secretaries and other agency heads appointed by Gov. Tony Evers (D). During Gov. Evers’ first term, the Senate chose not to take confirmation votes on about 185 of the governor’s appointments, including many […]

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Rep. Knodl Wins Republican Primary in SD 8

In Wisconsin’s spring primary, held February 21, Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) defeated two other candidates in a Republican primary for the 8th Senate District. The seat is currently vacant after Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) retired on December 1 last year, in the middle of her eighth term. Gov. Evers ordered a special election, coinciding with the […]

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Judge Rules Bail, Welfare Reform Questions Can Appear on Spring Ballot

Dane County Judge Rhonda Lanford ruled February 20 that two questions, a constitutional amendment on bail reform and an advisory referendum on welfare eligibility, will appear on the April 4 spring ballot in Wisconsin. A lawsuit filed January 31 argued that the questions were sent to county clerks one day past the deadline required under […]

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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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PFAS Update: Senate Natural Resources Committee Holds Informational Hearing

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy held a public hearing on PFAS on January 31. The hearing was for information only (no specific bills were discussed) and featured select speakers invited by committee chair Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay). During the hearing, Sen. Cowles stated that the Legislature will take action on PFAS […]

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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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Legislature Votes to Put Bail, Welfare Reform on Spring Ballot

Among the first measures to pass both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature this year were two legislative resolutions that will put questions before voters. Both resolutions passed the Senate on January 17 and the Assembly two days later, largely but not entirely along party lines. Both questions will appear on the next statewide ballot, the […]

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Gov. Evers Begins Second Term as GOP Legislature Considers Broad Tax Reform

Tony Evers Sworn in for Second Term as Governor Inauguration Day in Wisconsin took place on January 3. Democratic incumbents Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul began their second terms in office, while Sara Rodriguez was sworn in as the state’s new lieutenant governor. Gov. Evers spent the majority of his second inaugural […]

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