With the new year underway, the Wisconsin Legislature has officially entered the final, and often chaotic, stage of the 2025–26 legislative session. While Wisconsin is considered a “full-time” legislature, it typically adjourns by mid-March in the even-numbered year of the session (2026).

This session is shaping up much like recent ones. Assembly leadership has indicated they hope to adjourn by mid-February, beginning with floor sessions this week on Tuesday and Thursday, with additional floor time expected January 20–22 and again February 10–19. The State Senate, meanwhile, plans to remain in session until mid-March but with significantly fewer floor days, generally convening only once or twice per month, though Senate calendars tend to be longer and more crowded.

In recent end-of-year interviews with local news outlets, legislative leaders in both chambers outlined what they see as achievable—or unavoidable—in the closing weeks of session.

In the Senate, leaders are focused on a short list of priorities they believe must be addressed before adjournment. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) identified regulation of hemp-derived THC products as a top priority ahead of anticipated federal action, along with efforts to keep Wisconsin’s SNAP/FoodShare error rates below federal thresholds to avoid financial penalties. On energy, LeMahieu acknowledged that right-of-first refusal (ROFR) transmission legislation is unlikely to advance this session. Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) emphasized affordability as her core concern, while noting that many Democratic proposals remain stalled due to limited hearings on their bills.

In the Assembly, affordability was also the dominant theme for the remainder of the session. In his interview, Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) elevated utility costs alongside taxes, housing, and health care, and indicated the Assembly will advance proposals focused on rising electric rates, examining policy, infrastructure, and demand-side factors contributing to higher system costs. Assembly Democratic Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) also emphasized affordability in her end-of-year interview, highlighting the importance of clear cost allocation and oversight as energy demand grows, while also continuing to urge movement on Democratic bills that have not yet received hearings.

With less than 10 weeks remaining, a significant amount of legislation would need to move to reach the Governor’s desk.