March 18, 2024
Wisconsin political news for clients and colleagues.
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Articles in this edition of Political Tidbits:
Other updates in this edition:
If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Hamilton Consulting team.
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Bits & Pieces
End of Session
The Assembly voted to adjourn for the 2023-24 session at the conclusion of its last scheduled floor day, February 22. The Senate held what we anticipate will be its final day of floor votes on March 12. The Legislature is not expected to reconvene until January 2025.
Notable Bills
Although the Legislature appears to have completed its business for the year, about 150 bills that passed both houses have not yet been formally presented to Gov. Evers for his review. Any bills that are not presented to the governor by April 4 will be automatically forwarded on that date. Here is the status of some notable pieces of legislation:
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Governor Expected to Sign: EV Charging Infrastructure Grants (SBs 791 and 792)
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Governor Expected to Veto: PFAS Remediation and Grant Programs (SB 312)
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Passed Both Houses: Law Enforcement Video Redaction Costs (SB 789)
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Did Not Pass Senate: “Right of First Refusal” for Transmission Projects (AB 470)
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Vetoed: Republican Income Tax Cut Package (ABs 1020, 1021, 1022)
Evers Names PSC Appointee; DOC’s Carr Has Retired
Last week, Gov. Evers announced his appointment of Marcus Hawkins to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), effective April 8. Hawkins was appointed to replace former Commissioner Tyler Huebner, whose appointment was rejected by the Wisconsin Senate in January.
Once Hawkins takes office, the three-member utility commission will be back to full strength, with recently confirmed Chairperson Summer Strand and recently appointed Commissioner Kristy Nieto.
Currently, Hawkins is the executive director of the Organization of MISO States, an association of state and local utility regulators in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region. Hawkins attended UW-Madison and had previously worked at the PSC as a senior engineer.
Also since the last edition of Tidbits, Gov. Evers announced the retirement of Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr, who was one of Gov. Evers’ original cabinet appointees in 2019.
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2024 Election Updates
New Maps Bringing Big Changes
As we reported previously, Gov. Evers signed into law his own redistricting proposal (Act 94) after the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature adopted it. Late last year, the liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that the previous state legislative maps were unconstitutional. Under the governor’s maps, more than 40 incumbent legislators, mostly Republicans, are paired with one another, meaning they now find themselves residing within the same legislative district.
Some incumbents will move because of the redrawn district lines, some will square off in primary elections, and some will not seek reelection. News about incumbent legislators’ plans continues to trickle out in the media. Republicans appear poised to return in 2025 with much slimmer majorities than they currently hold, and control of the Assembly could be in play if Democrats have a good election cycle. The official maps prepared by legislative service staff are available here; WisPolitics also offers a comparison of the old and new districts.
Petition to Recall Speaker Vos Filed; Challenges to Signatures Underway
March 11, a recall petition was filed against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester). Though nearly 11,000 signatures were filed, state elections officials are questioning whether enough valid signatures were filed to trigger a recall election. The recall petition appears to be 900 signatures short of the number needed to force a recall election in the Speaker’s district. However, it’s not clear under the law which boundary lines should be used for the recall (the map that current legislators were elected under, or the new map drafted by Gov. Evers).
We anticipate the Wisconsin Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether enough signatures were filed and whether the old map or the new map would be the basis for a recall election. Recall petitioners have argued Speaker Vos didn’t do enough to challenge the 2020 presidential election results in Wisconsin and didn’t work to impeach the state elections administrator. News coverage is available here, here, and here.
Supreme Court Takes Up Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes Again
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has accepted a petition to bypass the court of appeals and review the supreme court’s previous decision on the legality of local election officials offering unattended drop boxes for the return of absentee ballots. This case will be heard on an expedited basis, with initial and response briefs due in April and oral argument scheduled for May 13. In 2022, with a 4-3 majority of judicial conservatives, the supreme court upheld a lower court ruling that the use of unstaffed absentee ballot drop boxes is not authorized under state law. News coverage here and here.
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Governor Signs 24 New Laws, Vetoes GOP Tax Cut Bills |
Since our last update in late February, Gov. Tony Evers (D) has signed 24 bills into law and vetoed three others. Still, about 150 bills that passed both houses have not yet been presented to Gov. Evers.
Continue reading this article
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Senate Floor Session: March 12, 2024 |
The Wisconsin Senate met March 12. We anticipate that this was the Senate’s final day of floor votes for the 2023-24 legislative session. The Senate approved 44 executive appointments, rejected eight others, passed 61 bills, and adopted three resolutions.
Continue reading this article
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ICYMI: Hamilton Political Tidbits - February 26, 2024 |
A flurry of legislative activity occurred in February as legislators pressed to wrap up their work for the 2023-24 session. We covered at all in the previous edition of Hamilton Political Tidbits.
Continue reading this article
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Wisconsin vote still up for grabs, Biden visits suggest
The Capital Times, March 13, 2024
Senate ends session by firing Evers appointees, approving constitutional amendments
Wisconsin Examiner, March 13, 2024
Elections review shows recall targeting GOP leader falls short of signatures needed
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 12, 2024
Robin Vos recall petitions start to falter under scrutiny
The Capital Times, March 12, 2024
Milwaukee receives $800,000 election grant
Urban Milwaukee, March 11, 2024
Ahead of State of the Union, Biden officials highlight ‘kitchen table issues’ for Wisconsin. Are voters listening?
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 7, 2024
Wisconsin Supreme Court could face big decision on pollution cleanup
The Capital Times, March 6, 2024
Evers signs bill allowing new UW-Madison engineering building to move forward
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 6, 2024
How new maps in Wisconsin will affect Madison-area voters
The Capital Times, March 5, 2024
US Supreme Court restores Trump to ballot, rejecting state attempts to ban him
Associated Press, March 5, 2024
With Mike Gallagher exiting the scene, Democrats vow to mount a challenge for his seat
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 4, 2024
Wisconsin congressional districts will stay as justices decline case
The Capital Times, March 1, 2024
Republicans release $32M for UW as part of deal limiting DEI programs
Wisconsin Public Radio, February 29, 2024
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Bill creating virtual construction monopoly for transmission projects dies in Senate
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 13, 2024
Allowing more juice to flow through power lines could hasten clean energy projects
Stateline, March 8, 2024
Conservation groups sue to stop a transmission line from crossing Mississippi River
Associated Press, March 7, 2024
Republican lawmaker wants local voice on wind, solar projects
The Center Square, March 5, 2024
How wind and solar energy are being restricted across the US
USA Today, March 4, 2024
We Energies plans $335 million to power to Microsoft's Mount Pleasant data centers
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 4, 2024
Why not harvest the sun in community solar gardens? Policy is why.
The Capital Times, March 3, 2024
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Conservation, timber groups debate alleged logging violations in national forest
Wisconsin Examiner, March 8, 2024
Anti-conservation group works to influence land use policy in northern Wisconsin counties
Wisconsin Examiner, March 7, 2024
Wisconsin appeals court says regulators must develop PFAS restrictions before mandating clean-up
Associated Press, March 6, 2024
Rothschild seeks approval for $7.6M facility to remove PFAS from drinking water
Wausau Daily Herald, March 6, 2024
New bill would start banning products with PFAS in 2028
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 1, 2024
PFAS trust fund remains unspent as Republicans, Democrats argue over legislation
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 1, 2024
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Wisconsin Supreme Court case could set up do-over of 2022 ruling banning drop boxes
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 14, 2024
Ballot drop boxes are back in court. What could happen?
The Capital Times, March 14, 2024
Wisconsin AG hints at broader abortion lawsuit if supreme court agrees to hear case
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 14, 2024
State appeals court upholds ruling that DNR lacks broad authority to regulate PFAS
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 6, 2024
Wisconsin Supreme Court changes procedures again to speed up cases
Wisconsin Watch, March 1, 2024
Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects Democrats’ congressional redistricting challenge
Associated Press, March 1, 2024
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Wisconsin health care staffing vacancies remain high as baby boomers retire
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 12, 2024
Appeals Court sides with business group against the DNR on environmental enforcement
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 6, 2024
USDA: Farm income forecast to drop 25 percent
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 5, 2024
Evers signs bill to expand Wisconsin’s child care tax credit
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 4, 2024
State officials hear from industry, labor on embracing AI without leaving workers behind
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 5, 2024
Evers vetoes Republican-backed bills slashing the income tax, cutting taxes on retirees
Associated Press, March 1, 2024
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Transportation & Infrastructure |
Wisconsin gets set to install more EV chargers with federal help
The Capital Times, March 13, 2024
I-94 expansion project to cost $1.74 billion; may include AmFam Field parking structure
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 13, 2024
Biden administration recommends $118 million for city's north-south BRT route
Wisconsin State Journal, March 12, 2024
Milwaukee wins $36 million federal grant to rebuild 6th Street
Urban Milwaukee, March 12, 2024
Automakers are sharing consumers’ driving behavior with insurance companies
The New York Times, March 11, 2024
12 years after being built, Wisconsin’s Talgo trains enter service in Nigeria
Urban Milwaukee, March 5, 2024
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MMAC beefing up opposition to MPS referendum
Milwaukee Business News, March 13, 2024
Class rankings, increasingly on the wane, now required for Wisconsin high schools
Wisconsin State Journal, March 12, 2024
Republican legislators reject DPI recommendations for new Wisconsin reading curriculum
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 11, 2024
UW-Milwaukee closing Waukesha campus, citing enrollment, financial pressures
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 11, 2024
More published research should be debunked and retracted, watchdogs say
Wisconsin Public Radio, March 8, 2024
UW-Madison is getting its new engineering building. What happens now?
Wisconsin State Journal, March 7, 2024
Conservative law firm challenges UW race-based programs after Supreme Court ruling
Wisconsin State Journal, March 1, 2024
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