Rep. Tony Kurtz (R – Wonewoc) and Sen. Patrick Testin (R – Stevens Point) are circulating legislation to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program through 2030 at $28.25 million per year—lower than the current funding and far below Governor Evers’ proposed $100 million annually. Their plan would also cap most individual land purchases at $1 million, with any larger acquisitions requiring separate legislation. The bill creates a new structure for major projects, giving lawmakers more oversight and input on high-dollar conservation deals.

In a joint press release, local government organizations—including the Wisconsin Counties Association, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Towns Association, Wisconsin County Forests Association, and the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association—expressed optimism about the proposal. They highlighted the program’s role in supporting community projects statewide and commended the collaborative efforts of both Republican legislators and Governor Evers in seeking a path forward for the program’s reauthorization. The groups emphasized the importance of continued state support for local parks, forests, and recreational areas, underscoring the program’s value to Wisconsin residents and visitors alike.

The move comes after a state Supreme Court ruling last year sided with Evers, striking down GOP lawmakers’ ability to quietly block conservation projects. Kurtz says the bill is a compromise meant to keep the program viable, even if it doesn’t go as far as some advocates or the governor had hoped. He argues the changes would increase transparency while balancing fiscal concerns raised by fellow Republicans about land use and state borrowing.