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As I do every year around this time, I want to provide a review of my work and performance as your representative. I am proud of what we have accomplished this year and look forward to 2026. I want to thank you for your trust in me to represent our community in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
This year began my third term as your state representative and my second term as a member of the Joint Committee on Finance. We started working on the 2025-2027 state budget right away, and it was a budget process that was, in many ways, unlike any other. As residents of rural communities, we have much to be happy about.
After numerous tries throughout the last several years, we were finally able to get one of the largest tax cuts in state history signed into law – over $1.5 billion in tax relief. Retirees over the age of 67 will not be taxed on the first $24,000 of retirement income ($48,000 for married-joint filers). We also expanded the second lowest income tax bracket, which means you are now taxed less on more of your income. This is estimated to save the average Wisconsinite $188 per year and $1,010 for retirees aged 67 or older. It is also important to note that Republicans blocked over $3.7 billion in tax hikes proposed by Governor Evers during this same process.
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Even with budget constraints, we were able to invest in important priorities for rural Wisconsin. We reduced the size of state government by eliminating over 300 bureaucratic positions, which will save taxpayer dollars and reigns in the Evers administration. We also continued our focus on public safety by increasing compensation for high-demand professions including correctional officers and our law enforcement officers. For areas of the state seeing a rise in crime rates, we moved to increase the number of Assistant District Attorneys in key counties, including Fond du Lac County. These investments will help take violent criminals off the streets and be held safely behind bars.
In more good news for our district, I fought for and helped secure a continued investment of $30 million to support marketing Wisconsin’s tourism industry. In the 39th Assembly District, we know how important tourism is to our communities and the impact it has on our local businesses. This investment will help bring more people to our state and enjoy the incredible things we have to offer, and even more importantly, leaving some of their money behind to help bolster our rural economies.
Tourism helps drive our state’s economy and so do our roads, which is why we invested over $1 billion in local and state roads. This included a three percent increase in general transportation aid to local governments, $250 million for local and agriculture road improvements, and $30 million for routine highway maintenance especially aimed at rebuilding our rural infrastructure.
I was also able to help secure funding for several unique and local projects for the 39th Assembly District, including an additional $5.5 million for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wisconsin, $250,000 for mitigating phosphorus pollution in Big Green Lake, and $100,000 for local railroad bridge repairs in Columbia County.
Apart from the budget, I have authored eleven bills with four of them being already signed into law. There is still time left in the 2025-2026 legislative session to hopefully get a few more of these bills across the finish line. However, one of my bills that was signed into law this session that I am most proud of, was designating the overpass bridge on I-39 in the town of Oxford as the Greg Quinn and Larry Millard Memorial Bridge. It was an honor to be able to author this bill in memory of two brave firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty serving their neighbors in Marquette County.
Some of the bills I am still currently working on will protect Wisconsin citizens from foreign adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran. It is no secret that China and other foreign adversaries want to undermine our state and local governments – the Chinese Communist Party has even publicly stated it themselves. I set out to author these bills because they will provide our taxpayers and citizens much needed protection against foreign adversaries trying to partner or contract with our state and local governments and the University of Wisconsin System.
I want to, again, thank the constituents of the 39th Assembly District for allowing me to represent you. It is truly an honor and I am looking forward to continuing to work on your behalf in 2026.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or my staff at Rep.Dallman@legis.wisconsin.gov or (608) 237-9139 for any state-related matters. I wish you a very Happy New Year!
– Dallman, R-Markesan, represents the 39th Assembly District.
