MADISON – Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto) released the following statement after Governor Evers announced he would include a series of PFAS remediation initiatives in his upcoming State Budget proposal:

“It seems Governor Evers has come around to my position and supports my bill that he vetoed last year. His proposals today are an admission of what I’ve been saying for years: we can’t just write the DNR a check for $125 million to fight this problem. We need a strong legal framework to fight PFAS contamination, including language protecting innocent landowners from being treated like polluters.

However, I’ve been waiting for months for the Governor to clarify his definition of an ‘innocent landowner,’ and he has refused to respond to my requests. This delay is holding up meaningful solutions to PFAS problems affecting communities across our state. I find myself sitting at the table waiting to have a meaningful conversation on how we can pass a bill to fight PFAS in Wisconsin, and I hope the Governor will join us there soon.”

In the 2023-24 Legislative Session, legislative Republicans set aside $125 million to assist in PFAS remediation efforts, and passed Senator Wimberger’s Senate Bill 312 as the framework to spend those funds. The Governor vetoed Senate Bill 312 in its entirety due to his refusal to limit DNR authority to pursue action against innocent landowners. Governor Evers has since refused to clarify his definition of an “innocent landowner.” In December 2024, Senator Wimberger wrote a letter to the Governor seeking bipartisan cooperation to fight PFAS, but has since received no response.

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