From WisPolitics …
— The state Senate today will take up legislation to create a new definition of abortion, punish UW schools for violating free speech rights and undo Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto that extended an annual increase in how much schools can spend for four centuries.
The chamber also will take up Assembly bills that would prohibit the use of public dollars to provide health services for those in the country illegally and to exempt tobacco bars from the state smoking ban.
Today’s session is expected to be the final meeting of the Senate before 2026.
Other bills on the calendar include barring local governments from using public money to provide a guaranteed income program and delaying new building codes.
See Quorum Call and today’s PM Update for coverage of the floor period.
— An Assembly committee today will exec a series of bills dealing with administrative rules, including one that would require lawmakers to reauthorize sections of the code every seven years.
In addition to AB 274, the Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency Committee also will vote on AB 275. It would require a court to award reasonable attorneys fees and costs to a party that successfully challenges the validity of an administrative rule.
The package of bills was introduced in May, before the state Supreme Court struck down the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules’ power to indefinitely suspend proposed regulations.
Along with the exec, the committee has a public hearing on AB 487, which would allow the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, the Elections and Ethics commissions, and two joint legislative committees to go into closed session to consider security issues affecting information technology systems.
— Gov. Tony Evers today announced more than $282 million has been allocated to 74 municipalities to fund infrastructure projects designed to improve drinking water quality.
That includes addressing contaminants such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. Evers said the grants handed out had a “special focus on small and disadvantaged communities.”
The budget Evers signed in July included $732.25 million in bonding authority for the clean water fund and safe drinking loan program under the environmental improvement fund. The programs provide loans to local governments for wastewater treatment facilities and public water systems.
The money announced today is through the safe drinking water loan program.
Some of the grants include:
- Nearly $5 million for Hales Corners in Milwaukee County to address PFAS contamination.
- More than $1.9 million for the Village of Fairchild in Eau Claire to address nitrate contamination in a well.
- Almost $1.3 million for the Village of Suring in Oconto County to increase reliability of the water system.
TOP HEADLINES
WI Assembly Speaker Vos Continues to Block Postpartum Medicaid Expansion
… Many anti-abortion Republicans have supported new state laws and policies to extend Medicaid coverage to women for a year after giving birth, up from 60 days. … can help convince women in financial crises to proceed with their pregnancies, rather than choose abortion, proponents say. … Legislation to extend government-provided health care coverage for up to one year for low-income new moms has been passed in 48 other states — red, blue and purple. … not in Wisconsin … only because of Vos. … Wisconsin Senate [32-1] passed legislation earlier this year … Assembly [bill has 30 GOP co-sponsors], and there is more than enough bipartisan support to pass … [Vos buried Senate, Assembly bills] in a committee that barely meets: Regulatory Licensing Reform.
* sponsor Rep. Snyder, an ardent abortion foe, at Senate hearing: “If we can’t get something like this done, then I don’t know what I’m doing in the Legislature.” But Snyder voted to table the bill when Rep. Vining moved to add it to the budget, “Democrats were simply more concerned with playing political games to garner talking points of who voted against what, than they were in supporting the budget negotiated by their Governor.”
* Vining: “They’re taking marching orders from the speaker instead of representing their constituents.”
… Vos declined to discuss the issue with ProPublica and referred questions to his spokesperson, who then did not respond to calls or emails. Explaining his opposition, Vos once said, “We already have enough welfare in Wisconsin.” … public comments to his office from January 2024 to June 2025 … overwhelming majority of the roughly 200 messages objected to his stance. Vos has also argued $0 premium ACA coverage is available. Vos’ opposition echoes that of influential conservative groups, including [Uihlein-funded] Foundation for Government Accountability, which declined comment. AR, the other No state, rejected bill because it would also cover health care unrelated to pregnancy.
* 2023 sponsor Rep. Rozar said Vos blocked bill despite 66 co-sponsors, “I saw this as a pro-life bill … I thought it was a commonsense bill. … He was just so opposed to entitlement programs and any additional expenditures of Medicaid dollars that he just stuck to that principle. Vehemently,” testified for Senate bill in 2024 with a variety of medical experts. Pro-Life Wisconsin, PPWI registered in support. Rozar hopeful for passage though “He might have egg on his face if he let it go.”
* Pro-Life WI’s Sande: “It’s something that we can do and something that’s achievable given the bipartisan support for it. It’s not going to break the bank. … we’re hopeful.” LFB estimated $9.4M/yr.
Brad Schimel Named Top Federal Prosecutor for Eastern Wisconsin
… sidestepping the [Baldwin-Johnson nominating] commission … Federal law provides for the U.S. Attorney General to nominate interim U.S. Attorneys for a period of 120 days. … Schimel said he is “optimistic that this will become a longer-term opportunity.” … [acting US Atty.] Frohling is currently leading the high-profile prosecution of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan … will once again become First Assistant United States Attorney, the second highest ranking official in the office.
* Baldwin: “Before today, Presidents of both parties have respected that. But today, President Trump blew it up and is ignoring Wisconsinites of all stripes. Brad Schimel was soundly rejected twice by Wisconsinites because they knew he would play politics with the law, not deliver justice fairly for everyone – and he has no business being a top prosecutor in Wisconsin. As President Trump politicizes our justice system, it is more important than ever that the people serving in the courts and on the bench are committed to upholding the rule of law, not loyalty to the President.”
* Johnson did not respond.
* Schimel: “I am deeply honored to be appointed Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. For more than three and a half decades, public service has been my calling – first as a young prosecutor in Waukesha County, then as District Attorney, Attorney General, and most recently as a judge. In every one of those roles, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside dedicated professionals who believe, as I do, that justice isn’t just a system – it’s a promise we make to the people we serve.” [Urban Milwaukee]
Plea negotiations being held in Hannah Dugan case, US attorney says
… Schimel, who was sworn into the position of Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Nov. 17, said he would not take an active role in prosecuting the Dugan case, but was briefed on the plea negotiations by prosecutors during his first day on the job. … Schimel added, “There have been no commitments made by the defense to do anything.” … The final pretrial hearing before U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman is on Nov. 26. Jury selection is Dec. 11-12. The case is set to go to trial Dec. 15. “Next Wednesday is probably going to be a big day,” Schimel said. Reviews Dugan-Flores Ruiz incident.
* Dugan’s defense did not respond, previously said their client is innocent, prepping for trial. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Wisconsin getting 26 new EV charging stations after lawsuit over funds
… [in May, WI joined 15 states suing USDOT Sec. Duffy] … In June, a federal judge ordered the administration to release funding for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which included $62M+ for Wisconsin. … new charging stations span the state, from Port Washington to Arbor Vitae to Eau Claire. Many are located at Kwik Trips, other gas stations and hotels. … [2024 bipartisan bill] paved the way for Wisconsin to participate in [Biden’s BIL] program … Federal funds can cover up to 80% of the costs of building out each charging station.
* Evers: “Thanks to our actions to get the Trump administration to release this critical funding that they were illegally withholding, we are thrilled to see the NEVI program continue to support these goals and further move us toward the clean energy future Wisconsinites deserve.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Legalization of online sports betting faces pushback in Wisconsin
… [August-Haywood/Marklein- Dassler-Alfheim AB601 “hub and spoke” model] already faced opposition from the national companies DraftKings and FanDuel and anti-gambling advocates. On Nov. 11, [WILL] memo argued] the proposal would violate federal law and the state constitution. Conservative talk radio hosts Dan O’Donnell and Vicki McKenna have also spoken against the bill, with O’Donnell calling it a “terrible, terrible idea.” … heads toward a vote by the full Assembly on Nov. 19 after a unanimous [committee approval] with the support of [Brewers, Forest County Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, WI Tourism Attractions, MMAC and the NCSR Carpenters.] … Evers [spokeswoman] said the governor is likely to sign such a bill into law as long as it is passed in consultation with Wisconsin’s tribes. Reviews tribal gaming compacts, recently updated to allow on-site sports betting, “hub and spoke” model runs online bets thru tribal servers, recently upheld in FL court.
* WILL memo argues bill’s effort to “decriminalize” online sports betting violates Article IV of the state constitution and Indian Gaming Rights Act, “To be clear, sports betting is popular and an activity that many enjoy participating in. If the people of Wisconsin want to change this policy of the state, they can amend the constitution to empower the Legislature, and then the Legislature can act to remove gambling prohibitions from the criminal code. But they have not done so, and there is no dispute that current law in Wisconsin prohibits such activities,” expanding gaming activities beyond tribal lands would violate federal law.
* Forest County Potawatomi analysis by attys. Stahl and Walsh, which found no violation of state or US Constitutions, “a bet is not formed until a proposed wager is accepted, and that occurs only after the wager reaches a server on Indian lands and is accepted pursuant to a pre-1993 compact.”
* sponsor August’s co-sponsor memo said the bill provides “clarity, not expansion. … It keeps activity within Wisconsin, under our long-standing tribal-state framework, and preserves the guardrails we already rely on for brick-and-mortar gaming: age checks, geolocation, problem-gaming tools, audits, and accountability,” bill needed to prevent “national prediction platforms [from online gaming] without our compact framework, Wisconsin oversight, or Wisconsin consumer safeguards. … these products are scaling quickly and deliberately targeting states where the legal lines are fuzzy.”
[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Report flags solitary confinement, overcrowding in Wisconsin DOC
… paid the firm Falcon, Inc. roughly $500,000 to complete the year-long review of the prison system’s adult facilities. … raised concerns about how often [mentally ill] people are locked up in solitary confinement … 101 [solitary inmates] in March 2025 — were classified as having a serious mental health issue. … “Individuals with SMI (serious mental illness) placed in restrictive housing are more likely to become violent and, if released from restrictive housing, are more likely to return,” the report’s authors noted, citing outside research. “Those individuals housed in restrictive housing are also more likely to die by suicide than those living in other housing settings.” … commend[ed] DOC for attempting to limit extended stays in solitary confinement by adopting a May 2024 policy that requires a higher-up to approve solitary confinement stays longer than 120 days. … [urged] creating “alternative” units for people with serious mental illness. … urges the DOC to stop [non-disciplinary “administrative confinement” to isolate inmate who is threat to self or others. Report also notes] struggles with “staff attrition … significant number of the current staff hired during or after the COVID19 pandemic.” … struggles with overcrowding. … On average, men’s prisons were at 130 percent capacity and women’s prisons were at 166 percent capacity [delaying inter-prison transfers. Noted 5K+ too many inmates systemwide].
* EXPO’s Oleson dubbed solitary “torture. As someone who has spent time in their quote-unquote ‘restrictive housing’ unit for being suicidal, you’re only compounding the harm and the hurt. … My mind was my weapon. My mind was destroying me, and the answer they gave me was to lock me down with that weapon. And I nearly broke. I’ve seen women break, honestly.”
* Sec. Hoy: “Falcon experts recognized the work of countless dedicated DOC employees to modernize our health care and restrictive housing policies. As much as we’ve done, we can always do more, do better and the recommendations in the report provide a guide for our agency.” [WPR]
Democratic Wisconsin lawmakers propose legislation capping utility bills
… Reps. Madison, Hong and Spaude pitched bill, LRB-5495/1, at Nov. 11 presser] that would essentially cap residential energy bills in WI at 2 percent of household income. … require [PSC] to create a percentage of income payment program [to pay amount above 2%] provide relief to energy burdened or severely energy burdened households. … defines energy burdened households as those spending between 2-4% of their household income on electricity and gas bills, and severely energy burdened households as those spending 4 percent or more. … Democrats nationally are trying to make affordability and cost of living issues a central campaign issue. … reviews utility bill and inflation. CUB found] We Energies’ average monthly residential electric bill was $99.65 in 2014 and $127.29 in 2024, while [WPS] average residential electric bill was $83.94 in 2014 and $105.13 in 2024,
* Spaude: “Folks in my district and around the state are on a knife’s edge. Many of them are just barely getting by. This bill is going to do something. It’s going to keep more money in their pockets.”
* CUB’s Content undecided, “At this time of the session, there are a lot of bills that are introduced for messaging rather than for enactment. … Right now, we’re in a period where electricity prices are actually the ones, I think, driving inflation. For all the attention that egg prices got last year, the price of power is what is really taking hold this year.”
* WI Utilities Assoc. declined comment.
* UWGB prof. Kraft: “Given that the Republicans control the state Legislature by a good margin, and that this is a Democratic bill, I would say it strikes me as unlikely to become law unless there are some Republican co-sponsors.”
* WEC’s Conway: “Our rates since 2020 have increased below the rate of inflation and we work every day to keep bills as low as possible. Just this fall we returned nearly $70 million to customers through bills credits for fuel cost adjustments.”
* residents Sexton and Beltran comment. [WPR]
Madison seeks to dismiss lawsuit over uncounted ballots
… Law Forward on behalf of the 193 Madison voters … alleges a series of mistakes by the city clerk’s office disenfranchised the voters, and city officials failed to take proper actions to address the error in the weeks following the election. City attys. argued WEC complaint is required before suit, “The Legislature has not created a private right of action, let alone a right to recover money damages from a municipality; Wisconsin courts cannot create one by implication.” Review ballot snafu, WEC finding “confluence of errors” and “complete lack of leadership,” city found uncounted ballots would not have changed results. Mayor Rhodes-Conway in August appointed Lydia McComas to serve as the city’s new clerk. [Wisconsin State Journal]
TODAY’S CALENDAR
https://www.wispolitics.com/events/list/
— 10 a.m.: Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety public hearing on AB 19, relating to increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty; AB 477, relating to age for the issuance of a Missing Child Alert; and AB 252, relating to the notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense.
— 10 a.m.: PSC hearing
— 11 a.m.: Assembly Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency executive session on AB 274, relating to the expiration of administrative rules; AB 275, relating to challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation; AB 276, relating to statements of scope for administrative rules; and AB 277, relating to requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs.
— 11:01 a.m.: Assembly Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency public hearing on AB 487, relating to meeting in closed session to consider information technology security issues.
— 11:30 a.m.: Speaker’s Task Force on Government Efficiency and Modernization informational hearing
— 12 p.m.: Assembly Committee on Corrections public hearing on AB 555, relating to intentionally disarming a correctional officer and providing a penalty.
— 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: WEDC Board
— 3 p.m.: PSC hearing
— 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Ryan Strnad for governor campaign fundraiser
