MADISON – The Wisconsin Assembly met for a Special Session on Wednesday to pass a compromise bill negotiated between Governor Tony Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu to return the surplus, help Wisconsin families cope with rising costs, and support K-12 education. Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) voted for the proposal.
“Across the country, families are facing difficult financial times. Here in Wisconsin, we are doing our part by using $1.8 billion from the state surplus to help families manage rising costs, reward hard work, and continue investing in our K-12 schools to help stabilize property taxes,” began Rep. Rodriguez.
May 2026 Special Session Assembly Bill 1 will:
- Issue surplus refund payments in the amount of $300 per individual ($600 per married couple) to full-year Wisconsin residents who had a tax liability in Tax Year 2024
- Eliminate the tax on tipped income and overtime wages in perpetuity
- Expand the Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit
- Provide property tax relief by increasing state aid to the Wisconsin Technical College System by $50 million annually
- Provide property tax relief through $302.5 million in state aid to school districts under revenue limits
- Increase funding for special education aid with the goal of reimbursing eligible expenses at 42.7% in 2025-26 and 50% in 2026-27
- Provide $20 million in disaster assistance grants
The bill was negotiated and agreed upon by Governor Evers and legislative Republican leaders. It passed the Assembly today with bipartisan support. Gov. Evers is expected to sign the bill into law once it reaches his desk.
“This bill is the result of months of negotiations. I am proud to support the compromise before us today and look forward to seeing it signed into law so we can return the surplus to Wisconsinites and help families address rising costs,” concluded Rodriguez.
