The News: Today, Governor Tony Evers vetoed the WILL-backed “Red Tape Reset,” a comprehensive regulatory reform package supported by a broad coalition of free-market groups and Wisconsin job creators. That package would have modernized the state’s regulatory system, restored constitutional checks and balances, and reduced costs for families and businesses across the state.

The Quote: WILL Policy Director, Kyle Koenen, stated “Wisconsinites are paying the price for excessive regulation every single day, at the grocery store, on their energy bills as well as the rising cost of housing and everyday goods. Instead of providing relief to Wisconsinites, Governor Evers decided that the failed status quo was the way to go. Ignoring Wisconsin’s burdensome regulatory climate is irresponsible, and it will make it harder for our state to grow and compete in the decade ahead.”

The Red Tape Reset: The legislative package included:

  • Senate Bill 277 – Seven-Year Sunset of Administrative Rules: Requires every state regulation to be reviewed at least once every seven years. Agencies must demonstrate clear statutory authority and continued need or the rule automatically expires. This prevents outdated or unauthorized regulations from remaining on the books and restores meaningful legislative oversight.
  • Senate Bill 276 – Fee Shifting for Unlawful Rules: Allows citizens who successfully challenge an unlawfully adopted on unconstitutional rule to recover attorneys’ fees. This lowers barriers to public oversight and encourages agencies to remain within their legal authority.
  • Senate Bill 275 – Strengthened Scope Statements: Requires one scope statement per rule and sets a 60-day expiration for emergency rule scope statements. This restores early notice, transparency, and legislative awareness while preventing agencies from stretching a single scope statement across multiple rulemakings.
  • Senate Bill 289 – Regulatory Budgeting: Requires agencies proposing costly new rules to identify offsetting reductions by modifying or repealing existing rules. If they cannot, the new regulation cannot take effect without an affirmative vote of the Legislature. This ensures that expensive mandates receive direct review by elected officials.

Why It Matters: With an administrative code that contains over 165,000 regulatory restrictions, Wisconsin is the 13th most regulated state in the country and 2nd worst in the Midwest, trailing only Illinois. These regulations impose real costs on families, workers, and small businesses.

A study by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty found that reducing the state’s regulatory burden by just 10% could increase Wisconsin’s GDP by $6.6 billion, while a 40% reduction could grow the economy by as much as $68.1 billion by 2037.

Widespread Public Support: Wisconsinites are overwhelmingly in favor of these reforms. According to polling from the Institute for Reforming Government, 67% of likely Wisconsin voters support requiring legislative review of any regulation that has been in effect for more than seven years.

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