Visit WisPolitics-State Affairs for premium content,
keyword notifications, bill tracking and more
An amended PFAS bill package unanimously OK’d by a Senate panel would exempt several groups from the state’s remediation law, including certain parties that spread PFAS-contaminated wastewater or industrial waste in compliance with a license or permit.
Joint Finance Committee Co-chair Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, told WisPolitics after the vote committee members had sent a series of questions to the agency about the $368,885 spent on the four-day conference in June 2024 to discuss overhauling student performance benchmarks. Born said GOP committee members concluded it was a “routine conference.”
Gov. Tony Evers today signed an executive order calling the Legislature into a special session April 14 to take up a constitutional amendment barring partisan gerrymandering. “There are no tricks, no funny politics here, just a straight-up ban, nothing more,
The president of a national sports gambling lobby accused Assembly lawmakers of “backroom dealing” over a bill that would give tribes control over online sports betting in Wisconsin. Sports Betting Alliance President Joe Maloney cited the Feb. 19 voice vote
Howard Fuller, the former Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent and architect behind the first voucher school in the country, says universal school choice was never his intention.
A coalition of education stakeholders has filed suit seeking an order declaring Wisconsin’s school finance system is unconstitutional, arguing it fails to adequately fund students’ education.
Before adjourning last week, the Assembly declined to take up 17 Senate-approved bills, including legislation to set a statewide wolf population and to impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to provide care if a baby is born alive after an abortion attempt.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said there’s “some work to do” between Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers on a tax relief package using some of the state’s projected $2.5 billion surplus.
Wisconsin business groups are divided on today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, offering split views on the impact.
Dem Gov. Tony Evers tonight demanded GOP lawmakers provide additional funding for K-12 education and property tax relief while pushing the Legislature to continue working with him on an unfinished agenda rather than heading out for the campaign trail.
GOP legislative leaders are calling for a more than $2.3 billion package that would pair a tax rebate Senate Republicans proposed with additional state funding that Dem Gov. Tony Evers wants for special education and money to boost a property tax credit.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, left out of talks between Gov. Tony Evers and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, says his pitch to give Wisconsinites rebate checks has support from some GOP Assembly reps.
LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, at a WisPolitics-State Affairs luncheon in Madison said Vos and Evers’ effort to reach a compromise “seems like purely a political stunt.”
Senate Republicans are lining up behind a proposal that would solicit bids to operate a statewide public affairs network after the Assembly passed a bipartisan bill that would create an endowment for WisconsinEye.
GOP state Sen. Pat Testin told WisPolitics he’s still working to shore up Republican support in the Senate to extend the stewardship program, including floating an idea to halt land acquisition in northern Wisconsin.
Two members of the Assembly’s Science, Technology, and AI Committee disagreed over how fast lawmakers should move on regulating data centers during a Madison luncheon. Meanwhile, a Microsoft executive said during yesterday’s panel discussion the company aims to be a “good neighbor” as it moves ahead with plans to build 17 data centers in southeastern Wisconsin.
SB 316 and SB 685 originally sought to extend the stewardship program for four years, until mid-2030. Both the bills approved in the Assembly last month and the substitute amendments would extend the program to mid-2028 instead. The package would also significantly cut back land acquisitions.
In addition to the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization unanimously approving the $50,000, legislation is working its way through the Assembly to create an endowment that would fund future operations.
Attorneys for five Wisconsin sheriffs named in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union pushing to ban ICE detainers in county jails are asking to have the case heard in federal court. Meanwhile, attorneys for the ACLU are fighting to keep the lawsuit before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
As communities and companies navigate the path ahead for mega data centers in Wisconsin, some say the massive building projects could lead to expansion of renewable energy, a stronger grid and new energy technologies.
An amended PFAS bill package unanimously OK’d by a Senate panel would exempt several groups from the state’s remediation law, including certain parties that spread PFAS-contaminated wastewater or industrial waste in compliance with a license or permit.
Joint Finance Committee Co-chair Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, told WisPolitics after the vote committee members had sent a series of questions to the agency about the $368,885 spent on the four-day conference in June 2024 to discuss overhauling student performance benchmarks. Born said GOP committee members concluded it was a “routine conference.”
Gov. Tony Evers today signed an executive order calling the Legislature into a special session April 14 to take up a constitutional amendment barring partisan gerrymandering. “There are no tricks, no funny politics here, just a straight-up ban, nothing more, nothing less,” Evers said at a morning presser. “I could
The president of a national sports gambling lobby accused Assembly lawmakers of “backroom dealing” over a bill that would give tribes control over online sports betting in Wisconsin. Sports Betting Alliance President Joe Maloney cited the Feb. 19 voice vote passing AB 601 to the Senate as he charged lawmakers
Howard Fuller, the former Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent and architect behind the first voucher school in the country, says universal school choice was never his intention.
A coalition of education stakeholders has filed suit seeking an order declaring Wisconsin’s school finance system is unconstitutional, arguing it fails to adequately fund students’ education.
Before adjourning last week, the Assembly declined to take up 17 Senate-approved bills, including legislation to set a statewide wolf population and to impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to provide care if a baby is born alive after an abortion attempt.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said there’s “some work to do” between Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers on a tax relief package using some of the state’s projected $2.5 billion surplus.
Wisconsin business groups are divided on today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, offering split views on the impact.
Dem Gov. Tony Evers tonight demanded GOP lawmakers provide additional funding for K-12 education and property tax relief while pushing the Legislature to continue working with him on an unfinished agenda rather than heading out for the campaign trail.
GOP legislative leaders are calling for a more than $2.3 billion package that would pair a tax rebate Senate Republicans proposed with additional state funding that Dem Gov. Tony Evers wants for special education and money to boost a property tax credit.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, left out of talks between Gov. Tony Evers and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, says his pitch to give Wisconsinites rebate checks has support from some GOP Assembly reps.
LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, at a WisPolitics-State Affairs luncheon in Madison said Vos and Evers’ effort to reach a compromise “seems like purely a political stunt.”
Senate Republicans are lining up behind a proposal that would solicit bids to operate a statewide public affairs network after the Assembly passed a bipartisan bill that would create an endowment for WisconsinEye.
GOP state Sen. Pat Testin told WisPolitics he’s still working to shore up Republican support in the Senate to extend the stewardship program, including floating an idea to halt land acquisition in northern Wisconsin.
Two members of the Assembly’s Science, Technology, and AI Committee disagreed over how fast lawmakers should move on regulating data centers during a Madison luncheon. Meanwhile, a Microsoft executive said during yesterday’s panel discussion the company aims to be a “good neighbor” as it moves ahead with plans to build 17 data centers in southeastern Wisconsin.
SB 316 and SB 685 originally sought to extend the stewardship program for four years, until mid-2030. Both the bills approved in the Assembly last month and the substitute amendments would extend the program to mid-2028 instead. The package would also significantly cut back land acquisitions.
In addition to the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization unanimously approving the $50,000, legislation is working its way through the Assembly to create an endowment that would fund future operations.
Attorneys for five Wisconsin sheriffs named in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union pushing to ban ICE detainers in county jails are asking to have the case heard in federal court. Meanwhile, attorneys for the ACLU are fighting to keep the lawsuit before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
As communities and companies navigate the path ahead for mega data centers in Wisconsin, some say the massive building projects could lead to expansion of renewable energy, a stronger grid and new energy technologies.