A bill that would require DOT to account for inflation in future road project cost estimates passed the Senate today on a voice vote. The DOT bill, from the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, were first recommended by the Legislative Audit Bureau following its January 2017 report on the state highway program. Sen.

The Senate plans to take up a child labor permits bill today, while the Assembly’s considering a bill that would allow delivery robots to travel on sidewalks. The Assembly’s also looking to take up a bill that passed the Senate in March that would require juvenile correctional officers to report

The Assembly this evening passed two bills to curb opioid abuse, the last of the 11 total special session bills to make their way through the chamber. The Assembly already passed nine of the special session bills, all of which were taken up and passed by the Senate today. The legislation is based on

A bill that would loosen regulations of high-capacity wells passed a divided Assembly on a 62-35 vote, over a little more than two hours of Dem protests. The state Senate last month signed off on the bill 19-13, under which DNR would not review the impact of existing wells when

The state Assembly today passed four GOP bills aimed at helping address homelessness, with two passing unanimously and several Dems opposing the other two. Dems said the package isn’t enough to solve the issue, while also saying past GOP policies such as changes in landlord-tenant laws have only exacerbated it.

The state Assembly today passed a bill that would give lawmakers direct oversight on how the state plans to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, an education policy overhaul that Congress passed in 2015. The chamber passed the bill, AB 233, on a voice vote, though Dems said

Businesses could start to use self-driving delivery devices under legislation the Senate approved via voice vote today. The delivery devices would operate on sidewalks and crosswalks; would weigh less than 80 pounds without cargo; and could travel at a maximum of 10 mph. Sen. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, reminded her colleagues

Proposed administrative rules with an estimated economic impact of $10 million or more over a two-year period for implementation and compliance would require additional scrutiny under legislation the state Senate approved today. If the cost comes in at $10 million, the Legislature would have to approve the rule via legislation.

The state Assembly today passed 64-34 a bill that would eliminate the requirement that minors aged 16 or 17 obtain a child work permit. Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton, said the bill removes a significant hurdle to homeless students who struggle getting their parents to sign the permit or pay the

The Senate overwhelmingly signed off on a series of bills designed to combat opioid addiction, the latest package of legislation to address Wisconsin’s heroin problem. Dems proposed several amendments to the bills, including one to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. They argued the move would provide more money

The Senate signed off on two of the guv’s cabinet secretaries, his pick for a spot on the PSC and four appointments to the Elections and Ethics Commissions. Safety and Professional Services Secretary Laura Gutierrez cleared the Senate unanimously, as did Veterans Affairs Secretary Daniel Zimmerman. But PSC Commissioner Lon

The Senate plans to take up the REINS Act when it convenes this morning, while the Assembly has the high-capacity wells bill on its agenda. Both chambers also are voting on HOPE agenda bills in special session. If the Assembly signs off on the high-capacity wells bill, which cleared the

The state Assembly today approved legislation 57-34 that would ease the process for Dane County towns to opt out of the county’s zoning rules. Dems this week delayed a vote on AB 109 until today, raising concerns the bill could nix eight currently scheduled citizen votes on whether their towns

The state Senate this morning signed off on legislation 19-13 loosening regulations of high-capacity wells over Dem protests it would privatize the state’s waters and give farmers preference over their neighbors. Under the bill, the Department of Natural Resources would not review the impact of the wells, which draw more

The Assembly has adjourned after passing several bills but will be back on Thursday morning to vote on a bill Dems objected to today. The bill, AB 109, makes changes to a law passed last session that lets towns withdraw from Dane County zoning rules. Dems raised concerns that the

Despite a contentious debate on several Dem amendments, the state Assembly today signed off on nine special session bills on opioid abuse. Dems sought to amend some of the bills to ensure the state accepts the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, but Republicans said those amendments were brought to

The Senate will reconvene tomorrow morning to continue discussion on a high-capacity wells bill after Dems objected to a third reading of the legislation this evening. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald proposed the 8 a.m. meeting time, which begins two hours before a Joint Finance Committee public hearing on the budget in West

Assembly Republicans are turning back an effort from Dems to accept the Medicaid expansion during today’s debate on several special session bills on opioid abuse. Republicans also charged Dems with fundraising off the debate, with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos saying it’s “disgusting” that Dems are “using this as a political issue to raise money.”

The state Assembly today unanimously approved a bill designating cheese as the official state dairy product. The proposal, approved 96-0, was the idea of a 4th grade classroom, said Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville. Novak authored the bill and ticked off several statistics on the state’s cheese production, including that Wisconsin