The Senate approved 26-7 legislation to create a specific felony for carjacking and up the penalties for repeat offenses. SB 58 would carry fines of up to $50,000 and prison sentences of up to 15 years for carjacking. Repeat offenders, meanwhile, of taking and driving a car would go up

Both the Senate and Assembly are in session today, with the Senate planning to send the last of the special session bills looking to combat opioid abuse to the guv’s desk. Meanwhile, the Assembly is scheduled to take up the REINS Act, which passed the Senate on a party-line vote

The Assembly has adjourned after passing several bills making changes to state public assistance programs. That included a bill, AB 240, that adds W-2 participants whose kids are habitually truant from school to a list of those who can face sanctions from the Department of Children and Families. Rep. Joe Sanfelippo,

The state Assembly today approved 61-35 a bill that would set up a pilot program adding work requirements for those who get federal housing vouchers. The bill would only affect able-bodied adults whose housing vouchers are managed by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. WHEDA manages about 2,800 of the

The state Assembly today passed a bill requiring juvenile correctional officers to report any child abuse they see while on the job, sending the bill to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. The bipartisan bill follows lawsuits and a federal investigation into allegations of mistreatment at the state’s Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake

A bill that would eliminate the requirement that minors aged 16 or 17 obtain a child work permit passed the Senate today on a 20-12 party-line vote, sending it to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. But Dems protested the bill would have negative effects on students and prioritizes labor and industries over children. Sen. LaTonya

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