The Assembly voted 59-35 along party lines to pass a bill limiting a governor’s emergency powers. Under AB 912, the governor would be prohibited from declaring businesses as “essential” or “nonessential” in emergencies. That means that any order affecting businesses would have to apply to all of them equally. Early

The state Senate today approved a series of COVID-19 measures that backers drew up in response to vaccine mandates and other measures to combat the pandemic. The bills would allow those who quit or are fired rather than get the vaccine to still qualify for unemployment benefits, to prohibit requiring

The state Senate signed off on a trio of bills designed to curb foreign influence at the UW System, including one that would prohibit members of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army from being admitted to or working for the university. The bills passed along party lines as Dems decried them

The Assembly today approved a series of bills to use federal ARPA money to fund recruitment, retention and training efforts for police officers, sending them to the Senate.  The bills, which largely passed along party lines, would direct Gov. Tony Evers to spend $25 million in American Rescue Plan Act

Dem Rep. Evan Goyke slammed his colleagues for supporting a bill that would allow guards at the state’s juvenile prisons to use pepper spray even though they’ve been accused in the past of misusing the chemical irritant.  Assembly Republicans pushed forward with a series of bills aimed at increasing prison

The Legislature approved a measure making it a Class I felony for anyone who intentionally participates in a riot that results in substantial damages to property or bodily injury. The Senate signed off on the bill via a voice vote and the Assembly later approved it 59-34 along party lines,

GOP COVID-19 bills prohibiting discrimination based on vaccination status and accepting natural immunity instead of proof of vaccination will be sent to the Senate after passing in today’s Assembly floor session. AB 375 passed 59-34 along party lines. The bill would allow employees to present proof of natural immunity to

The state Senate today signed off on legislation that backers say would ban the teaching of critical race theory in Wisconsin K-12 schools, clearing the way for the bill to head to Gov. Tony Evers. The bill, which cleared the chamber 20-13, next heads to Gov. Tony Evers, who’s expected

The state Senate today gave initial approval to constitutional amendments that would bar non-residents from voting in state or local elections and give lawmakers a say if there’s another federal aid effort approved similar to the COVID-19 packages in recent years. Both amendments would have to clear the Assembly yet

Assembly Republicans today approved lowering the age to obtain a concealed carry permit, allowing those with a license to have a weapon in the car on school grounds and to require comprehensive firearm education in Wisconsin high schools. Lawmakers in separate voice votes approved five gun-related bills Republicans say would

The Assembly approved new GOP-backed legislative and congressional maps today after some Dems berated both the Republicans lines and a proposal from a commission Gov. Tony Evers created. Ahead of two 60-38 votes on the Senate-passed bills, Speaker Robin Vos said the Senate-approved maps drawn by GOP legislative aides adhere

The state Senate voted 21-12 along party lines to sign off on GOP-authored maps that would likely strengthen Republican majorities in both houses of the Legislature over the coming decade. The maps next head to the Assembly, which is expected to take them up Thursday. Gov. Tony Evers has vowed

Dem Rep. Lisa Subeck slammed Republicans today for approving a series of new abortion restrictions, saying they were doing “absolutely nothing to improve the lives or health of women in our state.” But Freshman GOP Rep. William Penterman countered human life needs to be protected at any stage because it

The Assembly today signed off on allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives with seven Republicans opposed. AB 36, now headed to the Senate after an 83-7 Assembly vote, would also require the Department of Health Services reimburse women for the costs of those contraceptives if they fall under the Medical

The Assembly also passed seven bills aimed at increasing workforce housing, which supporters argued would help address the state’s labor shortage. One bill would require property value assessors to focus their valuations on the actual market value of homes and ban certain property tax assessment practices. Another bill approved in

The Assembly voted 62-32 today to overhaul reading assessments for Wisconsin grade schoolers. The bill has already cleared the Senate and now heads to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk. Three Dems joined majority Republicans in backing SB 454, which would replace the current reading readiness assessment program with a tiered early

The state Senate signed off on nine bills that Republicans introduced as part of a sporting heritage package, including legislation that would direct the DNR to overhaul turkey hunting regulations. SB 610, approved 20-12 along party lines, would overhaul administrative rules to cut down the number of hunting zones and

The Senate voted today along party lines to ban abortions if they’re sought due to the sex, race or disability of the fetus and to cut off abortion providers from the state’s Medical Assistance program. The chamber also approved legislation requiring doctors to tell women who have begun the drug

GOP state Sen. Joan Ballweg joined two of her Dem colleagues in voting against bills that would ban transgender students who were born male from competing in girls’ and women’s sports in high school and college. The Markesan Republican told WisPolitics.com in a phone interview she opposed the bills for

The Assembly passed along party lines in separate 60-38 votes two bills GOP-backers say would ban critical race theory from student lessons and training for state and local government employees. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other GOP lawmakers during a meeting with reporters ahead of the floor session said the