The Assembly Ways and Means Committee has voted unanimously in favor of AB 231, which would create the State Film Office and a tax credit incentive for producing films in Wisconsin. Filmmakers told lawmakers at a public hearing last week the bill would boost Wisconsin’s economy by providing resources and

Madison-based Realta Fusion is targeting the mid-2030s for commercial fusion energy production as it continues raising funds and growing its team.  “For some, that may sound like a long way away, but I think in the world of energy that we operate in, that’s actually a pretty normal project timeline

A recent study from the Midwest Economic Policy Institute shows union training programs enroll 77% of the state’s construction apprentices, despite just 22% of Wisconsin’s construction industry being unionized.  The Wisconsin Building Trades Council is touting the findings of this report, which also shows union journeyworkers in the state typically

Just seven of the 23 economic indicators tracked by the MMAC improved over the year, the group’s March economic trends report shows, marking a slowdown from February’s 11 positive indicators.  Bret Mayborne, vice president of economic research for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, says employment trends for March were

The energy grid challenge posed by more data centers coming online presents an opportunity to accelerate new technologies in this space, according to former state PSC Commissioner Tyler Huebner.  Huebner, who now works for Google’s energy market development team, was a featured speaker at this week’s Customers First Coalition 2025

Lawmakers are reintroducing a bipartisan bill they say would help the state’s health care workforce by changing regulations for advanced practice registered nurses.  The APRN Modernization Act was highlighted yesterday during a news conference at the state Capitol, where both Dems and GOP legislators expressed confidence in getting the bill

Legislation from GOP lawmakers would make some state tax credit programs more flexible to drive investments in child care and workforce housing, bill authors say.  Rep. Dave Armstrong of Rice Lake and Sen. Dan Feyen of Fond du Lac are currently circulating a co-sponsorship memo for the bill.  It follows

Republican lawmakers are seeking to change the state’s apprenticeship law to allow skilled workers to supervise two construction apprentices each, rather than just one.  Sen. Chris Kapenga of Delafield, along with Reps. Dave Maxey of New Berlin and Adam Neylon of Pewaukee, recently circulated a co-sponsorship memo for legislation to

Creating a self-funding incentive program to attract people to Wisconsin is the “only way” to offset demographic challenges in the years to come, economist Dale Knapp argues.  Knapp, who leads the Wisconsin Counties Association’s Forward Analytics research division, spoke yesterday during the 2025 Wisconsin Economic Forecast Luncheon. The Madison event

Republican lawmakers have been circulating legislation to expand a sales tax exemption for data centers.  Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, R-River Falls, and Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, last week sent a co-sponsorship memo to other legislators seeking support for the legislation. The proposal would extend the tax break from last session to

SHINE Technologies is expanding distribution of a cancer treatment product to the United Arab Emirates through an agreement with Modawina Medical Company of Dubai.  The Janesville nuclear technology company recently announced the distribution partnership, which will bring SHINE’s Illumira product to patients in the UAE. Under the agreement, Modawina Medical

WEDC is “watching very closely” for cuts to federal dollars that could impact Wisconsin programs, including the possible elimination of funding for the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity.  That’s according to Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Speaking during this week’s WEDC Board of

A life sciences coalition chaired by Wisconsin Institute for Discovery Director Jo Handelsman is rallying against “unprecedented disruptions” caused by cuts to federal science funding.  Handelsman spoke yesterday during a Wisconsin Technology Council meeting in Madison, where she said the Trump administration’s moves to withhold and cancel funding for health

A bill from Dem lawmakers would create an innovation program for financial services and a related pilot project, aimed at supporting Wisconsin entrepreneurs and businesses exploring cryptocurrency applications.  That’s according to Sen. Dora Drake, D-Milwaukee, who spoke during last week’s WI Digital Policy Forum at the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

NFIB Wisconsin State Director Bill Smith warns that letting a 20% tax deduction for small businesses expire would be “devastating” for the economy.  The National Federation of Independent Business yesterday issued a report highlighting the impact of the small business tax deduction, established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Fresh off the success of a competition cooking show, GOP lawmakers are again circulating legislation to create state tax incentives for film and TV production, arguing Wisconsin is missing out on “economic benefits that most other states enjoy.”  Under the latest version of the bill, a newly created State Film

Northern Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has introduced a joint resolution calling for the United States to withdraw from the World Trade Organization, calling it a “deeply flawed globalist institution.”  Tiffany, who represents Wisconsin’s northern 7th Congressional District, last week announced the joint resolution.  In a statement on the measure,

Manufacturers across North America are largely optimistic about future profit growth despite rising concerns about tariffs, according to a survey from Milwaukee-based advisory firm Wipfli.  After surveying about 300 manufacturing companies across the United States, Canada and Mexico last month, the firm found 55% of respondents are forecasting higher profits

More nursing home staffing leads to fewer hospitalizations and deaths, with the greatest impact seen from the workers providing day-to-day care, according to research presented during a UW-Madison seminar.  David Grabowski, a professor in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, spoke yesterday during an event organized

Republican lawmakers are circulating a bill to create a tax credit for sustainably produced jet fuel, in hopes of opening up a new market for Wisconsin timber and farm products.  Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, as well as Sens. Romaine Quinn of Birchwood and Patrick Testin of Stevens Point, recently sent