The Wisconsin Legislature adjourned on April 11. Legislators introduced 2,342 pieces of legislation over the two-year session that began in January 2023. Of these, 272 became law.
Here’s what you may have missed:
Education
Legislators passed laws to close reading and math skill gaps that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation requires each school board and charter school to assess the early literacy skills of each student enrolled in kindergarten and screen each student enrolled in 1st through 3rd grade two times during the 2024-25 school year.
Legislative leaders also passed laws to reform the University of Wisconsin system and its sister institutions with a focus on DEI initiatives. One bill bars the UW system from requesting that students, student groups, or faculty pledge “allegiance to” or make a “statement of support of or opposition to any political ideology or movement,” as a condition for admission, recognition, funding, hiring, or more. The bill specifically prohibits a “pledge or statement regarding diversity, equity, or inclusion.” In addition, the bill allows a person who alleges violation to bring a civil action against the institution.
Budget
On July 5, 2023, Governor Tony Evers (D) signed the state’s two-year budget for fiscal year 2024-25 after issuing several line-item vetoes. The Senate overrode some of these vetoes in the fall and the budget went into effect. The budget includes $98.6 billion in funding over two years. The budget included several policy initiatives championed by the governor. Notably, Evers used his strong line-item veto power to extend per-pupil education funding until the year 2425.
The budget also included numerous new tax cuts, credits, and exemptions for businesses and consumers. It provided new sales tax exemptions for the sale and use of property utilized for the development, construction, renovation, expansion, or repair of a qualified data center. The budget provides up to $150 million in credits to a data center, depending on the population of the center’s location.
What’s Next
In November, Wisconsin voters will vote on sixteen state Senate seats and all 99 state Assembly seats. The legislature will convene in May to review Governor Evers’s vetoes. Interim committee work will begin thereafter. For insight into all bills introduced and passed during this legislative session, please contact Mark Salters at mps@stateside.com.