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Building Commission Releases Funding for Revamp of Corrections
On Wednesday, the State Building Commission approved $743 million for construction projects and released approximately $110 million for planning and design for statewide projects. The Commission also released $15 million that Governor Evers requested to begin work across several Department of Corrections facilities to begin implementing the Governor’s correctional facilities plan.
At the meeting, Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) asked the Governor to include the Legislature in the realignment of the Department of Corrections.
Holding Multiple Positions
Sen. John Jagler (R-Watertown) and Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) are introducing a bill aimed at helping fill shortages of emergency services workers. According to the cosponsorship memo:
Communities across the state are experiencing shortages of emergency services workers. Small communities in particular that rely on volunteers for EMS and fire services are really struggling to fill positions. These shortages lead to some smaller communities having individuals who serve in multiple roles, such as an alderperson who may also serve as a volunteer EMS provider who drives an ambulance.
According to the Legislative Reference Bureau:
Generally under current law, the doctrine of compatibility holds that one person cannot hold two offices if one office is superior to another in some respect and the superior office makes decisions about the other office such that the duties exercised under each might conflict to the public detriment. An exception to this doctrine under current law provides that a volunteer fire fighter, emergency medical services practitioner, or emergency medical responder in a city, village, or town whose annual compensation from one or more of those positions, including fringe benefits, does not exceed $25,000 if the city, village, or town has a population of 5,000 or less, or $15,000 if the city, village, or town has a population of more than 5,000, may also hold an elective office in that city, village, or town. This bill increases those maximum annual compensation amounts to $35,000 in a city, village, or town with a population of 5,000 or less and $25,000 in a city, village, or town with a population of more than 5,000.
LRB-4799 Memo Office Compensation The maximum compensation for compatibility with elective offices in cities, villages, and towns. Deadline: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 4:00pm
OCI Publishes New Premiums/Open Enrollment Nov. 1
Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) Nathan Houdek released the 2026 plan year rates for Wisconsin’s individual marketplace. It is expected the rates will increase significantly, but how much Wisconsinites’ healthcare coverage costs will increase varies depending on age, income, plan selection, and available insurers in each county.
Wisconsin’s annual Open Enrollment period begins on Saturday, November 1, 2025. During this time, eligible Wisconsinites can enroll in one of the health plans available on the individual health insurance marketplace. Wisconsin residents can sign up for coverage through Healthcare.gov. Those who already have insurance through the marketplace can also renew, update, or upgrade their health plans during this period.
Several insurers have made changes to their service areas and plan offerings in response to federal changes. In Wisconsin, there are 12 insurers participating on the exchange for the 2026 plan year, with 2 insurers offering Affordable Care Act-compliant plans off the exchange. An interactive map of health insurers available by county can be found here.
Disaster Relief Request Denied
The Trump Administration denied Wisconsin’s application for public assistance for Door, Grant, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties after the storms and flooding in August. Governor Evers has indicated his intent to appeal the decision.
Wisconsin FoodShare Program in Limbo
According to a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) had funding for benefits and operations available through the month of October, but there are insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits.
The letter states, “FNS appreciates and understands that States have questions regarding operation of the program and has begun the process of fact finding and information gathering to be prepared in case a contingency plan must be implemented. With that in mind, we understand that several States would normally begin sending November benefit issuance files to their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendors soon. Considering the operational issues and constraints that exist in automated systems, and in the interest of preserving maximum flexibility, we are forced to direct States to hold their November issuance files and delay transmission to State EBT vendors until further notice. This includes on-going SNAP benefits and daily files.”
Head Start Programs Closing Due to Shutdown
The Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program (SWCAP) plans to close nine Head Start classrooms on November 3rd, leaving 114 children in Iowa, Lafayette, Grant, Green, and Richland counties without programming and 34 staff without paychecks. The Sheboygan Human Rights Association plans to close its Head Start classrooms on November 14th, leaving 172 children in Sheboygan County without programming and 48 staff without paychecks. The National Head Start Association said, “If the shutdown continues past November 1, 2025, an estimated 140 Head Start programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico will not receive their operational funding.”
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