Legislative Bulletin

December 4, 2024

Governor's Budget Listening Sessions

Governor Evers is hosting a series of listening sessions for Wisconsinites to comment on budgetary issues they find important as the Governor and his team are in the process of preparing the 2025-27 Executive Budget. This proposed budget is set to be finalized in the coming months before being unveiled in late February or early March.

The Governor’s listening sessions are structured so participants will separate into breakout groups based on subject area, and a member of the Governor’s staff will facilitate discussion and take notes on topics and requests mentioned during the group discussions.

The first listening session was hosted in Appleton on Monday, December 2nd. If you’re interested in representing your municipality or municipal interests more generally during one of these listening sessions, four remaining sessions are currently scheduled, including:



• Wednesday, December 4th from 5:30 to 7:00pm in La Crosse (details)
• Tuesday, December 10th from 5:30 to 7:00pm in Milwaukee (details)
• Thursday, December 12th from 5:30 to 7:00pm in Ashland (details)
• Monday, December 16th starting at 4:00pm through Zoom (details)

Following the Governor’s proposed budget being released, the Joint Committee on Finance, the legislature’s budget writing committee, will also be holding listening sessions around the state. These listening sessions are typically in April of odd-numbered years and allow anyone to present comments directly to committee members and other legislators. 

Legislative Leadership Selected

In the days and weeks following the election, the new legislative bodies have met and selected the Senate and Assembly leadership for the 2025-2026 Session. There is only one new addition to the top leadership roles with Senator Mary Felzkowski assuming the position of Senate President. Other top leadership positions include:

• Senate Majority Leader – Senator Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg)
• Senate President – Senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) 
• Senate Minority Leader – Senator Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) 
• Assembly Speaker – Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
• Assembly Majority Leader – Representative Tyler August (R-Walworth) 
• Assembly Democratic Leader – Representative Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) 

Additional legislative leadership roles can be found here.

Additional responsibilities include assisting in the development and revision of proposed policies, testifying at legislative committee hearings, serving on advisory committees, and interacting with League members on policy and legislative matters.

Evan previously worked for State Senator Robert Cowles for more than eight years, most recently serving as Chief of Staff. During that time, Evan assisted Senator Cowles on 35 bills that were passed into law, 13 of which were supported by the League. Evan also clerked the Senate Committee on Natural Resources for two sessions, served as Senator Cowles’ Communications Director for nearly six years, and worked on a wide array of constituent inquiries.

We are delighted to add Evan to our team at the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. Evan's email is below; please feel free to reach out!

Act 10 Update

On Monday, December 2nd Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost ruled that sections of the 2011 Act 10 were no longer enforceable. In July, Judge Frost ruled other portions of the state’s Act 10 law were unconstitutional because the law applied differently to police, firefighters, and public safety workers than to other public employees.  

On Tuesday Speaker Vos announced an appeal was filed and a stay is being sought.

Read the decision here

League members should have received a recent email regarding a member roundtable related to Act 10.

Phosphorus Compliance Alternative Comments

Following legislative efforts supported by the League in 2013 and 2015, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a phosphorus Multi-Discharger Variance (MDV) in 2017. The MDV has been shown to be one of the easiest methods for eligible wastewater utilities to comply with the 2010 phosphorus discharge rules for a period of up to 20 years. After that 20 years, municipalities and industry utilizing the MDV will have to upgrade their existing wastewater infrastructure to comply with the 2010 standards or seek alternative compliance methods.

However, for the MDV to remain authorized for the full 20 years, the DNR is required to work with the Department of Administration (DOA) to seek re-approval from the EPA at the program’s 10-year mark. In 2022, the DNR put out their report on the environmental conditions created by the MDV, and they found a 15% greater reduction in phosphorus discharges through the MDV’s utilization versus permit compliance through individual variances, which is another alternative compliance method.

In late October, DOA put out their draft findings on the MDV’s economic conditions, noting that the 130 municipal wastewater treatment facilities and various other private industrial and processors utilizing the program would be required to implement more than $900 million in projected capital expenditures without the reapproval of the MDV. The ripple effect of these capital expenditures would create a projected loss of 1,341 jobs and $209.9 million in gross state product.

To avoid the hit that the municipal wastewater utilities would see absent the MDV’s reapproval, last month the League submitted comments to DOA in-favor of their preliminary decision to seek reauthorization of the MDV from the EPA. The comment period has closed, and we’re currently awaiting a final decision from DOA.

Email questions or comments to:

Toni Herkert, Government Affairs Director, therkert@lwm-info.org

Evan Miller, Government Affairs Specialist, emiller@lwm-info.org