SHARE:  

View this email in your browser.

Twitter  Linkedin  Youtube  

In this update:


  • Budget Updates
  • Court Updates
  • Legislative Updates
  • Election Updates
  • Upcoming Events

Budget Updates

Evers hosts budget listening sessions

Governor Tony Evers (D) began his statewide budget listening tour. He stopped in Appleton and La Crosse this week to have the opportunity to hear directly from Wisconsinites about their priorities for the 2025-2027 biennial budget. The sessions consist of hearing from Gov. Evers and members of his administration before moving into topic-based breakout groups for more in-depth discussions. Topics covered in the sessions include national inflation, public schools, healthcare, transportation and infrastructure, and workforce.


Tuesday 12/10 - Milwaukee 5:30pm-7:00pm

Thursday 12/12 - Ashland 5:30pm-7:00pm

Monday 12/16 - VIRTUAL 4:00pm-5:30pm

Senate Finance Committee appointments

State Senate leaders designated their members to the Joint Finance Committee for the 2025-2026 legislative session. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) appointed Sen. Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin), Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron), and Sen. Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond) to the committee. Sen. LeMahieu also reappointed Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) as co-chair, his third consecutive session in the role. The three vacancies were left by Sens. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk), Joan Ballweg (R-Pardeeville), and Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville). Sen. Felzkowski was elected Senate president following the election, and Sens. Ballweg and Stroebel both lost their re-election bids.


Minority Leaders Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) announced Sens. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) and Kelda Roys (D-Madison) will both return to the committee.

Evers requests State of the State and budget address dates

Governor Tony Evers (D) requested to deliver the State of the State on January 22nd or January 28th and his budget address on February 25th or March 4th. He sent a letter to Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) with his request. Wisconsin law requires the governor to deliver the biennial budget message on or before the last Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years. However, lawmakers can grant requests to delay the date.

Court Updates

Judge Frost strikes down portions of

2011 Act 10 & 2015 Act 55

Dane County Judge Jacob Frost issued a final decision on Monday of this week striking down key components of 2011 Act 10 and 2015 Act 55, which restricted collective bargaining rights for public employees in Wisconsin. Judge Frost’s decision builds on his July ruling that parts of Act 10 were unconstitutional because some public safety employees are treated differently than others in law enforcement. After that ruling, Republican lawmakers asked Judge Frost to only overturn the definition of public safety employees, but he rejected that request this week. Judge Frost struck down 87 provisions from Act 10 and another three from a law that modified the original law from 2015.


Public employee unions and workers brought forward the challenge to Act 10. The case will likely be in courts for a while with expected appeals. Plaintiff Ben Gruber said the decision was personal, “As a conservation warden, having full collective bargaining rights means we will again have a voice on the job to improve our workplace and make sure that Wisconsin is a safe place for everyone. We realize there may still be a fight ahead of us in the courts, but make no mistake, we're ready to keep fighting until we all have a seat at the table again.”


Judge Frost requested information from both unions and Republican lawmakers on how he should implement his decision after finding parts of the law unconstitutional. GOP lawmakers said he should only strike how “public safety employee” is defined which includes municipal police, deputy sheriffs, firefighters and some members of the State Patrol. Republican legislators were asking for the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) to establish a new definition. Judge Frost responded and said, “Interpreting ‘public safety employee’ after striking the legislated definition would be an exercise in the absurd.” There would be no statutory definition for future interpretation, and WERC and the courts would have to review statutes and legislative history which would show the exceptions for some public safety employees.


From here, the unions have seven days to draft a formal judgment for him to sign, and it needs to be finalized before an appeal can be filed. Republican lawmakers have already filed a notice of appeal with the 2nd District Court of Appeals to overturn the decision. The docketing statement specifies that GOP lawmakers will challenge the ruling and argue that he had no basis to grant statewide injunctive relief. The suit argues that if the issue was the different treatment of public workers, then only the definition should be strike down.


The case is certain to be a topic of discussion during the spring state’s Supreme Court race. The court currently has a 4-3 liberal-leaning control, however, Justice Janet Protasiewicz said she might recuse herself from cases involving Act 10 since she signed a recall petition and protested the law. Liberal candidate for SCOWIS Susan Crawford was a part of the legal team that previously unsuccessfully challenged Act 10 in 2011.


Reactions from lawmakers:


Governor Tony Evers (D): “This is great news. I've always believed workers should have a seat at the table in decisions that affect their daily lives and livelihoods. It’s about treating workers with dignity and respect and making sure no worker is treated differently because of their profession.”


Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester): “This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges. Act 10 has saved Wisconsin taxpayers more than $16 billion. We look forward to presenting our arguments on appeal.”


Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg): “For over a decade, liberal activists have attacked reforms that have saved Wisconsin taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. Despite Act 10 being upheld repeatedly by state and federal courts, an activist Dane County judge decided to issue a ruling suddenly deciding Wisconsin's law is unconstitutional. We will appeal this decision immediately.”

Legislative Updates

Legislative study committee on the regulation of AI

The Legislative Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence met yesterday for their final meeting. The Director of External Affairs for the Central Region of MISO presented on how artificial intelligence is being used to improve forecasting for the energy grid. The Committee then went over the 20 recommendations from committee members which covered the impact of AI on privacy and consumer protection, use of AI by the State of Wisconsin, and investments in AI use by the State of Wisconsin.

After discussion on all items during the hearing, the Legislative Council and Chairman Julian Bradley will now be taking the recommendations, combining repetitive items, and eliminating items that are outside of the scope of the committee. They will be producing a final list of recommendations and a final report for the Committee members to vote on by the end of next week.


A full list of all of the recommendations discussed by the Committee members at the hearing can be found here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lc/study/2024/2701/040_december_5_2024_meeting_12_45_p_m_room_411_south_state_capitol/001_memo6_with_attachments_ai

Election Updates

Schimel officially launches campaign

Former Attorney General Brad Schimel officially launched his campaign for the State Supreme Court last weekend. Justice Ann Bradley is not seeking re-election for the seat. At the kick-off event in Waukesha County, Judge Schimel said he has built the team he needs to win this race. After the state Supreme Court race in 2023, he has "never seen our side this motivated or this united."


The State Supreme Court general election will occur on April 1st, 2025. Dane County Judge Susan Crawford has also announced her campaign for the seat.

Upcoming Events

Coffee with the Candidates:


  • Friday, December 13th at 8:30 AM: 18th Assembly District Representative-Elect Margaret Arney (D-Wauwatosa) virtual


January 15th at 11:30 AM - Meet the Cabinet: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary Missy Hughes (virtual and in-person options available)


RSVP to Barb Stevenson at Barb.Stevenson@michaelbest.com if you'd like to attend these events


ABOUT US


If you would like any additional information about the above topic, or if you would like to find time to discuss the above matter in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact your Michael Best Strategies contact.


Have a great day, 

Wisconsin GR Team

Government Relations Team

Our Team |  michaelbeststrategies.com

Get weekly Wisconsin political news & insight from MBS
Contact Us
Twitter  Linkedin  Youtube  

One South Pickney Street, Suite 700

Madison, WI 53703

Phone: 608-257-3501

Fax: 608-283-2275

SUBSCRIBE