Reminder: Contact Senators on Affordable Housing Loans

In case you missed it, in the January 26th edition of the Legislative Bulletin, we asked for your help contacting Senators asking to get Assembly Bill 194 to the floor of the Senate. This legislation makes numerous important changes to the workforce housing loan programs established last session to remove the hurdles that have prevented these programs from being as accessible as desired.

Municipalities of all sizes throughout the state are looking to grow their affordable housing stock. These loan programs could help, but only if barriers to entry are removed for municipalities and developers planning projects and coordinating funding.

⏰Time is short to pass these changes! Please consider reaching out to your municipality’s Senator and asking them to support bringing Assembly Bill 194 to a vote before the Senate adjourns in March.

Additional information on this legislation and its importance may be found here. The details in this attachment should help to steer your comments of support. You will also find helpful links to learn more about the bill and find your Senator’s contact information (link is also included in the section below). 

February Floorperiod Starts Tomorrow as the End Nears

At the beginning of each biennial session, both legislative chambers agree to dates where the full chambers may convene to vote on passage of legislation. These sets of dates are known as floorperiods. The February 2026 floorperiod kicks off tomorrow, February 10th and runs until Thursday, February 19th. This floorperiod is especially notable as it’s expected to be the last floorperiod for the Wisconsin State Assembly before they adjourn their 2025-2026 Legislative Session. While the Senate will meet in February, they’re expected to continue their work into March.

Read the League’s full preview of the February floorperiod, including what we’re hoping to see pass, what we’re hoping will not be taken up, and what we know so far by clicking the button below. 

Save the Date: TDA Transportation Roundtables in May

Wisconsin’s cities and villages own and maintain over 20,000 miles of roads. Transportation infrastructure is such a large part of what municipalities provide to their residents and businesses. Unfortunately, state assistance has fallen short of the help we need to maintain this critical infrastructure. On average only about 15% of all eligible transportation costs are being paid by the state in cities and villages. While we seek additional assistance, the state doesn’t have the funding in the segregated Transportation Fund as those revenues have been declining relative to inflation.

Simply put, we need to have a comprehensive conversation about Wisconsin’s transportation future and how we can work together to preserve a safe, modern, and interconnected transportation system that keeps our state moving forward, strong, and competitive. The Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin (TDA), a statewide alliance of stakeholder organizations (including the League) advocating for smart transportation policies, is hosting six “Regional Turnout for Transportation Roundtables” in May to launch this conversation, and all municipal officials are invited and encouraged to join.

The six roundtable dates and locations are listed below, with each event being held from 7:30am to 9:00am. Please consider putting a hold on your calendar for the day and location that works best for you. If you’d like to get your name in early, you can also RSVP now on TDA’s website. 

• Appleton - Thursday, May 14th at the D.J. Bordini Center, 1825 N. Bluemound Dr.
  
• La Crosse - Monday, May 18th at the Radisson, 200 Harborview Plaza
  
• Eau Claire - Tuesday, May 19th at The Lismore, 333 Better Way
  
• Wausau - Wednesday, May 20th at the Hilton Garden Inn, 151401 County Road NN
  
• Oak Creek - Wednesday, May 27th at the Homewood Suites and Conference Center, 1900 W. Creekside Xing Cir.
  
• Janesville - Thursday, May 28th at the Woodman’s Sports and Convention Center, 2510 Milton Ave. 

Agency Actions

Local Small Structures Replacement Program Launches

Last week, Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced that applications are now being accepted for the Local Small Structures Improvement Program (LSSIP). Stemming from actions in the previous budget to complete an inventory and inspection of all bridges and culverts over 6 feet but under 20 feet throughout the state, this $30 million program will now provide 90% of the cost to replace structures rated as severe or poor.

Applications to this new and exciting program are due on Friday, May 1st with award announcements anticipated in July. Municipalities may submit two applications for structures that have a condition rating of 4 or lower as determined by a certified bridge inspector, however, if a municipality has more than two structures rated in severe condition (0-2), no application limit applies for those structures. Dozens of municipalities should be eligible for this program.

This is a one-time funding opportunity, so if your municipality is eligible, do not wait to apply. Additional information in the program including application instructions and guidelines and small structure assessment data are available on WisDOT’s website. WisDOT plans to host a webinar later this month to provide an overview of the program. Details regarding this webinar will be shared in an upcoming edition of the Legislative Bulletin once they’re available.

Youth Volunteer Firefighter Training Grants Open

Last Monday, the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) opened the Youth Volunteer Firefighter Training Program for applications. This will be the fifth round of funding in this popular program started to build interest among middle and high school students in volunteering for their local fire department after graduation. Grants of up to $25,000 with no match required are available to qualified fire departments, school districts, and technical colleges to develop marketing strategies, recruit and train students, and offer incentives that could lead to the local K-12 pupils considering community service as a firefighter.

$75,000 is available in this round of funding with applications due on Sunday, March 1st. Applicants that have not previously received an award will be given priority. It’s anticipated that grant awards will be announced on Monday, March 23rd. More information and application materials are available on DSPS’s website.

Municipal Revenues and Expenditures Report Published

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) recently published the 2024 County and Municipal Revenues and Expenditures report. This report contains data compiled from the 2024 Municipal Financial Reports (MFRs) submitted by local governments on an annual basis and includes information in aggregate and individually for local governments sorted by type. This treasure trove of information is available as a PDF or an Excel spreadsheet on DOR’s website.