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Important Updates from the League
⭐MONDAY AM UPDATE - Joint Finance Meeting Tuesday to Wrap Up Budget: The Joint Finance Committee distributed a notice this morning for a planned executive session tomorrow, July 1st, for 9am. The agencies JFC will take up includes the Department of Transportation, Building Program, and childcare funding in the Department of Children and Families, among others. It is expected that this could be the last executive session for JFC with the full bodies slated to consider the full budget later this week. While the hearing is noticed for 9am, JFC often convenes their hearings after the noticed start time, so for those that enjoy watching the committee proceedings, stay tuned to WisconsinEye's schedule page to see the most up-to-date start times.
⭐ Upcoming Hearing on PFAS Liability and Programs: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs has noticed a public hearing for Tuesday, July 1st at 11:00am on two bills addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The League supports both bills and will be testifying in-favor at the hearing.
Under both Senate Bills (SBs) 127 and 128, municipalities would receive Spills Law liability exemptions for certain actions or properties that have PFAS contamination. Under SB 128, a Municipal PFAS Grant Program and Innocent Landowner Grant Program would be established to assist with the expense of addressing PFAS contamination. SB 128 also has a number of other components, including expediting the Public Service Commission approval process for certain projects to address PFAS.
SB 128 is similar to 2023 SB 312, a bill which the League supported after working with the authors on an amendment but the Governor vetoed due to concerns over liability exemptions. Last session's SB 312 was set to be funded with $125 million set aside, and still available, in the PFAS Trust Fund with the League's support. Since this veto, the Governor proposed liability exemptions for farmers who spread PFAS-laden biosolids in his budget, but has yet to signal support for municipal liability protections.
Municipalities designated as responsible parties for PFAS by the DNR and municipalities facing significant costs in addressing PFAS contamination may want to consider attending this hearing and speaking in-favor of these bills. If you intend to attend the hearing, please let Toni and Evan know by emailing the addresses listed below so we may update you with any scheduling changes and answer questions you have. For those interested in watching the hearing, it is scheduled to be streamed on WisconsinEye.
⭐ MOE Reporting Deadline is TOMORROW: As of last Wednesday, 535 cities and villages had filed their 2025 Maintenance of Effort (MOE) report. Great work by everyone who submitted this report early! If your municipality has yet to file their MOE report, remember that it's due tomorrow, July 1st. Be certain you submit your report to avoid a 15% reduction in shared revenue payments. For more information and resources to assist with filing, visit the May 28th edition of the Legislative Bulletin.
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