While there are only a few months left in Wisconsin’s 2023-24 biannual legislative session, there could be a lot packed into the remaining calendar days before both houses wrap-up their work for the year in March.

One of the most pressing issues will be whether the Legislature and Governor Evers can come to an agreement on Wisconsin’s $7 billion budget surplus.  They failed to come to an agreement during state budget negotiations and have yet to make progress since.  The legislature wants to fund a significant tax cut while the Governor wants to see money go toward childcare and a smaller tax cut.  There are other spending priorities for both sides, but a deal will have to be cut or we can expect to start the next budget process with a fat surplus once again. 

In addition to the surplus, some other hot-button issues remain.  Speaker Robin Vos has said he is going to bring a medical marijuana bill to the floor.  Wisconsin is nearly surrounded by states that have legalized recreational marijuana, but most legislators in the Badger State are not supportive of full legalization.  Vos’s bill could be a compromise.

In recent interviews, Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu has mentioned two of his priorities being a bill that would allow Wisconsin to access $84 million in federal funding to build Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, as well as a bill that would give Wisconsin companies the first option to build transmission lines in Wisconsin.  As of today, each of these proposals has had at least one public hearing with more action in both houses expected soon. 

Other issues that the legislature may address include PFAS (forever chemicals), abortion, election reform and artificial intelligence.  On the health care front, we’ll expect to see some activity surrounding the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) bill and price transparency and pharmacy benefit manager bills. 

*Next Legislative Update February 1* WISCA legislative updates are open to all members and held monthly.  The next update is Thursday, February 1 at 12pm by Zoom.  Sign up today (register here).