The state budget process has taken several new turns since the last update. In early June, leadership in both houses announced that negotiations with the Governor had stalled due to a lack of consensus among all parties. Senate Republicans were believed to be the primary obstacle to an agreement between the Governor and legislative Republicans. Despite the impasse, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) continued holding executive sessions to vote on numerous funding initiatives related to education, veteran affairs, and public safety. The committee approved increases in special education funding, a retirement tax exemption for seniors, investments in school mental health services, staffing support for the District Attorneys and Public Defender Board, and upgrades to Wisconsin’s emergency communications system.
However, the most contentious issue this session has been funding for the UW System. The JFC was expected to take up motions on this topic, but the vote was pulled from the agenda just hours before the hearing was set to begin. That decision appeared to mark a turning point in the process. On June 19, budget deliberations came to a complete halt, and leadership from both the Senate and Assembly issued public statements. The Assembly signaled that its Republicans remain open to compromise with the Governor, while Senate Republicans appear to have stepped away from negotiations, unable to reach consensus within their own caucus. With the fiscal year ending on June 30, it remains unclear what will happen next. The situation is highly unusual, and attention is now on Senate Republicans as the state waits to see how they will proceed.
Despite budget tensions, the Senate and Assembly both held floor sessions this week. Lawmakers unanimously passed the APRN Modernization Act. This legislation has been in the works for 13 years and finally grants independent practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses. This new license will increase access to healthcare, especially in rural areas of our state. After many rounds of trying to reach a consensus the Governor is expected to sign it in the coming days. Below is a snapshot of the bills Fox City continues to track.
Click here to view the updated list of bills.
by Jim Steineke, Government Affairs & Advocacy