The Joint Committee on Finance held an executive session on Monday, February 17, and heard the following bills related to UW System:

  • AB-627 Extension Services: funding for certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation. Passed in a 14-0 vote

 

  • SB-563 Extension Services: funding for certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation. Passed in a 14-0 vote

The Assembly Committee on Environment held an executive session on Tuesday, February 18, and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

  • AB-842 PFAS Programs: providing funding related to PFAS programs and positions, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
    Passed in a 12-0 vote

 

  • AB-843 PFAS Standards: PFAS standards and grant programs, providing blood testing for certain individuals, requiring a cancer cluster study, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority.
    Passed including Amendment 1, in a 11-1 vote

The Assembly was in session on Tuesday, February 18 and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

  • AB-703 Tax Exemption: a sales and use tax exemption for building materials that become a part of a facility for the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority.
    Amendment 1 passed; messaged

 

  • AB-796 Nitrate Reduction Pilot: creating a pilot grant program for farmers to reduce nitrate loading, funding research for nitrate loading reduction methods, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
    Passed including Amendment 1, in a 98-0 vote; messaged

 

  • AB-799 Water Policy Office: creating an office of water policy and making an appropriation.
    Passed including Amendment 1, in a 98-0 vote. Messaged

 

  • AB-800 Well Testing Grants: supporting the Center for Watershed Science and Education, creating a hydrogeologist position, funding research on phosphorus recovery and reuse, creating grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
    Passed including
    Amendment 1 and Amendment 2, in a 98-0 vote; messaged

 

  • AB-801 Freshwater Collaborative: funding a University of Wisconsin System freshwater collaborative and making an appropriation.
    Passed in a 97-0 vote; messaged

The Senate was in session on Wednesday, February 19, and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

  • SB-537 Tuition Grants– veteran-related tuition grants for certain veterans and dependents enrolled in private nonprofit institutions of higher education and making an appropriation.
    Passed including Amendment 1, in a 33-0 vote; messaged

 

  • SB-690 Fee Reports : biennial reports regarding fees charged by executive agencies.
    Passed in a voice vote; Messaged

The Assembly was in session on Thursday, February 20, and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

  • AB-556 Teaching Hours: recognizing teaching hours for providing certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System.
    Passed in a voice vote, including Substitute Amendment 1; Messaged

 

  • AB-627 Extension Services: funding for certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation.
    Passed in a 99-0 vote; Messaged

 

  • AB-874 UW System Ag Study: requiring a study by the University of System of agricultural programs and issues.
    Passed in a voice vote, including Amendment 1; Messaged

 

  • AB-876 UW Madison Study: requiring the University of Wisconsin-Madison to conduct a research study on developing an agricultural science and technology program.
    Passed in voice vote; Messaged

 

  • SB-117 Athlete Agents Act: adopting revisions to the state’s uniform athlete agents act and providing a penalty.
    Passed in a voice vote; Messaged

 

  • SB-205 Military Credit Transfer: transferring academic credits from military transcripts to University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges.
    Amendment 1 returned to author; passed in a voice vote; Messaged

 

  • SB-446 UW MIA Project: The University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action Recovery and Identification Project and making an appropriation.
    Passed in a 98-0 vote, including Amendment 1; Messaged

 

  • SB-537 Tuition Grants: veteran-related tuition grants for certain veterans and dependents enrolled in private nonprofit institutions of higher education and making an appropriation.
    Passed in a 99-0 vote; Messaged 

 

Thursday, February 20th was the last floor session for the Assembly. We anticipate the Senate will be on the floor one more time in March.

The Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families held an executive session on Friday, February 21 and voted by paper ballot on the following bill relating to UW System:

  • SB 403 Free Expression– free expression within the University of Wisconsin System, providing an exemption from rule-making procedures, and granting rule-making authority

The Committee passed the bill, including Substitute Amendment 1, in a 4-3 vote.

The State Building Commission (SBC) will meet on Thursday, February 27, starting at 10:00 a.m. See the meeting agenda for more details.  For more information or past meeting minutes, visit the DFDM website.

The Assembly will be in session on Thursday, February 20, starting at 10:00 a.m. We expect this will be the last time the Assembly will be on the floor this session. We anticipate the Senate will be on the floor one more time in early March. Please see below bills related to UW System that the Assembly will consider and their next step if they are passed by the Assembly:

  • AB-556 Teaching Hours: recognizing teaching hours for providing certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System. This will still need to pass the Senate.
  • AB-627 Extension Services: funding for certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation. This will still need to pass the Senate.
  • AB-874 UW System Ag Study: requiring a study by the University of System of agricultural programs and issues. This will still need to receive a public hearing in the Senate.
  • AB-876 UW Madison Study: requiring the University of Wisconsin-Madison to conduct a research study on developing an agricultural science and technology program. This will still need to receive a public hearing in the Senate.
  • SB-117 Athlete Agents Act: adopting revisions to the state’s uniform athlete agents act and providing a penalty. This will go to the Governor.
  • SB-205 Military Credit Transfer: transferring academic credits from military transcripts to University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. This will go to the Governor.
  • SB-446 UW MIA Project: The University of Wisconsin Missing-in-Action Recovery and Identification Project and making an appropriation. This will go to the Governor.

The Assembly Committee on Agriculture held a public hearing and executive session on Tuesday, February 11 and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

  • AB 874 UW System Ag Study: requiring a study by the University of System of agricultural programs and issues. passed including amendment 1, in a 15-0 vote
  • AB-627 Extension Services: funding for certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation. Passed in a 15-0 vote
  • AB 876 UW Madison Study: requiring the University of Wisconsin-Madison to conduct a research study on developing an agricultural science and technology program. Passed in 14-1 vote

President Ray Cross submitted written testimony on AB 874 for information only (attached below).

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy held an executive session on Tuesday, February 11 and voted by paper ballot on the following bills relating to UW System:

  • SB-718 Nitrate Reduction Pilot: creating a pilot grant program for farmers to reduce nitrate loading, funding research for nitrate loading reduction methods, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Passed including Amendment 1, in a 5-0 vote.
  • SB-722 Well Testing Grants: supporting the Center for Watershed Science and Education, creating a hydrogeologist position, funding research on phosphorus recovery and reuse, creating grant programs for counties to test wells and provide public education, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Passed including Amendment 1, in a 5-0 vote. 
  • SB-772 PFAS Standards: PFAS standards and grant programs, providing blood testing for certain individuals, requiring a cancer cluster study, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Passed in a 4-1 vote
  • SB-773 PFAS Programs: providing funding related to PFAS programs and positions, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Passed in a 4-1 vote