As the expanding COVID-19 issue continues to present challenges for us all, we want to assure you that the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and communities is the UW System’s top priority.

Given the rapidly changing landscape of the coronavirus situation, it is important that we have a clear understanding of our policies and anticipated actions. The UW System’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC), which includes a team of health, risk, international security, emergency management, legal counsel and communication experts, has launched a website to provide information on the latest coronavirus developments, particularly as they relate to the UW System. The site will provide regular updates and/or new information, as needed. You can find the website at www.wisconsin.edu/coronavirus. We encourage you to share this website as a resource.

On Monday, March 2, 2020, Governor Tony Evers signed a series of bills into law. Among the bills was AB 531: ID Card Info, now Wisconsin Act 116.

Act 116 will require all newly issued student identification cards to include contact information for local and national suicide prevention hotlines.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2020 the Governor also signed several other bills into law which affect the UW System, which include:

• SB 537/AB 684 Private School Veterans Grant, now Wisconsin Act 149
• SB 117/AB 82 Athlete Agent Regulation, now Wisconsin Act 180
• SB 205/AB 230 Veterans Credit Transfer, now Wisconsin Act 147

The Board of Regents held a public hearing on Thursday, March 5, on proposed amendments to Chapter UWS 17, Wis. Admin. Code and Chapter UWS 18, Wis. Admin. Code. 

 Written comments for each rule will be accepted until March 12, 2020. Comments may be submitted:

1. on the web (Chapter 17; Chapter 18)
2. by email to board@uwsa.edu;
3. at the public hearing; or
4. by mail to Office of the Board of Regents, 1860 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

The State Assembly’s final meeting of the legislative session was on Thursday, February 20, however there are a number of active bills that could still become law. This includes bills that have been passed by the State Assembly and are awaiting State Senate action and bills that have been passed by both houses and have been sent to the Governor for his consideration. It is possible the Assembly could come back in, but it would be for a very narrow purpose, such as to vote on a veto override or a specific issue.

Bills that have been passed by the State Assembly and could still be considered when the State Senate meets at the end of March are:

• SB 403/AB 444 (Kapenga/Horlacher): Freedom of Expression
• AB 874 (Loudenbeck): UW System Ag Study
• AB 876 (Loudenbeck): UW Madison Ag Study
• SB 718/AB 796 (Cowles/Kitchens): Nitrate Reduction Pilot
• SB 709/AB 799 (Jacque/Kurtz): Water Policy Office
• SB 722/AB 800 (Testin/Shankland): Well Testing Grants & UWSP Watershed funding
• SB 712/AB 801 (Darling/Novak): Freshwater Collaborative
• SB 563/AB 627 (VanderMeer/Marklein): Extension Funding
• SB 497/AB 556 (Loudenbeck/Marklein): Teaching Hours
• SB 446/AB 452 (Roth/Skrowonski): MIA Bill
• SB 559/AB 600 (Nass/Horlacher) PFA’s language was added on Assembly Floor

Bills that have been passed by both houses and now await action from the Governor are:

• SB 537/AB 684 Private School Veterans Grant
• SB 496/AB 531 Suicide Hotline numbers on ID Cards
• SB 117/AB 82 Athlete Agent Regulation
• SB 205/AB 230 Veterans Credit Transfer

We will continue to update the State Relations newsletter with changes on these bills.

The Wisconsin State Building Commission met on Thursday, February 27, to vote on state and UW System building and improvement proposals. The Commission considered and approved the following items on behalf of the University of Wisconsin:

• UW-La Crosse: Authority to Construct the Fieldhouse and Soccer Support Facility – $49,035,000 ($24,517,500 PRSB and $24,517,000 PR-Cash)
• UW-Madison: Increase for the Babcock Hall Dairy Plant and Center for Dairy Research Addition $25,689,100 – $72,609,100 ($26,210,000 GFSB, $23,960,000 Gifts and $22,439,100 PR-Cash)
• UW-Madison: Increase for the Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory $7,000,000 – $57,077,000 ($27,177,000 GFSB, $25,400,000 Gifts and $4,500 PR-Cash)
• UW-Madison: Authority to Construct the Sellery Hall Addition and Renovation – $78,811,000 ($59,108,000 PRSB and $19,703,000 PR-Cash)
• UW-Milwaukee: Increase, Authority to Demolish Building A, Authority to Construct NWQ and Student Health Projects – $3,100,000 – $59,780,000($49,100,000 GFSB, $7,000,000 PRSB, $1,500,000 PR-Cash and $2,180,000 Gifts)
• UW Eau Claire: Increase, Heating Plant Fuel Reliability – $1,057,400 -$3,857,200 ($2,709,300 GFSB and $1,147,900 PRSB)
• UW-Parkside: Increase, Authority to Construct Classroom Renovation/Instructional Technology $450,000 PR-Cash – $2,501,300 ($2,051,300 GFSB and $450,000 PR-Cash)
• UW-Milwaukee: EMS Laboratory Renovation – $2,990,000 GFSB
• UW-Milwaukee: Purin Hall Infrastructure Repairs – $325,000 PRSB
• UW-Milwaukee: Zelazo Center Roof Repairs – $930,000 GFSB
• UW-Milwaukee: Campus IT Infrastructure Renovation – $4,805,100 ($3,748,000 GFSB and $1,057,100 PRSB)
• UW-Milwaukee: Heating Plant Stack Replacements – $526,000 ($410,000 GFSB and $115,700)
• UW-Parkside: Sports & Activity Center Pool Basin Infill – $1,764,600 GFSB
• UW-Parkside: Campus Underground Utility Distribution Renovation – $4,847,400 ($4,023,300 GFSB and $824,100 PR-Cash)
• UW-Platteville: Art Building Exterior Envelope Repairs – $2,424,400 GFSB
• UW-Platteville: Williams Fieldhouse Addition Roof Replacement – $1,378,300 GFSB
• UW-River Falls: Increase, Heating Plant Fuel Reliability Upgrade – $473,000 – $3,288,700 ($1,331,400 GFSB and $1,956,800 PR-Cash)
• UW-Stout: Multi-Bldg Fire Alarm System Replacement – $2,045,000 GFSB
• UW-Whitewater: Esker Hall Roof Replacement – $1,195,000 PRSB
• UW-Whitewater: Heating Plant Boiler No. 6 Upgrade – $400,000 ($228,000 GFSB and $172,000 PRSB)

Meeting minutes will be posted on the DFDM website once they are available.

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