The Weekly Update

Welcome to the Universities of Wisconsin Government Relations Newsletter. The Office of Government Relations provides legislative and political updates that impact the Universities of Wisconsin at the state and federal level.

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State Relations

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Joint Committee on Finance

The Joint Committee on Finance held its sixth executive session last Friday, June 27, and voted on the following budget items along with a Section 13.10 meeting:

Section 13.10 meeting:

  • Department of Public Instruction
  • Department of Corrections
  • Department of Natural Resources

Budget Items:

  • Elections Commission
  • Administration -- General Agency Provisions
  • Administration -- Housing and Environment
  • Administration -- Risk Management and Procurement
  • Administration -- Information Technology
  • Administration -- Personnel Management
  • Administration -- Facilities
  • Administration -- Tribal Affairs and Division of Gaming
  • Justice -- Departmentwide
  • Justice -- Crime Victim and Witness Services
  • Justice -- Law Enforcement Services
  • Justice -- Legal Services
  • Justice -- Firearms
  • Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection -- Agricultural Assistance
  • Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection -- Environment
  • Tourism
  • Higher Educational Aids Board
  • Corrections -- Juvenile Corrections
  • Natural Resources -- Departmentwide
  • Natural Resources -- Stewardship
  • Natural Resources -- Fish, Wildlife, and Natural Heritage Conservation
  • Natural Resources -- Forestry
  • Natural Resources -- Parks
  • Natural Resources -- Law Enforcement
  • Natural Resources -- PFAS and Emerging Contaminants
  • Natural Resources -- Waste, Remediation, and Air
  • Natural Resources -- Water Quality
  • Shared Revenue and Tax Relief -- Forestry Mill Rate
  • Program Supplements

Here is a link to the Higher Educational Aids Board Omnibus Motion #84 that was adopted.

Operating budgets for the Universities of Wisconsin and the state’s Building Program encompassing the Universities of Wisconsin’s capital budget were originally on Friday’s agenda but were pulled. Both budget items have now been rescheduled for the executive session on Tuesday, July 1st.

You can view all the Committee’s actions and adopted motions on the Wisconsin Legislature website.

Assembly Floor Session

The Assembly was on the floor voting on various bills last week. You can view Assembly floor actions here.

Assembly Bill 132/Senate Bill 124, relating to: creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit, passed via a voice vote and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk.  

Joint Committee on Finance

The Joint Committee on Finance will be holding its seventh executive session on Tuesday, July 1, at 9:00am to vote on the Universities of Wisconsin’s operating budget, the state’s Building Program that encompasses the Universities of Wisconsin’s capital budget, as well as all the other following budget items:

  • University of Wisconsin System
  • University of Wisconsin System -- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
  • Building Commission
  • Building Program
  • Program Supplements
  • Compensation Reserves
  • Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board
  • Children and Families -- TANF and Economic Support
  • Children and Families -- Child Welfare
  • Children and Families -- Juvenile Justice
  • Children and Families -- Departmentwide
  • Health Services -- Medical Assistance
  • Health Services -- Services for the Elderly and People with Disabilities
  • Health Services -- Public Health
  • Health Services -- Behavioral Health
  • Health Services -- Care and Treatment Facilities
  • Health Services -- Quality Assurance
  • Health Services -- FoodShare and Medical Assistance Administration
  • Health Services -- Departmentwide
  • Transportation -- Transportation Finance
  • Transportation -- Local Transportation Aid
  • Transportation -- Local Transportation Assistance
  • Transportation -- State Highway Program
  • Transportation -- Motor Vehicles
  • Transportation -- State Patrol
  • Transportation – Departmentwide

You will also be able to watch on WisconsinEye.

Senate and Assembly Floor Sessions

Both the Senate and Assembly are tentatively planning to be on the floor this Wednesday, July 2 to consider AB50/SB45, the legislative budget bill.

You will also be able to watch on WisconsinEye.

Federal Relations

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Senate Committee on the Budget Update

On June 28, the Senate Budget Committee released the full Senate text of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill. The Senate worked over the weekend on the legislation, which could be voted on in the Chamber as soon as this week.

Following Senate consideration, the House of Representatives is expected to return to Washington for further consideration.

House Education and Workforce Update 

Last week, Chairman Tim Walberg sent letters to DePaul University, California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), and Haverford College, which ask for additional information following the committee testimony of each university.

If interested, you can also review the Committee hearing.

House and Senate Floor Schedules

In a change to the previously announced scheduled, the House of Representatives and Senate are likely to be in session and voting this week as each Chamber continues consideration of budget reconciliation legislation. A full list of votes can be found on the respective websites for the House of Representatives and the Senate as they are released. 

Note: Links to external sites are provided for informational purposes and not meant to convey an endorsement of the Universities of Wisconsin.