The Assembly Committee on Agriculture held a public hearing on Tuesday, February 4, and heard the following bill relating to UW System:

• 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.

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy held a public hearing on Wednesday, February 5, and heard the following bill 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.

UW-Stevens Point representative Kevin Masirik testified for information only.

• SB 722– Groundwater Quality – 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

President Cross submitted written testimony, attached below, in favor of this bill.

Following the public hearing, the Committee held an executive session and considered the following bills related to UW System:

• SB-712– Freshwater Collaborative: funding a University of Wisconsin System freshwater collaborative and making an appropriation. Passed in a 5-0 vote
• SB 709– Water Policy Office: creating an office of water policy and making an appropriation. Passed including Amendment 1, in a 5-0 vote

The Assembly Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight held an executive session on Wednesday, February 5 and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

• AB 799 Water Policy Office: creating an office of water policy and making an appropriation. Passed including Amendment 1, in a 10-1 vote.
• AB 629 Fee Reports: Biennial reports regarding fees charged by executive agencies. Passed in a 7-4 vote.

The Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities held an executive session on Thursday, February 6, and heard the following bills related to UW System:

• AB 684– 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 16-0 vote.
• AB 801– Freshwater Collaborative: funding a University of Wisconsin System freshwater collaborative and making an appropriation. Passed in a 16-0 vote.
• AB 800– Groundwater Quality: 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 16-0 vote.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Revenue, & Financial Institutions held an executive session on Thursday, February 6, and heard the following bill related to UW System:

• SB-645 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

The Committee voted to pass SB 645, including Amendment 1, in a 9-0 vote.

Following the executive session, the Committee held a public hearing and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

• SB-563 Extension Services: funding for certain extension services of the University of Wisconsin System and making an appropriation
• JR0 SB4 Extension Ag Positions: county-based agriculture positions in the Division of Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and making an appropriation.

President Ray Cross registered in favor of both these bills, and UW-Madison provided testimony for both bills.

The Assembly Committee on Environment held a public hearing on Thursday, February 6, and heard the following bill relating to UW System:

• AB-842 PFAS Programs: providing funding related to PFAS programs and positions, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.
• 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.

President Ray Cross registered in favor of both bills.

The Assembly Committee on Agriculture held an executive session on Thursday, February 6 and heard the following bill related to UW System:

• 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.

The Committee passed the bill, including Amendment 1, in a 15–0 vote.

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy held a public hearing on Friday, February 7, and heard the following bills relating to UW System:

• 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
• SB-773 PFAS Programs: providing funding related to PFAS programs and positions, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation

President Ray Cross registered in favor of both bills.

The February Board of Regents was held in Madison on Thursday, February 7 and Friday, February 8.

On Thursday, the Regents heard a variety of presentations and focused on exploring strategies to narrow the achievement gap. In addition, the Business and Finance Committee voted unanimously to approve changes to nonresident and graduate student tuition rates at six institutions: UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Whitewater. The change will increase nonresident tuition between one and five percent, with exceptions for specific graduate programs at UW-Milwaukee and UW-River Falls. The Capital Planning and Budget Committee also approved several projects, which can be found on the UW System news release  summary of the Thursday meeting.

On Friday, the Regents approved a proposal to revise a recently approved Regent Policy for “Contracts with Research Companies,” to comply with the recently enacted 2019 Act 36, with an additional amendment proposed by UW-Madison.  The Regents also approved guidelines for the first-time administration of the Wisconsin Merit Scholarship program, which was created by 2017 Act 314. See the news summary for a full summary of the Friday meeting.