Schedule

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB or Board) sets policy for the Department of Natural Resources and exercises authority and responsibility in accordance with governing state laws. On August 14, 2024, the Board will hold a meeting on the following agenda:

Organizational Matters

• Calling the roll
• Secretary’s Remarks
• Approval of agenda

Consent

• Approval of brief of action from June 26, 2024
• NR 64 related to all-terrain vehicles
• Donation Acknowledgments

Discussion of Possible Action Concerning Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

Action Items

• Adoption: Board Order AM-05-22, proposed rules affecting Chapter NR 439
• Scope Statements: Board Order WA-08-24 and Emergency Board Order WA-07-24(E), Emergency Board Order WM-11-24(E) and Board Order WM-12-24 and WM-12-23, Board Order DG-04-24
• Approval of Elk Management Plan and Adoption of Rule

Open Forum

Information Items

• Overview of DNR boating safety program, wake boat briefing and aquatic invasive species considerations

Department Secretary’s Matters

• Retirement Recognition
• Acts of the Department Secretary – Real Estate Transactions
• Department Secretary’s Matters

Board Members’ Matters

• Approval of the 2025 Natural Resources Board Meeting Dates
• Board Member Matters

On August 14, 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds Group Insurance Board (GIB) met on the following agenda:

• Call to Order
• Announcements
• Consideration of: Open and Closed Minutes of May 23, 2024 Meeting
• Mergers and Acquisitions in the Healthcare Market Presentation
• Weight-Loss Drugs Analysis and Coverage Considerations Presentation
• Group Life Insurance Program Annual Report Presentation
• Vendor Security Framework and Contract Considerations Presentation
• Closed Session
• LTC Insurance Contract Recommendation Presentation
• Operational Updates
• Tentative November 2024 Agenda
• Closed Session
• Adjournment

On August 14, 2024, WisPolitics.com hosted a luncheon at The Madison Club for a talk with GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde. (Brought to you by the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance). For more coverage, see the news conference following the event.

Additional Reference: WisPolitics.com – Hovde knocks Dems for not doing enough on inflation, says country headed for recession

On August 14, 2024, U.S. Senate Candidate Eric Hovde spoke to members of the media following his WisPolitics.com luncheon event.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: EVENT START TIME HAS CHANGED FROM 3:30PM TO 3:45PM

On August 14, 2024, Clean Wisconsin hosted an event at the Black Business Hub in Madison to celebrate the two year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act being signed into law. Since it was signed in August of 2022, the IRA has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into Wisconsin to create clean energy jobs, clean up pollution, protect farms, and help families save money on their energy bills. Speakers include:

• Dr. Ruben Anthony, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Madison
• Sam Rikkers, Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
• Maria Redmond, Director, Office of Sustainability & Clean Energy
• Torrance Kramer, President, Accurate-Airtight Exteriors
• Chelsea Chandler, Climate, Energy & Air Program Director, Clean Wisconsin
• Michael Turney, Project Development Director, SunPeak

On August 15, 2024, Customers First Coalition will host their Power Breakfast event on the following agenda:

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM

• Opening Remarks – Commissioner Marcus Hawkins, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM

• The Reality of Retail Choice: Maryland’s Utility Deregulation Case Study – Laurel Peltier, Journalist and Energy Advocate

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

• Pumped Hydro Energy Storage, SMR’s, and Reliable Power – Brent Ridge, President and CEO, Dairyland Power Cooperative

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM

• Wisconsin’s Energy Providers Panel Featuring: Tom Hanrahan, WPPI Energy; Cari Anne Renlund, Madison Gas & Electric; Brent Ridge, Dairyland Power Cooperative; Nicholas Kumm, Marshfield Utilities

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM

• Closing Remarks – Rep. Lisa Subek, Ranking Member, Assembly Energy & Utilities Committee

On August 15, 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development will hold a news conference following the release of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for July 2024. The briefing covers the statewide unemployment rate, total nonfarm jobs, labor force participation rate and some high-level sector information.

On August 15, 2024, Governor’s Task Force on the Health Care Workforce will meet to discuss draft recommendations.

On August 16, 2024, WisconsinEye’s Rewind Host and CBS 58 Capitol Reporter Emilee Fannon and WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross review this week in state politics. (Brought to you by the Wisconsin Realtors Association).

Democrats from across the country and Wisconsin are heading to Chicago next week for the Democratic National Convention running Monday through Thursday. Democrats are riding high on enthusiasm for their new nominee Vice President Harris. But will the energy sustain? On August 16, 2024, WisconsinEye’s Newsmakers, two veteran journalists who covered the RNC in Milwaukee share their reflections on Newsmakers: Andrew Bahl, State Government Reporter with The Cap Times and Adam Kelnhofer State Capitol Reporter with the Wisconsin State Journal. (Brought to you by Nicolet National Bank).

MadAI will host Darren Oberst, founding member of LLMWare.ai, to present on August 19, 2024. He will talk about Small language models, known as SLIM’s, and their use cases. This event is in collaboration with Forward Fest, Wisconsin’s largest tech & entrepreneurship festival. MadAI will be hosted on the first day of the Forward Fest week long conference.

The special committee is directed to study issues relating to American Indians and the American Indian tribes and bands in this state and develop specific recommendations and legislative proposals relating to these issues. On August 22, 2024, the Special Committee on State-Tribal Relations will meet on the following agenda:

10:00 a.m. Call to Order and Roll Call

10:05 a.m. Opening Remarks:

• Anne Sappenfield, Director, Legislative Council Staff
• Representative Jeffrey Mursau, Co-Chair, Joint Legislative Council

10:10 a.m. Introduction of Committee Members and Discussion of Committee Assignment

10:45 a.m. Description and Discussion of Distributed Materials by Legislative Council Committee Staff:

• LC Study Committee Memo No. 1, “Topics of Committee Discussion,” August 13, 2024
• 2023 Assembly Bill 210/2023 Senate Bill 199, relating to pupils wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event
• 2023 Assembly Bill 211/2023 Senate Bill 200, relating to authorization for tribal governments to copy certified copies of vital records for administrative use
• 2023 Assembly Bill 214/2023 Senate Bill 203, relating to a lifetime license that authorizes an individual to teach an American Indian language in an American Indian language program and modifying rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction
• Discussion of Ideas for Legislation Submitted by Members to the Chair

12:15 p.m. Committee Discussion and Plans for Future Meetings

1:00 p.m. Adjournment

On August 23, 2024, WisconsinEye’s Rewind Host and CBS 58 Capitol Reporter Emilee Fannon and WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross review this week in state politics. (Brought to you by the Wisconsin Realtors Association).