Schedule

You wouldn’t know it by watching the news, but there is more than a race for State Supreme Court on the ballot this coming April 4th. Wisconsinites will be asked several questions, including two which would change the state’s constitution. Voters in the 8th Senate District will also weigh in on a race that could move the legislature toward a GOP supermajority. On March 27, 2023, Newsmakers featured election experts Dustin Brown, Staff Attorney with the State Democracy Research Institute at UW Law School and Henrik Schatzinger, Interim Director of the Center for Politics and the People at Ripon College.

On March 28, 2023, the Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC), Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) will hold a news conference prior to today’s JFC Agency Briefing.

On March 28, 2023, the Joint Committee on Finance will hold a Section 13.10 meeting followed by briefings from representatives of state agencies on the Governor’s 2023-2025 Biennial Budget – Assembly Bill 43 / Senate Bill 70.

Section 13.10 Meeting

Department of Justice

• Joshua Kaul, Attorney General Case: State of Wisconsin and Randy and Alan Schiferl d/b/a Schiferl Farms
• Joshua Kaul, Attorney General Case: State of Wisconsin and American Express Excavation, LLC III.
• Joshua Kaul, Attorney General Case: State of Wisconsin v. Kinnard Farms, Inc.

Agency Briefings

• Department of Corrections
• Department of Transportation

On March 28, 2023, the Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention will hold an informational hearing on mental health and substance abuse prevention in Wisconsin and issues for legislative consideration featuring the following speakers:

Department of Veterans Affairs

• Cal Stammer, Supervisor, Veteran Outreach and Recovery Program
• Joseph Hoey, Assistant Deputy Secretary 

Department of Corrections

• Dr. Kevin Kallas, Director of Psychiatry in the Division of Adult Institutions
• Anna Neal, Legislative Advisor 

Wisconsin Psychiatric Association

• Dr. Jacqueline Landess, Medical College of Wisconsin
• Dr. Michael Peterson, University of Wisconsin, Department of Psychiatry

The Production Farm

• Wyatt Kuether, Chief Executive Officer 
• Katie Heinzen, Director of Behavioral Health 
• Kayla Hohmann, Chief Operations Officer

Office of Children’s Mental Health

• Linda Hall, Director

Badger State Sheriffs’ Association and Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association

• Sheriff Brett Semingson, Trempealeau County
• Sheriff Joel Wener, Pepin County

Wisconsin Counties Association

• Chelsea Shanks, Government Affairs Associate
• John Tuohy, Executive Director, Wisconsin County Human Services Association

Wisconsin Association of Family & Children’s Agencies

• Kathy Markeland, Executive Director

National Alliance on Mental Illness

• Sita Diehl MSSW, Public Policy & Advocacy Director, NAMI Wisconsin 

Department of Public Instruction

• Tom McCarthy, Executive Director, Office of the State superintendent
• Louise Wilson, Consultant, School Nursing and Health Services, Student Services/Prevention and Wellness 
• Monica Caldwell, Consultant, School Mental Health, Student Services/Prevention and Wellness 

On March 28, 2023, the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety will hold a public hearing on the following:

Senate Bill 120: the design of health care coverage plans for public safety employees

Senate Bill 57: providing victim compensation for damage to a building by means of fire or explosives

Senate Bill 73: prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation

Senate Bill 97: penalties for certain traffic violations where highway maintenance workers are present and providing a penalty

Senate Bill 106: mandatory minimum sentence for felons who illegally possess a firearm and providing a penalty

Assembly Bill 58: mandatory minimum sentence for felons who illegally possess a firearm and providing a penalty

On March 28, 2023, State Representative Dave Murphy (R-Greenvile), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, along with other committee members, will hold a news conference to discuss upcoming committee meetings on the topic of intellectual diversity and the quality of higher education.

On March 28, 2023, State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) and State Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison), along with other invited guests and advocacy groups will host a news conference to celebrate the installation of a universal changing station in the State Capitol and bring awareness to the accessibility of public buildings.

On March 28, 2023, the Wisconsin Technology Council will host an Innovation Network luncheon to discuss two public-private funds – one recently authorized and a second proposed in Gov. Tony Evers’ biennial budget. The U.S. Treasury has approved a Wisconsin grant from the State Small Business Credit Initiative, of which $50 million will support early stage company investments by matching private dollars. The state budget bill contains a separate $75 million to be privately matched over time, also working with private funds.

Panelists:

• John Neis, managing director of Venture Investors; 
• Sam Rikkers, deputy secretary and chief operating officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp
• State Rep. Robert Wittke, R-Racine. Wittke is chair or co-chair of two legislative audit committees, a member of two education committees and a member of the Legislature’s informal Tech Caucus

On March 28, 2023, the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership and the The Carter Center will host a bipartisan public town hall to hear from election officials, election law experts, and cybersecurity experts on the safety and integrity of the Wisconsin elections process. Moderated by Molly Beck of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Panelists

• Don Millis – Chair, WI Elections Commission
• Meagan Wolfe – Administrator, WI Elections Commission
• Barry Burden – Director, Elections Research Center, UW – Madison
• Dave Schroeder – Research Director, WI Security Research Consortium
• Robert Yablon – State Dem. Research Initiative, UW – Madison Law School
• Alex Tahk – Director, Tommy G. Thompson Center

On March 2023, the Senate Committee on Insurance and Small Business will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 110: extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women.

On March 29, 2023, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Ag Day will be held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison with legislative visits taking place at the Capitol following. This event gives Wisconsin farmers and agriculturists the opportunity to learn more about state issues affecting agriculture and to meet with their state legislators.

Agenda includes:

11:30 a.m. Welcoming comments

11:40 a.m. Comments from DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski

12:00 p.m. Lunch

12:45 p.m. Legislative panel session feat. Sen. Ballweg, Rep. Kurtz, Sen. Marklein and Rep. VanderMeer

1:30 p.m. Issue briefings

2:00 p.m. Depart for legislative visits

On March 30, 2023, the Joint Committee on Finance will hold a briefing from representatives of state agencies on the Governor’s 2023-2025 Biennial Budget – Assembly Bill 43 / Senate Bill 70 – featuring the following agencies:

• Department of Administration
• Department of Safety and Professional Services

On March 31, 2023, Rewind Host and CBS 58 Capitol Reporter Emilee Fannon and WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross will review this week in state politics. (Brought to you by the Wisconsin Realtors Association).

On March 31, 2023, Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services will host their first educational session for legislators, staff, and advocates to cover topics like safe harbor for trafficked minors, increasing access to care for teens in shelter, and increasing the length of time families have to work out their plan if a teen is experiencing homelessness.

On March 31, 2023, the Wisconsin Policy Forum will host a virtual Forum Friday event focused on marijuana policies. As surrounding states have moved to legalize marijuana for medical or recreational purposes, Wisconsin thus far has maintained the status quo. Yet what has happened in neighboring states extends beyond their borders, as half of all Wisconsinites of legal age now can drive 75 minutes or less to buy legal recreational marijuana. Gov. Tony Evers is once again proposing marijuana legalization in his plan for the next state budget. While Republican lawmakers won’t embrace such a plan, some have indicated a medical marijuana bill might be acceptable.

Panelists:

• Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), Wisconsin State Senator
• Melissa Agard (D-Madison), Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader
• David Galbis-Reig, MD – Addiction Medicine, Ascension Medical Group