The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the May issue of the Capitol Connection.

Inside this issue

• Wisconsin Senate Votes to Override Nine Gov. Evers Vetoes
• 8th Congressional District to Remain Vacant Until 2025: Gov. Evers Calls for Special Election to Coincide with Fall Primary, General Elections
• SAVE THE DATE: Renowned Marquette University Law School Pollster Dr. Charles Franklin to Visit Ruder Ware on June 11
• WEDC Announces Seven International Trade Missions
• DWD: Wisconsin Unemployment Drops Below 3% in April
• Questions for Our Public Affairs Team?

Wisconsin Senate Votes to Override Nine Gov. Evers Vetoes

In what was likely their final action of the 2023-2024 legislative session, the Wisconsin State Senate earlier this month used a “veto review period” to override nine vetoes issued by Governor Tony Evers.

With the implementation of new legislative maps, it is all but certain the GOP will not retain its current two-thirds majority in the Senate required to override vetoes.

At the time this is being written, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has not committed to bringing his caucus back into session to take up the Senate’s overrides. Republicans in that house are two votes shy of the two-thirds required to override a gubernatorial veto.

The nine bills on which the Senate acted:

• Senate Bill 98, by Senator Duey Stroebel, relating to: verifying citizenship of individuals on the official voter registration list and contents of operator’s licenses and identification cards.
• Senate Bill 139, by Senator Rob Stafsholt, relating to: establishing a statewide wolf population goal.
• Senate Bill 145, by Senator Patrick Testin, relating to: advanced practice registered nurses and extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures.
• Senate Bill 312, by Senator Eric Wimberger, relating to: programs and requirements to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs).
• Senate Bill 517, by Senator Rob Hutton, relating to: court-issued criminal complaints if the person’s actions were in self-defense.
• Senate Bill 736, by Senator Cory Tomczyk, relating to: postelection audits by the Legislative Audit Bureau and providing a penalty.
• Senate Bill 917, by Senator Dan Feyen, relating to: student teaching requirement for teacher preparatory programs.
• Senate Bill 932, by Senator Joan Ballweg, relating to: modifications to building program project budgets, election of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund.
• Senate Bill 1014, by Senator Jesse James, relating to: funding for hospital emergency department services.

8^th Congressional District to Remain Vacant Until 2025: Gov. Evers Calls for Special Election to Coincide with Fall Primary, General Elections

On May 14, Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #226, calling a special election for the 8^th Congressional District.

Evers’ order calls for the special election in that district to be held on November 5, 2024, coinciding with the 2024 general election. His order also stipulates that if a primary election is necessary, it will coincide with the current 2024 partisan primary election on August 13.

Governor Evers on May 14 also signed Executive Order #225, which calls a special election in the 4^th Senate District for July, following the appointment of former State Senator Lena Taylor’s appointment to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

SAVE THE DATE: Renowned Marquette University Law School Pollster Dr. Charles Franklin to Visit Ruder Ware on June 11

Join us in person in our Wausau office on Tuesday, June 11 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. as Dr. Charles Franklin of Marquette University Law School shares the latest public polling data surrounding the 2024 Presidential Election, race for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, and other major elections.

Where: Dudley Tower, 500 N 1^st Street (5^th Floor)

Wausau, WI 54403

When: Tuesday, June 11, 9 – 10:30 a.m.

WEDC Announces Seven International Trade Missions

Wisconsin businesses may attend one or more of the seven international trade missions being sponsored by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) in 2024 and 2025. The missions will include trips in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

WEDC says as part of the Wisconsin delegation, companies receive personalized research and matchmaking services at a deeply discounted rate compared to what they would pay for similar services on their own. WEDC manages all logistics, transportation, and scheduling.

The trips include:

• United Kingdom (Farnborough Air Show), July 21-16, 2024
• Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), November 1-9, 2024
• United Arab Emirates (Dubai), January 25-February 1, 2025
• Mexico (Guadalajara and Mexico City), February 23-28, 2025
• China (Shanghai), March 2025 (dates TBD)
• Canada (Vancouver and Calgary), April 6-11, 2025
• Switzerland and Germany (Zurich and Stuttgart), May 18-24, 2025

DWD: Wisconsin Unemployment Drops Below 3% in April

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) this month announced that U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job totals for April 2024 showed a drop in the unemployment rate from 3.0% to 2.9%.

DWD also said the labor force decreased by 500 to 3,139,500, while the number of people employed increased 600 over the month to 3,047,700. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 1,300 over the month to 91,700.