Wisconsin budget, debt, and interest

Firearm mortality includes suicide, homicide, and other intents. The provision concerns firearm access, safety, or prevention of firearm injury and may address only part of the death count. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Firearm deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

This bill creates a program, administered by the Department of Justice, to award grants to counties or law enforcement agencies that implement a safe firearm disposal incentive program that meets certain criteria. The bill provides $200,000 for grants in each fiscal year and authorizes a position for the purpose of administering the grant program.

Firearm mortality includes suicide, homicide, and other intents. The provision concerns firearm access, safety, or prevention of firearm injury and may address only part of the death count. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Firearm deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

This bill sets up a program administered by the Department of Justice to provide grants to counties or law enforcement agencies that implement a firearm buyback program that meets certain criteria.

The introduced bill would require Wisconsin to achieve 100% clean electricity production by 2050 and change power-plant approval priorities and electricity standards. The in-state production requirement is the connection to the generation-mix fact. Natural-gas share is gas-fired electricity-industry net generation divided by total in-state generation covered by EIA Table 5. The denominator excludes estimated small-scale generation outside that table. Gas-fired plants or other in-state generation resources concern this mix; procurement targets and authorizations are distinct from an operating plant or measured output. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Natural gas share of in-state electricity generation. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

This bill creates an office of sustainability and clean energy and establishes clean electricity and emissions standards that must be met by specific dates. Office of sustainability and clean energy The bill creates in the Department of Administration an office of sustainability and clean energy. The secretary of administration must direct the office of sustainability and clean energy to establish, using rigorous sector-based modeling, an economy-wide decarbonization roadmap that incorporates, as appropriate, the state’s clean energy plan issued in 2022. The roadmap must be updated periodically. Emissions standards The bill provides that, by 2050, the state must achieve 100 percent clean electricity production and emit no more carbon into the atmosphere than can be removed economy-wide. Carbon-free and renewable energy standards Current law generally requires electric providers, which include electric utilities and retail electric cooperatives, to ensure that, in a given year, a certain specified percentage of the electricity sold to customers and members is generated from renewable resources. The bill creates a definition of “carbon-free energy” and requires that for the years 2030 to 2034, electric providers and certain state agencies have a minimum carbon-free energy percentage of 50 percent. Later, the bill requires electric providers and certain state agencies to have the following minimum carbon-free energy percentages: 1) for the years 2035 to 2039, 65 percent; 2) for the years 2040 to 2044, 80 percent; 3) for the years 2045 to 2049, 90 percent, and 4) for 2050 and each year thereafter, 100 percent. The bill requires each electric provider to submit a transition plan to PSC that includes the electric provider’s plan for satisfying the carbon-free energy percentage requirements. The transition plan must identify electric generating facilities that the electric provider proposes to add or retire. PSC may approve a transition plan only if certain criteria are satisfied, including that any continued use of an electric generating facility that is not a carbon-free facility is the most cost-effective decision for customers and that any retirements of such facilities are the most cost-effective decisions for customers. In addition, the bill creates a definition of “specified renewable energy” and requires that for the years 2030 to 2034, each electric provider have a minimum specified renewable energy percentage of 20 percent. Later, the bill requires electric providers to have a minimum specified renewable energy percentage of 40 percent for the years 2035 to 2039, and to have a minimum specified renewable energy percentage of 60 percent for 2040 and each year thereafter. If an electric provider violates either the minimum carbon-free energy percentage requirement or the minimum specified renewable energy percentage requirement, PSC may order the electric provider to engage in activities that would satisfy the requirement. An electric provider that violates such an order is subject to a forfeiture in an amount not to exceed the estimated cost of the electric provider to satisfy the requirement for which the order was issued. Also, under current law, a person seeking to construct a large electric generating facility having a nominal capacity of 100 megawatts or more or a high-voltage transmission line must obtain a CPCN from PSC. The bill requires PSC to, in taking action on CPCN applications, prioritize applications for facilities that minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Further, the bill requires PSC to make all of the following determinations to approve an application for a CPCN for a large electric generating facility: 1) that the proposed facility will not impede the applicant’s ability to satisfy the bill’s minimum carbon-free energy percentage requirement or minimum specified renewable energy percentage requirement; 2) that the applicant agreed to pay laborers, ironworkers, technicians, and mechanics the prevailing wage or the rate under an applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever is greater; 3) that locations where other large electric generating facilities have been retired are used to the extent practicable; 4) that persons who previously worked at other large electric generating facilities that have been retired will be hired to the extent practicable; 5) that persons residing in this state will be hired to the extent practicable; and 6) that persons residing in the municipality where the large electric generating facility will be located will perform at least 15 percent of the labor hours on the project, to the extent practicable. Also, the bill allows PSC to determine that a proposed facility or high-voltage transmission does not satisfy certain requirements for granting a CPCN related to air pollution impact even if the proposed facility or high-voltage transmission line satisfies current state air pollution laws. The bill also prohibits PSC from issuing a certificate of authority (CA) to an electric utility for a project unless PSC determines that issuing the CA will not impede the ability of the electric utility to satisfy the bill’s minimum carbon-free energy percentage requirement or minimum specified renewable energy percentage requirement. Under current law, a public utility must obtain a CA from PSC to construct, extend, improve, or add to its existing facilities. Under the bill, the office of sustainability and clean energy is directed to create, using rigorous sector-based modeling, an economy-wide decarbonization roadmap. The roadmap is to be updated periodically. Apprentice utilization standards Under the bill, a contractor or subcontractor on a construction project of certain electric-generating facilities with estimated construction costs of not less than $10,000,000 must make a good faith effort to utilize specific percentages of registered apprentices on the projects. A contractor or subcontractor that does not meet the utilization thresholds must provide a written explanation to the Department of Workforce Development of the good faith effort to meet the requirement accompanied by supporting documentation. Failure to provide the explanation and supporting documentation subjects the contractor or subcontractor to forfeiture.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Wisconsin’s median rent. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Housing, homelessness, and indigence Grants to facilitate the independent living of homeless persons Under current law, the Department of Administration provides housing grants to counties, municipalities, community action agencies, and private organizations for the purpose of providing housing and associated supportive services to homeless individuals and families in order to facilitate the movement of homeless persons to independent living. This bill provides an additional $5,000,000 in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium to fund that grant program. Emergency rental assistance grants The bill creates an emergency rental assistance program under which DOA awards grants to provide tenant-based rental assistance to individuals and families who have suffered an economic hardship and whose annual household income does not exceed 80 percent of the median household income for the county in which the individual or family resides. The bill appropriates $10,000,000 for the program in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium. Grants to defray housing costs The bill increases funding for DOA to award grants to persons or families of low or moderate income to defray housing costs. The bill provides an additional $220,000 in each fiscal year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium for that purpose. Duties of the Interagency Council on Homelessness The bill requires the Interagency Council on Homelessness to do all of the following every two years: 1. Identify ways in which DOA and other state agencies specified in the bill and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority can increase access to services for homeless individuals and families, including homeless children and youths as defined under federal law. 2. Advise each of the state agencies specified in the bill and WHEDA to revise any policy or

Firearm mortality includes suicide, homicide, and other intents. The provision concerns firearm access, safety, or prevention of firearm injury and may address only part of the death count. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Firearm deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

ildings, equipment, and facilities, and expenditures to provide blueprints or mapping data to law enforcement. This bill requires DOJ to award grants of up to $325,000 to schools to acquire proactive firearm detection software and provides $4,000,000 in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium for the grants. Under the bill, schools must apply for the grants jointly with the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the school. If the funding is insufficient to award grants to all eligible applicants, the bill requires DOJ to award the grants to qualified applicants in the order that the applications were received.

The fact counts deaths whose underlying cause is homicide. The provision addresses a defined prevention or measurement mechanism; a general criminal penalty or post-offense benefit alone does not demonstrate homicide prevention. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Homicide deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

This bill directs the Department of Health Services to establish a program to distribute funds to local health departments or tribal health centers that apply to conduct violence prevention programs or to award grants to organizations to conduct violence prevention programs. Under the bill, the amounts collected from the excise taxes on vapor products are appropriated to fund the grants. The bill prohibits local health departments and tribal health centers from distributing grant funds under the program to a law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, or any entity that provides services in conjunction with or through a law enforcement agency or tribal law enforcement agency. The bill increases the number of authorized DHS positions by one position in fiscal year 2025-26 for administration of the program and also increases funding to DHS for this position.

The fact counts deaths whose underlying cause is homicide. The provision addresses a defined prevention or measurement mechanism; a general criminal penalty or post-offense benefit alone does not demonstrate homicide prevention. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Homicide deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

This bill directs the Department of Health Services to establish a program to distribute funds to local health departments or tribal health centers that apply to conduct violence prevention programs or to award grants to organizations to conduct violence prevention programs. Under the bill, the amounts collected from the excise taxes on vapor products are appropriated to fund the grants. The bill prohibits local health departments and tribal health centers from distributing grant funds under the program to a law enforcement agency, tribal law enforcement agency, or any entity that provides services in conjunction with or through a law enforcement agency or tribal law enforcement agency. The bill increases the number of authorized DHS positions by one position in fiscal year 2023-24 for administration of the program and also increases funding to DHS for this position.

Firearm mortality includes suicide, homicide, and other intents. The provision concerns firearm access, safety, or prevention of firearm injury and may address only part of the death count. This relationship does not establish causation. Actions after the fact’s measurement period cannot explain its earlier value.

Retained Wisconsin evidence context: Firearm deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Under current law, a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm, and must surrender all firearms, if the person is subject to a domestic abuse injunction, a child abuse injunction, or, in certain cases, a harassment or an individuals-at-risk injunction. If a person surrenders a firearm because the person is subject to one of those injunctions, the firearm may not be returned to the person until a court determines that the injunction has been vacated or has expired and that the person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm. A person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under such an injunction is guilty of a Class G felony for violating the prohibition. This bill creates an extreme risk protection temporary restraining order and injunction to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm. Under the bill, either a law enforcement officer or a family or household member of the person may file a petition with a court to request an extreme risk protection injunction. The petition must allege facts that show that the person is substantially likely to injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm. Under the bill, the petitioner may request the court to consider first granting a temporary restraining order. If the petitioner requests a TRO, the petitioner must include evidence that there is an immediate and present danger that the person may injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm and that waiting for the injunction hearing increases the immediate and present danger. If the petitioner requests a TRO, the court must hear the petition in an expedited manner. The judge must issue a TRO if, after questioning the petitioner and witnesses or relying on affidavits, the judge determines that it is substantially likely that the