The Capitol Report, produced by WisPolitics.com — a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics — provides a weekly analysis of issues being debated in Wisconsin state government. It is underwritten by the WNA and produced exclusively for its members. WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers is a former editor and reporter for the Associated Press and a former political writer for the Wisconsin State Journal.
By WisPolitics-State Affairs
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, in his final State of the State address, emphasized past accomplishments, poked and prodded GOP lawmakers and laid out goals for the months remaining in his last year in office.
Many in the Capitol and media were focused on a potential property tax relief compromise. Important, considering the state’s $2.5 billion surplus and the big elections later this year.
But an array of other items in the speech shows what Evers is thinking as he wraps up his time in the East Wing.
Among his priorities:
• Revamping the state prison system. Evers introduced a plan a year ago to revamp the system with a goal of closing the Green Bay Correctional Institute by 2029. But Republicans dismissed it, in part because of his call to expand earned early release and because it would leave the state with about 700 fewer prison beds than it now has.
Instead, the Building Commission led by Evers in December approved $15 million in planning funds to close Green Bay, complete the process of moving youthful offenders out of facilities in northern Wisconsin and make other changes.
Evers said he was hopeful a deal could still be struck this year, though he ruled out GOP calls for a new prison in the Green Bay area.
“We don’t need to ask taxpayers to pay for a brand-new prison that won’t be done for a decade,” Evers said. “My plan remains the safest, fastest, and cheapest option available. I don’t care who gets the credit. It doesn’t make any difference. I’m going to be gone in a few months. Let’s just get it done, please.”
• Making sure the state food stamp program avoids federal penalties. Evers said he’s not negotiating with GOP lawmakers over putting more state money into the FoodShare program to account for changes the federal government made in Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Department of Health Services last year asked for $32.3 million more in general purpose revenue in state fiscal year 2026-27 to account for the federal government covering a smaller share of program administrative costs. The agency also sought an additional 56 employees to conduct eligibility checks with FoodShare recipients.
Under the federal changes, if more than 6% of a state’s enrollees are ineligible, they will lose federal dollars to cover the costs of the benefit starting in federal fiscal year 2027-28.
In federal fiscal year 2023-24, Wisconsin’s error rate was just under 4.5%. If it eclipses 10%, Wisconsin would lose $204.6 million.
Evers said the state must make the investment now to avoid losing as much as $200 million due to penalties.
“If the Legislature fails to provide the funding that is needed, Republicans will be to blame for the penalty fees taxpayers will be forced to pay,” Evers said. “It’s not good. It’s pretty simple. Let’s get it done.”
• Boosting renewable energy. The governor announced plans to purchase of 225,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy every year for the next two decades, which Evers said was enough to power more than half a million homes.
According to Evers’ office, the initiative will include requesting bids for the state to purchase renewable energy credits from Wisconsin-based projects. The credits are issued when electricity is generated and delivered to the grid by a renewable source.
Since 2007, the state has purchased more than 1.8 million such credits, and the request for proposal will seek options capable of delivering the credits starting in January 2031 for a 20-year term.
• Exploring nuclear energy. Evers announced a partnership with UW-Madison’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics to study nuclear energy opportunities in Wisconsin. Touting it as a safe source of carbon-free power, he said it could “be a game-changer for our state.”
• Combating domestic violence. Gov. Evers touted a new initiative with the Milwaukee Bucks to combat domestic violence as he chided GOP lawmakers for rejecting his call to make the Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention permanent.
Evers in late 2024 signed an executive order creating the Office of Violence Prevention and dedicated $10 million in federal COVID-19 funds for grants that became available late last year.
The governor included in his budget a provision to make the office permanent under the Department of Administration with $13.3 million in funding, including $12 million for violence reduction grants to boost evidence-based outreach programs and deterrence strategies.
Evers noted that domestic violence homicides in Wisconsin jumped 20% between 2021 and 2022 to a new record high of 96. That was topped in 2024, when 99 Wisconsinites were killed in a domestic incident.
Saying that trend is headed in the wrong direction, Evers also knocked Republicans for rejecting a request to provide $66 million for Victims of Crime Act grants after the federal government cut funding.
Calling on lawmakers to approve bills codifying the Office of Violence Prevention and funding the Victims of Crime Acts grants, Evers said there’s no issue Republicans have done less about during his seven years in office than gun violence.
“This much is clear: if Wisconsinites want to get something—anything—done about gun violence, we must elect legislators who will do a damn thing to change it,” Evers said.
• Launching the new film tax credit, which will make up to $5 million available to support the production of film, TV, documentaries, broadcast advertisements and production infrastructure in the state.
“I’m excited to announce we’re launching the new program this week, which will help bolster our travel and tourism economies and bring exciting, creative endeavors right to Wisconsin’s doorstep, how about that,” Evers said on Feb. 17.
Productions will need to spend at least $100,000 for projects 30 minutes or longer, and at least $50,000 for projects shorter than 30 minutes, to be eligible for tax credits under the new program.
Projects can get up to $1 million in tax credits per fiscal year, and credits are retroactive to eligible costs from Jan. 1 onward.
Eligible expenses include wages for cast and crew, accommodations, the cost of set construction and operations, buying or renting facilities and equipment, location fees and other related goods and services. The newly formed office will review tax credit applications monthly.
• A special session this spring to take up a constitutional amendment to ban partisan gerrymandering now that the “fair maps” desired by Evers are now in effect.
Evers’ to-do list for lawmakers also included reauthorizing the state’s stewardship program, whose authorization expires June 30, and passing legislation to address PFAS after $125 million was first set aside in 2023 to fund the work.
Evers threatened to continue calling special sessions into the heart of campaign season if needed to address his priorities. Though Evers can call a special session, he can’t force lawmakers to actually meet, and GOP leaders have regularly ignored his directives.
“We can’t afford for lawmakers to lose focus on the future we’ve been working hard to build together just because it’s an election year,” Evers said. “So, I know the Legislature would rather hit the road and take the rest of the year off, but I’m going to ask lawmakers to stick around until our work here is finished.”
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