On February 4, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced his actions on 18 bills recently presented to him by the Legislature. The governor signed 14 bills into law and vetoed four others. Notably, Gov. Evers signed Senate Bill (SB) 309, now 2021 Wisconsin Act 121, which incorporates the definitions of “telehealth” and other related terms from the Medical Assistance program […]
Senate and Assembly Floor Sessions: January 25
February 3, 2022
The Wisconsin Senate met on the morning of January 25 for a floor session to vote on bills and resolutions, while the Assembly met that afternoon to take a series of votes. The Assembly also met on January 20, which we covered in this article. Senate Floor Calendar, January 25 The Senate passed 55 bills […]
Assembly Floor Session: January 20
February 3, 2022
The Wisconsin Assembly met on January 20 for a floor session to vote on bills and resolutions. Both the Assembly and Senate also met on January 25, which we covered in this article. Assembly Floor Calendar, January 20 The Assembly passed 39 bills and three resolutions, mostly via voice votes. Notably, the Assembly voted 95-0 […]
With Legal Challenges Pending, OSHA Suspends Vaccine Rule
November 19, 2021
Earlier this month, the federal government released the details of two administrative rules affecting an estimated 100 million workers or more, about two-thirds of the United States’ active labor force. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure that their employees are either vaccinated against COVID-19 or […]
Wisconsin COVID-19 Update: Pfizer Vaccine Available to Kids Five and Older
November 19, 2021
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Available to Children Ages Five and Up Following approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control, children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In Wisconsin, that age group includes about 500,000 kids. The Wisconsin Department of Health […]
Biden Administration Releases Employer Vaccine Rules
November 9, 2021
The federal government has released the details of two administrative rules affecting more than 100 million workers in the United States, about two-thirds of the country’s active labor force. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure that their employees are either vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested […]
Wisconsin COVID-19 Update: Federal Health Emergency Renewed; Employers Awaiting Details of National Vaccine Mandate
October 22, 2021
On October 15, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra signed an order to renew the federal public health emergency due to COVID-19. The extension will last for 90 days, into mid-January 2022. This is the seventh time that the COVID-19 health emergency has been extended since it began January 31, 2020 […]
Wisconsin COVID-19 Update: State Employees Must Vaccinate or Test Weekly; State, Milwaukee Fund Vaccine Incentives
September 28, 2021
As of September 27, Wisconsin had administered about 6.34 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with 3.1 million Wisconsin residents or 53.5 percent of the state’s population fully vaccinated. The state’s seven-day average of new confirmed cases was 2,603 cases per day. That number peaked in November 2020 at around 6,500 cases per day. About 7,930 […]
Senator Asks Legislative Leaders to Sue UW System, Seeking Legislative Oversight of COVID Rules
September 10, 2021
The Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) held an executive session on August 3 to vote on the University of Wisconsin System’s COVID-19 policies. On a 6-4, party-line vote, the committee ordered the UW System to submit its COVID-19 protocols as an emergency rule within 30 days, arguing that measures such as regular testing […]
DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk Has Retired
September 9, 2021
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk has retired as of September 10. Governor Tony Evers (D) announced one week earlier that Willems Van Dijk would retire and that Deb Standridge would take her place starting September 13. Previously, Standridge directed Wisconsin’s temporary care site for COVID-19 patients at State […]