Increasing Staffing in the Justice System
This week, the Assembly passed legislation to address critical staffing needs in the justice system. Assembly Bill 514, the Justice for All Act, which I authored with Senator Wimberger, allocates new assistant district attorneys, assistant state public defenders, public defender support staff, and circuit court judges across the state.
The bill utilizes existing workforce assessments to determine areas of need and appropriate allocation of new staff throughout the state. The legislation adds 68.5 assistant district attorneys, 18 state public defenders, 35 public defender support staff, and five circuit court judge positions over the next biennium.
Our criminal justice system is experiencing case backlogs due to staffing levels, which hinder the swift delivery of justice and exacerbate issues related to public safety, property taxes, and our constitutional obligations. This week’s passage moved the state one step closer to building on our initial investments in the budget to alleviate local financial stress and ensure justice for victims and the accused.
The proposal has already passed out of committee in the Senate, and is available for a vote on the Senate floor before heading to the Governor’s desk. I’m thankful for the support garnered thus far, and look forward to further progress.
Advancing Healthcare Initiatives
The Assembly also passed two bills expanding healthcare access in Wisconsin. AB 97 supports new mothers who are already eligible for BadgerCare by providing uninterrupted health care coverage for an additional 10 months after the birth of their child. This aligns the mother’s coverage with her baby’s coverage, for the full 12-month postpartum period. This policy aligns Wisconsin with 48 other states and helps ensure new mothers can access necessary care.
AB 263 requires Medical Assistance and health insurance policies and plans to cover supplemental screenings for breast cancer. For the 40% of women with dense breast tissue, routine mammograms have resulted in delayed diagnosis, sometimes not until later stages of the disease. Supplemental screenings, such as ultrasound and MRI, have been shown to lead to earlier detection when used in conjunction with routine mammograms, but these additional screenings are often not covered. I’m proud to have supported these bipartisan bills to make Wisconsin a healthier place.
Limiting Agricultural Fees
In September, the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection utilized its newly judicially granted authority to unilaterally propose fee increases on livestock producers up to almost 1,700%. Instead of communicating a program sustainability challenge to the legislature, the proposal was made solely at the executive branch’s behest.
While this proposal was revised, large increases are still possible and planned with no input permitted from the legislature. The Assembly passed SB 622 this week, mandating legislative approval for such future fee increases. This measure protects our farmers, livestock markets, and agricultural businesses from sudden and excessive fee increases and ensures proper governance for such proposals.
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Contact Me
My office is always available to help with any state-related questions or concerns you may have. You can reach my office at (608) 237-9104, or email me at Rep.Steffen@legis.wisconsin.
