Thank you for being an informed constituent of Wisconsin’s 4th State Assembly District. In my electronic update you will find news about your community, the State Legislature, and everything in between.
*Please note that beginning on June 1st, state law prohibits distribution of identical materials over 50 pieces until the completion of the 2026 election cycle. As such, this will be the final e-update I am sending until after the November election. However, you can always reach out to my office regarding any state-related matters at Rep.Steffen@legis.wisconsin.
Legislative Session Summary
I am incredibly thankful for the continued privilege of serving the people of the 4th Assembly District in the State Legislature, and I’m grateful to have another session in the books. As this will be the final e-update of the legislative session, it is important to look back at some of what we were able to get done.
The state budget included more than $1B in infrastructure funding towards bridges, roads, water, and other local construction. It balanced the needs of all communities through the agricultural road improvement program and local road improvement program, in addition to the major and megaprojects programs. It also contained additional staffing for our justice system, support for the Office of School Safety, and a historic investment in special education. Lastly, the budget included $1.5B in targeted tax relief, including the creation of tax-free retirement for ¾ of all seniors in Wisconsin. All of this was done while blocking tax hikes, regulatory overreach, higher bonding, and the rollback of fiscal reforms that have put Wisconsin in such a sound financial position. We were able to invest responsibly in necessary functions without needlessly burdening the next generation.
Outside of the budget, the legislature passed various enacted laws this session to address the issues facing northeast Wisconsin. After years of negotiations and progress, Acts 200 and 201 were signed to permit the administration of PFAS remediation efforts. These laws brought a massive effort to address PFAS contamination in Wisconsin to fruition. They put innocent communities and landowners on the best path forward to remediate PFAS while ensuring they are not punished or forced into bankruptcy over pollution they did not cause. Another issue that has become far too prominent in our state is the lack of affordable housing. This session the legislature advanced multiple initiatives to improve affordability in the housing market through fixes to revolving loans, the establishment of residential TIDs, and much needed zoning consistency.
Legislating under divided government presents challenges, and while I am disappointed by the vetoing of many good public policy proposals, I am proud of the number of legislative accomplishments delivered this session.
Proposed Constitutional Amendments
The Legislature also approved three proposed constitutional amendments this session that will appear on your ballot in November.
- Assembly Joint Resolution 10 prohibits state and local governments from ordering the closure of places of worship during a state of emergency.
- Assembly Joint Resolution 102 prohibits state and local governments from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, public education, public contracting, and public administration.
- Senate Joint Resolution 116 eliminates the veto authority of Wisconsin’s governor to create, increase, or authorize any tax or fee. This issue largely came to light in the wake of Governor Evers’ decision last session to authorize and enable property tax increases for the next 400 years.
These three proposals have passed both legislative chambers in consecutive sessions, and the fate of their provisions as constitutional amendments now rests with the voters in November.
Follow Along on Facebook
Want to hear more about what’s going on in Madison and the district? Follow my Facebook page for weekly updates and to learn more about bills, events, and efforts I’m involved in. Find my Facebook page here: facebook.com/RepSteffen/.
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.
