by David Martin | Apr 2, 2024 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
Governor Tony Evers has announced today that he has vetoed AB 377. The bill would have required all schools in Wisconsin that run athletics to organize school sports into one of three categories: male, female, or co-ed. In addition, the bill forbids male pupils from participating on a team designated for females and allows female athletes to bring legal action against a school district if they feel the district is not complying with the law. Earlier this session the bill passed the Assembly along party lines, and passed the Senate with one Republican voting against the bill. The governor had previously stated that he would veto the bill if it were to reach his desk.
by David Martin | Apr 1, 2024 | Election, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
With new state legislative maps getting signed into law and the end of the 2023-24 legislative floor session, lawmakers across the state are turning their eyes to the coming election season. New maps bring many changes, including possible changes to longstanding relationships you might have built with your state representatives. The WASB wants to ensure that school leaders have the resources they need to stay up to date on the changes coming to the Wisconsin State Legislature, and how your advocacy efforts could be affected.
Below we look at the districts up for reelection in Nov. 2024 and track what legislators have made announcements about whether they intend to seek reelection, retire, move to run in a different district or for another office, etc. This Fall will see the election of all 99 state Assembly districts. Assembly district maps 2022 and 2024 can be found and compared HERE. (more…)
by David Martin | Apr 1, 2024 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
From The Wheeler Report: “The following individuals have publicly announced they will either not seek re-election, or are running for a different office:
- SD-2: Rob Cowles – Not seeking re-election
- SD-16: Melissa Agard – Running for Dane County Executive
- AD-09: Marisabel Cabrera – Running for Circuit Court Judge
- AD-11: Dora Drake – Running for SD-4
- AD-12: Lakeshia Myers – Running for SD-4
- AD-18: Evan Goyke – Running for Milwaukee County Attorney
- AD-28: Gae Magnafici- Not seeking re-election
- AD-42: Jon Plumer- Not seeking re-election
- AD-44: Sue Conley – Not seeking re-election
- AD-46: Melissa Ratcliff – Running for Senate
- AD-47: Jimmy Anderson – Running for Senate
- AD-48: Samba Baldeh- Running for Senate
- AD-65: Tod Ohnstad- Not seeking re-election
- AD-71: Katrina Shankland – Running for Congress
- AD-73: Angie Sapik – Not seeking re-election
- AD-81: Dave Considine – Not seeking re-election
- AD-87: James Edming- Not seeking re-election.
- AD-88: John Macco – Not seeking re-election
- AD-90: Kristina Shelton – Not seeking re-election
Please note, this list does not include any individuals who may have been paired in a district under the new maps. This list only contains those individuals who have publicly stated they are not seeking re-election, or who have announced they are running for a different office. Filings of Non-Candidacy are due to the Wisconsin Elections Commission by 5 pm on May 24, 2024.”
The WASB is sharing this list to ensure members are aware of potential impacts to their relationships with their current legislators. We will continue to update this list as more announcements are made.
by David Martin | Apr 1, 2024 | Election, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
With new state legislative maps getting signed into law and the end of the 2023-24 legislative floor session, lawmakers across the state are turning their eyes to the coming election season. New maps bring many changes, including possible changes to longstanding relationships you might have built with your state Senators. The WASB wants to ensure that school leaders have the resources they need to stay up to date on the changes coming to the Wisconsin State Legislature, and how your advocacy efforts could be affected.
Below we look at the districts up for reelection in Nov. 2024 and track what legislators have made announcements about whether they intend to seek reelection, retire, move to run in a different district or for another office, etc. This Fall will see the election of half (even-numbered) of the 33 state Senate districts. Senate district maps for 2022 and 2024 can be found and compared HERE. (more…)
by Chris Kulow | Mar 29, 2024 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
Gov. Evers issued vetoes on a large number of bills today (3/29). Included on that list were several pieces of legislation that the WASB was tracking (veto messages linked below):
SB 335/AB 342 Relating to: allowing school boards to employ a school district administrator who is not licensed by the department of public instruction.
SB 489/AB 510 Relating to: rights reserved to a parent or guardian of a child.
SB 608/AB 640 Relating to: a license to teach based on working as a paraprofessional in a school district.
SB 688/AB 723 Relating to: local government competitive bidding thresholds and requiring school districts to utilize competitive bidding.
by David Martin | Mar 27, 2024 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
Today, Governor Tony Evers signed
AB 1050 into law as 2023 Wisconsin Act 240. The bill will allow the Office of School Safety to use funds raised through concealed carry permit fees to continue funding their operations. This stopgap measure authored by Sen. Quinn and Rep. Novak, only allows for these measures to stay in effect through the next budget cycle. Both Quinn and Novak attempted to get OSS funding in the 2023-25 budget cycle but were unsuccessful in their attempts. Legislators will have to appropriate more money to the office in the next budget cycle, or OSS will risk closure or a significant reduction in services.
The WASB supports the services OSS provides to our members and thanks these lawmakers and Governor Evers for their continued efforts in bringing this bill across the finish line. Read below to see the governor’s
press release.
(more…)
