Petitions and Communications
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 15, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
The following bill(s), originating in the Senate, have been approved, signed and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State:
Bill Number Act Number Date Approved
Sincerely,
TONY EVERS
Governor
Pursuant to s. 35.095 (1)(b), Wisconsin Statutes, the following 2021 Act(s) have been published: Act Number Bill Number Publication Date
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 15, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist160176I am vetoing Senate Bill 213 in its entirety. This bill would change the venue for certain election law violations. Currently an action for certain election law violations must occur in the county where the defendant resides; the bill would provide that venue is proper in the county where the alleged violation occurred or, in some circumstances, a contiguous county. The bill would also allow any person to bypass filing a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission in favor of commencing an action against an election official they believe has acted contrary to the law without first filing a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy; it should not be subject to the whim of politicians who do not like the outcome of an election. Elected officials should not be able to abuse their power to cheat or control the outcomes of our elections or to prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots. This legislation is among many that have been sent to my desk during this legislative session, each passed under the guise of needing to reform our election system because elected officials in this state have enabled disinformation about our elections and election processes. I have and will object to each and every effort by this Legislature and its members to undermine our democracy, to erode confidence in our elections, and to demean and harass dedicated clerks, election administrators, and poll workers.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to changing the venue for these actions and changing the procedure for commencing an action against an election official. Currently, a person accused of violations of state election laws is tried in the circuit court for the county where the defendant resides, with certain exceptions. This bill would specify that the venue for trying certain violations be either in the county where the act occurred or potentially in a contiguous county. This would undoubtedly lead to parties shopping around for judges who are perceived as more sympathetic to one political side or another. This is a dangerous precedent to set, and one which is not healthy for a well-functioning democracy.
I also object to modifying the way in which a person challenges the actions of an election official. Currently, any individual, other than a district attorney or the attorney general, must first file a complaint with the Elections Commission, and only after the commission's review can the matter go before a court. This step is essential as election laws are highly complex. It is quite likely that members of the public may perceive there to be an incorrect action by an election official because they do not understand the detailed law that regulates our elections. By starting the process with the Elections Commission, election experts can review the actions or perceived failures of action and determine if there was a potential violation or if the complainant simply did not understand the law.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 15, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist160177I am vetoing Senate Bill 347 in its entirety. This bill removes the requirement that animal exhibition facilities holding a U.S. Department of Agriculture Class C exhibitor license must also hold the relevant license issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to reducing the standards to which wildlife exhibition facilities are held in Wisconsin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Class C license has some requirements that are more lenient than those of the Department of Natural Resources. Eliminating the state licensing requirement for these facilities would prevent the department from applying state standards that are designed to ensure humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of captive animals.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 15, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist160178I am vetoing Senate Bill 365 in its entirety. The bill modifies the statutory definition of broadband “unserved” areas to be an area of the state not served by at least one Internet service provider that provides download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 20 megabits per second and removes the statutory definition of broadband “underserved” areas. This bill also modifies the criteria by which the Public Service Commission may award grants under the Broadband Expansion Grant Program, including codifying and making changes to existing procedures that allow an Internet service provider to challenge the awarding of a grant if it currently provides broadband service to the area at the minimum download and upload speeds defined in the bill or if it credibly plans to complete construction of broadband infrastructure and provide broadband service at the minimum speed levels defined by the bill within 24 months. Under the bill, the Commission is required to evaluate such a challenge and prohibits it from funding the grant if it determines the challenge to be credible.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the creation of a procedure that would allow Internet service providers to block competition in rural and outlying areas of the state for up to two years by interfering with grants to other providers, potentially leaving residents with no service, inadequate service, or unaffordable service for a longer period. The Broadband Expansion Grant Program provides funding for broadband infrastructure in areas where private sector investment is insufficient. This statutory challenge process will delay the delivery of critical broadband service to rural areas of Wisconsin, which will leave rural students and residents further behind and put area small businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
I also object to codifying the speed definition of an “unserved” area in state statute. Broadband technology is evolving at a rapid pace and defining the speed of broadband service that leaves an individual as “unserved” in state statute could leave the Public Service Commission unable to make necessary updates to the Broadband Expansion Grant Program quickly in the future.
Expanding broadband to those areas of the state that need it is a key priority of my administration. Between federal pandemic aid and the state funding in the Broadband Expansion Grant Program, my administration has invested over $280 million in broadband infrastructure to deliver high-speed Internet access. In order to build out this infrastructure as quickly as possible, we need to support any entity that can do the job, and that includes the public sector as well as private sector companies that may not currently serve a specific area. Now is not the time to grant a competitive advantage to providers that have chosen not to deliver this service to these communities.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 15, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist160179I am vetoing Senate Bill 394 in its entirety. This bill creates a new license for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), administered by the Board of Nursing attached to the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Nurses are essential to our healthcare system, patient care, and ensuring we have healthy communities in Wisconsin. Indeed, look no further than the last few years, during which nurses across our state have worked tirelessly on the frontlines during this pandemic—acts of selflessness and service for which we can never fully express our gratitude.
I recognize there are many individuals who support this legislation and others who do not, each with important stories, considerations, and concerns. I respect the many people and professions on both sides of this conversation. Unfortunately, the bill ultimately before me today does not address some of the issues raised by parties in the medical profession that went unremedied during the legislative process. I am therefore vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to altering current licensure standards for APRNs, allowing practices functionally equivalent to those of physicians or potentially omitting physicians from a patient’s care altogether notwithstanding significant differences in required education, training, and experience.
I have appreciated the opportunity to give this thoughtful consideration and I welcome continuing the conversations on this important issue.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
