Presented to the Governor on Thursday, December 4.
EDWARD A. BLAZEL
Assembly Chief Clerk
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Governor's Veto Message
December 5, 2025
To the Honorable Members of the Assembly:
The following bills, originating in the Assembly, have been vetoed in their entirety, and were returned to their house of origin, together with the objections in writing:
Bill Number Date of Veto
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
hist136422I am vetoing Assembly Bill 165 in its entirety. _Hlk215841519This bill would prohibit political subdivisions (defined as cities, villages, towns, or counties) from expending moneys of the political subdivision for guaranteed income programs, which the bill defines as programs that provide unearned regular periodic cash payments to individuals that may be used for any purpose. I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the Legislature’s continued efforts to arbitrarily restrict and preempt local governments across our state. The Wisconsin State Legislature should focus its efforts and energy on supporting our local partners and building upon our bipartisan work to ensure our local communities have the resources they need to meet basic and unique needs alike. I trust our local partners to know best how to meet local needs, and the state should be a partner in—not an obstacle to—the work of our local partners to address their unique challenges and meet those needs, whatever they may be.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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This bill requires University of Wisconsin System institutions, technical colleges, and private nonprofit colleges in Wisconsin to annually submit to the Higher Educational Aids Board several categories of information relating to certain salaries, graduation information, popularity of select degree programs, among other data.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to burdening institutions of higher education in Wisconsin with additional administrative requirements, most especially when the Wisconsin State Legislature imposes such mandates without providing the necessary resources to successfully implement those requirements. Further, many of the mandated reporting as required under this bill will, according to the University of Wisconsin System, “overlap substantially” with existing information that is already available and submitted to the federal government. Therefore, I must veto this bill.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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This bill would exempt tobacco bars from the state smoking ban if the tobacco bar came into existence on or after June 4, 2009, allows only the smoking of cigars and pipes, and is not a retail food establishment. The tobacco bar must further display a notice that smoking cigars and pipes is allowed on the premises and must prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from entering the tobacco bar. Finally, employees of the tobacco bar must sign an acknowledgement that they will be subjected to secondhand smoke, and the tobacco bar must include building plan documents demonstrating sufficient air filtration and exhaust in license applications and renewals.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the negative impact this legislation will have on the public health of the people of Wisconsin. Secondhand smoke, a known carcinogen, causes serious health problems and is responsible for thousands of deaths on an annual basis.
Wisconsin’s smoke-free air law was enacted over 15 years ago to ensure that everyone has the right to breathe clean air while at work and in public places. This public policy was a critically important step forward for keeping kids, families, and communities healthier and safer, improving public health and, most importantly, saving thousands of lives. As a former smoker and esophageal cancer survivor, I cannot in good conscience reverse course on that important step for public health, safety, and well-being by restoring indoor smoking in certain public spaces.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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Under current law, United States citizens, United States nationals, and certain documented immigrants are eligible to enroll in the Medicaid program. This bill prohibits federal funding passing through or funding from the state or any county, city, village, town, long-term care district, subdivision or agency of the state (or any subdivision or agency of any county, city, village or town) from being authorized for or paid to any person to subsidize, reimburse, or otherwise provide compensation for any healthcare services for any individual who is not lawfully present.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to Republican lawmakers passing legislation they acknowledge is unnecessary to prevent problems they admit do not exist, all for the sake of trying to push polarizing political rhetoric.
As this bill’s Republican co-author in the Wisconsin State Assembly plainly stated in the public hearing on this proposal, “Wisconsin currently doesn’t allow undocumented immigrants to enroll in BadgerCare.” The bill’s Republican co-author in the Wisconsin State Senate agreed, offering a similar sentiment to his Assembly counterpart. “Under current law, citizenship is a requirement to enroll in Medicaid and BadgerCare,” he testified in a legislative hearing.
Nevertheless, Republican lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature passed this bill anyway, apparently under the guise of being concerned about consequences they themselves acknowledge do not happen in Wisconsin.
These basic but important admissions by its own co-authors underscore that Republicans’ decision to pass this bill was more about being inflammatory, stoking fear, and sowing division than it was about accomplishing any significant policy outcome or being prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars. Therefore, I must veto this bill.
TONY EVERS
Governor
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This bill would make several changes to Wisconsin law related to emotional support animals and service animals, including: (a) allowing housing providers to request documentation of a prescription or letter from a licensed health professional in order for an individual to keep an emotional support animal; (b) creating new forfeitures for individuals and licensed health professionals related to prescriptions or letters for emotional support animals; (c) changing the definition of "service animal" in public accommodations law; (d) creating penalties for intentionally misrepresenting possession of a service animal in public places of accommodation or amusement; and (e) requiring the Department of Workforce Development to develop and distribute signage and informational materials for businesses in consultation with an outside animal service organization.
While I share the goal of preventing fraudulent representation of emotional support and service animals, I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the creation of unnecessary barriers for individuals with legitimate disability-related needs. I also object to creating arbitrary barriers to people with disabilities from getting the support and care they need, and I similarly oppose efforts that could jeopardize safe and reliable housing for individuals who rely on emotional support animals for safety, well-being, and stability.
Finally, legislation affecting the rights and protections of Wisconsinites with disabilities should be developed in consultation and collaboration with people with disabilities, disability advocates, housing stakeholders, service animal training organizations, and the department. This bill was not meaningfully developed through this collaborative process. Therefore, I must veto this bill.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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This bill would delay the transition of building standards for public buildings, public structures, and places of employment from standards based on the 2015 International Building Code to standards based on the 2021 International Building Code. The applicability of the new standards would be delayed from September 1, 2025, to April 1, 2026. Any plans submitted for compliance examination before April 1, 2026, would be subject to the prior standards.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the further unnecessary delay in implementing new building standards that will benefit Wisconsin communities. The Department of Safety and Professional Services, in consultation with industry stakeholders and experts, has already delayed enforcement of the new building code until November 1, 2025. Additionally, JCRAR unconstitutionally obstructed this rule from taking effect for years, and the department was only able to implement it after lengthy litigation.1 This bill would not only create confusion for developers with current building projects under review but would also further delay the implementation of new safety and energy efficiency standards that have been already widely adopted. The department has and will continue to work with building professionals throughout the state to ensure proper understanding and compliance with the new building commercial code.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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Communications
The Chief Clerk received the following coauthor and cosponsor requests on December 3, 2025:
hist215709Senators Dassler-Alfheim and Wirch added as cosponsors of Assembly Bill 635, relating to: notifying counties and tribes of an exceedance of groundwater protection standards or standards for PFAS. hist215707Senator Marklein added as a cosponsor of Assembly Bill 677, relating to: creating a crime of grooming a child for sexual activity and providing a penalty. _____________
The Chief Clerk received the following coauthor and cosponsor requests on December 4, 2025:
