Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 31, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist159698I am vetoing Senate Bill 296 in its entirety. This bill would create a definition of “riot” and creates penalties for certain actions under this new definition.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because the conduct this bill purportedly intends to prevent is already generally prohibited under current law. For instance, intentionally failing or refusing to withdraw from an unlawful assembly in which the person knows has been ordered to disperse is already a crime, as are various forms of battery, damaging property, arson, disorderly conduct, theft, and trespass.
Moreover, this bill inadvertently creates ambiguity, inconsistency, and contradictions in practical application that could be used to infringe on the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment. There is a difference between a peaceful assembly and an unlawful one that threatens public safety, damages property, and destroys livelihoods. Current law already ensures individuals who engage in the latter can be held accountable.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 31, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist159699I am vetoing Senate Bill 563 in its entirety. This bill would make many statutory changes to allow farm-raised game bovids to be treated the same as farm-raised deer. This bill would allow farm-raised game bovids to be raised as livestock and then be harvested as hunting ranches. These ranches can keep the animals inside a fenced area during the hunt, so long as the area meets a certain size requirement.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to increasing the number on non-native species that can be raised in captivity and used for hunting inside penned areas. Hunting is a proud part of Wisconsin’s heritage, and I support ethical hunting based on the principle of fair chase.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 31, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist159700I am vetoing Senate Bill 597 in its entirety. This bill would allow private choice schools to adopt an early admission policy for four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, and first grade, and to count that child towards choice program membership.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to creating a scenario that would likely increase property taxes. Currently, new students enrolling in private schools in the Wisconsin Parental Choice program and Racine Parental Choice program are effectively entirely funded by local school district’s property taxes through a revenue limit adjustment and reduction, likely resulting in school districts recovering the lost state revenue through increase in their local property taxes.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 31, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist159701I am vetoing Senate Bill 609 in its entirety. This bill would require the Department of Natural Resources to produce and stock a minimum number of pheasants each year and to stock them on an established schedule. The department would also be required to produce a report identifying where pheasants would be stocked and a detailed plan for stocking those properties.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the Legislature’s failure to provide resources for the Department of Natural Resources to implement this new requirement. According to the fiscal estimate prepared by the Department of Natural Resources, stocking the number of pheasants required under this bill could cost over $5.7 million in one-time startup costs an additional $1.5 million in ongoing annual costs. This is not feasible without providing additional budgetary and staff resources to the department, which are absent from this bill. Additionally, capital projects costing in excess of $1,000,000 must be enumerated in the State Building Program. This bill does not provide an enumeration for a hatchery expansion at the State Game Farm, which would be necessary to comply with this bill. Finally, the Department of Natural Resources has a history of collaborating with stakeholders in order to make stocking decisions that are science-based, and which incorporate biological, social, and economic factors while ensuring habitat protection, among other considerations. This includes regular consultation the Wisconsin Conservation Congress as well as the Pheasant Advisory Committee, consisting of Department of Natural Resources experts as well as stakeholder group representatives who review and make recommendations on the management of pheasant in Wisconsin. This bill bypasses that informed process.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 31, 2022
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist159702I am vetoing Senate Bill 612 in its entirety. This bill would require the Department of Natural Resources to annually stock at least 100,000 brook trout in Lake Michigan.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to implementing arbitrary stock quotas without considering, much less incorporating, evidence and science-based practices and processes. The Department of Natural Resources has a history of collaborating with stakeholders in order to make stocking decisions that are science-based, and which incorporate biological, social, and economic factors to evaluate stocking fish while ensuring habitat protection, among other considerations. This bill would not allow the department to adjust stocking levels based on angler demand, natural fish reproduction rates, or economic factors. Furthermore, this bill would require the department to shift resources towards stocking brook trout, potentially reducing the propagation of other fish species. This could lead to challenges from sport fishers as certain species of other fish would see limited stocking efforts as resources are shifted toward the arbitrary statutory requirement to stock brook trout.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
Referrals and Receipt of Committee Reports Concerning Proposed Administrative Rules
The committee on Utilities, Technology and Telecommunications reported and recommended:
Relating to the incorporation of a PM2.5 emissions reporting requirement, alignment of state and federal emissions reporting terminology, updates to reflect current emissions reporting procedure, and affecting small business.
hist159689Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, March 31, 2022. Relating to coal combustion residual landfills.
hist159691Referred to the joint committee for review of Administrative Rules, March 31, 2022. JULIAN BRADLEY
Chairperson
