One-Hundred and Sixth Regular Session
WEDNESDAY, February 28, 2024
The Chief Clerk made the following entries under the above date.
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Chief Clerk's Entries
Amendments Offered
hist192744Senate Substitute Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 918 offered by Senator Stafsholt. _____________
Senate Enrolled Proposals
The Chief Clerk records:
Report correctly enrolled on 2-28-2024.
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Bills Presented to the Governor
The Chief Clerk records:
Presented to the Governor on 2-28-2024.
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Report of Committees
The committee on Economic Development and Technical Colleges reported and recommended:
Assembly Bill 548
Relating to: requiring the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to create the Wisconsin-Ireland Trade Commission.
Ayes: 6 - Senators Feyen, Stafsholt, Cowles, Pfaff, Knodl and Larson.
Noes: 0 - None.
Senate Bill 883
Relating to: modifying the certification criteria to be a qualified new business venture.
Ayes: 6 - Senators Feyen, Stafsholt, Cowles, Pfaff, Knodl and Larson.
Noes: 0 - None.
Ayes: 6 - Senators Feyen, Stafsholt, Cowles, Pfaff, Knodl and Larson.
Noes: 0 - None.
DAN FEYEN
Chairperson
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Petitions and Communications
hist192770Pursuant to Senate Rule 17 (5), Representatives Wichgers and Gustafson added as coauthors of Assembly Bill 70. _____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
February 28, 2024
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
(Vetoed in part)
Sincerely,
TONY EVERS
Governor
Pursuant to s. 35.095 (1)(b), Wisconsin Statutes, the following 2023 Act(s) have been published: Act Number Bill Number Publication Date
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
February 28, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
I have approved Senate Bill 1015 as 2023 Wisconsin Act 97 and have deposited it in the Office of the Secretary of State. I have exer~ised the partial veto in sections 1 [as it relates to s. 20.435 (1) (bd)], 2, and 4. This bill would transfer $15,000,000 SEG from the state building trust fund to the general fund for fiscal year 2023-24. In addition, the bill would eliminate a $15,000,000 SEG appropriation for a Building Commission grant made during the 2021-22 fiscal year. Further, the bill would increase the supplemental appropriation to the Joint Committee on Finance by $15,000,000 GPR for fiscal year 202.3-24 to fund grants to support hospital emergency department services. Finally, the bill would create a Department of Health Services appropriation for hospital emergency department services grants.
I am partially vetoing sections 1 [as it relates to s . 20.435 (1) (bd)], 2, and 4 to remove the specific references to emergency department services within the broader category of hospital services. I object to unnecessarily restricting crisis funding intended to address urgent healthcare access needs in Western Wisconsin that exist well beyond hospital emergency departments.
The Hospital Sisters Health System's (HSHS) closure will result in, for example, a disruption of care for patients with ongoing needs, pregnant women, and those with mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorders, among others. The state's response to this crisis must consider and be responsive to meeting the entire continuum of healthcare services that will be impacted in communities across the region, not just hospital emergency departments. Through my broad, constitutional veto authority, I am ensuring these resources have the flexibility necessary to be used-to meet healthcare access needs for Western Wisconsin. These partial vetoes will broaden the scope of the grants, allowing the Department of Health Services to submit a plan for funding any hospital services meeting the area's pressing healthcare access needs. These crisis resources, due to my partial vetoes, will now also be available to support urgent care services, OB-GYN services, in-patient psychiatric services, and mental health and substance abuse services in the Chippewa Valley.
Under Senate Bill 1015, which I am approving with partial vetoes today, $15,000,000 in emergency resources are readily available and now have the flexibility necessary to meet the broader healthcare access needs of the Chippewa Valley region. The Department of Health Services has submitted an official request to the Joint Committee on Finance, asking the Committee to release these funds without delay. I urge the Joint Committee on Finance to work expeditiously to do so.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
February 28, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist192773I am vetoing Senate Bill 1014 in its entirety.
