June Recap: Safe Summer, Budget Updates, and More! 

June 23, 2025

Earlier this month I joined Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, doctors, students, advocates, and fellow legislators to introduce the Safe Summer package of gun safety legislation.

With gun violence typically spiking during summer months, members of the Legislative Gun Safety Coalition are taking action. Joint Finance Committee Republicans removed common-sense gun safety measures from the budget, but we are standing united to say enough is enough. I introduced bills to establish Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), background checks on every gun sale, firearm purchase waiting periods, and bans on ghost guns. 

Every Wisconsinite deserves to live free from the threat of gun violence, no matter where they live, work, or play. These bills are backed by overwhelming public support and the expertise of health care professionals and public safety leaders. 
 

I stood with Democratic colleagues from both the Senate and Assembly in support of the Protect Wisconsinites bills. These bills are a direct response to Donald Trump’s unlawful actions to defund government programs and compromise the privacy of Wisconsin citizens. I am committed to ensuring the state will fight to protect the freedoms and rights of all Wisconsinites from unlawful intrusion at the federal level. 

On June 5th the Joint Finance Committee took up the Environmental Improvement Fund, Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, Educational Communications Board, and Medical College of Wisconsin. I was proud to take bipartisan action by voting to invest in both clean drinking water and infrastructure projects across the state. With many lead service lines in my Assembly district threatening public health and the potential for steep increases in our water bills, increasing critical funding through the Environmental Improvement Fund is a smart investment for the state surplus.
 

On June 10th Joint Finance took on courts, part of the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protections, the Historical Society, Insurance, Revenue, and Workforce Development. Despite increasing concerns about food safety, the Joint Finance Committee failed to fully fund the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), denying critical position requests needed to safeguard Wisconsin's food supply.

During this budget cycle, DATCP requested additional staff to protect public health, monitor animal disease outbreaks, and enforce food safety standards. Instead, the Joint Finance Committee approved only a fraction of the needed resources. While some support was provided for meat inspection, IT infrastructure, and the Bureau of Laboratory Services, most of the funding is one-time and lacks long-term stability. Importantly, several essential positions, requested to strengthen food safety and respond to emerging agricultural crises, were not approved at all.

This underfunding of essential services comes at a time when threats like the avian flu have already disrupted our food supply chain and driven up prices for basic necessities like eggs. Without proper staffing, DATCP is left under-equipped to monitor outbreaks, regulate food safety, and act quickly to prevent future crises.
 

The June 12th Executive Session involved Veterans Affairs, Shared Revenue, Taxes, and Public Instruction. Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee made a disappointing decision that ignored the voices of families, educators, and advocates across Wisconsin. Despite overwhelming testimony during public hearings demanding greater support for our public schools, especially special education, Republican legislators once again failed to deliver the 60% sum-sufficient special education reimbursement that schools across the state urgently need.

The committee also cut $10 million from existing funding levels for school-based mental health services. At a time when students are struggling with mental health more than ever, the Legislature should be stepping up to provide more support, not less.

 

On June 11th the Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation Committee met to discuss the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. A new bill has been introduced to make policy changes in the existing program. While the bill is a starting point in reauthorizing and funding Knowles-Nelson, I had serious questions about a “trailer bill” that has not been made public yet (read more here). I will keep up the fight to maintain Knowles-Nelson and for transparency in the Stewardship program.