Legislative Updates
February 2026 - Current Legislative Update:
This month, efforts to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program stalled after the Wisconsin Senate declined to take up legislation that had passed the Assembly, leaving its future uncertain as the 2025–26 legislative session nears its end. The Assembly had approved Assembly Bill 315 and Assembly Bill 612 to reauthorize the program at $28.25 million annually and preserve key grant funding, but the bills faced resistance in the Senate despite committee amendments allocating $2.5 million for nonprofit land acquisitions, maintaining overall funding, and capping purchases north of U.S. Highway 8; they were ultimately removed from the Senate calendar. With limited time remaining, potential paths forward include Senate passage of the original Assembly versions or formation of a bipartisan coalition, though both face political challenges. Meanwhile, the Assembly approved Assembly Bill 217 updating local government competitive bidding thresholds, raising limits for public works and highway projects, adding automatic inflation adjustments every five years, clarifying definitions and exemptions, and applying the changes to future bids; the bill now awaits Senate scheduling. Additionally, Senate Bill 783 cleared both chambers and heads to the Governor, expanding eligibility for Wisconsin’s commercial driver training grant program to include certain third-party training providers while maintaining residency, in-state facility, and one-grant-per-trainee requirements.
2026 Legislative Updates
January 2026
2025 Legislative Updates
January 2025
February 2025
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
June 2025
July 2025
August 2025
September 2025
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
2024 Legislative Updates
January 2024
February 2024
March 2024
April 2024
May 2024
June 2024
July 2024
August 2024
September 2024
October 2024
November 2024
December 2024
2023 Legislative Updates
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
2022 Legislative Updates
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
2021 Legislative Updates
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
June 14, 2021- Press Release: Statement from the Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association Thanking the Joint Finance Committee on Stewardship Action
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
October 30, 2020 - WPRA Letter to Governor
Bolster Stewardship Local Assistance Program
Sent to: Governor Tony Evers
April 24, 2020 – WPRA Letter to Governor
Plans to Reopen Wisconsin’s Parks, Aquatic Resources and Recreational Amenities
Sent to: Governor Tony Evers and Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, Department of Health Services
Hamilton Consulting Group COVID-19 Resource Website on the State Actions
Links to find your:
Wisconsin Legislators
US Senator
|
Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association