March 2026 Legislative Update

Senate Adjourns for Session, Failing to Take Up Knowles-Nelson

This week, on March 17, the State Senate held its final general session floor day. The Assembly previously adjourned in February. Both houses are not expected to return to the floor for general business until January 2027. There is still a possibility of an extraordinary or special session regarding tax relief and education, but there is currently no agreement between the Governor and Republican legislative leaders on that topic.

The Senate’s final floor day was filled with firsts this session—including two significant votes that broke the infamous GOP “Rule of 17,” which requires at least 17 Republican votes to bring a bill to the floor. Following the session day, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu announced he will not run for reelection this year.

Unfortunately, the Senate failed to take up the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. This was already a very slim possibility after the Senate scheduled—and then removed—the bill from the February floor day.

The focus for WPRA and other stakeholders will now turn to reauthorization and funding for the program in the 2027–29 state budget. The KNSP is currently funded through June 30, 2026. The result of the Senate’s inaction means the program will not be operational beyond that date. However, the state statutes governing the program remain in place, and the best-case scenario would be reauthorization and funding in the next budget cycle—meaning the program could be up and running again by July 1, 2027. WPRA will continue to build out a strategy to ensure this occurs.

Other Legislation WPRA is Tracking

Local Government Competitive Bidding Threshold Heads to the Governor

In positive news, the Senate concurred on Assembly Bill 217, as amended, updating Wisconsin’s local government competitive bidding laws for counties, towns, cities, and certain commissions. The bill modernizes long-outdated bidding thresholds and establishes separate standards for general public works projects and highway projects.

Under the bill, competitive bidding for general public works and construction projects is now required when project costs reach $50,000, with public notice required for projects exceeding $10,000. For public highway projects, competitive bidding is required at $25,000, and public notice is required for projects over $5,000. These changes replace lower thresholds that had not kept pace with rising construction and materials costs.

The legislation also adds an automatic inflation adjustment. Beginning five years after enactment—and every five years thereafter—the bidding and notice thresholds will increase based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, rounded to the nearest $1,000. This is intended to prevent the thresholds from becoming outdated again.

In addition, the bill clarifies statutory definitions for public contracts and public highway contracts, maintains emergency exceptions, and preserves existing exemptions for projects involving donated materials, volunteer labor, or privately constructed improvements that are later donated. Local governments also retain the ability, by a three-fourths vote, to perform certain classes of work directly without competitive bidding.

The updated thresholds apply to bids solicited on or after the bill’s effective date.

The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk. WPRA is registered in support of this legislation.

Commercial Driver Training Grant Program Ready for Governor’s Desk

Another bill WPRA has been tracking has cleared both legislative houses and will now be sent to the Governor for review.

Senate Bill 783 expands eligibility under Wisconsin’s commercial driver training grant program by allowing applicants who pay a third-party provider for CDL training to receive grants, so long as the training meets federal requirements and the provider is listed on the federal Training Provider Registry.

The bill maintains the requirement that trainees reside in Wisconsin and obtain an initial CDL in the state, requires applicants to have at least one in-state facility, and limits the program to one grant per individual trained.