Wisconsin's legislative session for 2025-26 concluded this week, with the Senate gaveling out after passing key bills now awaiting Governor Tony Evers' decision. According to the Wisconsin Farmers Union, AB 180 was amended to fund Department of Health Services compliance with federal SNAP changes under HR 1, adding paperwork and potential $205 million penalties, while imposing FoodShare purchase limits. Bipartisan AB 130 and 131 released $125 million from the PFAS Trust Fund for contamination efforts, heading to the governor's desk. Evers signed Senate Bill 23 on March 18, extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, joining 48 other states, per the Farmers Union.
In business news, Milwaukee gears up for growth with the $240 million Nature and Culture Museum near Deer District and Central Standard Craft Distillery's relocation to a 73,000-square-foot former Harley-Davidson site, boosting production, as reported by Visit Milwaukee. A data center boom promises jobs in construction, operations, and manufacturing, with Wisconsin firms securing over $1 billion in sales for components like motors and cooling systems, according to Wisconsin Watch.
Communities grapple with education funding shortfalls amid declining enrollment of 14,087 students this year, per Wisconsin Public Radio. Over 70 districts seek April referendums totaling more than $1 billion for operations and infrastructure, Headspring reports. WisDOT previews over 400 highway projects for 2026, including I-41 expansion near Appleton and I-94 work in Milwaukee.
The March 2026 North American blizzard, dubbed Winter Storm Iona, brought historic snow to Wisconsin from March 13-17, with Wausau recording 23.4 inches on March 15 and Green Bay 17.1 inches, shattering records, Wikipedia notes. Governor Evers declared a state of emergency, over 13,000 lost power in southeast Wisconsin, and the State Patrol reported 90 crashes.
Looking Ahead: Watch April school referendums, WisDOT construction starting soon like WIS 21 closure near Oshkosh, a new legislative session in January 2027, and debates over the $4.6 billion budget surplus for schools and taxes.
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