Legislative Update

BY NATHAN BUTZLAFF, SNA-WI LOBBYIST, HOVEN CONSULTING

On February 15, Governor Tony Evers unveiled his budget bill request for the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 budget biennium. His proposed budget bill outlines how the State of Wisconsin would administer tax dollars, program revenue, and federal aid dollars over the next two years. In total, the budget aims to spend $103.8 billion ($52.1 billion in FY20232024 and $51.7 billion in FY2024-2025) on state government programs. For fiscal year 2023-2024, that's a $7.9 billion increase (17.9 percent) over the budget proposed by Evers in 2021.

Specifically, the following items in the budget request will be of interest to SNA-WI:

• Creates the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids program by providing $120.2 million in FY2024-25 to fully fund school breakfast and lunches for all children. This initiative is also known as “School Meals for All”.

• Provides adequate funding ($4.3 million in FY2023-24 and $4.7 million in FY202425) to fully reimburse school breakfasts at 15 cents per meal, as is called for in existing law.

• Incentivizes schools to support Wisconsin’s farmers, food producers, and local economies by providing $2.75 million in FY2024-25 for an enhanced 10 cents per meal reimbursement for meals that include locally sourced foods.

The bill was sent to the Wisconsin legislature where it was reviewed by the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC). On May 2, the JFC remove over 500 budget items from Governor Evers’ budget request, including the following DPI budget items of interest to SNA-WI:

• “School Meals for All” Funding

• Locally-Sourced Food Incentive Payments

• Grants for Milk Coolers and Dispensers

However, it is important to note that the JFC did not be vote to remove the increased school breakfast reimbursement funding that was included in the Governor’s budget request. While this is a “win” at this stage of the process, it is disheartening to have the other budget items removed. Watch for additional communcations by email on next steps in the process.

After the JFC has approved the budget bill, it will then be sent to the state Assembly and Senate for passage, likely in June. It’s important to note that Republican legislative leaders have stated publicly that they do not support the Governor’s budget proposal. Republicans control both houses of the legislature and major changes to the proposal are expected.

SNA-WI Members Testified Before Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee

In April, the State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee held public budget listening sessions in Waukesha, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Dells and Minocqua. At these hearings, several SNA-WI members testified in support of funding for “School Meals for All,” as well

as fully funding the school breakfast reimbursement at 15-cents per meal served. Those members included SNA-WI President Caitlin Harrison, Bobbie Guyette, Mike Gasper, Josh Schmidt, and Irene Pawlisch.

During the budget listening session in Wisconsin Dells on April 12, Joint Finance Committee member/Rep. Alex Dallman (R-Green Lake) told a reporter from the Wheeler Report (a Madison publication focused on state government): “Free lunches for schools. I didn’t realize that these would be such a big issue. I was also surprised at how much they would actually cost the state, it’s like $120 million to do free lunches. That’s a big one.”

Please see page 39 for photos from the budget listening sessions.

SNA-WI Virtual Advocacy Day Held on February 27

On February 27, SNA-WI held its annual State Advocacy Day virtually. Over 30 members attended. The goal of Advocacy Day is to provide members with grassroots advocacy training, explain how members can make a difference in advocating the state legislature, and provide them with an opportunity to hear from key state officials regarding school nutrition policy.

This year, the keynote speaker was State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jill Underly. She spoke about the state Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) Fiscal Year 2023-2025 budget priorities, including “School Meals for All,” and provided an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

In addition, several state legislators spoke to attendees. In particular, state Representatives Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay) and Francesca Hong (D-Madison), spoke to attendees

regarding their Universal Free School Meals bill that they introduced during the 2021-2022 legislative session, as well as their ongoing advocacy on this issue. In the place of State Representative Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa), who was slated to attend, his chief of staff spoke about Rep. Krug’s support for increasing the school breakfast reimbursement rate.

To round out the presentations, SNA-WI Madison-based lobbyists Tim Hoven and Nathan Butzlaff presented on Advocacy 101, as well as on SNA-WI’s two budget priorities – increasing school breakfast funding and School Meals for All. Also, SNA-WI Legislative Committee members provided a demonstration of how to handle a meeting with a state legislator.

State Senator Tours Marshfield School District Food Service Operation

On February 24, State Senator Jesse James (R-Altoona) toured the food service operation in the Marshfield School District, which is located in his state Senate district. Food Service Director Melanie Hanneman, RDN, had the opportunity to show him their food service operation and educate him on SNA-WI’s budget priorities. In addition, he even took the time to serve lunch to students!

Spring Election Summary Report

The following is a report on the Spring election, which occurred on April 4:

Supreme Court Race

Key points in the races: Statewide voter turnout was 39% , one of the largest turnouts in a nonpresidential election.

• The Protasiewicz win will create a 4-3 liberal majority on the court, when she starts her term on the court on August 1, 2023.

• Kelly consistently emphasized his commitment to the state constitution. He questioned and criticized Protasiewicz over sentences she handed down to criminal defendants that he considered soft.

• Protasiewicz sought to make the race about abortion and a defender of reproductive rights. In addition, she also advocated redrawing the legislative maps and revisiting previously enacted Republican initiatives.

• Former Justice Dan Kelly lost in 2020 to supreme court candidate Jill Karofsky by 10 points.

• Campaign finance records indicate nearly $50 million was spent by the candidate and outside groups.

Special Election-Senate 8th District:

When State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) resigned from office, this led to a special election to fill the rest of her term. The district includes parts of Ozaukee, Washington, and Milwaukee counties. The district is generally considered a 54% Republican district.

• In the general election, State Representative Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) defeated first time candidate Jodi Habush-Sinykin (D) with 50.9% to 49.1%.

• Senator-elect Knodl’ s victory will provide Senate Republicans with a 22 to 11 super majority.

State-Wide Referenda

There were also three statewide referendum questions on Tuesday’s ballot – two of which were amendments to the state constitution and one of which was an advisory referendum. Lawmakers can use the results of an advisory referendum to gauge public opinion on an issue and inform policy decisions, according to state documents. However, both political parties have increasingly used referendums to draw voters, particularly with nonpartisan spring elections, which don't usually generate additional turnout.

Question 1:

State Constitutional Amendment - Define Conditions of Release – Passed "Conditions of release before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose on an accused person being released before conviction conditions that are designed to protect the community from serious harm?”

Question 2:

State Constitutional Amendment - Cash Bail Before Conviction – Passed “Cash bail before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose cash bail on a person accused of a violent crime based on the totality of the circumstances, including the accused’s previous convictions for a violent crime, the probability that the accused will fail to appear, the need to protect the community from serious harm and prevent witness intimidation, and potential affirmative defenses.

Advisory Referendum:

Welfare Benefits – Passed“Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded benefits.”