Explain It To Me: What’s next in state government?

Dec 2, 2022 | Wisconsin Voices Blog

With the elections now in the rearview mirror, lawmakers are quickly getting set up for the 2023 legislative session by choosing leaders, picking offices, and hiring staff. Here’s what we know.

Leadership:

  • State Assembly
    • Republicans (64 members)
      • Speaker: Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
      • Speaker Pro Tempore: Rep. Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca)
      • Majority Leader Rep. Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva)
      • Assistant Majority Leader: Rep. Jon Plumer (R-Lodi)
    • Democrats (35 members)
      • Minority Leader: Greta Neubauer (D-Racine)
      • Assistant Minority Leader: Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee)
  • State Senate
    • Republicans (22 members)
      • Majority Leader: Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg)
      • President: Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield)
      • President Pro Tempore: Pat Testin (R-Stevens Point)
    • Democrats (11 members)
      • Minority Leader: Melissa Agard (D-Madison)
      • Assistant Minority Leader: Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick)

Appointments:

  • Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) have each been reappointed to serve as co-chairs of the powerful Joint Committee on Finance. They will be charged with developing the Republican state budget. Other appointments will come in December.
  • Watch for Governor Evers to appoint new cabinet secretaries as he heads into his second term. To learn more about these positions and what they do, check out IRG’s “Agency 101” series here.

Upcoming Items of Note

  • Jan. 2: Gov Evers swearing-in
  • Jan. 3: Legislature swearing-in
  • February 7: Gov Evers’ State of State Address
  • Late February/Early March: Evers Budget Address. While state law requires the Governor to deliver the biennial budget to lawmakers by the last Tuesday in January, that date is often postponed. Gov. Evers has requested either Feb. 28 or March 7 as the day for his speech, but Speaker Vos has indicated that those days won’t work for the Legislature.
  • June 30: Current fiscal year ends. Of note, unlike the federal government, the state does not shut down if a new budget isn’t in place by July 1. The current budget continues until a new one is signed by the Governor.