Gov. Evers outlines final-year agenda in state address

By WisPolitics-State Affairs

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, in his final State of the State address, emphasized past accomplishments, poked and prodded GOP lawmakers and laid out goals for the months remaining in his last year in office.

Many in the Capitol and media were focused on a potential property tax relief compromise. Important, considering the state’s $2.5 billion surplus and the big elections later this year.

But an array of other items in the speech shows what Evers is thinking as he wraps up his time in the East Wing.

Among his priorities:

• Revamping the state prison system. Evers introduced a plan a year ago to revamp the system with a goal of closing the Green Bay Correctional Institute by 2029. But Republicans dismissed it, in part because of his call to expand earned early release and because it would leave the state with about 700 fewer prison beds than it now has.

Instead, the Building Commission led by Evers in December approved $15 million in planning funds to close Green Bay, complete the process of moving youthful offenders out of facilities in northern Wisconsin and make other changes.

Evers said he was hopeful a deal could still be struck this year, though he ruled out GOP calls for a new prison in the Green Bay area.

“We don’t need to ask taxpayers to pay for a brand-new prison that won’t be done for a decade,” Evers said. “My plan remains the safest, fastest, and cheapest option available. I don’t care who gets the credit. It doesn’t make any difference. I’m going to be gone in a few months. Let’s just get it done, please.”

• Boosting renewable energy. The governor announced plans to purchase of 225,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy every year for the next two decades, which Evers said was enough to power more than half a million homes.

According to Evers’ office, the initiative will include requesting bids for the state to purchase renewable energy credits from Wisconsin-based projects. The credits are issued when electricity is generated and delivered to the grid by a renewable source.

Since 2007, the state has purchased more than 1.8 million such credits, and the request for proposal will seek options capable of delivering the credits starting in January 2031 for a 20-year term.

• Exploring nuclear energy. Evers announced a partnership with UW-Madison’s Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics to study nuclear energy opportunities in Wisconsin. Touting it as a safe source of carbon-free power, he said it could “be a game-changer for our state.”

• Launching the new film tax credit, which will make up to $5 million available to support the production of film, TV, documentaries, broadcast advertisements and production infrastructure in the state.

“I’m excited to announce we’re launching the new program this week, which will help bolster our travel and tourism economies and bring exciting, creative endeavors right to Wisconsin’s doorstep, how about that,” Evers said on Feb. 17.

Productions will need to spend at least $100,000 for projects 30 minutes or longer, and at least $50,000 for projects shorter than 30 minutes, to be eligible for tax credits under the new program.

Projects can get up to $1 million in tax credits per fiscal year, and credits are retroactive to eligible costs from Jan. 1 onward.

Eligible expenses include wages for cast and crew, accommodations, the cost of set construction and operations, buying or renting facilities and equipment, location fees and other related goods and services. The newly formed office will review tax credit applications monthly.

• A special session this spring to take up a constitutional amendment to ban partisan gerrymandering now that the “fair maps” desired by Evers are now in effect.

Evers’ to-do list for lawmakers also included reauthorizing the state’s stewardship program, whose authorization expires June 30, and passing legislation to address PFAS after $125 million was first set aside in 2023 to fund the work.

Evers threatened to continue calling special sessions into the heart of campaign season if needed to address his priorities. Though Evers can call a special session, he can’t force lawmakers to actually meet, and GOP leaders have regularly ignored his directives.

“We can’t afford for lawmakers to lose focus on the future we’ve been working hard to build together just because it’s an election year,” Evers said. “So, I know the Legislature would rather hit the road and take the rest of the year off, but I’m going to ask lawmakers to stick around until our work here is finished.”

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