GOVERNOR EVERS PREVIEW 2026 AGENDA

Governor Evers spoke with the media on Monday to preview his priorities for 2026, highlighting that he believes the legislature shouldn’t be finishing their business in February, and offering that he believes legislators could be working and go out and work on campaigns at the same time.

Evers said, “Wisconsin closed last fiscal year with nearly $4 billion in the state’s checking account and $2 billion in our rainy day fund. I also understand from the Department of Revenue that new projections will be released showing state revenue could be as much as $1 billion above previous estimates.” He went on to add, “A decade of Republicans consistently failing to meaningfully invest in our kids in K-12 schools. That has consequences folks, including forcing Wisconsinites to raise their own property taxes…I fought hard to start reversing this trend, and we’ve made historic investment, but it still has been billions less than what schools needed and what I requested, and now schools are going to referendum. That’s why I’m asking the legislature to approve $1.3 billion in property tax relief to prevent property tax increases for average Wisconsin homeowners, and help lower property taxes for working families, veterans and seniors across the state.” When asked how the $1.3 billion would be spent, Evers said to buy down the levy. He said, “Under this proposal, we can make sure the average homeowner will not see the property tax increase period. Republican leaders declined to make property tax relief part of their negotiations in the last budget, insisting on focusing on income tax cuts instead. I urge the Legislature to right this wrong for the recent state budget; pass this plan for over $1 billion in property tax relief for working families, seniors, veterans, and others across our state.

Evers also briefly told media about the coming launch of the state-funded child care program “Get Kids Ready.” The program will provide $65 million in direct payments to child care providers who are providing school readiness programming to four-year-olds during the 2026-27 school year.

Evers spoke to the media highlighting the following issues:

• Continue working with the legislature and administration staff to build consensus and enumerate necessary building projects, statutory changes, and policy reforms to implement the comprehensive corrections reform plan and close Green Bay Correctional Institution on schedule

• Continue administration conversations with Republican leaders to reach a compromise that will enable release of the $125 million previously approved for PFAS remediation and announce a proposal both parties can support

• Urge the legislature to approve $1.3 billion in property tax relief to prevent property tax increases for the average homeowner and lower taxes for working families, veterans, and seniors

• Request the legislature to appropriate funding to raise Special Education reimbursement to the agreed 42% this year (with 45% targeted in 26-27) to fix the funding shortfall for special education

• Ask the legislature to approve exemptions from sales tax for basic family needs (diapers, incontinence products, over-the-counter medication, toothpaste, restaurant meals, etc.) to lower everyday out-of-pocket costs for families

• Push the legislature to pass measures to lower prescription drug costs, including capping insulin co-pays (e.g., $35), eliminating sales tax on over-the-counter medications, and enacting anti-price-gouging steps.

• Continue discussions with the legislature about extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months and seek legislative approval to implement the extension.

• Work with the legislature to reopen two homeless federal facilities (Green Bay and Chippewa Falls) by securing the necessary funding that was removed from the prior budget.

• Request the legislature provide $1 million per year in additional one-time funding for the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports to expand dairy, wheat, and crop exports and help farmers enter new markets.

• Urge the legislature to approve the previously requested $66 million to fill the VOCA federal funding gap to support domestic and intimate partner violence services and crime victims and survivors.

• Ask the legislature to provide funding and improved resources to DHS to keep the FoodShare error rate low, investing in quality control to save Wisconsin taxpayers hundreds of millions over time.

• Move legislative proposals forward to cut red tape and speed affordable housing projects, restore resources to expedite licensing and financial processing, and remove restrictions to allow retired/experienced workers to rejoin the workforce.

• Audit high-rate insurance claim denial practices and develop standards to expand health care services and procedures covered without prior authorization to reduce delays and denials.

Evers told the media he was delivering a letter to the Legislature highlighting his priorities for 2026.

During a question-and-answer session with the media, Governor Evers took questions on:

• Artificial Intelligence – He said he believes its important and will continue to be used in our given economy. He’s excited that the University of Wisconsin System as well as the Wisconsin Technical College System are both involved in preparing for it.

• 400 Year Veto and Property Tax Relief – He said he doesn’t believe the veto was the cause. He emphasized that schools had to go to referendum to fund their schools prior to the veto, and they were voting to increase their taxes to pay for schools. He said the GOP can continue to use it as an excuse.

• SNAP errors – He said he’s having discussion with Republican leaders and are working towards a conclusion to keep the error rate low so they can move forward.

• Data Centers – He said it’s an important topic. He said he believes in creating jobs, but they need to be jobs for the future of the state and they need to balance with environmental issues.

• 2026 Elections – He would not offer advice to Democratic candidates and he would not endorse. He did offer that the elections needed to address affordability. He said, “No matter who’s running for an election, Republicans and Democrats actually spending time not getting out of town as early as possible. Lets do some things for the people of Wisconsin. I think it’s bad politics to say we’re done in February, we’re done in March and we’ll see you at the polls…That doesn’t work. We have an opportunity to do some good things.”  He offered that he believes people can run for office and actually still work at the same time.

• ICE in Wisconsin – He said what’s happening across America is “difficult to watch.” He also offered, “Our state will be destroyed economically if suddenly we decided anybody undocumented is going home…If you think about dairy farmers, you think about anything in agriculture in the state of Wisconsin…the majority of work is done by people that are undocumented.”  He made his point clear by saying, “Our agriculture industry will come to an end.”

• WisconsinEye – When asked about a proposal to give WisconsinEye $10 million, he said no because he believes they need to “have some skin in the game.”