Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 37: Relating to: the right of the people to a clean, safe, and healthy natural environment and to its preservation (first consideration).

Senate Joint Resolution 37 (SJR 37) proposes to amend the Wisconsin Constitution by creating a new section that establishes a right to a clean, safe, and healthy natural environment. This constitutional right would apply to all people in the state, including future generations, and specifically mentions clean water, air, healthy soils, and a stable climate. The proposed amendment dictates that these rights shall never be infringed, be subject to strict scrutiny in court, and be protected equitably across all communities. Additionally, it designates the state as a trustee responsible for protecting Wisconsin's natural resources for its citizens.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSJR 37 explicitly establishes a constitutional right to clean air, water, soil, and climate stability, mandating protection from infringement and strict judicial scrutiny.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 343: Relating to: requiring bicycle and pedestrian facilities in highway projects and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

SB 343 requires state highway departments to include bike paths and pedestrian pathways in all new highway construction or reconstruction projects funded by state or federal money. It creates specific exceptions allowing projects to skip these features only if the cost exceeds 20% of the total project budget, if they would cause excessive harm in a tight space, if there's no community need, or if a local community refuses to maintain them. The bill directs the state transportation department to create rules defining these exceptions, with a requirement for a senior official to review cost-based exceptions. This policy directly affects state highway planning and project developers working with state or federal funds.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires bike/pedestrian infrastructure in highways, reducing vehicle emissions and promoting sustainable transport, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates bike/pedestrian facilities in highway projects, enhancing sustainable infrastructure and safety per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Bicycle Infrastructure Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 310: Relating to: creating a nutrient loss reduction grant program. (FE)

AB 310 creates a state-funded grant program to help agricultural businesses reduce nutrient runoff into waterways. It provides financial assistance for farmers and ranchers to implement practices like cover cropping, precision fertilization, or manure management systems. The program aims to improve water quality by directly supporting on-farm changes that limit excess nutrients from entering rivers and lakes. (Note: As introduced, specific eligibility details and funding levels remain under review by the Agriculture Committee.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState-funded grant program allocates public funds to support agricultural nutrient reduction, directly advancing fiscal management through targeted spending on environmental programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates grants for nutrient reduction practices (cover cropping, precision fertilization) to directly reduce agricultural runoff pollution and improve water quality, aligning with environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 628: Relating to: notifying counties and tribes of an exceedance of groundwater protection standards or standards for PFAS. (FE)

SB 628 requires the state environmental department to notify county health departments, tribal health departments, and county land conservation departments within 7 business days whenever groundwater pollution levels exceed safety standards or PFAS chemical limits. It mandates that the department create a public notification system to alert affected local governments about these exceedances, including adjacent counties that might be impacted. The bill directly affects local health and environmental agencies in counties where pollution incidents occur, ensuring they receive timely information to address potential public health or environmental risks. This is a procedural requirement focused on transparency and rapid communication, not on changing pollution standards or enforcement actions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires timely notifications for groundwater exceedances, enabling prompt environmental response and public safety measures per PFAS and pollution standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 291: Relating to: native prairie and forage plants.

AB 291 requires all state agencies to prioritize using native prairie and forage plants in their projects to support native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This law directly affects state agencies, including departments and boards, by mandating they favor native plant species over non-native alternatives where appropriate. The Department of Natural Resources must provide requested information to help agencies implement this requirement. The bill creates a new statute section defining state agencies and establishing this preference without altering existing environmental protections.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates state agencies to prioritize native plants for pollinator conservation, directly advancing biodiversity protection and habitat restoration per bill's requirement.95% confidence

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 294: Relating to: labeling plants as beneficial to pollinators. (FE)

SB 294 prohibits retailers and plant providers from labeling plants as "beneficial to pollinators" if the plants were treated with systemic insecticides that carry specific pollinator warnings on their product labels (such as a "pollinator protection box" or bee/honeybee precautionary statements). The bill directly affects nurseries, garden centers, and other businesses selling plants at retail. It creates a clear requirement: if an insecticide label warns about pollinator harm, the plant cannot be marketed as pollinator-friendly. This policy change aims to prevent misleading marketing by aligning product claims with actual pollinator safety.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPrevents misleading 'beneficial to pollinators' labels when plants treated with pollinator-harming pesticides, protecting pollinators and aligning with environmental conservation.95% confidence

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signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 6, 2026

AB 131: Relating to: programs and requirements to address PFAS.

AB 131 establishes a municipal grant program to test for PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in public water systems and fund source reduction measures. It allows water utilities to use customer service fees to cover up to half the cost of PFAS source reduction for connected customers, if cheaper than facility upgrades. The bill also creates eligibility rules for disadvantaged communities extending service due to PFAS contamination and directs PFAS contamination claims to an existing landowner grant program. These provisions directly affect municipal water systems, public utilities, and communities addressing PFAS in drinking water.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAB 131 creates PFAS testing grants and source reduction funding to address water pollution, directly protecting public health and environment from toxic chemicals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAB 131 reduces PFAS contamination in public water (a known public health hazard), preventing health issues and aligning with public health program protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 33: Relating to: declaration of the Economic Justice Bill of Rights.

SJR 33 is a Senate Joint Resolution that declares an "Economic Justice Bill of Rights" for the people of Wisconsin. This resolution outlines ten fundamental rights, including the right to a job that pays a living wage, adequately funded public education, affordable healthcare, and a clean and sustainable environment. It serves as a legislative declaration affirming these principles for all Wisconsinites, regardless of background.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExplicitly declares 'adequately funded public education' as a fundamental right in the Economic Justice Bill of Rights, directly advancing educational funding.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExplicitly declares 'a clean and sustainable environment' as a fundamental right, directly advancing environmental protection goals without ambiguity.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly declares 'affordable healthcare' as a fundamental right in its Economic Justice Bill of Rights, directly advancing healthcare access and affordability for Wisconsinites.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly declares right to 'a job that pays a living wage,' directly advancing worker compensation standards under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 287: Relating to: local regulation of pesticides to protect pollinators.

AB 287 creates a new section of state law allowing local governments (like cities or counties) to regulate pesticides specifically to protect pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. The bill defines "pollinator" as insects that pollinate flowers and establishes a legal basis for local ordinances restricting pesticide use in ways that safeguard these insects and their habitats. This legislation directly affects local governments, enabling them to develop their own pesticide rules without overriding state law, while focusing on concrete protection for pollinators rather than imposing new statewide restrictions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enables local pesticide restrictions to protect pollinators (bees/butterflies), directly advancing environmental conservation and habitat protection through regulatory authority.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 293: Relating to: native prairie and forage plants.

SB 293 requires all state agencies to prioritize using native prairie and forage plants in their projects to support native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It creates a new statute (20.935) defining "state agency" broadly and mandating that agencies use these native plants where appropriate. The Department of Natural Resources must provide requested information to help agencies implement this requirement. The bill directly affects every state agency that manages land or projects, with no financial or regulatory changes beyond the preference for native plants.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates native plant use for pollinator conservation, directly advancing ecosystem protection and biodiversity as per bill's core requirement.95% confidence

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