(The Center Square) – Wisconsin residents will no longer pay sales tax on their electricity and natural gas bills for household use starting on Wednesday.
The change was part of the new Wisconsin budget approved in early July but was set to go into effect on Oct. 1.
It is projected to have more than a $178 million impact over two years.
Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, called it effectively a 5% cut on electricity rates when the budget was approved.
The proposal first came from Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal.
Evers wrote that the tax cut “means you’ll be keeping more of your hard-earned paychecks in your pockets – and that’s great news for folks, families, seniors, and so many others across our state.”
The sales tax doesn’t apply to transient accommodations, motor homes, travel trailers or other recreational vehicles.
The sales tax cut comes as experts across the country are predicting increased electricity rates as states look to adjust their electrical capabilities to help even the supply and demand as large data centers begin to pop up across Wisconsin.

(The Center Square) – Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly held public hearings on a group of housing bills Tuesday aimed at making housing more affordable for more Wisconsin residents.
One bill would create a new government program that would take $10 million in taxpayer funds earmarked for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and created a new loan program to help Wisconsin residents buy their new homes while another would allow housing developers to go above the statewide 12% tax increment district allowance to build homes and retain the increment afterward.
Rep. David Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, is the director of the Barron County and said that Rice Lake is already up to 12% of the equalized value of property in the municipality in TIDs, meaning the bill would allow more.
“This is a tool they could use,” Armstrong said, saying that estimates for the water, sewer, sidewalks and curb for new homes is $80,000 per home and the TID would allow developers to pay that up front and then receive it back over time from the increment.
The new homes, however, would see new residents enter a municipality without an increase in property taxes for services such as police, fire and schools for those residents because it is being instead captured for the developer.
“It’s a way for developers to go in, add that infrastructure, and get paid back on it,” Armstrong said.
The $10 million for second home loans can be used over 15 years if the applicant has an income that is more than 80% of the area’s median income or 30 years if the applicant has income less than 80% of the area’s median income.
The loans can be used for down payment assistance for new construction or substantially rehabilitated homes.
“We want to start this and see how it works,” Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek in response to a question on if the loans were similar to a pilot program.
“We could expand if it is benefitting people,” Rodriguez said.
Rep. Daniel Knodl, R-Germantown said that the program’s goal is to lower mortgage payments for participants compared to WHEDA’s current loan assistance program.

(The Center Square) – There are some signs that it’s getting easier to buy a house in Wisconsin, but the latest Wisconsin Real Estate Association report says it’s not getting cheaper.
The Realtors released their home sales report for August, and it shows year-over-year sales increases and price increases.
“Existing home sales in August increased by a modest 1.8% relative to August 2024, and the statewide median price rose to $338,000 over that same period, which is an annualized 5.3% increase,” the report stated.
The report said 7,507 homes sold in August of this year, while there were 23,108 homes on the market. Both of those numbers are higher than a year ago.
Those extra homes are one of the bright spots, according to Realtors President Tom Larson.
“Improving inventory, moderating price appreciation and increasing days on the market are signs that the strong seller’s markets we’ve seen over the last few years continue to soften,” Larson said in a statement. “This is welcomed news for young families still struggling to buy their first home.”
While the report lists the median home price in Wisconsin in August as $338,000, local prices are different.
The Madison-area remains the most expensive area in Wisconsin. The median price in south central Wisconsin is $385,000. Milwaukee and the WOW counties are the second most expensive, with a median price of $353,000. But homes average a little more than $300,000 in northern Wisconsin, and just $265,000 in the central part of the state.
“The more densely populated metropolitan counties have just 3.6 months of supply. By comparison, the counties with smaller cities and towns had 4.3 months of supply, and rural counties had 5.7 months of supply in August,” Realtors board chairman Chris DeVincentis said. “Potential buyers will find better opportunities in those less urban markets.”
The Madison-area and southeast Wisconsin, however, accounted for 52% of home sales in August.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin is hoping to contain its largest bird flu outbreak.
The state’s Department of Agriculture confirmed 3 million birds will be culled after the bird flu was found at a farm in Jefferson County.
“The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial poultry flock in Jefferson County,” DATCP said in a statement. “The affected premise has been quarantined to restrict movement of poultry and poultry products. Birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.”
The farm is owned by Daybreak Foods, Inc. Daybreak is one of the nation’s largest egg producers, it has more than 17 million chickens laying eggs at farms across the Midwest. Daybreak is listed as the country’s fourth largest egg producer.
This is the second flu outbreak for Daybreak. It previously had an outbreak in 2022, when it had different owners.
So far, Wisconsin’s DATCP says the flu has only been found in birds.
No people, or other animals have tested positive for the avian flu.
“The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Jefferson County Public Health are monitoring exposed farm workers for HPAI symptoms. The risk to the general public in Wisconsin remains low,” the state added.
In all, DATCP reported four bird flu outbreaks last year, involving 73,169 birds. Wisconsin has had 19 bird flu cases since 2022.
The bird flu is an issue for more than just Wisconsin. The USDA is reporting bird flu infections from 21 different flocks in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Georgia over the past 30 days.

(The Center Square) – A group of Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to expand the amount of data center spending eligible for sales tax exemptions despite the fact the current exemption has led to $70 million in forgone sales tax in its first two years, exceeding Department of Revenue estimates.
Assembly Bill 245 would expand the server computers eligible for the tax exemption from networked computers that are linked together to include individual standalone computers at a site. It is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means on Wednesday.
The bill was introduced by nine representatives, with Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, R-River Falls, authoring the amendment, while the Senate version of the bill is sponsored by Sen. Romaine Robert Quinn, R-Birchwood, and Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin.
The definition of qualified data centers would also expand to include data centers that include multiple companies, called colocation data centers. Data centers must include an investment of $50 million, $100 million or $150 million within five years from the certification date depending on the population of the county where it will be located.
“Because the Sales and Use Tax Exemption can be used for eligible items purchased by any entity for the benefit of the Data Center, it is difficult to track and monetize,” the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. said in its fiscal estimate. “Data Centers currently certified well-exceeded the current Minimum Qualified Investment requirement for their respective counties in year one, and the exemption never expires.”
Good Jobs First Senior Research Analyst Kasia Tarczynska said that it is “safe to assume that most of that lost revenue went to Microsoft” of the $40 million in foregone sales tax last year alone.
The sales tax exemptions, enacted in the 2023-25 budget, are good for equipment, construction materials, electricity and more at qualified data centers in the state. So far, WEDC has certified three eligible data centers in the state.
“Broadening the eligibility criteria as proposed will increase the pool of potential data center projects, resulting in additional expenditures at the state and local level in the form of exemptions,” WEDC said in its fiscal note.
The sales tax exemptions are good for equipment, construction materials, electricity and more at qualified data centers in the state.
Many of the usually benefits of a business entering the state – property taxes, sales tax and employment – have already been conceded by the state while questions remain about the impact of energy and water use at the facilities.
The amount of long-term good paying jobs at data centers are also questioned.
Wisconsin’s Department of Revenue estimated the value of the incentives would be $8.5 million for the full multi-year construction of a facility and $735,000 recurring afterward. The department attributed the estimates to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that a typical data center costs about $215.5 million to construct.
But many of the Wisconsin data centers are much more expensive, with Microsoft recently announcing a second data center in Mount Pleasant that will cost $4 billion.
“The state budget accounted only for regular data centers, not hyperscale like the Microsoft one you have in Wisconsin,” Tarczynska told The Center Square. “Therefore, the cost estimates in the tax expenditure report might be way higher than what they predicted in the budget in 2023.”
The 2023 estimates are the same used for the new bill.

(The Center Square) – Gov. Tony Evers’ office and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. have not released records related to an early April trade trip to Europe.
Evers and WEDC officials went to Germany and France and took part in Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade show.
The trip included visiting Hannover, Hessen, and Berlin in Germany and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France.
Former WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes traveled to Europe for the trip along with WEDC Vice President of Global Trade and Investments Micah Oge as well as other WEDC staff.
The Center Square filed public records requests with both Evers’ office and WEDC regarding expenses shortly after the trip and has not received a response for five months as of Sept. 29. That included a follow-up from The Center Square asking for a status update on the requests on Sept. 18, which received no response from either office.
Public funds are often used for official economic development trips. WEDC and Evers’ office also did not respond to requests for further detail on who went on the trip or the costs associated with the trip in early April.
“We’ve seen growing delays from state agencies over the last several years,” Attorney Tom Kamenick, President & Founder of The Wisconsin Transparency Project, told The Center Square. “It’s important for the public to be able to monitor government expenses, especially when officials are spending our money taking trips to foreign countries.
“But journalists can’t report on such things in a timely manner when those same officials delay providing records for months and months. Evers’ administration has to do a better job responding promptly to record requests.”
Hughes has since resigned from her post, as of Sept. 19, and announced on Monday morning that she is running for governor.
Evers’ administration is searching for a replacement, according to a press release. Evers has announced he will not seek reelection.

(The Center Square) – Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. head Missy Hughes is entering the race for governor.
“As governor, I will create a main street economy that works for you and includes you,” Hughes said in a campaign video posted Monday morning.
Before taking the WEDC role, Hughes was the leader of Organic Valley, the farmer-owned dairy cooperative, for 17 years.
Hughes joins a crowded field for the Democratic nomination that includes Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and former Democrat State Rep. Brett Hulsey.
Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann are the candidates on the Republican side after Bill Berrien dropped out of the race on Friday.
“I’m not a politician, and that’s the point,” Hughes said. “To create a prosperous economy for the future in all 72 counties, we need a leader who knows what it takes to create jobs, support workers, and attract businesses – and who rejects divisive politics that leaves so many behind.”

(The Center Square) – Republican candidate Bill Berrien has dropped out of the race for governor in Wisconsin.
The Whitefish Bay businessman reportedLY canceled an event in Manitowoc this week after stories were published about him following a trans porn account on Medium.com.
That led Jiz Lee, who Berrien had followed, to write on social media “It’s okay to follow trans porn stars. It’s okay to read articles about sex and relationships. What’s not okay is the hypocrisy of backing forceful legislation that restricts what people, trans and otherwise, can do with their own bodies. That is shameful. “
Berrien sent a statement, saying ““After hunting down war criminals in Bosnia as a Navy SEAL Platoon Leader, I had no idea that running for political office could be almost as dangerous. Eleven weeks ago, I launched my campaign for Governor with a dream for making this The Wisconsin Century, starting this decade. Today, I choose to end it on my terms.”
Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany entered the race this week. He joined Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann on the Republican side while Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, recently joined Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as the major Democratic candidates in the race, along with former Democrat State Rep. Brett Hulsey.
“I consider myself very intellectually curious and, as a leader in business and hoped-for leader in politics, I thought it was a strength to read very widely and show a broad intellectual interest,” Berrien said. “I listen to podcasts every day on my way to work. I am constantly trying to take in new information, trying to learn something new. I follow over 5,000 people across so many platforms.
“I subscribe to over 100 newsletters. And I have hit the ‘like’ button on perhaps 20,000 different articles or postings. Yet the media cherry-picked a handful of individuals and written articles that came across my feed that I then followed (without the faintest clue as to an author’s lifestyle choices!) 6 or 7 years ago, and painted a salacious and sensational picture that was clearly targeted to force me out of this governor race.”

(The Center Square) – A Wisconsin bill would prevent judges who are suspended for misconduct from being paid while they are on leave.
Assembly Bill 380 came in response to Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who has been suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court while facing federal charges.
Dugan is charged with obstruction of a federal proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent discovery or arrest.
Dugan is being paid her salary of $174,512, according to sponsor Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers.
“Taxpayers will now be funding an extended vacation for her while paying additional taxpayers dollars for reserve judges to fill in or delaying more cases,” Sortwell said to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.
The bill would not apply to Dugan, if passed and signed by Gov. Tony Evers, because Dugan’s case came before a change could occur.
When asked what Dugan should do to earn money while suspended, Sortwell made suggestions.
“We could put her in the clerk’s office and have her file papers, for all I care,” Sortwell said. “Make her do something to earn the salary.”
Sortwell said that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has only suspended 15 judges for official misconduct, calling it a “serious and rare action.”
“Wisconsin taxpayers should be protected from the misconduct and/or commission of a crime by rogue judges,” Sortwell said.
Sortwell said that there is precedent across the country for judges being suspended without pay before a case is finalized, saying that a judge indicted for cattle theft in Texas is currently suspended without pay.
Sortwell said that he was open to amendments to clean up language in the bill or to provide a protection for back pay if a judge is cleared of wrongdoing.
But he added that he believes “the supreme court is not taking action unless it is pretty much a done deal.”

(The Center Square) – A day after Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin said it would pause abortions, the state’s attorney general asked a federal court to make sure Planned Parenthood doesn’t lose any money.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced that because of a provision in the Big, Beautiful Bill it will “pause” abortions as of Oct. 1.
“Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is — and always will be — focused on putting our patients first. Our commitment is unwavering: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will continue to provide the full spectrum of reproductive health care — including abortion — as soon as we are able to,” Planned Parenthood CEO Tanya Atkinson said in a statement.
The federal legislation bans any clinic that provides abortions from billing Medicaid for other services. While Planned Parenthood isn’t specifically named, the new law is aimed at it.
The Hyde Amendment has blocked federal funds from paying for abortions since the 1970s, but Planned Parenthood has been able to use taxpayer dollars for other, non-abortion services.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and 21 other Democrats AGs asked a court to freeze the Medicaid provision in the bill.
While the AGs argue that Congress overstepped its power and argue that the BBB will cause irreparable harm and increased costs for Planned Parenthood, Kaul is worried that some women in Wisconsin won’t be able to get abortions.
He said it’s a “concern” that “access to abortion, at least for some time period, is again going to become largely unavailable in the state of Wisconsin.”
Pro-Life groups, however, are celebrating the BBB’s defunding requirement.
“It is undeniable that many human lives will be saved for as long as the pause is in effect,” Tia Izzia with the Wisconsin Catholic Conference said.
Wisconsin Right to Life Executive Director Heather Weininger said the defund piece of the BBB closes the ” loopholes that have allowed abortion providers to benefit from Medicaid dollars.”
“Taxpayer dollars should never fund the taking of innocent preborn lives,” she added.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin lawmakers are asking to increase the penalty for impersonating a police officer after several incidents inside the state and after Minnesota House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed by a man impersonating an officer in June.
Muskego Police Chief Stephen Westphal pointed to a case earlier this year where a man impersonating U.S. Border Patrol joined an officer at a scene where a teenager had collided with a deer. At that point, Westphal found out that impersonating an officer was a misdemeanor in the state, unlike impersonating someone who works for a state utility or public officer.
“It was a very odd situation for the officer at the scene,” Westphal told the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.
A new bill would make impersonating an officer a Class I felony punishable by up to 3 ½ years in jail and a $10,000 fine instead of the current misdemeanor where the maximum punishment is nine months.
“This bill sends a powerful message that impersonating a law enforcement officer isn’t just lying, it’s weaponizing public trust that puts citizens at risk, it underminds confidence in real officers and it enables serious crimes,” said Jim Palmer, Executive Director of Wisconsin Professional Police Association.
Rep. Chuck Wichgers, R-Muskego, said that there were two cases of impersonation in Washington County and Sun Prairie in 2023 along with the Muskego/New Berlin case this year and a 2018 case in Franklin.
In Washington County, he said, a man claimed he could help the victim avoid legal charges if he received explicit photos and sex.
“I would argue that anybody who is trying to impersonate an officer has nefarious intent,” Westphal said. “Why do I have to wait for them to commit the other crime to get the felony?”
Wichgers and police representatives all said that the bill would act as a deterrent to those attempting to impersonate an officer.
The misdemeanor charge is “out of balance with the gravity of the offense,” according to Palmer.