As a governor who is a father and grandfather and former educator, principal, superintendent, and state superintendent, I cannot sign a bill that could have us entrust one of our most precious responsibilities to any given individual whose only qualification is a mere passing interest in education.
What's best for our kids is what's best for our state. We have a constitutional obligation to provide public education, and Wisconsinites expect our kids to be educated and taught by the best, brightest, and most qualified people. Our kids deserve nothing less.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 29, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist195042I am vetoing Senate Bill 466 in its entirety. This bill would prohibit a payment card network or its agent from requiring the use of a firearms code approved by the International Organization for Standardization as a merchant category code in a way that distinguishes a firearms retailer from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers.
The bill would require the Attorney General to investigate alleged violations of this prohibition and to pursue an injunction in the event of a continuing violation. It would also, subject to certain exceptions, prohibit a payment card issuer or payment card network or its agents from declining or refusing to process a lawful payment card transaction at a firearms retailer based solely on whether a firearms code is assigned. The bill would also prohibit state agencies or local governments from maintaining a list of people who own firearms, except for purposes of criminal investigations, prosecutions, or determining compliance with court orders or injunctions. Under the bill, the Department of Justice must ensure that records from background checks resulting from firearm purchases are not stored, maintained or formatted into a list that identifies firearm owners prior to the destruction of these records.
I am vetoing this bill for several reasons. First, I am vetoing this bill because I object to the Legislature inserting itself into the decision-making process of the private sector. Businesses use merchant category codes for various reasons, including (among other things) fraud protection, risk management, rewards, determining interchange rates and tax reporting. As they do for virtually every other business and industry, payment card issuers and networks are in the best position to determine which merchant category codes they use to conduct business. No other merchant category code is prohibited by state law. I am also concerned that carving out and prohibiting the use of merchant category codes for one industry, for political purposes-, would set a precedent for other industries and undermine the business judgment of the private sector.
I am also vetoing this bill because I object to legislation that is confusing, contradictory and administratively burdensome for the private sector to comply with. Although the bill would not prohibit declining or refusing to process a lawful payment card transaction for reasons other than solely the assignment or nonassignment of a firearms code, the bill includes additional specifically identified exceptions, casting doubt on the intended scope of the prohibition. I am concerned that these exceptions are contradictory and not clear enough for businesses to comply with the bill and conduct their business.
I am further vetoing this bill because I object to the chilling effect that it could have on criminal investigations, prosecutions, and determining compliance with court orders. Despite the bill including these purposes as exceptions to the general prohibition on maintaining gun ownership lists, I am concerned that they are not strong enough to overcome the additional administrative burdens, which could cause second-guessing and paralysis that would jeopardize public and community safety.
Finally, I am vetoing this bill because I object to its encroachment on executive authority. The bill requires the Attorney General to take certain, specific enforcement actions, including pursuing an injunction against a person found to be violating the prohibitions against using firearms codes. By curbing the Attorney General's authority and discretion to pursue appropriate legal remedies, the bill could run afoul of the separation of powers under the Wisconsin Constitution.
I once again invite the Legislature to have a meaningful, thoughtful dialogue about common-sense solutions to address gun violence that will both respect and uphold Wisconsinites' rights while keeping our communities safe.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 29, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist195043I am vetoing Senate Bill 517 in its entirety. The bill would prohibit the issuance of judicial complaints and John Doe proceedings if the district attorney refused to issue charges because the person to be charged has a privilege of self-defense or defense of others and there is no new evidence that the person was not acting in self-defense or defense of others.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety, which received bipartisan opposition, because I object to broadly restricting a courts' ability to issue criminal complaints in a process designed to hold individuals accountable when there is probable cause to believe a crime has occurred.
I have previously objected to proposals that would restrict the discretion of prosecutors and judges to meaningfully consider and address the circumstances before them. Further, I am concerned this bill would create an imbalance in the justice system and could infringe upon the rights of crime victims and their families under article I, section 9m of the Wisconsin Constitution by incentivizing accused perpetrators to claim self-defense to avoid accountability, thereby preventing crime victims from receiving justice they are duly entitled.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 29, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
This bill would create a program administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to award up to $2 million to a political subdivision (defined as a city, village, town, or county) to assist in the costs of redevelopment of University of Wisconsin branch campus buildings and facilities that will no longer be used for an academic purpose. The bill appropriates $20 million GPR to the Joint Committee on Finance supplemental appropriation for the program. Under the bill, grants must contribute to the overall economic improvement and enhancement of the community. The bill requires the political subdivision to: i) submit community letters of support for the grant, ii) match 20 percent of the grant amount from local sources, and iii) submit a report to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and the Legislature detailing how grant amounts were spent. The bill also requires that the first award of up to $2 million be made to Richland County, followed by awards of up to $2 million to each of Fond du Lac, Washington and Marinette counties, before awards may be made to other political subdivisions. Further, the bill requires the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to request that the Joint Committee on Finance supplement the appropriation created by the bill upon receiving a grant application by a political subdivision if the corporation determines that the grant requirements are met. The corporation must submit separate requests for each grant to be awarded.
I have exercised the partial veto with respect to section 3 as it relates to s. 238.145 (2)(a), (2)(c)2., (2)(e) and (2)(f) to remove restrictive requirements that would: i) prohibit the use of grants for the redevelopment of facilities that are or will be used for academic purposes, ii) create the 20 percent matching requirement, iii) require that grants be made to select counties before grants may be made to other political subdivisions and iv) require the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation submit separate requests to the Joint Committee on Finance for each grant to be awarded because I object to these unnecessary and restrictive provisions. I trust local partners to know what is best needed to support economic development in their own communities and they should have as much flexibility as possible to make the decisions necessary. For example, some communities may consider using these facilities for academic purposes in partnership with local school districts or technical colleges, and the state grant program should be open to these partnerships.
I also am not interested in reinforcing the Wisconsin State Legislature's ongoing unconstitutional obstruction of basic government functions through delays at the Joint Committee on Finance. Similarly, I object to the requirements that a certain subset of counties must first receive their awards under the program before any others may receive funding, which could cause delays in certain counties receiving critical funds if the counties required to receive funding first do not submit grant applications in a timely manner. Under the bill, the maximum amount that could be awarded to Richland, Fond du Lac, Washington and Marinette Counties is $8 million, but the remaining $12 million could not benefit any other counties in the meantime. As modified by my partial veto, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation would still be required to award grants to these counties, but other counties could still submit applications to receive critical resources without experiencing unnecessary delays.
Additionally, I object to the requirement that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation must submit separate requests for each individual grant to be awarded, again creating unnecessarily cumbersome process that could delay efforts at redeveloping these facilities.
I support the efforts by the Legislature and stakeholders to provide these critical investments to local communities being adversely affected by branch campus closures.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 29, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist195044I am vetoing Senate Bill 608 in its entirety. This bill creates a provisional teacher licensing pathway for individuals who: (a) have worked as school district paraprofessionals in a classroom for at least three days a week for three consecutive school years; (b) have earned at least 60 credits or an associate degree from an accredited institution of higher education or technical college; (c) are enrolled in a teacher preparatory program; and (d) are recommended for a provisional license by the employing school's principal and the school district's administration. The bill prohibits the department from issuing a license under this pathway in certain subject areas. An individual granted this provisional license may only teach in the school district that recommended them and must be mentored by an experienced teacher in their first school year. The provisional license expires after five years, or earlier if the school district notifies the department or the department confirms that the employee left the school district or unenrolled from their teacher preparatory program.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to this bill potentially interfering with our administration's existing teacher apprenticeship pilot program. This collaborative effort between the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Public Instruction is a more robust and supportive mechanism to accomplish the important goal of providing a way for paraprofessionals to enter the teaching profession. Paraprofessionals play a vital role in schools across Wisconsin, and their expertise and experience can play a critical role in our efforts to retain, recruit, and train talented individuals to work in our schools. Importantly, our effort to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in classrooms and schools across Wisconsin would be greatly aided by the Wisconsin State Legislature approving my requests to provide meaningful, sustainable state funding increases for K-12 education in Wisconsin. I remain hopeful the Legislature will join me in the important work of doing what is best for our kids.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 29, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist195045I am vetoing Senate Bill 613 in its entirety. This bill would create a $1,000,000 cap on the total noneconomic damages a person may recover from a commercial motor vehicle carrier in a tort action for loss, including injury or death, arising from an act or omission of one of its employees acting within the scope of their employment.
I am vetoing this bill for several reasons. First, I am vetoing this bill because I object to arbitrarily capping the noneconomic damages that a person may recover in tort actions involving a motor vehicle carrier. A fundamental principle of our legal system is that everyone is entitled to remedies in the law for all injuries, and when it comes to remedy, the law should redress a party's injury, not repress an injured party.
I am also vetoing this bill because I object to legislation that violates constitutional principles. A fundamental principle, outlined in article I, section 9 of the Wisconsin Constitution, is that everyone is entitled to remedies in the law for all injuries. I am concerned this bill fundamentally violates this principle as well as equal protection guarantees and due process rights under the United States and Wisconsin Constitutions. Finally, I am vetoing this bill because I object to legislation that is inconsistent with current law. Even if the bill withstood constitutional scrutiny, its incongruity with current law will create implementation issues and make it subject to litigation. For instance, unlike current statutory caps, the bill does not define "noneconomic damages," it does not address or contemplate multiple parties or occurrences and it does not cross reference wrongful death actions. Courts would almost certainly face challenges implementing the bill's provisions as this incongruity welcomes continuous litigation.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 29, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist195046I am vetoing Senate Bill 617 in its entirety. This bill creates a requirement for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to issue unique license plates to identify hybrid and nonhybrid electric vehicles powered by greater than 50 volts as electric vehicles.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to creating requirements that are duplicative, unworkable, and may run counter to industry best practices. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has already begun issuing stickers identifying hybrid and nonhybrid electric vehicles regardless of voltage power under criteria that are workable for the department. This identifier, which accurately identifies hybrid and nonhybrid electric vehicles by affixing the sticker to the vehicle's existing license plate, allows first responders to properly assess the risks these vehicles pose during an emergency.
Additionally, the department does not have a reliable way to identify the vehicles that would be issued the type of license plates required under the bill. Further, because license plates are manufactured and stocked in advance of being assigned to a vehicle so applicants can receive license plates in a timely manner, the requirements in this bill would require a significant increase in the number of license plates the department procures from the Department of Corrections' Bureau of Correctional Enterprises, increasing costs and complexity to address a problem the Legislature and I have already worked to address in my most recent state budget.
Finally, adding a second set of stacked lettering on a vehicle license plate violates standards issued by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, designed to ensure readability and safety for those who need to be able to quickly and easily read or scan license plates, such as first responders and law enforcement.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
March 29, 2024
