Wisconsin 2025-26 legislative session begins; inauguration ceremony held
MADISON, Wis. - With your tax money and the future of the state on the line, the Wisconsin Legislature kicks off a new session on Monday, Jan. 6.
An inauguration ceremony was held Monday at the State Capitol.
"It feels so incredible," State Rep. Angelito Tenorio (D-West Allis) said. "I feel deeply honored and humbled to be here on inauguration day and officially get sworn in."
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November was the first election with new legislative maps.
Republicans still have a majority in both chambers, but their majority has shrunk.
"One of the top things I think we should spend the surplus on is investing in our public schools, making sure that we’re fairly and equitably funding our public schools across Wisconsin," Tenorio said.
There are six new state senators, all Democrats. Nearly a third of the Assembly — 31 lawmakers — are newly elected. Of them, 23 are Democrats. Those new lawmakers make up the majority of the 45-member Democratic caucus.
While inauguration day was one of celebration, soon, they’ll get to work on the budget and spending your tax money, including what to do with more than $4 billion in surplus.
"I’m a believer that the tax dollars belong back in the taxpayers’ back pocket, so I’m hopeful that we can return most of that money to the individuals who gave us that surplus, the taxpayers," State Rep. Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) said.
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With this new legislative session kicking off, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is once again calling on the Legislature to allow voters in the state to change or create Wisconsin law through a binding referendum.
Republicans have shot that proposal down in the past, and they'll likely do the same this year.
Evers said on Friday that the state budget he plans to unveil next month will include a mandate that legislators take up a constitutional amendment allowing voters to petition for ballot proposals to repeal state statutes and create new ones. Evers made a similar proposal in 2022 for voters to repeal the state’s 1849 abortion ban, but Republicans killed the plan.
Wisconsin is one of 24 states that do not provide a way for people to reject or enact statutes outside of the legislative process, according to Ballotpedia.