Michelle Kussow, MK Lobbying 

The Wisconsin Legislature has adjourned and will not be returning until January 2027 for the next Legislative Session. The most significant achievement this session relates to PFAS and is the culmination of years of work by the Water Quality Association, legislators, and Governor Evers.

Earlier this week, Governor Evers signed two bills into law, releasing $125 million allocated in the state budget for PFAS removal and spelling out how the money can be spent. These bills reflect years of strife between Republicans that control the Legislature and Democrat Governor Tony Evers on how to address PFAS contamination and remediations. Republicans wanted to implement a municipal grant program for testing and mitigation that would allow grants covering the cost of filtration devices and up to 2 replacement filters per homeowner.  In addition, Republicans wanted to ensure that private landowners who unknowingly purchased contaminated property were not held responsible and also wanted to limit the DNR's ability to regulate PFAS. 

As the end of the legislative session crept up, lawmakers and Governor Evers worked together to reach an agreement on the bills. The final bills signed into law included: protection for innocent landowners, $80 million to support municipalities, $35 million for an expanded Well Compensation Grant Program, additional DNR employees for enforcement and education, and using the remaining funding for emergency bottled water for private well owners.

The $80 million designated for communities allow municipalities to do the following: Sampling private wells; Installing PFAS treatment at a public water system; Creating a new public water system or connecting private well owners to a public water system in areas where there is PFAS contamination in the private water supply; Sampling drinking water for PFAS in schools, child care centers, on farmland and waste landfills; and mitigation to treat or dispose of the PFAS contamination.   

The bills also provided an additional $35 million to expand the existing Well Compensation Grant Program, which assists homeowners and businesses with private wells. WQAW supports the Well Compensation Grant Program and the additional funding, which can be used for emergency bottled water, additional PFAS-related research activities, and support for the State Lab of Hygiene and other labs to assist in evaluating PFAS samples. 

The passage of this bill coincides with rulemaking to increase drinking water standards for PFAS contamination, recently signed by Governor Evers. The new standards bring Wisconsin's 70 ppt threshold in line with federal PFAS limits of 4.0 ppt.

In other legislative action this session, WQAW supported “Filter First” legislation that would have required schools to develop drinking water management plans to include testing for PFAS and lead, and providing filtered bottle-filling stations. Money was approved as part of the state budget, but the Legislature failed to pass the bill detailing how the funding was spent, therefore the dollars lapse into the general fund. 

WQAW also advocated for legislation that would have increased the current ratio of one journey or master worker overseeing one apprentice to allow for 2 apprentices to one journey/master plumber. WQAW supported this bill because of the low number of master and journeyman plumbers with restricted appliance licenses. However, the bill did not receive the votes needed this session and will need to be reintroduced in the next session. 

Michelle Kussow, WQAW Lobbyist

The Department of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS) has completed the rulemaking process on the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, and the updates will take effect on September 1st. The previous code was updated through the 2015 International Code Council, and the revised code will bring Wisconsin in line with 2021 standards. The rulemaking process began in October 2020 and was blocked by the Republican controlled Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) in 2023. Last month, the liberal-leaning Supreme Court overturned the JCRAR decision, allowing the rule to go into effect. According to DSPS, the agency will still accept plans submitted under the previous code through September. However, beginning October 1st, all commercial building plans submitted must meet the standards of the updated code. The revisions to the code can be found here, beginning on page 13. 

Showcase your projects, programs, or best practices at the 2025 Water Quality Association of Wisconsin Conference.

The 2025 Water Quality Association of Wisconsin conference will be held September 26 and 27 in the Wisconsin Dells. Submit a proposal to present to attendees from around the state. These can be a general presentation or filed for continuing education. Topics of interest may include:

• Residential Water Reuse
• Emerging contaminants
• New Technologies
• Municipal Strategies
• Other!

SELECTION PROCESS: Return proposed session, the conference planning committee will review the proposals. The speaker will receive a complimentary two-day conference registration if your session is accepted. Travel and lodging expenses are the speaker’s responsibility. 

Download Proposal Form 

Renewals were sent out a week ago, and at the January board meeting, the membership dues levels were updated to streamline and simplify for companies with multiple physical locations and non-dealers dues based on revenue in the state of Wisconsin.

* Membership level 1 year, on April 15th

Dealer membership – Definition: Installs, services, and sells water treatment products to consumers, businesses, or other end users.

• One Physical Dealer location $400
• 2- 4 Physical dealer locations $550
• 5 or more physical dealer locations $750

Non-Dealer Annual Membership: Based on Wisconsin state sales

• Under $1,000,000 $600
• $1,000,000 - $3,000,000 $750
• Over $3,000,000 $1000

WQAW supports efforts to keep the water quality improvement industry in Wisconsin educated and profitable. The WQAW is constantly working with the Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services to keep up-to-date on potential changes and monitor legislation that affects your business. It also provides members with networking events, trade show conventions, educational seminars, and continuing education credit opportunities.

Membership Benefits include:

• Discounted rates for the Annual Conference
• First Access to JPRA Prep Course
• Legislative Professional and latest news from the Capitol
• Online Dealer Directory
• All staff of the members' organization may register as a member to receive discounted rates for WQAW events

The November elections resulted in a decisive win by Donald Trump and J.D. Vance and the U.S. Senate flipping to Republican control. Meanwhile, control of the U.S. House of Representatives hung in the balance for nearly a week before Republicans reached the magic number of 218 seats needed to control the House.

The red wave that swept the federal elections, did not translate down the ballot for Wisconsin Republicans running for state office. At the state level, the newly redrawn legislative districts resulted in Democrats picking up a significant number of seats, but not enough to gain control of either house. Assembly Republicans lost 9 seats, dropping their majority to 54-45 and the Senate Republican majority was reduced to 18-15. Among the notable races in the Senate, two veteran Republican lawmakers were defeated–Duey Stroebel and Joan Ballweg. While control remains the same, the smaller majorities will inevitably change the political dynamics of the Wisconsin Legislature. The redrawn maps also resulted in many new faces elected, with a 30 percent turnover in the Assembly and four new Senators.