MON AM News: Dem bill would revive Main Street Bounceback program with state dollars; Evers vetoes nine bills

December 8, 2025

— Legislation from Dem authors would revive WEDC’s Main Street Bounceback program with state funding, establishing it permanently in Wisconsin statute.

Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison and Rep. Alex Joers of Waunakee sent a co-sponsorship memo late last week to other lawmakers seeking support for LRB-5328. They point to the success of the Main Street Bounceback program, which was funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Since launching in 2021, the program has provided more than 9,400 grants to small businesses in every Wisconsin county, helping to cover the cost of opening a new location or expanding into an existing vacant commercial space. Total funding for the program reached $100 million in late 2022 after Gov. Tony Evers announced a second expansion of the effort.

Bill authors say creating a permanent program at the state level using the same framework would ensure “the success of the original program can continue,” helping more companies as they seek to grow.

“Providing one-time grants to businesses looking to initially occupy or further expand into vacant commercial space, this program has been a direct investment in the revitalization of communities across the state,” they wrote.

The legislation would appropriate $25 million in general purpose revenue per year during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, which WEDC would use to award grants under the Main Street Bounceback model. The agency would be tasked with creating eligibility requirements and other processes for grantmaking that are “substantially similar” to the previous version of the program.

Grant funding would be intended to help cover the cost of opening a new location, covering things like leases, mortgages or operational expenses. The bill would also prevent WEDC from awarding a grant under the bill to nonprofits, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau.

“The program will ultimately aid in restoring business occupancy in currently underutilized storefronts, while also leading to improved odds of a business opening or expanding and remaining open long-term,” authors wrote.

The co-sponsorship deadline is Dec. 18.

See the bill text and read more about the previous version of the program.

— Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a GOP bill that would bar the use of public funds to cover health care costs for those in the country illegally, noting undocumented immigrants are already prohibited from enrolling in BadgerCare.

The Dem guv in a veto message Friday said he vetoed AB 308 in its entirety “because I object to Republican lawmakers passing legislation they acknowledge is unnecessary to prevent problems they admit do not exist, all for the sake of trying to push polarizing political rhetoric.”

He noted Republicans acknowledged only citizens are eligible for Medicaid and BadgerCare.

“These basic but important admissions by its own co-authors underscore that Republicans’ decision to pass this bill was more about being inflammatory, stoking fear, and sowing division than it was about accomplishing any significant policy outcome or being prudent stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Evers wrote.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, who led the bill in the Senate, argued the only reason for vetoing the bill is if “you want illegal aliens to have taxpayer-funded health care.”

“This bill didn’t take health care away from anyone,” Wanggaard said in a written statement. “States like California, Illinois and Minnesota provided taxpayer-funded health care to illegal immigrants. They realized it was an expensive mistake and suspended or repealed their programs in short order. I guess Evers has less sense and is more liberal than Tim Walz, JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom and that’s saying something.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, also knocked the veto in a statement to WisPolitics.

“At a time when so many Wisconsin Families are paying for their own health care, it’s unbelievable that Gov. Evers thinks it’s acceptable for taxpayers to foot the bill for illegal immigrants,” Vos said.

It was one of nine bills Evers vetoed, including AB 211, allowing for the establishment of new tobacco bars exempt from the state’s indoor smoking ban.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, which lobbied against the bill, praised Evers’ decision in a press release, writing the bill “would have moved Wisconsin in the wrong direction.”

See more from the WisPolitics Friday Report.

— Evers has declared an energy emergency in the state, waiving some hour-of-service restrictions for fuel suppliers amid disruptions to distribution networks.

Evers on Friday issued an executive order creating the waiver for both state and federal regulations, which aims to speed up fuel delivery in Wisconsin.

The announcement points to “persistent challenges caused by pipeline disruption” in the Midwest region, along with high demand for residential heating fuel due to cold conditions. The order itself references a pipeline disruption in the Enterprise regional system on Nov. 27, leading to limited supply at terminals in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the network.

“The long wait times at terminals in Wisconsin and neighboring states, combined with the need to truck petroleum products over long distances, is making it difficult for transporters to meet demand while complying with state and federal hours-of-service requirements,” Evers wrote in the order.

The guv’s office says the move will enable “swift and efficient delivery” of heating oil and propane despite these challenges.

The waiver will remain in effect through Jan. 2 or as long as fuel transporters are responding to the emergency conditions.

See the executive order and release.

— U.S. Rep. Tony Wied says his DUMP Red Tape Act would give small business owners “a direct line to make their voices heard” about government regulation.

The Republican congressman, who represents the state’s 8th CD, is touting the federal legislation after it recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Destroying Unnecessary, Misaligned, and Prohibitive Red Tape Act would set up a hotline for small business owners to report “overly burdensome or unnecessary federal regulations” to the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to an overview from his office. This hotline would be accessible by email, website form or phone.

Under the legislation, the hotline would provide annual reports to Congress about “problematic rules” that get frequent complaints as well as the industries and regions being affected. The reports would also cover recommendations for “agency reform” and related actions the SBA’s chief council for advocacy is taking in response.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they often lack the time and resources to navigate complex regulatory frameworks,” Wied said in a statement. “As a former small business owner, I know firsthand how burdensome regulations can make it harder for businesses to operate and turn a profit.”

The bill has been received in the U.S. Senate and referred to committee.

See the release.

— The Sustainable Business Council is launching a new six-month business accelerator program in Green Bay next year.

The SBC on Friday announced the Green Bay Sustainable Business Accelerator aims to help small to mid-sized local companies improve their sustainability. The free program will accept up to 10 eligible businesses for the cohort, running from April to June.

Participants will get guidance on understanding and improving their environmental footprint, with a focus on “nature-based” solutions such as green stormwater installations and habitat projects, the announcement shows.

The free program also includes coaching on water stewardship, waste reduction, emissions management and other related topics, access to impact measurement tools and related project support.

The announcement says supported projects must align with the city’s Clean Energy Green Bay and Green Stormwater Infrastructure plans. Green Bay also has a revolving loan fund that offers low-interest loans to residential property owners for such installations, which help absorb stormwater runoff while reducing related infrastructure costs.

Applications are open through Jan. 30, and the cohort will be announced in February. After initial sessions take place in spring to early summer, project implementation support will run from July to September.

Friday’s announcement notes the accelerator is funded by a donation from the Daybreak Fund, a Milwaukee-based grantmaking organization focused on projects around western Lake Michigan.

See the release and see more on the program.

Top headlines from the Health Care Report…

— Rep. Lisa Subeck is introducing legislation that would end the state’s personal conviction vaccination waiver, arguing the move would help address falling immunization rates in Wisconsin.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

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CONSTRUCTION

– Evers vetoes bill delaying commercial building code

EDUCATION

– Waukesha County Technical College receives $2 million to expand applied AI lab

FOOD & BEVERAGE

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