MON AM News: GOP bill aims to protect livestock industry from ‘massive’ fee increases, authors say; CROWE issues report on Badger football impact

October 27, 2025

— Legislation being circulated by GOP lawmakers aims to limit DATCP’s ability to raise certain fees on the livestock industry, which authors say would protect their constituents from “massive” fee increases.

In an interview Friday, Sen. Romaine Quinn pointed to the recent state Supreme Court ruling that the Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules can no longer indefinitely suspend agency protocols.

He noted JCRAR for decades has been able to “put a pause” on agency rules and exercise oversight, but “now agencies can promulgate rules that have the effect of law, really without any legislative oversight or input, and that is really scary to me.”

In a recent co-sponsorship memo, the Birchwood Republican and other authors noted DATCP earlier this year moved to enact substantial increases in fees for livestock producers in Wisconsin. The cost to register for an Animal Market Class A license, for example, was proposed to increase from $420 to $7,430, according to the memo.

“If you look at the rates the agency wants to go to, they are astronomically higher than every surrounding state, so it puts us at a competitive disadvantage, and it’s going to lead to less market access, especially in rural areas that are already struggling,” he said.

Quinn argued making changes like this without including lawmakers puts agencies in a position of acting as a “pseudo-Legislature” despite not being elected.

“The idea that an agency controlled by the governor can basically write law without legislative oversight is concerning … and so right after we lose our oversight, this rule pops up,” he said, calling it “our first test case of what we’re going to see coming down the pipe that we have no influence over.”

In a separate interview Friday, co-author Rep. Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, said this is likely the No. 1 issue he’s been hearing about from constituents recently, as he represents a largely rural area with many farmers. He argued DATCP’s move would only serve to shift costs onto those in the industry.

Under the bill, the agency would be stripped of its ability to implement a rule that determines fees related to animal market licenses, animal dealer licenses, animal trucker licenses and animal transport vehicle registrations. The legislation would also set these fees at their current level in state statute, Quinn noted.

“That way, in the future, if the department needs more funding for how we handle livestock in the state or the oversight and sale of livestock, they have to come to the Legislature and ask for that money, they can’t just promulgate a rule and ram through a fee increase that’s 100% on the backs of producers,” he said.

Bill authors say they’ve heard from multiple companies that say they’ll have to shut down if the DATCP rule goes through.

Quinn added these fees haven’t been changed since around 2008 or 2009, “so there could have been conversations” between the agency and industry about possible adjustments.

“That’s the frustrating part, so we heard from the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, the Farm Bureau, that they were completely blindsided by the department,” he said, arguing “if the agency needed more money, they should have come to us during the budget process and sat down.”

When asked for comment, an agency spokesperson noted the public comment period for the rule ended Oct. 15, adding DATCP is currently reviewing what it received.

“DATCP will consider these comments as we make changes to this rule package and proceed with the administrative rules process for ATCP 10 and ATCP 12,” the spokesperson said in an email.

The co-sponsorship deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday.

See the bill text.

— A new report from the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy says the Wisconsin Badgers football program’s “poor performance” could reduce its statewide economic impact by an estimated $280 million.

The economic policy group, called CROWE for short, is part of UW-Madison. In a release Friday, Director Ananth Seshadri says Badger football is a “vital pillar” of the university, the city of Madison and the state overall.

“It is important for us to understand the economic impact of Badger Football’s declining performance over the last few years, with winning percentages dropping from over 90% in 2017 to below 50% in 2024 and the current season,” Seshadri said.

Authors say this could lead to lower game attendance, less game-day spending and tourism, and a weakened reputation.

Along with the estimated statewide impact, the report says the football program’s impact in the Madison area could decline by $160 million. At the university level, it warns the program’s “declining” performance could erode alumni donations, lead to fewer student applications and even reduce research expenditures.

Authors argue for making greater investments in training facilities as well as players, coaches and staff.

“Enhanced facilities can attract top transfers and recruits, while better coaching and talent ensure the return on these assets are maximized,” they wrote. “Strategic, dual-focused investments are essential to rebuild competitiveness and mitigate the economic risks estimated above.”

The report references a recent letter from UW Athletics Director Chris McIntosh calling for more Athletics-funded investments in infrastructure, staffing and student athlete recruitment and retention.

It also points to estimates that UW Athletics falls behind peer programs in football spending with about $1.3 million last year, below the average of $1.8 million for Big Ten schools.

See the release and report.

— Republican lawmakers are circulating legislation to allow naturopathic care providers to prescribe certain prescription medications.

Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek, and Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, last week sent a co-sponsorship memo to other lawmakers on the bill.

They note that while licensed naturopathic doctors, or NDs, are recognized as primary care providers in Wisconsin, they can only recommend or administer nonprescription medications. The memo argues this “unnecessary” limitation keeps them from offering “the full continuum of care” expected of a primary care provider.

“This disconnect forces patients to navigate additional appointments, duplicate care, or seek prescriptions from other providers — adding cost, delay, and frustration, especially in rural or underserved communities where access to conventional care may be limited,” authors wrote.

They say the change would make it easier for patients to access care while improving public safety through “clear malpractice standards.”

Naturopathic medicine is based on a “holistic approach” to treating and preventing disease, according to the federal National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. It incorporates various practices including physical activity, balanced nutrition and managing stress.

Under the legislation, NDs would be allowed to prescribe, dispense and administer prescription medications “consistent with their training,” the memo shows. The bill would also explicitly prohibit Schedule I and II controlled substances. And it would require NDs to carry malpractice insurance while adding them to other drug-related provisions.

The bill authors note 12 other states have granted prescribing authority to naturopathic doctors under the supervision of professional boards, like Wisconsin’s Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board.

The co-sponsorship deadline is Wednesday at noon.

See the bill text.

— State health officials are urging residents to reduce exposure to mosquitos after a horse in Wisconsin tested positive for the Eastern equine encephalitis virus.

The Department of Health Services says the Marathon County case means mosquitos in the state can spread the EEE virus to people and other animals. The insects get the virus from infected birds, and it can’t be spread directly between people or animals, according to DHS.

In a recent release, the agency said those who spent time outdoors should protect themselves from mosquitos through the fall season to avoid getting infected. This risk will persist until temperatures fall below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for at least four hours in a row, causing a hard frost.

No human cases of EEE have been reported in Wisconsin so far this year. But three of the seven human cases seen in the state since 2011 have occurred in October, the release notes. A total of eight human cases of EEE have been reported in the state since 1964, though five of those were between 2020 and 2024.

The disease causes fever, headache, chills and vomiting, while severe cases result in brain inflammation, seizures, coma and death, per the release. About 30% of those who develop severe EEE die, DHS says, while those who survive often face neurological problems.

See the release and see more on the virus here.

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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— Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and Johnson Financial Group have announced 1000 Island Airboats’ search and rescue craft as this year’s Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.

The annual competition, now in its 10th year, aims to highlight the most popular products made by Wisconsin manufacturers. WMC says nearly 150 products were nominated this time around, and the Marion-based boat maker ultimately beat out three other finalists in the “Manufacturing Madness” bracket-style tournament.

The company’s search and rescue airboats are designed for use in the winter, and are used by federal agencies and municipalities to rescue people, according to the release.

See more in the release.

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