THU AM News: Bill would enter WI into multi-state cosmetology licensing compact; GMAR report shows flat home sales in May

June 12, 2025

— Authors of a bill to enter Wisconsin into a multi-state licensure compact say it would break down employment barriers for cosmetology professionals looking to work in the state.

Sen. Andre Jacque, R-New Franken, and Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, are circulating a cosponsorship memo on the legislation, which would ratify and enter Wisconsin into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact.

This federally sponsored initiative became active last week after seven participating states enacted requisite legislation, the memo shows, and several other states are considering joining the compact.

Jacque and Goeben say the compact is meant to “improve licensing efficiency and workforce mobility” while retaining states’ ability to control their own regulatory standards. It would make it easier for licensed cosmetologists to practice across state lines in participating areas, bill authors say, eliminating the need to get multiple licenses to do so.

Instead, cosmetologists with active, “unencumbered” licenses in member states can apply for a multistate license to practice in other compact states.

The memo ties the legislation to the issue of domestic violence, noting survivors that need to “move quickly and anonymously” would be able to do so without having to deal with licensing delays.

“In this industry, a person can work today and because of tips, have money in their pocket tonight to buy a meal, a hotel room, or any number of things that someone in this dire situation might need,” they wrote. “In addition, because jobs in this industry often go unfilled, it is likely a person could start work immediately, benefitting both themselves and the employers of Wisconsin.”

The compact establishes a Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one administrator of licensure authority from each member state. The commission has the power to adopt bylaws, establish binding rules for the compact, appoint officers, hire employees and create an executive committee.

The commission also has the power to collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on multistate licensees to cover the cost of operations, according to analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Another provision of the compact creates a database and reporting system with “investigative information” on cosmetologists and applicants who’ve been denied a license, that’s shared with the commission and all member states.

Yet another provision notes that if cosmetologists’ home state takes action against their license, their authorization to work in other member states is “deactivated” until the issue is resolved.

Bill authors are urging other lawmakers to sign on in order to “help victims of domestic violence and beauty professionals considering moving to Wisconsin” by removing employment hurdes. The cosponsorship deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

See the memo.

— May home sales in the greater Milwaukee area were “essentially unchanged” over the year, with a total of 1,711 sales.

That’s a decline of 0.2 percentage points from last May’s total of 1,715 homes sold across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. Similarly, when adding in Sheboygan, Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties, the total for southeastern Wisconsin was 2,332 for the month — a decline of 0.3 percentage points over the year.

These figures are from the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors’ latest home sales report, which notes May marked four months in a row of declining sales. Still, total sales on a year-to-date basis are only down by 105 units compared to this point of 2024.

While listings rose 3.9% in May, improving inventory levels to 3.1 months of available supply, the “intense competition” in the market means they’re not staying available for long. Of the 4,280 new units noted in the release, GMAR says 1,762 of those had already accepted offers, “effectively reducing available inventory to just 1.2 months.”

As new construction in the area continues to lag demand, the group says the metro market would benefit from at least 4,000 more homes to meet buyer demand.

Meanwhile, the area’s most active segment is homes priced between $200,000 and $400,000, making up more than 44% of the sales from May.

“This range appeals to both Millennial and Gen Z first-time buyers as well as downsizing empty nesters,” report authors wrote.

See more here.

— The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program is getting a $750,000 federal grant to help assess shoreline erosion, restore watersheds and other projects.

Gov. Tony Evers and the state Department of Administration yesterday announced the funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Evers says it’s “critical” to continue the state’s history of conservation and stewardship.

“I’m grateful that we can remain steadfast in our work to protect and restore coastal habitats as well as build coastal and climate resilience into the future,” he said in a statement on the funding.

The single largest grant, about $280,000, is going to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

Of that total, $100,000 will help fund a project collecting high-resolution elevation data in Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. This is used to better understand erosion rates, coastal structures and vegetation along about 82 miles of shoreline. The other $180,000 is going toward the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Habitat Restoration Planning project, focused on ecological restoration and management planning.

Other grants range from $40,000 to about $190,000.

See more project details in the release.

— U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, this week celebrated the advancement of legislation to establish a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency.

The CLARITY Act was approved by the House Financial Services and Agriculture committees this week, paving the way for a vote on the House floor.

Steil has been advocating for the legislation as a lead cosponsor, member of the House Financial Services Committee and chair of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence.

Steil said the proposal will “cement the U.S. as the center of innovation and the digital asset space for the next generation of the internet.”

“Innovators are coming up with new ways to build decentralized systems that support creators, reduce costs and improve transparency. But our laws in the United States have not kept up with the pace of innovation and development,” Steil said. “So what’s occurred in the meantime – legal ambiguity has pushed innovation and jobs offshore. It’s stifled investment, it’s put American consumers at risk of fraud. This bill will put in place a commonsense framework that supports responsible development here in the United States.”

— The Wisconsin Bankers Association has announced Paul Northway will serve as the group’s board chair for 2025 and 2026.

Northway is president and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities in Appleton.

Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO, says Northway will “do an excellent job of leading our Board and industry forward through new economic cycles and potential challenges.”

The group yesterday announced its full slate of board members for the two-year period. See more on each member here.

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