The 2025-27 Wisconsin State Budget
In February, Gov. Tony Evers unveiled his 2025-27 biennial budget, marking the start of a collaborative process involving the public, legislators, and advocates like you. The budget proposal emphasizes significant investments in environmental priorities, reflecting our collective commitment to a sustainable future. You can access our full Budget Memo here for a deeper look at our topline priorities.
Key initiatives in the proposed budget:
Direct democracy
Unlike 25 other states, Wisconsin has no popular ballot initiative process. Wisconsinites aren’t able to propose new, widely supported laws or constitutional amendments. This allows the Legislature to ignore popular proposals backed by the majority of Wisconsinites. We support creating a popular ballot referendum process that enables citizens to directly enact statutory and constitutional changes.
Safe drinking water for all
Too many Wisconsin communities are suffering from PFAS, lead, and nitrate contamination, leading to serious health risks. Investing in proactive solutions would better protect public health, create good-paying jobs, and save Wisconsinites up to $2.04 billion annually in health care costs linked to contaminated drinking water. We support at least $1 billion in increased bonding authority and grant funding for capital investments that remediate PFAS, lead, and nitrate contamination statewide.
Reauthorizing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Increased development has made it harder to find natural areas where people can enjoy Wisconsin’s beauty and wildlife. Compared to our neighboring states, we invest less in protecting our lands and rank last in the country for spending on state parks. Gov. Evers' budget would reauthorize the Stewardship Program for 10 years at $100 million per year. It also increases funding for local governments’ parks and recreation programs, expands trail and habitat restoration, and establishes a Tribal-state partnership to manage lands in the ceded territories.
Planning for clean energy
Wisconsin still relies too heavily on polluting energy sources, despite the health and environmental risks. Currently, only 9 percent of our energy comes from renewable sources like wind and solar, while utilities are rushing to build new natural gas plants. Thirty-three other states use a process called Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) to develop strategic statewide plans that map out future energy needs. Wisconsin should adopt this process to ensure transparency, accountability, and a cleaner energy future.
Healthy and safe homes and communities
We also know that toxic substances such as opioids and other drugs can poison our bodies and undermine strong communities. We support programs and policies that protect every Wisconsinite against these impacts, including $1 million in Community-Based Withdrawal Management Centers to support people in our communities who are seeking treatment for substance use disorder.
Save the date for Conservation Lobby Day on Tuesday, May 6
Join us in Madison for one of our most impactful days of the year – Conservation Lobby Day. At the beginning of every legislative session, we bring conservation voters like you together from around the state to meet with your legislators. You have the opportunity to tell your legislators directly about the action you want them to take on clean water, clean energy, and a healthy democracy.
Citizen lobbying really does make a difference! After every one of our past lobby days, we’ve seen direct policy wins that have helped us move our conservation agenda forward.
