2025-27 Biennial Budget MessageGov. Evers in 2025 the Year of the Kid: “I’m excited to be introducing the most pro-kid budget in state history.
”Governor releases excerpts from 2025-27 Biennial Budget Message

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today released excerpts from his 2025-27 Biennial Budget Message set to be delivered live in the Assembly Chambers tonight at 7 p.m. CT. The governor’s Biennial Budget Message will be livestreamed on his YouTube channel and Facebook page. 

After delivering his 2025 State of the State address last month, Gov. Evers tonight will build upon his plans announced as part of the Year of the Kid to invest in public education at every level; ensure kids and families have access to safe, clean drinking water; lower everyday, out-of-pocket costs for Wisconsinites and working families from child care to medication; hold the line on property tax increases statewide; make healthcare more affordable and accessible; crack down on price gouging; and build upon the Evers Administration’s progress during 2024 the Year of the Worker to address the state’s generational workforce challenges.

Excerpts from the Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Biennial Budget Message as prepared for delivery are available below:

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“Our budget includes my comprehensive plan to lower costs from child care to medication to help working families, seniors, and students. I’m providing nearly $2 billion in tax relief, including eliminating income taxes on tips. And my plan invests in public education at every level while holding the line on property taxes to make sure the average homeowner will not see a property tax increase.

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“I’m announcing plans to stop price gouging on prescriptions. […] I also want to invest in fighting PFAS and lead and getting contaminants out of our lands, service lines, bubblers, schools, homes, and child care centers for good. And we’re going to keep fixing the darn roads and infrastructure, building more affordable housing, keeping our kids, families, and communities safe, and expanding high-speed internet. The budget I’m proposing balances our priorities of investing in our kids and needs that have long been neglected while providing real and sustainable tax relief and saving where we can.

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“Here in America’s Dairyland, agriculture is a $116 billion​​ industry. Everyone knows farmers, farm families, and producers have been the backbone of our state for generations. So when we heard about President Trump’s 25 percent tariff tax—which could spark trade wars with Wisconsin’s largest export partners, hurt our economy and farmers, and drive up costs for gas and groceries—we got to work right away.

“Just as that 25 percent tax was set to go into effect, I announced a new plan to help protect Wisconsin’s farmers and our ag industry and bolster our supply chain. Under my administration, Wisconsin is on its way to becoming a top 10 state for ag exports—we can’t afford to lose our momentum because of tariff wars in Washington.

“So, my plan creates a new ag economist position in state government that can help farmers navigate market disruptions and volatility caused by tariffs. I’m also proposing to double our investments in the Wisconsin Initiative for Ag Exports to help increase exports for our dairy, meat, and crops, and help farmers and producers expand into new markets. And we’re going to build upon our support for meat and dairy processors to help keep our supply chains strong.

“We also have to help make sure farmers and producers can get product to market. We just announced 55 new projects across 36 counties to improve rural roads and infrastructure through the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program that we created last session. Tonight, I’m announcing we’re going to invest $50 million to continue that successful program to help ensure our farmers, producers, and ag and forestry industries have reliable roads they can depend on.

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“I’m asking the Legislature to approve a budget that does what’s best for our kids at every stage, in every way, and no matter where they live in our state. In 2025 the Year of the Kid, I’m excited to be introducing the most pro-kid budget in state history.

“An important part of doing what’s best for our kids is reducing exposure to dangerous chemicals and getting harmful contaminants out of our water. Every Wisconsinite should have access to clean and safe drinking water no matter where they live. Tonight, I’m introducing my plan to combat water pollution and improve water quality across Wisconsin.

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“But we should be working to prevent our kids from ever being exposed to lead in the first place. In the last few weeks, Wisconsin has seen cases of lead poisoning in kids who were exposed to dangerous levels of lead at school. At school, folks. That should never happen anywhere in Wisconsin. Period. We have to work together to fix this. Tonight, I’m asking for bipartisan support to invest over $300 million to help get lead out of our service lines, bubblers, schools, homes, and child care centers for good.

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“Addressing PFAS and other contaminants grows harder and more expensive with each day of delay. Republicans and Democrats have to work together to finally get something done on this issue. As part of my comprehensive plan to improve water quality statewide, we’re working to strengthen Wisconsin’s groundwater standards for PFAS. And I’m asking the Legislature to support my investment of over $145 million to fight PFAS contamination statewide and provide emergency resources like bottled water to families and communities affected by water contamination.

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“If the state isn’t committed to meeting our kids’ basic needs, then we can’t have serious conversations about improving outcomes. It’s that simple. If our kids are fed, healthy, and feel safe, they will perform better in class. So, we have to get back to the basics in this budget. […] We are going to have to work even harder to reverse these trends and make up for lost time. It’s one of the reasons that, in 2025 the Year of the Kid, I’ll be asking the Legislature to approve $80 million to invest in literacy coaches, tutoring, and other key supports to help improve reading scores statewide.

“Doing the right thing for Wisconsin begins by doing what’s best for our kids. So, my pro-kid budget makes the largest investment in Wisconsin’s kids in any budget by any governor in state history.

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“And we’re going to make those investments while holding the line on property taxes to ensure the average homeowner will not see a property tax increase.

“My budget would create a new incentive for local governments to freeze their local property taxes. If local governments agree not to raise local property taxes, they’ll get a direct payment from the state. This will ensure local partners can still afford to pay for basic and unique local needs alike without property taxes going up.

“Working to prevent property tax increases is a key part of my plan to lower costs for working families. But we can do more to reduce everyday, out-of-pocket costs for folks across our state.

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“I’m asking Republicans and Democrats to work together to pass my comprehensive plan to lower everyday, out-of-pocket costs for working families. Wisconsinites need a leg up to be able to finally get ahead—on utility bills, on child care costs, on groceries, medication, and doctor visits, and everything in between. And I’ve got a plan to do just that.

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“Wisconsinites also need the Legislature to get serious about lowering out-of-pocket costs for child care this session. No more excuses, folks. Putting two young kids in child care in Wisconsin costs more than the average rent or mortgage. In 2023, child care costs consumed as much as a third of a family’s household income. Our workforce and economy can’t afford more parents leaving their jobs because they can’t afford child care. Let’s invest in our child care providers so they can hire more staff, reduce wait lists, and lower the cost of child care so we can get working parents and families a little more breathing room in their household budgets. That’s a win-win-win-win for our kids, our families, our workforce, and our state.

“My plan will provide nearly $2 billion in tax relief through efforts to lower property taxes, eliminate the sales tax on several everyday expenses, and cut income taxes for middle-class Wisconsinites, including homeowners, renters, veterans, and seniors.

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“As part of my comprehensive plan to lower costs for working families, I’m also proposing sweeping plans to lower costs for prescriptions and medication and crack down on price gouging. […] My “Less for Rx” plan will lower costs for life-saving prescription drugs and insulin. We’d create a Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board to crack down on prescription price gouging. We’d cap the cost of insulin copays at $35. We’d set price ceilings for prescription medication. And we’d save Wisconsinites a projected $70 million over the next two years alone by eliminating the sales tax on over-the-counter medications. Let’s finally make lowering everyday, out-of-pocket costs for medication a bipartisan priority this session.”