Gov. Evers Takes Action on Six Bills

Governor signs bills to continue efforts combatting the opioid epidemic, support Tribal governments, provide wage increases for certain public employees

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today took action on six bills, marking the first bill action of the 2025-26 Legislative Session. The bills signed by the governor today include continuing the successful electronic Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP) to help combat the opioid epidemic and prescription drug misuse, as well as creating parity for records management for Tribal Nations in Wisconsin and providing wage increases for certain public employees in the building trades. 

Today, the governor signed five bills, including:

Senate Bill 68, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 5:

• Prevents the expiration of the electronic Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP), which works to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic and prevent substance misuse, by extending the sunset dates for provisions by five years, including:
• Extending the sunset date for the provision requiring prescribers to do an ePDMP review before issuing a prescription to a patient from April 1, 2025, to April 1, 2030; and 
• Extending the sunset date for the provision requiring the Controlled Substances Board to conduct quarterly reviews and issue reports of the ePDMP from October 30, 2025, to October 30, 2030. 

“The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program has been a vital resource for healthcare providers, health officials, law enforcement, and others in our work to keep folks, families, and communities healthy and safe,” said Gov. Evers. “Continuing this program is exceedingly important as we continue our work to combat the opioid epidemic and substance misuse across Wisconsin. I am proud to be able to sign this bipartisan bill extending this critical program for another five years.”

Assembly Bill 94, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 1:

• Ratifies the collective bargaining agreement for state of Wisconsin employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit for fiscal year 2024-25, providing a 4.12 percent general wage adjustment for employees within this bargaining unit, effective June 30, 2024.
• The agreement was negotiated between the state of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee to provide a pay increase that matches the increase in the consumer price index.

Assembly Bill 95, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 2:

• Ratifies the collective bargaining agreement for University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit for fiscal year 2024-25, providing a 4.12 percent general wage adjustment for employees within this bargaining unit, effective June 30, 2024.
• The agreement was negotiated between UW-Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee to provide a pay increase that matches the increase in the consumer price index.

Assembly Bill 96, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 3:

• Ratifies the collective bargaining agreement for UW System employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit for fiscal year 2024-25, providing a 4.12 percent general wage adjustment for employees within this bargaining unit, effective June 30, 2024.
• The agreement was negotiated between the Board of Regents of the UW System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee to provide a pay increase that matches the increase in the consumer price index.

“Building upon our positive momentum from 2024 the Year of the Worker, it is exceedingly important that we continue to support state workers and the important work they do every day in service of Wisconsinites and communities across our state,” said Gov. Evers. “These folks do critical work to uphold the integrity of our state’s infrastructure and build the 21st-century systems Wisconsinites, students, and visitors to our state rely on every day, and I am glad to be providing this well-deserved support for their important work.”

Assembly Bill 99, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 4:

• Authorizes Tribal governments to copy certified copies of vital records for administrative use, creating parity between Tribal governments and other governmental offices that have the authority to make copies of vital records.

“Since Day One, my administration and I have prioritized strong government-to-government relationships with Tribal Nations across our state, and it remains exceedingly important that the state continues to reaffirm that commitment,” said Gov. Evers. “This bill creates important parity for Tribal governments in accessing and retaining vital records, and I look forward to bipartisan work continuing this session in support of Tribal Nations in Wisconsin.”

In addition to signing the above bills, Gov. Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 1. The governor’s veto message is available below.

Veto Message for Assembly Bill 1

An online version of this release is available here.