Assembly Bill 38<\/a> and Senate Bill 42<\/a>, bipartisan legislation named in honor of the late UW-Madison Animal Science professor Mark Cook, have begun to move through the legislative process. The Assembly Constitution and Ethics Committee held a hearing on AB 38 last week, and the Senate Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families will meet today to discuss the SB 42. More information is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These\ncompanion bills are a top legislative priority for PROFS and are the result of\nthe work of PROFS\u2019 Entrepreneurial Work Group, which was led by Cook. If\npassed, this legislation will expedite and strengthen the process for Board of\nRegent approval of projects that involve companies or non-profit organizations\nin which faculty or staff have a financial interest. Last session, the\nlegislation was approved unanimously in committee and by voice vote in the\nAssembly, but never received a floor vote in the Senate before the end of the\nsession. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2019-21 Biennial Budget<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Legislature\u2019s\nJoint Committee on Finance and Governor Tony Evers both held public hearings on\nthe proposed state budget last month. Republican leadership said last week they\nreject much of Evers\u2019 budget and will work off the existing state budget when\nthe Joint Finance Committee begins its work May 9. GOP leaders outlined several\nfiscal and policy items they do not support, but they have not commented on the\ngovernor\u2019s higher education budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Governor\nEvers higher education budget includes increases of $44.7 million in FY20 and\n$66 million in FY21 and $40.4 million for a 2% pay plan for UW System\nemployees, including UW-Madison faculty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n PROFS has\nalready met with members of the governor\u2019s staff and key legislators to discuss\nitems important to UW-Madison faculty and will continue to meet with\nlegislative leaders and others throughout the lengthy budget process. Both\nhouses of the Republican-led state legislature must approve the budget before\nit is returned to the governor for his vetoes and final approval. The 2019-21\nbudget officially begins on July 1, but funding continues at existing levels\nuntil a proposal is signed into law. Historically, the budget is passed\nsometime in the summer, but occasionally the process has stretched into the\nfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n State Budget Forum Video<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/profs.wisc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Capitol_tulips94_101.jpg\")
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