Wisconsin State Representative Rob Swearingen

It's Free Fishing Weekend in Wisconsin! Residents and visitors can enjoy fishing without a license on June 6 and 7. All other fishing regulations, including size and bag limits, remain in effect. Check out the link below for more information and enjoy a great weekend on the water! 🎣

Free Fishing Weekend is June 6-7!

Wisconsin residents and out-of-state visitors can fish state waters without buying a fishing license, trout stamp or salmon stamp. However, please know all other fishing regulations, including bag limits, size limits and species restrictions, remain in effect.

There will be fishing clinics providing simple, hands-on instruction such as casting, knot tying, fish identification and basic fishing techniques for those new to this sport. Wisconsin DNR Tackle Loaner Sites located statewide has rods, reels and tackle for participants needing equipment.

To learn more about this weekend, fishing clinics and more, visit: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/anglereducation/freeFishingWeekend

Photo Credit: Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports

This session, Assembly Republicans focused on expanding support for women, improving child welfare systems, increasing access to child care, and strengthening family services across Wisconsin through targeted grants, benefit expansions, and regulatory reforms.

Act 13 provides funding for a new Child Advocacy Center in Sheboygan County and creates the Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin to support and coordinate centers statewide, with $2 million in the state budget dedicated to these efforts. Act 102 extends Medical Assistance postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months after pregnancy, expanding access to maternal health care during the critical first year after birth.

The state budget includes major investments in child care and early childhood education, including $123.2 million for Wisconsin Shares to increase reimbursement rates to at least 75% of child care slots in each county, $2 million for child care resource and referral centers, and $2 million for Wonderschool to help expand licensing, certification, and provider support. An additional $65 million supports a new 4K school choice program for child care providers offering elementary readiness programs for 4-year-olds, with a requirement that all 4K programs provide at least 437 hours of instruction annually.

A two-year pilot program adjusts child care provider-to-child ratios and provides $5 million annually in ARPA interest and TANF funding to increase provider reimbursement rates, including monthly increases of $200 for children under 18 months and $100 for children between 18 months and 2½ years old. The budget also creates a new license category for large family child care centers serving 4 to 12 children and allows individuals 16 and older to serve as assistant child care teachers if training requirements are met.

Several vetoed proposals (AB 100, AB 102, AB 104, AB 105, and AB 400) addressed issues ranging from school sports participation and restrictions on gender transition procedures for minors to online age verification for po*******hy access and legal recourse for minors affected by medical procedures.

Together, these actions reflect a broad effort to strengthen support systems for families, expand child care access, improve maternal health outcomes, and enhance early childhood education opportunities across Wisconsin.

Recent legislative actions and budget decisions include a broad package of investments and policy changes aimed at strengthening support for Wisconsin veterans, expanding recognition of military service, and improving access to critical services across the state. Act 153 allocates $1.9 million to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) to administer grants to organizations providing services to homeless veterans, helping expand housing support, outreach, and related services. Act 154 allows WDVA to award up to $25 per veteran per day in additional grant funding to organizations already receiving federal per diem payments of $82.73 per veteran per day, strengthening the capacity of service providers and improving daily care for veterans in transitional or emergency housing. Act 206 increases reimbursement amounts for veteran organizations conducting military funeral honors and expands eligibility for military funeral honors to include Laotian refugees who supported American forces during the Vietnam War, formally recognizing their contributions and service.

The state budget also includes significant investments in veteran services and infrastructure. It provides $4 million for the Veterans Trust Fund, which supports programs including $129,200 for County and Tribal Veteran Service Officers and $200,000 for veteran transportation services to medical appointments. An additional $5 million is allocated for Wisconsin Veterans Homes to support long-term care facilities, $2.5 million for the Veterans Community Project of Milwaukee to address veteran homelessness and transitional housing needs, and $5 million for the Wisconsin War Memorial Grant to preserve and enhance memorial sites honoring service members.

Together, these investments and policy changes reflect a continued commitment to supporting Wisconsin veterans through housing assistance, healthcare access, recognition of service, and long-term care support.

During the legislative session, Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature advanced several proposed constitutional amendments focused on election integrity, religious freedom, government accountability, and legislative oversight. Constitutional amendments must pass two consecutive legislative sessions before being presented to Wisconsin voters on a statewide ballot.

One of the measures approved by voters was AJR 1, which codifies Wisconsin’s voter photo identification requirement into the state constitution. The amendment was approved statewide with approximately 60 percent voting in favor and 40 percent opposed.

Lawmakers also advanced several constitutional amendments that are expected to appear on the November ballot following second consideration by the Legislature. These include AJR 10, which would prohibit state or local governments from closing or forbidding gatherings in places of worship during a state of emergency.

Another proposal, AJR 102, would prohibit government entities from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment based on race, s*x, color, ethnicity, or national origin in areas such as public employment, education, contracting, and administration.

The Legislature also approved AJR 127, which would restrict a governor’s ability to use the partial veto to create or increase taxes or fees, and AJR 133, which would allow the Legislature to suspend administrative rules by a majority vote of both legislative houses.

These proposed amendments focused on placing additional protections and limitations directly into the Wisconsin Constitution while expanding the role of voters in deciding major policy questions facing the state.