Wisconsin state Rep. Billings on budget talks, Campbell PFAS relief and funding UW-La Crosse’s science center

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings in studio for a wide-ranging conversation on state budget talks, UW-L and other legislation in progress, plus some potential PFAS relief for the Town of Campbell.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk wherever you get your podcasts.

We began the show, though, with what all state reps are obligated to do and give a shoutout to June Dairy Days, before diving into talk about state budget negotiations stalling between Gov. Tony Evers and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Billings also discussed bills she’s working on, plus her reiterating there’s always a focus to try and get Republicans to fund Phase 2 of UW-La Crosse’s Prairie Springs Science Center. Sticking with UW-L, we asked Billings her role in helping keeping the WIAA state track meet in La Crosse, as that contract expires after 2026.

Outside the budget, we asked billings on other legislation including:

• Extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months — a move every other state has already made,
• Require a minimum of 20 hours of early voting,
• Ban cellphones in schools
• Clarify regulations around service animals.

We wrapped up with a look at PFAS concerns in the Town of Campbell, where the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee is considering bonding for an environmental improvement fund that could offer help.