COVID response proposals The Evers Administration and Assembly Republicans each unveiled competing COVID response proposals. The most significant provision for employers is immunity from civil liability for COVID related lawsuits. There are common provisions in both proposals related to health insurance coverage. However, the Assembly plan includes provisions granting the legislature vastly increased oversight of the Department of Health Services and the Department of Workforce Development. The administration's proposal includes a provision to amend workers compensation regulations to create a presumption of injury for COVID.
WMC Files Lawsuit to Stop Release of Businesses Connected to COVID-19 Cases Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Lloyd V. Carter issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday afternoon barring the release of business names with employees who have tested positive for COVID-19. Read more.... WEDC Office of Rural Prosperity Unveils Website The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has unveiled the website for the newly established Office of Rural Prosperity. DATCP Announces Details for $50 Million Wisconsin Farm Support Program MADISON – Following extensive discussions with agricultural stakeholders, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is announcing the timeline and eligibility requirements of the Wisconsin Farm Support Program, which will provide $50 million in direct aid payments to Wisconsin farmers who have experienced losses due to COVID-19. Read more... New grant program targets 30,000 Wisconsin small businesses OSHKOSH (NBC 26) -- A new grant program will soon be open for small businesses in Wisconsin. The state's 'We're All In' grant will provide $2,500 for up to 30,000 businesses in the state. Read more... Wisconsin unemployment rate jumps to 14.1%, nearly 386K jobs lost in April Wisconsin’s unemployment rate jumped to 14.1% in April and the state lost 385,900 private-sector jobs during the month, according to newly released data from the Department of Workforce Development. Read more... WI farmers thankful for help from state, federal relief packages until economy recovers MADISON (WKOW) -- For the first time during the coronavirus pandemic, Wisconsin farmers will be receiving direct payments to help offset losses. Tuesday, the USDA announced $16 billion would be headed directly to farmers nationwide, and Wednesday Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) announced $50 million dollars for Wisconsin farmers, specifically. Read more... WEDC issues guidelines for restaurants, salons, other businesses on reopening safely WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has specific guidelines for every type of business on how they should reopen. WEDC says in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and their regional economic development partners, WEDC has compiled a series of industry-specific documents to help businesses reopen while taking the necessary precautions for safety. Read more... Wisconsin Supreme Court blocks Gov. Tony Evers’ ‘Safer at Home’ extension MADISON — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' administration overstepped its authority when it extended the governor's stay-at-home order through the end of May, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. Read more... Emergency Order #36: Interim Order to Turn The Dial MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced another turn of the dial on Safer at Home to add even more opportunities for Wisconsin businesses to get back to work in a safe and responsible way. Read more... Dairy Business Association, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative applaud Farmers to Families Food Box Program GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative today applauded the Agriculture Department for awarding $317 million in contracts to purchase milk and other dairy foods for struggling Americans. Read more... Independent Business Association of Wisconsin urges Evers to reopen state’s economy The Independent Business Association of Wisconsin today urged Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to re-open the state’s economy, which has been largely shut down by his “Safer at Home” order since late March in an attempt to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Read more... Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) Announces Plan to Get Back to Business April 24, 2020 MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber, manufacturers’ association and safety council – unveiled its Back to Business plan on Friday, the same day Gov. Tony Evers’ initial Safer at Home order expired. Read more... Click here to read DATCP's weekly market update. DATCP, Pork Association Partner on 'Passion for Pork' Initiative MADISON – The Wisconsin Pork Association (WPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) have joined forces to start a new program connecting Wisconsin pork producers to local meat processors, consumers and the growing number of people experiencing food insecurity during COVID-19. Read more... Gov. Evers Hoping to Announce Ag Assistance Details Next Week Wisconsin farmers and others in the agricultural industry could know as soon as next week if they will be receiving any direct assistance from the state to make up for losses attributed to the Coronavirus pandemic. That's what Governor Tony Evers told members of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin on Tuesday's edition of the Dairy Signal. Read more... Wisconsin adds hundreds of workers to help with ‘unprecedented’ volume as unemployment claims soar MILWAUKEE -- Wisconsin's unemployment claims continue to soar, and now the Department of Workforce Development is adding staff to deal with the unprecedented number of calls. Read more... Pig farms in Wisconsin will lose $45 million from pandemic; how one farmer is keeping business going PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. — Wisconsin is known as the dairy state but pig farms are a major part of the state’s identity as well. Read more... Social Distancing Will Last Beyond Wisconsin Reopening, According To Experts Wisconsin's residents have been encouraged to practice social distancing since mid-March, which to many may already seem like a long time. But according to the president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin, residents should anticipate at least 12 to 18 more months of social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. Read more... Coronavirus-related plant closures strain Wisconsin meat producers Consumers could see fewer meat products on the shelves as coronavirus outbreaks at processing plants force closures across the country. Here in Wisconsin, outbreaks have shuttered JBS in Green Bay and the Patrick Cudahy Plant. Read more... Oshkosh business owner arrested for "Safer at Home" violation OSHKOSH (WLUK) -- An Oshkosh business owner was taken into custody Monday for violating Gov. Tony Evers' "Safer at Home" order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Read more... New 'safer at home' order allows businesses to reopen with curbside drop-off services Any Wisconsin business that can safely provide curbside drop-off services will be allowed to do so under updated COVID-19-related business restrictions announced Monday by Gov. Tony Evers. Read more... Evers announces plan for reopening Wisconsin MADISON (WLUK) -- For the first time, Gov. Tony Evers is laying out a specific plan for easing the "safer at home" order and allowing closed businesses to reopen. Read more... Wisconsin announces efforts to ramp up coronavirus testing MADISON (WLUK) -- The state of Wisconsin is taking steps to dramatically increase the capacity of testing for the new coronavirus -- one of the requirements Gov. Tony Evers has stated would allow the "safer at home" order to be relaxed. Read more... Experts fear half of Wisconsin restaurants could close because of 'Safer at Home' order extension MILWAUKEE — Restaurant industry experts in Wisconsin fear half of the restaurants in the state could be forced to close permanently because of the "Safer at Home" order extension. Read more... What the Wisconsin COVID-19 bill does and doesn't do Wisconsin’s Legislature this week approved the state’s first relief package in response to the 2019 coronavirus. The bill was more than a month in the making and Gov. Tony Evers signed it into law within hours of its passage in the Senate on Wednesday. Read more... Wisconsin has an Office of Rural Prosperity. It's new and it now has its first director Wisconsin’s newly created Office of Rural Prosperity has named its first director, a woman who grew up on a La Crosse County farm and has worked for a member of Congress from Maine. Read more... WI farmers optimistic about future legislation after little help from relief package MADISON (WKOW) -- Now that a sweeping coronavirus relief package has been signed into law, many are already looking ahead to the next phase of the state's response. Read more... 'Safer at home' extended to May 26, with some modifications MADISON (WLUK) -- Gov. Tony Evers has extended his "safer at home" order through the Memorial Day weekend -- with a few changes. Read more... Evers signs coronavirus relief package into law MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) - UPDATE: Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has signed the COVID-19 response legislation, now known as the 2019 Wisconsin Act 185, into law. Read more... New Wisconsin Dairy Recovery Program aims to help both farmers, food pantries MILWAUKEE — Hunger Task Force has partnered with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to help protect the dairy supply chain in Wisconsin. Read more... Wisconsin Assembly overwhelmingly approves COVID-19 relief bill in state's first virtual session The Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to help the state’s government, industries and health care workers better respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more... Gov. Evers: Could be a month before lockdown lifts MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers is saying it could be at least a month before he starts to relax social distancing mandates. Read more... DATCP Press Release: Statement from Interim Secretary Randy Romanski MADISON – The COVID-19 public health emergency has forced all of us to think about what is essential in our lives. While some decisions are difficult, others are clear. Food and agriculture are essential. Food and those who produce it are fundamental to our personal well-being and our state’s strength. Read more... Governor Evers - COVID-19 Legislative Relief Packages Governor Tony Evers has announced two packages of legislation aimed at providing COVID-19 relief and support for Wisconsin residents and businesses. The first, simply called COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Bill #1, would provide additional state funding for public health agencies and the Department of Health Services, fund an expansion of 64 full-time employees for the Department of Health Services, and a host of mandates and prohibitions for health insurers. CV19 Bill #1 Background summary The second package provides various methods of financial relief to Wisconsin residents. For more information, click here. Governor Evers Issues Safer at Home Emergency Order #12 With Insurance Exemption Governor Tony Evers issued Emergency Order #12 on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. The order includes an exemption for insurance companies in two places. First, the order, on page 9, under #13 Essential Businesses and Operations, letter a. CISA includes all businesses and business operations listed on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers during COVID-19 Response, updated March 23, 2020, which, in itself, includes the insurance industry. Second, the order, on page 12, under #13 Essential Businesses and Operations, letter l. Financial institutions and services: Banks, credit unions, and other depository or lending institutions; licensed financial The order is effective at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25th. It remains effective until Friday, April 24th or until a superseding order is issued. You can find the full text of the order here. WAMIC Letter to Governor Evers Requesting an Exception to the Safer at Home Order WAMIC sent a letter to Governor Evers requesting an exception to the Safer at Home order that was announced today. You can read the letter here. NAMIC Letter to Governor Evers Requesting an Exception to any Stay-at-Home order for Insurers On Friday, March 20th NAMIC's Vice President - State Affairs Erin Collins sent letters to the governor of every U.S. state in response to the Executive Order issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The letters pre-emptively request an exception for insurers to any stay-at-home order that may be issued in the future. Read the letter. Governor Orders DHS to Issue an Order Prohibiting Mass Gatherings of More Than 10 People Measures also being taken to manage testing capacity in Wisconsin Governor Issues Moratorium on Mass Gatherings of 50 People or More Under the authority of Wis. Stat. § 252.02(3) and at the direction of Governor Tony Evers, I Andrea Palm, Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, order a statewide moratorium on mass gatherings of 50 people or more to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Read more... |
