(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced he will be proposing spending $145 million to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the state’s drinking water in his biennial budget proposal.
The funds will go toward testing and eliminating PFAS for both municipal systems and private wells. The program will provide loans and grants toward the effect along with funding research on the topic.
The funding includes $125 million for the topic that was funding in the 2023-25 biennial budget, which Evers proposes transferring to the Department of Natural Resources. The proposal includes liability protections for innocent landowners.
Several Democratic lawmakers applauded the proposal while Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto, asked why the funding wasn’t approved previously when Evers vetoed Wimberger’s bill directing the funds.
“The Governor vetoed Senate Bill 312 in its entirety due to his refusal to limit DNR authority to pursue action against innocent landowners,” Wimberger said. “Governor Evers has since refused to clarify his definition of an ‘innocent landowner.’ In December 2024, Senator Wimberger wrote a letter to the Governor seeking bipartisan cooperation to fight PFAS, but has since received no response.”
The proposal also includes strengthening standards for water and PFAS contamination. The proposal includes prohibiting spreading biosolids if the PFAS levels exceed levels set by the DNR.
“This decision is in response to the lack of action taken by the majority party on a ground water drinking standard proposed years ago; set to expire on March 12th, 2025,” said Rep. Lori Palmeri, D-Oshkosh. “This marks the 12th time DNR has requested groundwater standards since Wisconsin’s groundwater law went into effect in the 1980s.”
The Midwest Environmental Advocates pointed to a 2022 REINS Act that requires separate legislation for any proposed rule expected to exceed $10 million in compliance costs over any two-year period as a reason that PFAS rulemaking has been stalled.
“Gov. Evers has repeatedly called on the legislature to remove this procedural roadblock, but the legislature’s Republican majority has so far refused to do so,” the group said in a statement.
