After nearly five months without action on Stewardship, the Assembly Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation met this Tuesday to discuss the future of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. While we’re a long way from a reauthorization, there are some encouraging developments to share.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the committee took up Assembly Bill 612, a companion bill to Assembly Bill 315, the Republican Knowles-Nelson reauthorization proposal authored by Rep. Tony Kurtz and Sen. Pat Testin. AB 315 lays out the policy framework, while AB 612 covers the funding.
You might be wondering why this proposal has been split into two separate bills. This is a newer legislative tactic to dodge the Governor’s partial veto power. That authority applies only to spending bills, so by separating the policy (AB 315) from the funding (AB 612), lawmakers make it harder for the Governor to change parts of the proposal. He could still use a partial veto on AB 612 but would have to approve or reject AB 315 in full.
The Good News
AB 612 makes an important fix to one of our two biggest concerns with AB 315. It creates two separate funding tracks for nonprofit conservation organization grants: one for land acquisition and one for habitat management. That’s a big step forward.
When we testified in June on AB 315, we raised concerns that combining these two funding streams—and requiring DNR to always prioritize management—would effectively end land acquisition grants. Land acquisition is the heart and soul of Knowles-Nelson, and we’re grateful to the bill authors for addressing that issue.
What Still Needs Work
Unfortunately, AB 315 still includes the requirement directing DNR to prioritize management grants. To make the two-bill system work as intended, that language will need to be removed to align with the two-track approach in AB 612.
The committee also did not address our second major concern: legislative review of individual grants after DNR has already completed its evaluation and recommended awards. That provision remains in place.
No committee has taken up the Democratic reauthorization proposal introduced by committee member Rep. Vincent Miresse and Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin, which has the support of all 60 Democratic legislators.
What’s Next
At the end of Tuesday’s hearing, Committee Chair Rep. Jeff Mursau indicated they may vote on AB 315 and AB 612 as soon as next week. Both bills will need to pass our of committee before they can be considered by the full Assembly. You can read all testimony presented at the hearing here.
These are small but important steps. After months of stalemate, we’re seeing movement—and an improvement to the legislation. There’s still a long road ahead, but the conversation is progressing.
We’ll keep watching closely, continue participating in the process, and keep you updated.
Thank you for staying engaged on this critical issue. Wisconsin’s land, water, wildlife, and outdoor recreation depend on advocates like you.
