The 2025 state budget was a big disappointment for conservation advocates. The budget, negotiated primarily by Governor Evers’ team and Republican legislative leaders, included no funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. This could be a serious blow to conservation efforts in Wisconsin if Knowles-Nelson is not funded before the end of the legislative session.
Wisconsin already lags our neighbors in land conserved and money invested in conservation and outdoor recreation. We are now facing the potential of the legislature zeroing out funding for the state’s flagship environmental conservation program.
Standalone legislation
In June, Representative Tony Kurtz and Senator Patrick Testin introduced legislation to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. The bill received a hearing in the Assembly but the Senate failed to act on the bill during the budget. Neither chamber has made any moves to advance the bill out of committee.
Legislators have indicated they will take up the legislation in September and we’ll do everything we can to make sure the legislation advances.
The bill introduced by Rep. Kurtz and Sen. Testin would provide some certainty for land trusts and local governments. It proposes keeping funding stable for the next four years. And it allows land trusts to be awarded grants for land management, a major unmet need.
However, we also have concerns about the bill. As written, the legislation would effectively cut off most land acquisition and transform the program into a land management and recreation infrastructure program. These are important needs, but we need to see acquisition and management balanced as equal needs.
The bill would also create a “major land acquisition program” that would require any grant of $1 million or more to move through the legislature at its own bill in order to be funded. The legislation currently includes no provisions that mandate a timeline or even a vote on proposed projects, which could recreate the worst impacts of the days when the Joint Finance Committee could anonymously block projects.
If you’re curious to learn more, all of the testimony that Gathering Waters and other groups presented to the Assembly Committee on Forestry when they considered the bill are available to read HERE.
What now?
Right now, we are focused on connecting with legislators and journalists to tell the Knowles-Nelson story and why continued investment in our land and water is so vital for Wisconsin. We encourage you to do the same! This is the time of year when so many Wisconsin spots are just so beautiful. It’s a great time of year to show your legislators or local government officials what Knowles-Nelson does for your community. The Wisconsin State Journal recently ran a front page story on Knowles-Nelson. Check it out!
We’re also excited to share that Team Knowles Nelson is now active on Instagram and Facebook! Follow us for behind-the-scenes updates from the Capitol, weekly spotlights on Knowles-Nelson success stories across Wisconsin, advocacy wins, and community highlights showcasing how YOU are making a difference. When you’re out enjoying Wisconsin’s trails, parks, boat launches, or natural areas, don’t forget to tag us in your photos and help spread the word.
Once the legislature gets back to work, we’ll closely track the progress of this bill and let you know how to support legislators working for a meaningful, workable Knowles-Nelson reauthorization.
And last, but not least—THANK YOU!
We can’t say it enough, your advocacy matters! We are in an incredibly challenging political moment, and the fact that there is a potential path forward for Knowles-Nelson is because thousands of you speak up again and again in defense of Wisconsin’s land, water, wildlife, and our outdoor ways of life.
We delivered more postcards, emails, phone calls, and in-person visits to the Capitol than ever before. Team Knowles Nelson is a dynamic movement that keeps growing.
We’re not across the finish line yet, but we’ve got one heck of a team and we’re grateful to work alongside each of you to make sure Wisconsin has the resources to care for all the special places that make our state special.
Legislative Pulse
Budget Reactions:
Following the Joint Finance Committee’s decision to exclude Knowles-Nelson from the budget, legislators made their disappointment clear.
Senator Kelda Roys noted her office alone received thousands of contacts about Knowles-Nelson: “It is clear that this program matters to Wisconsinites all across the state.” Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin echoed the sentiment, calling Knowles-Nelson out as “the single issue I have heard the most about from constituents in my first six months in office”. Representative Alex Joers was equally direct: “I cannot support a bill that does not deliver on that crucial program.”
These legislators, among many others, voted against the budget and are committed to working across the aisle this fall to ensure Knowles-Nelson gets the funding and support it deserves.
Building Bridges:
We had great in-district visits in the Fox Valley recently with Representative Nate Gustafson and Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara. At Fritse Park, we saw how Knowles-Nelson investments have transformed the boat launch, bike paths, and trestle trail crossing Little Lake Butte des Morts. We also visited Stroebe Island Marsh, where Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust has protected critical wetlands with stewardship program support.
These conversations help legislators see firsthand how Knowles-Nelson benefits their constituents – from families enjoying local parks to hunters accessing protected lands. We’re grateful for their time and their willingness to learn more about the many ways Knowles-Nelson impacts Wisconsin’s communities.
Senator Racheal Cabral-Guevara joins Team Knowles Nelson at Friste Park in Fox Crossing.
Don't forget...
Show your support in style! Remember to check out our online store for the latest Team Knowles Nelson merchandise! From t-shirts to tote bags, show your support for Wisconsin’s conservation legacy wherever you go.
Featured image by Dave Hoefler, 2021
