Wisconsin Catholic Conference Capitol Update

January 14, 2025


2025-26 Legislative Session Begins

Bishop Hying prays at opening of Assembly session
The 107th Wisconsin State Legislature began on Monday, January 6th. Bishop Hying provided the invocation for the State Assembly which you can watch here.

Republicans hold a slim majority in both the Senate and Assembly, while Democratic Governor Tony Evers has two years remaining in his term. Here is the current legislative makeup:

State Assembly: 54-45 Republican majority (64-35 last session)

State Senate: 18-15 Republican majority (22-11 last session)

The narrower majority for Republicans resulted largely because new legislative maps were used for the first time in the November election. The redrawn maps pitted numerous incumbents against each other, discouraged others from running for re-election, and made it possible for new members to be elected. Of the 132 state legislators, 34 are new members.

To find your legislators, committee members, search legislation, and more, visit the Wisconsin State Legislature’s website.

State legislative website

Installation of Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob as Archbishop of Milwaukee

Today the Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob will be installed as the 12th Archbishop of Milwaukee by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Papal Nuncio to the United States of America.

Bishop Grob grew up on a farm outside of Cross Plains, in the Diocese of Madison, and attended Holy Name High School Seminary in Madison and the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. In 1992, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago and later completed his graduate studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. He received a Doctorate of Canon Law degree from St. Paul University and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree from the University of Ottawa in 2007.
Bishop Grob served as Associate Pastor and Pastor of several Archdiocese of Chicago parishes, Assistant to the Chancellor, Associate Vicar for Canonical Services, Judicial Vicar, and Chancellor. In 2020, he was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Chicago.

Please join us in welcoming our new Archbishop back to Wisconsin and praying for him! Read what his friends say about him here and watch a livestream of his installation starting at 1:30 p.m. here.


Thank You and Farewell, Archbishop Listecki!

Today we bid farewell to Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, who for the past 15 years served as president of the board of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference. His leadership, warmth, and generosity will never be forgotten. The WCC staff is honored to have worked with him.

Please join us in thanking him for his great service to the Church. May God grant him a long and joyful retirement!


Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Catholic Charities Case

On December 13, 2024, the United States Supreme Court agreed to take up Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission, a case that involves whether care for the poor, the elderly, and the disabled is part of the Diocese of Superior Catholic Charities Bureau’s (CCB) religious mission. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Wisconsin Supreme Court determined that the CCB was not eligible for an exemption under the state unemployment tax statute.

U.S. Supreme Court

In its March 14, 2024 decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that Catholic Charities and its subentities were “not operated primarily for religious purposes.”

The WCC filed an amicus brief in support of the CCB at the Wisconsin Supreme Court, supported CCB’s petition to the United States Supreme Court, and will file an amicus brief on the merits of the case with the Court.

Learn more

How a Bill Becomes a Law

A bill may be introduced by a legislator, a legislative committee, or the Legislative Council. The house in which a bill is introduced is called the “house of origin.” Introduced bills are assigned to a specific committee in each house, which may or may not hold a public hearing. Once a public hearing is held, the committee may vote to recommend the bill for passage, after which it can be brought to the floor of the house and debated by all the members. Amendments can be made either in committee or on the floor. If the bill passes one house, it must go through the same process in the other, until an identical bill passes both houses. After this, the bill is sent to the Governor to be signed, vetoed, or partially vetoed (in the case of appropriations bills). The Legislature can override a veto only if two-thirds of both houses vote in favor. To learn more about the legislative process, visit here and here.


California Disaster Relief

For those wishing to help those who have been displaced by the California wildfires, Catholic Charities USA has created a dedicated wildfire relief fund.

LA Wildfires


Updates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

U.S. Bishops’ President on the Commutations of Federal Death Row Sentences

“9 Days for Life” Unites Hundreds of Thousands in Prayer for the Protection of Life

Dr. King’s Message Continues to Impact Our Lives Today

Archbishop Broglio’s Statement on the Death of President Jimmy Carter

USCCB Joins Catholic Organizations in Calling for Expansion of TPS Protections

Catholic Leaders Express Support for Disaster Supplemental Funding Request

New Glossary Breaks Ground in Tackling Antisemitism Through a Catholic Lens

Legislative Resources for the New Session

Find your legislators, committee assignments, a session schedule, and more:

Learn more