Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down Budget Committee Block of Conservation Programs

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on July 5 ruled that the state Legislature’s budget committee cannot block Gov. Tony Evers from implementing conservation projects for which funds have already been approved by the Legislature. The court decided 6–1 in Evers vs Marklein that once funds are legally appropriated through the legislative branch, the spending of those funds is in the power of the executive branch, that is, the governor’s office. The case revolves around the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, a 1989 land conservation initiative “to acquire land to expand nature-based outdoor recreational opportunities and protect environmentally sensitive areas.” The program has been administered by Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources, and was set to receive more than $33 million in annual funding through fiscal year 2026....