Senator Chris Larson

It’s time we end the endless referendum cycle once and for all and meet our moral and constitutional obligations to our kids once again.

As the bust of Fighting Bob La Follette looked on, dozens of educators, students and advocates wrapped up #publicschoolsweek in style in the Capitol Rotunda today.

They were all here to advocate for a real solution to our state’s school funding crisis.

We need to go back to the truly progressive tax code our state pioneered 114 years ago, where the rich and corporations actually pay their fair share - because this right here is bonkers:

It's pretty simple. Our income tax has gotten much flatter, putting more of the burden of funding schools and municipal governments on property and sales taxes, which are highly regressive.

Wisconsin has seen the largest drop in taxes as a % of income of any U.S. state over the past quarter-century. So why does it feel like the opposite is true for most families?

The bad news: The Trump Admin seems to very much want to use AI to surveil Americans and empower autonomous weapons.

The good news: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei announced today that the company will NOT back down on its refusal to allow their AI tech to be used to surveil U.S. citizens or empower autonomous weapons.

The legislature could end this tomorrow by meeting to create a sustainable, adequate funding formula for our kids’ schools. What are we waiting for?

For 17 years, funding from the state has fallen behind inflation, leaving districts with few options and forcing a record-setting string of ballot referendums statewide (and rapidly increasing property taxes).

How bad is Wisconsin’s school funding formula? Well, this week, 5 school districts from across the state sued the legislature, citing failure of the body to meet its constitutional obligation to provide a “sound basic education to all kids.

Data Center Survey AI data centers are being proposed all over the state, with huge implications for electric rates, air quality, clean water, land use, tax revenues, and our jobs. Please take a moment to share your vie...

If you'd like to weigh in on my data center survey, please do! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Massive AI data centers are extremely unpopular in WI. The latest MU Law Poll shows just HOW unpopular. 70% think the costs of these data centers outweigh the benefits.

Thankfully, I've introduced a bill for a statewide data center moratorium until appropriate safeguards can be put into place.

This bill sets minimum nurse to patient ratios in WI hospitals, and provides several other critical workplace protections that will keep nurses safe and healthy on the job while increasing the quality of care across our state.

This must end. Today, I was proud to join Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Wisconsin State Senator Melissa Ratcliff, and direct care nurses for the introduction of the Nurse Staffing and Patient Protection Act.

Our nurses are heroes. It was obvious during the pandemic, and it remains just as true today. Unfortunately, too many nurses are leaving the profession prematurely due to being overworked, undervalued, and forced to care for more patients than they can safely care for.

Upon enactment:
-$15 wage floor
-$7.50 for tipped workers

By 2030
-$20 wage floor
-$10 for tipped workers
-Automatic annual cost of living adjustments

It’s past time Wisconsin workers were guaranteed a living wage. Today, I am proud to stand with Sen. Kelda Roys, Rep. Angelina Cruz, and the Living Wage Coalition to introduce legislation that will get us there.

40% of WI public school students experience poverty.

By passing SB 67: Healthy School Meals for All, we can make sure all of our kids have access to breakfast and lunch, allowing them to learn and grow.

Let's fight hunger & end the perverse concept of "school lunch debt." #PublicSchoolsWeek

Happy #PublicSchoolsWeek!

1.1 million students
62,000 teachers
45,000 aides & support staff
4,500 administrators
421 districts

In WI, every kid has a Constitutionally-guaranteed, tuition-free, uniform public education. Thank you to all those who work so hard to make it happen each and every day!

Pause to Protect: An update on AI data centers in WI On February 12, a coalition of great legislators who care about lowering utility bills, protecting our water, fighting climate change...

Our latest e-newsletter is here! This one has to do with one of the most critical issues facing Wisconsin right now - AI data centers.

It includes a statewide survey on the topic that we'd love for you to participate in!

senatorchrislarson.substack.com/p/pause-to-p...

Furthermore, the decision reaffirmed that the imposition of tariffs is a power granted to Congress.

We know this lawless Administration will try again, but it's heartening to know that even this hand-picked Court is not willing to go along with every illegal act the President makes.

Huge news! The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 to strike down Trump's broad-based, inflationary tariffs.

In the opinion, they asserted that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs.

Thank you to all of my colleagues who pushed so hard for these bills over the years. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of both.

Gail's law expands coverage for breast cancer screenings and will save lives. The Postpartum Extension will ensure new moms have health coverage for at least 1 year after giving birth. As any parent knows, those first 12 months are critical to the life and health of both mothers and their babies.

Sometimes good news comes in twos:

Today, the WI State Assembly approved two pieces of bipartisan legislation that have been in the works for years - Gail's Law and the 12-month Postpartum Medicaid Extension.

There will be a new Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly in January, and that is great news for Wisconsin.

This is the kind of ridiculousness WI has had to deal with for over 15 years.

Not addressing rising costs, not expanding access to affordable healthcare, not ensuring our schools have the resources they need - just playing silly games.

The behavior of the WI Legislature's Republican majority is a perfect example of a group of people who are drunk with power. Last night, Assembly Republicans suspended a floor session so their members could attend a political fundraiser.

The bill would require all law enforcement to identify themselves when arresting or detaining someone, to display their name and badge number and authority for the arrest, and perhaps most importantly, would ban face coverings or any other attempt to conceal their identity.

Today I rose to force a vote in the WI State Senate on SB 444 - The No Secret Police Act. Instead of letting the vote take place, they shut down debate, cut off my mic, and adjourned for the day.