Sen. Patrick Testin

Official account of Wisconsin State Senator Patrick Testin of the 24th Senate District

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Attention Wisconsin ATV and UTV operators:

Additional Department of Natural Resources conservation wardens and county recreation deputies will be out this weekend patrolling ATV/UTV trails and routes as part of the Think Smart Before You Start safety campaign.

If you would like further details, please check out this press release from the DNR: https://t.co/C4hR2YzMUh

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

ICYMI:

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents is looking to raise tuition at UW schools for the fourth year in a row.

When is it ever going to be enough?

https://t.co/UPPlHuLV7e

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

I am beyond frustrated that the Universities of Wisconsin just announced it is looking to raise tuition costs yet again – even after some members of the UW System Board of Regents recently testified that they had no such immediate plans to do so.

The proposed 2 percent hike comes on top of the 5 percent increase that was approved by the Board of Regents last year and a $256 million funding boost in the 2025-27 state budget.

Please click on the following link to read my full statement: https://t.co/yuO3JMLCHY

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Please join me in celebrating June Dairy Month.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, I am fortunate to get a firsthand look at the impact dairy farms have on our state. After all, there is a reason why we are known as America’s Dairyland.

The dairy industry contributes $52.8 billion annually to Wisconsin’s economy and employs about 121,000 local workers.

Just as impressive, Wisconsin ranks as the top state in the country for cheese production, generating 3.64 billion pounds per year. We are also responsible for almost 15 percent of our nation’s milk.

Knowing the importance of the dairy sector to Wisconsin, my Joint Finance Committee colleagues and I included funding in the most recent state budget to continue the Dairy Innovation Hub program.

This initiative allows Wisconsin to remain at the forefront of the industry by focusing on dairy research, education and outreach.

One of the ways you can personally recognize June Dairy Month is by attending a Breakfast on the Farm in your community. These gatherings provide a great opportunity to meet and support your local farmers. And you get to enjoy a delicious meal as well.

You can find the dates and locations of all the Breakfast on the Farm events at https://t.co/6FCkcfeeSp.

Happy #JuneDairyMonth

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Here’s to another trip around the sun.

Happy birthday, Wisconsin.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is now accepting applications for Rural Business Development Grants, which help support endeavors that create jobs and grow the local economy.

Applicants will compete in two separate categories – business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants – for funding that can be used for various business and community projects in our rural areas.

The grant program is open to public or government entities, Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations that primarily serve rural communities.

For more information, including application deadlines, please click here: https://t.co/OFJfTwXKQr.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Since 1970, the state has been statutorily obligated to administer the Wisconsin Unclaimed Property system.

This involves retaining abandoned or forgotten financial assets until they can be recovered by their rightful owners. This can include funds from checking and savings accounts, uncashed dividends or insurance policies.

Until earlier this year, we did not have any mechanisms in state statutes that specifically helped to hinder unclaimed property fraud.

A new law I authored this legislative session – 2025 Wisconsin Act 112 – changes that by allowing authorities to impose criminal charges and civil penalties on individuals who try to defraud the Unclaimed Property system.

It is well past time that we hold these scammers accountable.

If you would like to see whether the state is holding on to any of your unclaimed property, please click here: https://t.co/wXEjpy5oFD.

For next week’s “Testin’s Throwback Thursday,” I will be discussing my bipartisan legislation that was signed into law this session that improves the efficiency of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Opportunity Attraction and Promotion Fund.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Are you wondering why so many public school districts across Wisconsin have been asking local taxpayers for additional funding through referendums?

A bombshell report from the Institute for Reforming Government explains the main reason behind this.

According to the IRG analysis, Wisconsin public schools now employ one adult for every seven students, breaking the all-time ratio record. Simply put, we are educating fewer pupils with more staff, and many of those new hires are not teachers.

From 2010 to 2025, Wisconsin public schools lost 65,381 students while adding 973 teachers and 11,108 non-instructors.

If you would like to know how this is impacting local taxpayers, please check out the IRG report by clicking below: https://t.co/nJ2w6KqG5V

@ReformingGovt @WisSenGOP

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

All 15 Democrat members of the Wisconsin State Senate voted against this bipartisan, negotiated bill that would have lowered property taxes, provided income tax relief and increased special education funding for schools.

https://t.co/xg0sNoKBSJ

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Memorial Day is more than just an extended holiday weekend where we get to grill out with family and friends, enjoy shopping sales or take the boat out on the lake — it’s a time to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in service to the American people.

From the Civil War through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, approximately 27,000 Wisconsin military members have been killed while protecting our nation’s freedoms.

We can best honor our fallen heroes by attending a local ceremony, visiting a veterans cemetery, supporting military families or pausing for a moment of gratitude.

We must never forget that, because of the sacrifices made by these courageous men and women, we get to live in the greatest country in the world.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

I would like to introduce all of you to Bill and Elizabeth Malzewski, who are some of the most caring people you will ever meet.

The Malzewskis have been instrumental in the success of the Veterans Community Project, a national nonprofit organization founded by combat veterans that focuses on fixing veteran homelessness. The group does this by constructing specialized tiny home villages and providing on-the-spot support services.

After playing a significant role in building the first VCP neighborhood several years ago in Kansas City, Bill and Elizabeth set their sights on their home state of Wisconsin.

While working with the Malzewskis, I am proud to have helped lead the charge in securing some funding in the 2025-27 state budget to construct 40 VCP houses right here in America’s Dairyland.

If you are interested in learning more about Bill and Elizabeth’s story, please check out this article: https://t.co/eOsuNw2nqG

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Last night, I had the privilege of presenting a legislative citation at a ceremony where Wisconsin Rapids was being recognized for its recent designation as a Purple Heart City.

Wisconsin Rapids now joins hundreds of municipalities across the nation in expressing gratitude to our military heroes who have been either wounded or killed in combat.

As I told those in attendance, I believe it is important that we take the time to honor our service members and veterans every single day of the year – not just on Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the Fourth of July.

Thank you, Wisconsin Rapids, for helping make that happen.

https://t.co/z6nde9xLla

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Thanks to Central Wisconsin farmers, our state continues to be a national leader in the production of potatoes.

In fact, spuds are one of the most lucrative cash crops we have here in Wisconsin, contributing more than $522 million to our annual economy and supporting nearly 3,200 local jobs.

The consistent success of this industry can be partly attributed to our state laws that require the use of clean, pathogen-free seed potatoes that are authorized by the Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program. This ensures our farmers are able to grow the best of the best and maintain Wisconsin’s stellar reputation as a potato powerhouse.

However, there have been instances in recent years where some bad actors have planted deficient seed potatoes in violation of state laws and put our entire crop at risk. But previous state statutes were not stringent enough to deter these types of illegal practices.
That is why I authored 2025 Wisconsin Act 66, which gives the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection more enforcement and penalty mechanisms to crack down on future illicit actions that could potentially harm our state’s potato industry.

For next week’s “Testin’s Throwback Thursday,” I plan to talk about a new law I got passed this legislative session that helps prevent fraud in the Wisconsin Unclaimed Property program.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Why is Gov. Tony Evers not releasing information on the criminals who are seeking commutations through the new process he implemented by executive order in early April?

Since some of them are convicted killers, we must demand transparency from the governor’s office.

This is unacceptable.

[Wisconsin Right Now @wisconsin_now]

#BREAKING We asked Gov. Tony Evers’ office on May 2 for a list of the inmates seeking commutations. No response. So we turned to DAs instead.

We are starting with Racine, where an irate DA Patricia Hanson has already received notices from three convicted killers.

Evers expressly allowed killers to qualify to seek release under the new commutation process he announced in April. Lifers only need to serve 20 years.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Buckle in or buckle up for a citation.

The Wisconsin State Patrol is partnering with law enforcement agencies across the state to participate in the national Click It or Ticket campaign through May 31.

During this time, additional police officers, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers will be on the road to promote safe driving habits by strictly enforcing our state’s seat belt laws.

If you are interested in more details, please click here: https://t.co/QhF0UmBwwV.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Earlier this month, the Canvas Learning Management System suffered a major cybersecurity breach affecting nearly 9,000 schools across the globe.

Canvas is used by thousands of educational institutions and corporations to manage online, hybrid and in-person learning.

According to authorities, a well-known hacking syndicate has recently been able to access Canvas usernames, email addresses, student IDs and billions of private messages.

If you would like information on how to protect your account, secure your identity and prevent potential scams, please check out this press release from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection:

https://t.co/LzudBULeie.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Wisconsin’s beef is a cut above the rest.

Well done, local ranchers. You are in rare company.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

According to the latest reports, more than 16,600 Wisconsin residents have died from an opioid overdose since 2000.

With the goal of reversing that trajectory and saving countless lives, the Wisconsin Legislature in 2013 created the Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP), which aids healthcare professionals in their prescribing and dispensing decisions by providing valuable information on the controlled substance prescriptions already being distributed throughout the state.

Wisconsin-licensed physicians and other prescribers must review a patient’s records in the ePDMP database before issuing them an order for a monitored prescription drug. The program also supports the ability of pharmacies, healthcare officials, law enforcement agencies and public health representatives to work together to reduce the misuse, abuse and diversion of prescribed controlled substances.

However, two provisions in the ePDMP were set to expire in 2025, ensuring the end of the program if we did not take any action. That is why I authored a new law this session that extends the ePDMP until 2030.

I found it important to lengthen the duration of the ePDMP since it is one of the most effective prevention tools we have in our fight against the opioid epidemic. Because registrations have increased tenfold over the last several years, there is obviously a tremendous benefit to continuing the program.

The ePDMP is working as intended and I am glad that healthcare providers and law enforcement officers are able to keep using this life-saving resource.

For next week’s “Testin’s Throwback Thursday,” I will be discussing my seed potato legislation that was signed into law this past December.

[Sen. Patrick Testin @SenatorTestin]

Do you want to know the current tick activity in Wisconsin so you can better protect yourself from Lyme disease?

Then please check out the latest tick surveillance report from the state Department of Health Services: https://t.co/wwABwtizPv.

The site is updated every two weeks.