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Committee advances My LEAP budget with targeted increases for child care caseloads and new restrictions on signage/pronouns
Summary
House H‑1 substitute for My LEAP (lifelong learning department) was advanced with modest net reductions in positions, an increase for child development caseloads, TriShare benchmark reporting and new boilerplate restricting pronouns and signatures on department materials.
The House Appropriations Committee voted to advance the H‑1 substitute to House Bill 45 78, the appropriations bill for the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (My LEAP). Committee members heard a brief fiscal overview and asked questions about staffing and program administration.
Analysts Perry Zielak and Noel Benson of the House Fiscal Agency told the committee the House proposal has a gross appropriation of about $640.5 million and 281 FTEs, a small gross decrease (about $3.5 million) and a reduction of roughly 62 FTEs (about an 18% staffing reduction). The presentation highlighted a substantial increase to the child development and care caseload line (staff cited a gross increase of about $44.3 million to reflect updated caseload estimates from the May consensus revenue estimating conference).
The package includes boilerplate changes tied to TriShare and to program administration. Committee staff said the House adds language creating benchmarks for regional TriShare hubs and expands eligibility for some TriShare funds to families who live in Wisconsin but have a family member employed in Michigan. The House also adopted language that would restrict My LEAP from using pronouns in email signatures and on departmental letterhead, and would subject violations to a $100 fine enforceable in the Court of Claims.
Members asked about staff capacity to administer new scholarships and grant programs that the broader appropriations process would deliver. Representative Snyder questioned the reduction in FTEs while noting one‑time scholarship and grant deposits proposed elsewhere in the budget; fiscal staff said they believed staffing levels were adequate but acknowledged negotiability.
Representative Markkanen, who chaired the subcommittee that reported the bill, said the budget was intended to make My LEAP “fiscally responsible” while supporting childcare, workforce training and related programs. Representative O’Neil supported the TriShare approach as a way for employers and communities to share childcare costs. An amendment that would have added $100 million for childcare providers failed on a party‑line vote.
On the motion to adopt the H‑1 substitute, the committee recorded 17 yays and 12 nays; the committee reported the bill with recommendation as substituted. The bill’s boilerplate and caseload estimates will be subject to change during floor and conference negotiations.
