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Milwaukee committee adopts leases for 2026 election sites, voices support for veterans mental-health resolution and tracks DACA licensing bill
Summary
The Judiciary and Legislation Committee approved two leases for 2026 voting operations, expressed support for a state resolution designating November as Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Month, and heard staff updates on pending state bills including DACA occupational licensing and hemp-related provisions.
The City of Milwaukee’s Judiciary and Legislation Committee on Monday adopted resolutions approving two leases for election-related uses and heard staff and aldermanic updates on several state bills and a veterans’ resolution.
Committee members unanimously approved leases to secure early-voting and central-count space for 2026, moving early voting to a Midtown community center location and central count to a location provided by the Italian Community Center. A committee speaker said the Midtown site offers more parking and multiple rooms that improve safety and logistics for poll workers. "We are fully staffed," a city elections official said of preparations for next year, noting planning for higher turnout.
On state legislative matters, George Pemico of the intergovernmental relations division said there were likely the last two floor days of the year and only a small set of bills of direct consequence to the city. Staff flagged an ongoing effort to advance automated traffic-enforcement legislation and a housing package that could include a one- to two-year extension for TIFs used for affordable housing.
Committee members and staff also highlighted a standalone bill to allow occupational licenses for DACA recipients, which would let people who came as Dreamers access licenses for professions such as teaching, nursing, electrical and plumbing trades. One member said the city had supported the measure previously and was optimistic about its prospects this session.
Members discussed a late federal hemp provision that may prohibit certain hemp-derived products, warning of potential consequences for Wisconsin farmers and small businesses that invested in hemp-based products. The committee also noted federal action aligning flavored-vape rules and a state bill to align Wisconsin’s tobacco sales age with the federal 21+ standard to facilitate enforcement.
The committee took up a city-sponsored resolution expressing support for state legislation that would designate each November as Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Month in Wisconsin; the item received broad support and will be carried forward by the city’s legislative effort.
What’s next: The leases adopted by the committee will proceed as part of the city's preparations for 2026 election operations; staff will continue to track the identified state bills and the veterans’ resolution as they advance in the legislature.
