It will likely be two weeks before a COVID-19 relief bill gets passed by the Wisconsin Legislature after the Assembly and the Senate left for their home districts on Wednesday. The state Senate passed an amended version of Assembly Bill 1 on Tuesday and earned the endorsement of Governor Tony Evers. The new version took out provisions that would ban mandatory vaccinations, restrictions on local public health officers, and actions that would have moved the needle on in-person school and worship. First District Rep. Joel Kitchens acknowledges that members of the Senate did introduce some of the omitted elements as separate bills, but he believes they should be negotiated as part of a bigger package.

Kitchens hopes the talks between Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, new Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMehieu, and Governor Evers continue during the break so they can vote on a relief package when they return.