Mary Czaja Felzkowski Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 12th district | Official Website
Mary Czaja Felzkowski Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 12th district | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "enumeration of projects in the Authorized State Building Program, modifications to building program project budgets, selection of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill modifies several aspects of the Authorized State Building Program in Wisconsin. It removes the requirement for project design phases to be enumerated and mandates that at least 50% of a project's design phase must be complete for construction to be included in the program. It requires quarterly reports to be submitted detailing budget changes and shortfalls for projects. The bill also raises the cost threshold for selecting architects and engineers through a proposal process from $7.4 million to $15 million. For projects exceeding $200 million, it mandates waivers of certain single prime contracting requirements if requested by the agency involved. Amendments allow for energy conservation collaborations with private companies, clarify utilities-related costs in contracts, and establish a timeline for contract-related claims against the state. Additionally, a $32 million transfer from the general fund to the state building trust fund is included, effective in fiscal year 2024-25.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Mark Born (Republican-37th District) and Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), and Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), along with 15 other co-sponsors.
Mary Felzkowski has authored or co-authored another 11 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Felzkowski graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls in 1986 with a BS.
Felzkowski, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 to represent the state's 12th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Tom Tiffany.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB296 | 05/30/2025 | Enumeration of projects in the Authorized State Building Program, modifications to building program project budgets, selection of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund. (FE) |
| SB203 | 04/16/2025 | Regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers, and application of prescription drug payments to health insurance cost-sharing requirements. (FE) |
| SB117 | 03/07/2025 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants |
| SB116 | 03/07/2025 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants |
| SB98 | 03/07/2025 | Conversion of cooperative associations organized to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care into service insurance corporations |
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