Last week, we wrapped up the 2025-2026 Legislative Session in the Assembly. Republicans in the Assembly ensured that we passed legislation to address the affordability crisis in America as families across the state are struggling with high prices.

One of the ways we addressed affordability was by creating a tax exemption for cash tips and overtime. You may recall that federal legislation was recently enacted to exclude income from tips and overtime from federal tax. To ensure uniformity and provide further relief for working families, Assembly Republicans passed legislation mirroring federal law and exempting the overtime wage premium and tip income from state income tax.

Across my district, families have expressed frustration with the increasing cost of healthcare. To address this, Assembly Republicans passed legislation to codify federal price transparency laws mandating hospitals to display an upfront price estimate for medical services provided by the hospital. This legislation will make sure families can shop for the best value in health care and avoid unexpected costs as they seek treatment. Additionally, Assembly Republicans passed legislation allowing hospitals to provide discounts up to 15% to patients who pay their bill in a timely manner.

Assembly Republicans made significant steps towards addressing the rising cost of living in our 2025-2027 budget that was passed last summer. Along with blocking over $3.7 billion in tax hikes by Gov. Evers, our budget reduced taxes on Wisconsinites by $1.5 billion. Republicans believe that taxpayers - not the government - should be in control of their own money. As part of the $1.5 billion in tax cuts, Republicans included a tax exemption for seniors to make it easier for them to stay in Wisconsin through retirement, expanded the second income tax bracket so more people are taxed at lower rate, and removed the state tax on your utility bills.

I am proud of the work Assembly Republicans did during this legislative session to drive down costs and prioritize affordability in our state. We want to ensure Wisconsin is a place people can live, work, and retire while saving for their future generations.