Eric Wimberger, Wisconsin State Senator for 2nd District | Official Facebook
Eric Wimberger, Wisconsin State Senator for 2nd District | Official Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that $172 million be transferred to the general fund from a federal program revenue appropriation allocated to the Department of Administration on the bill's enactment date. The transfer includes interest accrued on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds, which, as reported on May 9, 2025, totaled approximately $171.5 million by the end of April. Under existing state law, unless specified otherwise, miscellaneous receipts like interest earnings are credited to the general purpose revenues of the general fund. This move aligns with the stated requirement for such receipts in the absence of specific legal provisions.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Robert Wittke (Republican-63rd District), Senator Mary Felzkowski (Republican-12th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), and Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), along 19 other co-sponsors.
Eric Wimberger has authored or co-authored another 34 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Wimberger graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2001 with a BS and again in 2005 from Marquette Law School with a JD.
Wimberger, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2025 to represent the state's 2nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Robert Cowles.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB280 | 05/23/2025 | Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) |
| SB276 | 05/21/2025 | Challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB273 | 05/21/2025 | Camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles |
| SB263 | 05/20/2025 | Findings of fact when the court grants less than equal physical placement of a child |
| SB254 | 05/09/2025 | Funding for the War Memorial Center and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB198 | 04/14/2025 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) |
| SB189 | 04/14/2025 | An optional final hearing by affidavit for the dissolution of a marriage |
| SB162 | 03/27/2025 | Bid requirement for publication and printing of county board proceedings, notices, and advertisements in counties having a population of 250,000 or more and at least two English newspapers published daily |
| SB161 | 03/27/2025 | A presumption that equalizing physical placement to the highest degree is in the child’s best interest |
| SB144 | 03/21/2025 | Eliminating a judgeship from district IV of the court of appeals and establishing an additional judgeship for district III of the court of appeals |
| SB128 | 03/14/2025 | Programs and requirements to address PFAS |
| SB127 | 03/14/2025 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) |
| SB84 | 02/26/2025 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) |
| SB80 | 02/26/2025 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets |
| SB55 | 02/21/2025 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) |
| SB51 | 02/21/2025 | Flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
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