Uplifting the “I Voted” sticker K-12 design competition the City of Verona is hosting! This is a great reminder that civic engagement can start young and it’s important to be connected to our local governments. I look forward to picking up some winning stickers after voting in the fall election.

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and a reminder that justice and equity must be more than ideals. They must also be demonstrated through action. Thank you to the WI Legislative Black Caucus for a week of meaningful events, and Happy Juneteenth to all!

Thank you to the team at DNR for making this happen. I introduced legislation this session to make this happen but am glad to see it done administratively. This is a great step to help our state parks thrive but there is more work to be done! www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...

The Verona Hometown Days Parade is always a great way to spend the weekend! It was a pleasure to recognize some of our fantastic community organizations and come together as a neighborhood for some summertime fun.

The Verona Hometown Days Parade is always a great way to spend the weekend! It was a pleasure to recognize some of our fantastic community organizations and come together as a neighborhood for some summertime fun.

The latest edition of my Substack, ‘Open Mike’, in part paid tribute to Bob La Follette. He was a tireless advocate for clean government, worker’s rights, and putting people over profit. Check out my full post to learn more about the importance of getting back to these ideals and how we can do it!

Happy Pride Month! Pride is more than a celebration of our LGBTQIA+ community, it’s a call to action in our pursuit of equality and dignity for all people. Let this month remind us to engage in acts big and small to create environments where everyone feels truly respected for being themselves.

On Memorial Day we pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice is one we must never forget and their courage is one we must carry forward in our own lives and in our defense of democracy today

Supporting our small businesses keeps our neighborhoods strong. These businesses provide jobs, connect us to local goods and produce, and build community in times we need it most.

@senhesselbein.bsky.social and I were honored to present citations last week to our retiring workers from the Verona Area School District. This district and the dedicated workers that support our students help keep our community strong. I’m wishing all those retiring well in their next chapter!

Last night I voted against an election year gimmick.

I had a great meeting last week with folks from the Wisconsin Alumni Association! UW Madison, and all of our UW System Schools, provide an invaluable education to our students that continues to keep our Wisconsin workforce strong.

I had a great time welcoming students from Glacier Creek Middle School to the Capitol this Tuesday!

Our nurses care for us when we’re most vulnerable and should be given the resources they need to thrive in their work environments. I stand in support of our healthcare workers at St. Mary’s and Dean-SSM Health clinics and their right to unionize. Wisconsin workers deserve a seat at the table.

Our office is wishing farewell to Taija, our spring intern. Taija has been a great addition to our office these past several months. We are wishing her the best as she graduates from UW-Madison next Saturday and starts her journey at Brooklyn Law School this coming fall!

This week I spoke to Middleton High School students completing their Legislative Semester. This program allows students to learn state government by acting as legislators, authoring bills, and more. There was great civil discourse and great bills heard at their mock public hearings.

Last week, @repjoers.bsky.social and I had the pleasure of presenting the Middleton Cross Plains School District with a citation recognizing their unique work with and dedication to sustainability. It was great to visit Elm Lawn Elementary and get a firsthand look at some of their initiatives.

Marijuana should be legalized in Wisconsin for both medical and recreational use. It’s commonsense policy that would increase tax revenue, that would aid those suffering from chronic illness, and that a majority of Wisconsinites support.

The latest edition of my ‘Open Mike’ Substack details 5 bills I introduced this legislative session that I wish I had passed. Give the full post a read at the link below: open.substack.com/pub/repbare/...

Yesterday I was able to visit the team at United Way of Dane County to hear all about the great work they are doing for our communities. Thanks for inviting me!

I had a great time this morning sitting on a panel with some fellow legislators to talk with UW-Madison undergrads! The students are all part of a Community & Social Change course, and we had a great discussion about ways to leave your community better than you found it.

When my Tibetan brother-in-law Tenzin comes to visit, it’s momo dumpling night at our house. My staffers Will and Qaitlyn joined in this one!

When Republican leadership allows partisanship to limit which bills and issues have the chance for public input, they cut our constituents out of the conversation.

Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility, where we honor and celebrate our transgender and nonbinary neighbors. This day is an important part of raising awareness for the work still left to be done on reducing harm, constraint, and discrimination against this community.

I signed onto a letter opposing Trump’s illegal war in Iran. We must focus on boosting our economy and investing in our schools and communities.

Early voting starts today for the upcoming spring election! Visit myvote.wi.gov to make your voting plan today

We should drastically clean up money in politics. This week I co-introduced a bill package to improve transparency, regulate contributions, and restore integrity in our campaigns across our state.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! I hope today is filled with good company as we celebrate Irish heritage, community tradition, and a little extra luck in our lives.

February was a packed month full of voting on the floor, visitors in the Capitol, and accomplishment in the 80th District! Check out the latest edition of my newsletter to read a few highlights.

I’m pleased to introduce LRB-6524 to Stop The Stadium Squeeze alongside @wistatesenkeyeski.bsky.social and other Democratic colleagues. Supporting our talented Wisconsin athletes should not be left out of reach for an average Wisconsin family.

I had a great time meeting with United Way advocates to talk more about how we can continue building up our communities through advancements in childcare, food security, housing, and more. Thank you for stopping by!

All Wisconsinites deserve affordable, high quality healthcare. Yesterday, My Democratic colleagues and I introduced LRB-6040 to create a BadgerCare Public Option. This bill, upon federal approval, would allow any Wisconsinite to purchase health coverage through BadgerCare, regardless of income.

We’re here to represent our voters, our constituents, not the lobbyists, and we shouldn’t be soliciting anything from lobbyists that influences our work here and that would violate the trust that our voters put in us.

A bill introduced days before the state Assembly adjourned aimed to institute a year-long “cooling off period” for legislators before they can work as lobbyists. Its sponsors plan to introduce it again next year.

Public schools are the bedrock of our communities, and we know that our current formula for school funding isn’t working. It’s imperative we keep our promise of increased special ed funds, and our delivery of a well-rounded education at the forefront of our effort to move our state forward.

On Monday, I had the privilege of presenting Cross Plains EMS with a legislative citation alongside @senhesselbein.bsky.social. We were proud to recognize their recipience of the 2025 Excellence in Service Award from the Wisconsin EMS Association, and their continue commitment to serving Wisconsin.

The passage last week of a bill to extend postpartum Medicaid is a critical win and a highlight of this legislative session. But the road here shouldn’t have been this difficult.

What a week! Democrats accomplished some major goals: PFAS funding, Gail's Law requiring coverage of dense breast screenings, and an extension of Medicaid for new moms. This is the kind of progress that made me sign up for the long days and nights!

I released this statement late last night after the final scheduled floor day of this legislative session. Much has been done, but much more is still unfinished.

Made a new friend today and got a great reminder of why we do this work.

I admire Speaker Robin Vos's dedication to public service, and his devotion to the integrity of the Legislature. I hope he has a long and healthy retirement.

The Assembly is set to adjourn this week to follow a fake deadline Republican leadership has set, leaving so much critical work unfinished. Wisconsinites deserve a legislature that will work for them all year.

I was proud to sign onto this letter urging Republican leadership to bring Gail’s Law (AB 263 / SB 264) to the Assembly floor for a vote. No one should have to skip lifesaving breast cancer screenings because of cost. This bipartisan bill deserves a vote.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my brilliant and dazzling wife. ❤️ 😘 Spread some love around today—we all sure need it.

This week, Senator Jamie Wall and I introduced legislation to make the state Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit a refundable. This change would allow whatever monetary amount that’s remaining after offsetting income taxes to be returned to the pocket of our hardworking parents and caregivers.

Our office is excited to welcome Taija as our spring semester intern! Taija is a UW-Madison student studying Sociology, Social Welfare, and Legal Studies aspiring to go to law school. She is most excited to learn about housing and civil rights policy during her time with the office.

Our state government and the governments of Wisconsin’s sovereign tribal nations share a commitment to governing with an eye to the future. The State of the Tribes address honors this relationship in pursuit of finding common ground. I encourage you to tune in now on Wisconsin Eye: wiseye.org/live

Today is National Wear Red Day! In February, we recognize American Heart Month to raise awareness for the importance of heart health and leading healthy lifestyles. I encourage you to throw on some red and use this month to learn more about small ways to improve your health each day.

Today, @senkeyeski and I introduced a bill to ensure that public service is pursued for the right reasons. Wisconsin has long been a leader in legislative ethics, and I’m proud to co-introduce this legislation that only stands to strengthen that standard.

Today I introduced the Teaching is a Profession bill package alongside my Democratic colleagues. Our teachers are the backbones of our schools and our communities. We must better support and retain current teachers, develop future educators, and treat them like the invaluable professionals they are.