Wisconsin Gov. Evers, GOP Leaders Reach Deal on Tax Relief Payments

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who is not seeking reelection in 2026, delivered his final State of the State address in February 2026, calling on the Republican-controlled Legislature to take bipartisan action on tax cuts, special education funding, and corrections reform. During that address, Evers also announced plans for a special legislative session addressing a constitutional amendment to ban partisan gerrymandering. In May 2026, Evers and Republican legislative leaders announced they had reached a deal to use the state's budget surplus for tax relief. Under the agreement, direct payment checks of $600 per married couple or $300 per individual are to be mailed by November 2026. The governor's office estimated that about 3 million people would receive the payments, at a total cost of approximately $850 million. The relationship between the timing and content of the February address and the May deal is not fully detailed in available reporting, including whether the tax relief agreement directly stemmed from the specific proposals Evers raised in his State of the State speech. It also remains unresolved what became of Evers' proposed special session on gerrymandering, and what specific bipartisan actions, if any, were taken on special education funding or corrections reform.