The following general timeline may be helpful to understand what’s happening next at the Capitol.  The budget timetable may be shorter due to the need to address the current budget shortfall. The exact legislative timetable, complete with session dates and committee work periods, will be determined in the weeks to come.

January 5, 2009:  Inauguration day at the State Capitol.  All legislators will be sworn into office.

Third week of January:  Governor delivers his “State of the State”
address.

Early February:  Governor unveils his 2009-2011 state budget.

Early March:  Legislative Fiscal Bureau issues budget summary document describing major provisions of the Governor’s budget.

Mid March to late March:  Joint Committee on Finance to hold hearings on the budget.  In the past, there have been five hearings held across the state.  Usually the hearings are at the state Capitol and at four other locations around Wisconsin. (Dates and locations to follow)

Early April to the end of May: The Joint Finance Committee votes on the budget, agency by agency.  The committee will work off of documents prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau as well as separate amendments (motions) offered by committee members.

Early June: The budget, as revised by the Joint Finance Committee, is sent to the full Assembly.

Mid- June: The Assembly will send the budget to the Senate.  
A conference committee will be appointed if there is a breakdown between the Senate and Assembly and Governor. 

June 30:  End of the 2008-09 state fiscal year and the current two-year (2007-09) budget.

July 1:  Beginning of the 2009-2010 fiscal year and the next two-year 2009-2011 budget cycle.  Governor signs budget into law.