2025-26 Joint Finance Committee
The Joint Committee on Finance (or Joint Finance Committee, JFC) could be the most important committees of the Wisconsin Legislature. It is responsible for writing the biennial state budget. It has the authority to approve requests for funding, agency position authority, and state lawsuit settlements.
The committee is 16 members and has an equal number of members from the Assembly and Senate. The Republican Party hold legislative majorities in both houses and Republican caucus leaders are able to appoint most of the members of the committee.
Understanding Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee and Its Role in Budgeting
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) serves as one of the most influential entities in Wisconsin’s state government. Comprising members from both major parties, this bipartisan committee is tasked with shaping the state’s biennial budget, reviewing fiscal policies, and making critical funding decisions that affect every resident.
Current JFC Membership for 2025-26
As of the latest appointments, the JFC is chaired by Republicans Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Mark Born, reflecting the GOP’s majority in the state legislature. Recently, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu appointed three new members, Senators Julian Bradley, Romaine Quinn, and Rob Stafsholt to the committee, highlighting the Republican Party’s commitment to fiscal conservatism and economic growth.
This is the third straight session Senator Marklein has chaired the powerful JFC.
On the Democratic side, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein reappointed Senator LaTonya Johnson and Senator Kelda Roys back to the committee, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to addressing Wisconsin’s pressing issues like public education funding and healthcare accessibility.
To stay updated, follow the JFC Republicans and Democrats on Twitter: @jfrepublicans and @jfcdemocrats.
JFC’s Role in Wisconsin’s Political Landscape
The JFC’s decisions significantly impact various sectors, including education, infrastructure, and public safety. The committee’s deliberations often serve as a microcosm of broader political battles within the state legislature. Republicans typically advocate for tax cuts and limited government intervention, while Democrats focus on expanding public services and investing in community resources.
My Experience with Advocacy
During campaigns for cannabis reform and public education funding, I’ve seen firsthand how this committee’s decisions influence grassroots movements and the daily lives of Wisconsinites. For instance, when when people testify at JFC public hearings for the inclusion of hemp-related economic initiatives in the state budget, it became clear how vital citizen advocacy is in shaping fiscal priorities.
Importance of Citizen Engagement
Public involvement in the JFC’s processes is critical. Budget hearings held across the state and online provide a platform for residents to voice their concerns and influence decisions. These hearings are an opportunity to present data, personal stories, and policy suggestions directly to legislators.
If you’re interested in advocating for issues like cannabis reform, education, or environmental conservation, consider attending a budget hearing or contacting your local representatives. Grassroots lobbying, as I’ve learned from years of experience, can bring about meaningful change when paired with strategic planning and coalition-building.
Looking Ahead
As Wisconsin navigates its fiscal future, the JFC’s decisions will continue to shape the state’s priorities. Staying informed and engaged is essential for anyone interested in impacting the state’s policies. Whether through social media, public testimony, or direct communication with JFC members, your voice can help shape Wisconsin’s future.

Assembly Members
- Mark Born (R), Co-Chair; Rep. Born has been somewhat quiet regarding his support for medical marijuana reform and comes in as a late co-sponsor to the Republican bill to create a medical marijuana program in 2019-20, but was absent from any attempts in 2021-22, but is back again for the 2023-24 bill. Mark Born is an American law enforcement officer. Born has served as co-chair since 2019. Born was unopposed in the 2022 election. Born has removed marijuana provisions from the budget in the past and seems to gaslight the reality of support for cannabis reform measures. He echo’s the typical Vos statements and adds “The devils always in the details of the bill, of course.”
- Tony Kurtz (R); New Vice-Chair for 2025-26 but not new to the JFC; October 2018: On the topic of marijuana legalization, Kurtz said he’s against marijuana for recreational use. “A lot of people are intrigued by the dollar signs and the revenue they can get from that,” Kurtz said, adding there were drawbacks to legalization as well. Oct 2018 He noted he would be open to medicinal use of marijuana if hemp proved ineffective. He is a hemp farmer, or at least tried one year… he was pretty quite about everything. Until 2024 when he stated: “For particularly veterans and those that suffer PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, so many other horrible effects from wartime, medical cannabis is something that can help not only tens of thousands of veterans and cancer patients.” In 2023-24 he did co-sponsor the Republican version of medical cannabis. During the 2024 press coverage of the GOP bill, Kurtz said he was confident those conditions are enough to garner bipartisan backing, which he was wrong. He was first elected in 2018. Organic grain farmer. Former U.S. Army attack helicopter pilot 1985–2005, retired from active duty as a Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4); Persian Gulf War veteran; Iraq War veteran.
Terry Katsma, former Vice-Chair did not seek re-election in 2024.
- Shannon Zimmerman (R); Zimmerman is not new to talking about marijuana reform. He, fellow Republican Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond and Democratic Senator Patty Schachtner hashed out marijuana reform in their districts in February of 2019. 2019 Spring Survey sponsored by the GOP Assembly Representatives. In the spring of 2019 after overwhelming support in the Wisconsin public marijuana referendums the previous fall, many of the Assembly GOP members held a spring survey which was posted online and sent in the email to people on their mailing list. The results of Assembly Representative Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) spring survey are not surprising as 76.48% of his district supported medical marijuana. In May of 2024 in a “hard on drugs” approach, Zimmerman said that laced marijuana is showing up in his county, but offered no proof.
- Jessie Rodriguez (R); Rep. Rodriguez now says she can support medical “if” it was not used to legalize recreational marijuana. She continues to oppose recreational marijuana and sites the gateway theory and sites law enforcement concerns of medical diversion to the the recreational market. She was also a co-sponsor of the 2023-24 Republican version of a medial marijuana program. During the 2024 GOP proposal she stated via Press Release “For a few years now, our constituents have been asking us for a thoughtful, well-regulated medical cannabis program for Wisconsin’s patients,” Rodriguez, adding “I have spent many phone calls with a constituent of mine named Joe, whose wife is suffering with stage 4 lung cancer. Joe’s been asking for us to pass legislation to legalize the medical use of cannabis to help his wife”. Rodriguez narrowly won her 2024 election by 932 votes.
- Alex Dallman (R); Dallman said in 2020 “My current stance on Marijuana Reform would be against legalization of recreational use. I am also currently opposed to medicinal, but I am more open to exploring this side of it.” He added on the topic of decriminalization: “For simple possession of small amount, I am in favor.” Wi Eye interviewed Alex Dallman on July 9; in which Dallman added the “slippery slope” theory to his list opposition, stating he is worried medical marijuana leads quickly to recreational marijuana”. 08/11/2020 On the campaign trail he said one thing, than after elected he turned into a prohibitionist. He said until the County Sheriffs on board he is not even supporting decriminalization. He did not co-sponsor any of the Republican medical marijuana bills, but at the 2024 bill introduction he was lurking around and pictured in the press conference media blitz the Republicans orchestrated. Later during the the 2024 election he had this to say to the local newspaper: I support the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes because we currently have much more potent prescription medications on the market that have far worse side effects than cannabis. I am not in favor of full recreational at this time because I would like to continue learning about the positive and negative impacts that are occuring in other states around the country. This will allow Wisconsin to make the best decisions as to whether or not to implement the use of cannabis for medical or recreational purposes in Wisconsin.
- Karen Hurd (R); new to the JFC. In 2022 Hurd faced a primary battle and won. She was not the most supportive Republican in that primary, but she also was not the worse. She had this to say in 2022: “I am currently researching and studying the issue of the legalization of marijuana. I have been given written material by constituents on both sides of the issue—and then I have my own educational/clinical experience in working with those of my clients that are users of marijuana. My Master of Science degree in Biochemistry has given me the molecular knowledge of how cannabinoids impact cells. However, there is more yet to know, and other considerations most be taken into account besides the impact at the cellular level. I also am gathering data from other states as well that have legalized marijuana and what impact it has had—whether pro or con. Many constituents have spoken to me about this issue—some pro, some con.” In 2022 I believed that Hurd was willing to help form The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus and work with the Democrats to pass a set of bipartisan bills. In the 2023-24 session Hurd did co-sponsor the controversial GOP Caucus vetted medical marijuana legislation. In her 2024 bid for re-election her primary challenger was opposed to reform measures while Hurd remained open.
Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) appointed the following members:
- Deb Andraca (D)
- Tip McGuire (D)
Senate Members
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) appointed the following members:
Howard Marklein (R), Co-Chair; After serving 12+ years in the legislature, Republican Senator Marklein has not really moved on his stance and has blocked reform efforts every chance he could. As I mentioned, this is his third straight session as Co-Chair. Marklein is up for re-election in 2026.
Duey Stroebel is gone as vice chair, he lost his bid for re-election.
Patrick Testin (R) New Vice Chair for 2025-26; Medical Marijuana legislation with home grows and smoking products was supported and co-sponsored in the Senate by Republican Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) during the 2019-20 legislative session. At that time, Testin was the first Republican to have signed their name to a medical marijuana bill in nearly two decades. In the 2021-22 session Senator Testin was very quiet on the issue and did not show up as a co-sponsor to any Republican marijuana bills. Supporters in his area are worried Testin is not moving forward on the issue fast enough.
The City of Stevens Point passed the 2022 recreational marijuana referendum by over 74%.
The Republican Senate in a whole, including Testin were absent from co-sponsor the decriminalization legislation and did not present a version of medical cannabis in the 2023-24 session.
This politician was straight up on the issue, but in 2023 Testin claimed there are still roadblocks to getting weed decriminalized and added that public safety concerns outweigh any economic benefits having a decriminalized marijuana program would bring.
Romaine Quinn (R), Since elected in 2014 Rep. Quinn has seemed like a marijuana reformer.
- Back in 2016-17 cannabis conversations created led to a very positive statements from elected officials in the area, including Rep. Quinn. We got a “Maybe” on recreational marijuana from Rep. Quinn and a definite push for a public hearing on the issue.
- 2017:Do you believe marijuana should be legalized for recreational use in Wisconsin? Rep. Quinn: Maybe? That is an answer you’d expect from a politician, right? This is why I prefer to go through the hearing process before deciding on difficult bills: I say maybe because I feel that I really do need to know more information before saying yes or no, and I’d like to hear from some experts. By opening marijuana up for recreational use, we would need to know for certain that law enforcement would have the tools necessary to ensure public safety. Being able to detect when people are driving impaired and knowing the quantity of THC in the marijuana being consumed (similar to measuring alcohol content) would need to be easily accessible. But when it is all said and done, if you continue to go to work every day and take care of yourself and your family and don’t hurt anyone else, is it really the government’s business telling you what you can or can’t put in your body, especially while in your own home?
- 2017: If marijuana was legalized for recreation use, how do you see that impacting the Criminal Justice System? Rep. Quinn: Well the most obvious effect would be the freeing up of time for law enforcement and the local District Attorney’s office, who are already understaffed. But does that mean they won’t have to deal with other issues that can arise from usage? My guess is no. Just last year a doctor in Pueblo County, Colorado was interviewed by CBS and asked his opinion on recreational use. From his own experience, he has seen a 15% increase in babies being born that have tested positive for marijuana. When the doctor asked the mothers why this happened, most were not surprised that their babies tested positive, but rather upset at the fact that they didn’t know it was detrimental to the child’s health since it was a legal substance. Does that mean that every marijuana user is going to expose the drug to children? I doubt it. But as on most issues, education is key.
- 2017: Do you believe that marijuana is a gateway drug to heroin, meth, or other drugs? Rep. Quinn: I believe any substance, legal or not, can be abused and be harmful. Heck, look at all the people in our community that continue to abuse alcohol! If you look at the state’s heroin epidemic, many addicts got started by using/abusing prescription drugs. From my current understanding, I do not believe marijuana has nearly the addictiveness of meth or heroin, making it far less problematic. I have yet to know a person that has used meth or heroin that has not completely ruined their life or hurt others. Most people that abuse drugs have underlying mental, emotional, or medical health issues. We need to know the issues the addict is facing in order to fully understand why they became addicted.
- 2017: If marijuana was legalized, what impact do you see it having on Wisconsin’s Economy? Rep. Quinn: There is no doubt that the State of Wisconsin could raise additional tax revenue from the sale of marijuana, but we can already do that now through income, sales, and other taxes. Allowing recreational marijuana should not be decided based upon dollar signs, but rather how it can affect society, and whether or not the government has the right to tell you what you can or cannot consume.
- Rep. Quinn 2019 Spring Survey results 67% voted YES to medical marijuana.
- Representative Romaine Quinn was the Majority Caucus Vice-Chair Assembly in 2019 when he co-authored the first Republican version of medical cannabis creating competing bills with a bi-partisan version of medical cannabis.
- In 2022 he said this: “I don’t believe the government should stand in the way of somebody who has a chronic or terminal illness that could find relief by consuming marijuana in some form, which is why I also voted for “Right to Try” legislation when I was in the state assembly,” he said. But Quinn doesn’t think the state is prepared for full legalization. “I also do not believe that those who use marijuana for recreation are bad people,” said Quinn. “If you go to work, pay your taxes, and don’t neglect your health or the health of your children, I have a hard time saying what you can or cannot do in the confines of your own home. “The key concern for law enforcement, which is a group I would look to for guidance on this, is that there is no good way to tell when someone is driving high. Unless we expect our police to start performing blood draws on the side of the road, we need the technology to make sure our roadways are safe before expanding more opportunities for impaired driving.” Quinn is up for re-election in 2026.
Mary Felzkowski is off the JFC and is now Senate President.
Joan Ballweg is gone and off the JFC, she lost her bid for re-election.
Julian Bradley (R); Bradley comes out against recreational marijuana, but understands people turn to marijuana for medicinal purposes, his concern is he wants to insure it goes through the same process that any drug would before it is legalized for medicinal purposes and sent out to people. Not in favor of over regulatory situation, but before people are taking a drug prescribed to them that drug has cleared all hurdles. – source July 30, 2020 candidate interview. Bradley Fun Fact: As a former professional wrestler named Kris Krude he was on the Jerry Springer Show.
Rob Stafsholt (R); He said he supports “medical marijuana” as Republican Incumbent in candidate forums in October 2018 and then in Feb 2019 Stafsholt said he’s still not sure about medical marijuana, though other lawmakers said they’re comfortable with it.
- We spoke with Sharlene from his office on January 3rd, 2020 and she indicated that Rep. Stafsholt has not taken a “hard stance” on anything marijuana reform and will not be co-sponsoring any marijuana legislation this session. His office would only say “he looks forward to hearing the issue during a public hearing”.
- Although past news articles have quoted Rep. Stafsholt as “supporting” medical marijuana and decriminalization, he has failed to sponsor any legislation on the issue and has given contradicting statements on medical marijuana according to news archives below.
- In Feb 2023 Rep. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, said he backed a measure from former legislator Adam Jarchow to legalize (decriminalize) recreational pot and that he still supports that concept. “I have no problem with it,” he said, adding that pursuing low-level marijuana offenses is “not always the best use of resources for folks.”
Eric Wimberger (R); Wimberger ran in 2014 for State Assembly (lost by 18% points) and who also ran for the Wisconsin State Senate for District 30 in 2016 and only lost by 3% points will try for State Senate again in 2020 as the incumbent retires. He joined the Political Radar crew to in 2016 to discuss several key issues that are emerging in Wisconsin. They discuss the viability of marijuana legalization in Wisconsin and its challenges. And in 2020 “It is just a plant” came from Wimbergers lips. What does that tell us. Over the years this candidate has made several public statements about marijuana reform in interviews, but so far has indicated he is only willing to follow the GOP THC Pill Bill as the path to reform.
Democrats
Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D-Madison) re-appointed the following members:
- Senator LaTonya Johnson (D)
- Kelda Roys (D)
100% of the current Senate and Assembly Democrats on the JFC have either authored, co-sponsored or publicly supported the legalization of marijuana.