MADISON, WISCONSIN – Today in a session of the State Senate, Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (R- Birchwood) voted to protect Wisconsin taxpayers from Governor Evers’ 400-year property tax increase, ensure abuse of children is reported to authorities, and bring clarity to the definition of abortion in state law.
“Today I voted to protect property taxpayers from a tax increase solely instituted by Governor Evers which was never voted on by any elected official at the state level or the public via referendum,” Quinn said. “Taxpayers should not and cannot foot the bill at the whims of the governor’s veto pen and his political maneuvering.”
The legislation seeks to correct the $325 per pupil adjustment in the school district revenue formula that was enacted by the governor’s partial veto in the 2023-2025 biennial budget. The veto extends the annual increase for the next four centuries because Evers struck out two digits and a dash from the years “2024-25” to make the end date 2425.
“The higher property tax bills homeowners will get in the mail next month lie solely at the feet of Governor Evers,” Quinn said. “Automatic tax increases for the next 400 years without any local referendum or legislative approval is absurd and flies in the face of our democratic norms. Allowing all districts to increase spending by the same amount no matter what they spend today only exacerbates the inequality within our funding formula.”
Quinn also advanced legislation to require child welfare agencies to refer all instances of suspected child abuse to law enforcement. Senate Bill 432, also known as “Zoey’s Law,” was introduced by Quinn and Representative Chanz Green (R Grand View) after the case of Zoey Chafer, a four-year-old from Hayward, who lost her life despite numerous reports made by doctors and school officials about suspected abuse.
The tragic case of Zoey Chafer never should have happened. The system failed Zoey, ” Quinn said. “With this bill we can close the gap to ensure that law enforcement will intervene and investigate when a child may be in danger.”
Legislation authored by Quinn to clarify the definition of abortion in state law also passed the State Senate. The bill makes clear that life-saving medical procedures, such as treatment for a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, are not abortions.
“I am pro-life. Life begins at conception. Our value and dignity as humans are not determined by any governmental law,” Quinn said. “But whether you say you are pro-life or pro-choice, we should be able to agree that providing clarity is a good thing. The bill I authored removes any ambiguity from our state statutes about what is not an abortion."
"After Roe v. Wade was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, questions have been raised about a perceived ambiguity in Wisconsin statutes surrounding the definition of abortion.“ Persistent misinformation creates unnecessary fear and confusion for women and medical professionals,” Quinn said.
“It has never been the pro-life position to criminalize women or doctors who need or provide care that results in the unintentional death of a child. This bill reaffirms that in these difficult cases, life-saving medical care for pregnant women is clearly distinguished from an elective abortion.”
Last Update: Nov 19, 2025 9:34 am CST
