Gov. Evers says ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will cost taxpayers $284 million

New analysis from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services shows changes made under President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will cost state taxpayers over $284 million in the next two years, Gov. Tony Evers said Thursday. The DHS also found that over 270,000 Wisconsinites will lose health insurance, and thousands will lose food assistance under the bill, which was signed into law on July 4. The analysis looked at changes made to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and how new restrictions put in place under the federal budget reconciliation bill will impact those programs. The new law shifts 25% of SNAP administrative costs to the states. DHS expects that change to cost Wisconsin and its counties about $43.5 million each year beginning in 2027. Wisconsin will lose about $12 million each year starting Oct. 1 because of funding cuts to SNAP education programs.