Legislator
Legislator > Dave Murphy
State Representative
Dave Murphy
(R) - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Assembly District 56
In Office - Started: 01/07/2013
contact info
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 8953
State Capitol, 2 E. Main St.
Madison, WI 53708
State Capitol, 2 E. Main St.
Madison, WI 53708
Phone: 608-237-9156
Phone 2: 888-534-0056
Voting Address
Greenville, WI 54942
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB371 | Explaining pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth as part of a human growth and development instructional program. (FE) | Under current law, a school board may offer a human growth and development instructional program to pupils in kindergarten to grade 12. If a school board elects to offer the instructional program, current law recommends, but does not require, that the school board include certain topics in the instructional program. If the school board provides instruction on a recommended topic, current law requires the school board to provide certain instruction in the program, when age appropriate, including presenting abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior for unmarried pupils, providing instruction in parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and their children, and explaining pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth. This bill requires that a school board include all of the following in the explanation of pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth, when age appropriate: 1) a high-definition ultrasound video that shows the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development; 2) a high-quality, computer-generated rendering LRB-3038/1 FFK:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 371 or animation that shows the process of fertilization and every stage of fetal development inside the uterus and that notes significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every week of pregnancy until birth; and 3) a presentation on each trimester of pregnancy as it relates to the physical and emotional health of the mother. The bill also requires that a school board include in the instruction in parental responsibility an explanation of 1) the importance of secure interpersonal relationships for infant mental health and 2) the value of reading to young children for mental development. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB365 | Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE) | Under current law, an owner of a fleet of 10 or more automobiles or motor trucks with a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds may register the vehicles as a fleet. This bill allows 10 or more of any combination of the following, with some exceptions, to be registered as a fleet: 1. Motor trucks with a gross weight of between 8,001 and 54,000 pounds. 2. Truck tractors or road tractors with a gross weight of between 4,500 and 54,000 pounds. 3. Trailers with a gross weight of not more than 80,000 pounds. Vehicles registered as a fleet are subject to the same annual registration fee as regularly applies to the type of vehicle, plus a onetime initial issuance fee of $8.50 for each vehicle. The Department of Transportation must provide, to the extent feasible, all vehicles registered as part of a particular fleet with the same registration expiration date. Under current law, for fleet vehicles DOT must issue registration plates of a LRB-3534/1 EVM:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 365 distinctive design with the word XFleetY embossed on the plate. The bill eliminates the requirement that the word be embossed. The bill also eliminates a provision in current law allowing for fleet registration of a fleet of 100 or more trailers. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB366 | Technical education equipment grants. (FE) | Current law provides that the Department of Workforce Development may award technical education equipment grants to school districts for certain purposes, including for the enhancement or improvement of a technical education facility or for the acquisition of equipment that is used in advanced manufacturing or construction fields in the workplace, together with any software necessary for the operation of that equipment and any instructional material necessary to train pupils in the operation of that equipment. As a condition of receiving a grant, a grant recipient must provide matching funds, in the form of money or the monetary value of equipment. The match must be 200 percent of the grant amount awarded if any of the match is contributed from school district funds, or 100 percent if the match is purely from other sources. This bill makes the following changes to the program: 1. Revises the purposes for which grants may be awarded. Under the bill, grant moneys may be used for additional specified purposes, such as the construction of a new technical education facility and instructional training on the use of tools and equipment used in technical education. 2. Requires the match to be the amount of the grant awarded, regardless of LRB-3650/1 MED:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 366 whether any of the match is contributed from school district funds. The bill also allows a match to be provided by someone other than a grant recipient and allows any in-kind contribution to count toward the match requirement, including software, tools, and equipment. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB367 | Virtual credit card payments in health insurance policies. | Under this bill, an insurer that offers a health insurance policy may not require a health care provider to accept payments under the health insurance policy via virtual credit card payment. The bill requires an insurer to inform a health care provider of the fees associated with any available payment methods and how to select a payment method other than virtual credit card payments before providing a payment via virtual credit card payment. The bill defines Xvirtual credit card paymentY as an electronic funds transfer in which an insurer issues a single-use series of numbers that are associated with a payment, are chargeable to a predetermined dollar amount, and expire upon payment processing. Additionally, under the bill, if an insurer transmits a payment to a health care provider in accordance with certain federal standards for transmitting electronic funds, the insurer may not charge a fee solely for the transmission, unless the provider has consented to the fee. Health insurance policies are referred to in the bill as disability insurance policies. | In Committee |
| SJR76 | Honoring the life and public service of Senator Bruce S. Peloquin. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Senator Bruce S. Peloquin. | In Committee |
| AB326 | Local grant writing and compliance assistance. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Revenue, in each year from 2026 through 2029, to provide grants of up to $5,000 to political subdivisions with populations of less than 7,500 to be used to obtain grant writing and compliance assistance services. These grants may be used to obtain services only for grants related to public works, transportation infrastructure, public safety, utility service, or cybersecurity. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR69 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative Terrence A. “Terry” Willkom. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Terrence A. XTerryY Willkom. | In Committee |
| SB341 | The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction pays equalization aid to school districts for each school year in the following four installments: 15 percent in September, 25 percent in December, 25 percent in March, and 35 percent in June. This bill increases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in September by 2 points each school year, and decreases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in June by 2 points each school year, until the 2029-30 school year, at which time the amount of equalization aid distributed in both September and June will be 25 percent. The result is that equalization aid will be paid to school districts in four equal installments beginning in the 2029-30 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-3223/1 FFK:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 341 | In Committee |
| AB348 | The minimum age of assistant child care teachers. | Under current law, the Department of Children and Families regulates child care providers and is required to promulgate rules to carry out that function. Under rules promulgated by DCF, a person hired by a licensed child care center to be an assistant child care teacher must be at least 18 or 17 years old, depending on the qualifications the person meets. An assistant child care teacher or school-age group leader who is at least 18 years old and has completed the training required for the position may provide sole supervision to a group of school-age children for up to 45 minutes if there is a qualified school-age program leader or child care teacher on the premises, and an assistant child care teacher may provide sole supervision to a group of children in full-day centers for up to two hours during opening and closing hours and during the center[s designated naptime. This bill provides in the statutes that a licensed child care center may hire an individual to be an assistant child care teacher if the individual is at least 16 years old and has completed early childhood education training. The bill maintains the current law requirements for assistant child care teachers providing sole supervision to a group of children and adds that an assistant child care teacher may only provide sole supervision to a group of children in a full-day center if there is a child care teacher on the premises. | In Committee |
| AJR71 | Honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin’s heritage. | Relating to: honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin[s heritage. | In Committee |
| AB351 | Virtual credit card payments in health insurance policies. | Under this bill, an insurer that offers a health insurance policy may not require a health care provider to accept payments under the health insurance policy via virtual credit card payment. The bill requires an insurer to inform a health care provider of the fees associated with any available payment methods and how to select a payment method other than virtual credit card payments before providing a payment via virtual credit card payment. The bill defines Xvirtual credit card paymentY as an electronic funds transfer in which an insurer issues a single-use series of numbers that are associated with a payment, are chargeable to a predetermined dollar amount, and expire upon payment processing. Additionally, under the bill, if an insurer transmits a payment to a health care provider in accordance with certain federal standards for transmitting electronic funds, the insurer may not charge a fee solely for the transmission, unless the provider has consented to the fee. Health insurance policies are referred to in the bill as disability insurance policies. | In Committee |
| AB323 | Ratification of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. (FE) | This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which provides for the ability of a cosmetologist to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one administrator of the cosmetology licensure authority of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including adopting bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, appointing officers and hiring employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees who receive multistate licenses to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. The ability for a cosmetologist to obtain a Xmultistate license,Y which allows a cosmetologist who satisfies certain criteria to practice cosmetology in other member states (remote states) under the remote state[s scope of practice laws and rules of the remote state[s licensing authority. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for a cosmetologist to obtain a multistate license, including holding an unencumbered cosmetology license in his or her primary state of residence (home state) and paying any required fees. A remote state may, in accordance with that state[s laws, take adverse action against a cosmetologist[s authorization to practice cosmetology in the remote state. If a cosmetologist[s home state takes adverse action against the cosmetologist[s license, the cosmetologist[s authorization to practice in all other member states is deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the home state license. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and the reporting of the existence of investigative information on a) cosmetologists and b) applicants denied a cosmetologist license. The compact requires information related to adverse actions to be shared with the commission and other member states, through the data system and otherwise. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. The compact becomes effective upon enactment by seven states. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of that repeal. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB349 | Allowing certified child care operators to provide care to up to six children. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to, for compensation including payments under Wisconsin Shares, provide care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. A person who provides care for fewer than four children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day may receive Wisconsin Shares payments if the person is certified by DCF. Under current DCF rules, a person certified by DCF, called a certified child care operator, may care for up to three children who are unrelated to the operator and up to six children in total. Under this bill, certified child care operators may care for up to six children under the age of seven in total, regardless of whether the children are related to the operator. | In Committee |
| AB353 | Price transparency in hospitals, restricting certain debt collection actions against patients, and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill creates several requirements for a hospital to provide cost information for certain items and services provided by the hospital and restricts certain legal actions against a patient that seek judgment for debts owed on hospital items and services provided to the patient if the hospital that provided the item or service is not in compliance with applicable price transparency requirements. The bill provides that the Department of Health Services must enforce federal hospital price transparency requirements for hospitals. If the secretary of health services determines that the federal hospital price transparency requirements are no longer substantially enforceable in this state, the bill directs the secretary of health services to submit a notice to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that the federal hospital price transparency requirements are no longer substantially enforceable in this state. If the secretary of health services submits such a notice, the bill provides that DHS must instead enforce the other hospital price transparency requirements established in the bill, beginning on the first day of the fourth month beginning after the notice is published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. The hospital price transparency requirements established in the bill would require each hospital to make publicly available a digital file in a machine-readable format that contains a list of standard charges for certain items and services provided by the hospital and a consumer-friendly list of standard charges for certain shoppable services. XStandard chargeY is defined to mean the regular rate established by the hospital for an item or service provided to a specific group of paying patients and includes certain price information, including the gross charge, the payer-specific negotiated charge, and the discounted cash price. XShoppable serviceY is defined to mean a service that may be scheduled by a health care consumer in advance. Every time a hospital updates the list of standard charges or the consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services, the hospital must submit the updated list to DHS. The list of standard charges must be available at all times to the public in a machine-readable format, must be displayed in a prominent location on the home page of the hospital[s website, and must include certain information, including a description of each hospital item or service provided and any code used by the hospital for purposes of accounting or billing. Further, the list of standard charges must meet certain criteria, including that the list must be available free of charge and without having to establish a user account or password, that the list is available without having to submit personal identifying information, that the list is digitally searchable, and that the list is accessible to a commercial operator of an Internet search engine as necessary for the search engine to index the list and display the list as a result in response to a search query of a user of the search engine. The list of standard charges must be updated at least once each year. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must be publicly available and must contain standard charge information for each of at least 300 shoppable services provided by the hospital. The bill allows a hospital to select the shoppable services to be included in the list, except that the list must include either the 70 services specified as shoppable services by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or, if the hospital does not provide all of the shoppable services specified by CMS, as many of the 70 services specified as shoppable services by CMS as the hospital provides. If a hospital does not provide at least 300 shoppable services, the bill requires the hospital to maintain a list of all shoppable services that the hospital provides. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must include certain information, including certain price information and a plain-language description of each shoppable service included on the list, whether each hospital location provides the shoppable service and whether the standard charges included in the list apply at that location, and whether one or more of the shoppable services specified by CMS is not provided by the hospital. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must meet certain criteria, including that the list is available free of charge without having to establish a user account or password, that the list is searchable by service description, billing code, and payer, and that the list is accessible to a common commercial operator of an Internet search engine as necessary for the search engine to index the list and display the list as a result in response to a search query of a user of the search engine. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must be updated at least once each year. Under the bill, regardless of whether the federal hospital price transparency requirements or the requirements established in the bill apply, DHS must monitor each hospital[s compliance with the applicable price transparency requirements specified in the bill by evaluating complaints, reviewing any analysis prepared regarding noncompliance, auditing the websites of hospitals, or confirming that each hospital submitted the required lists. If DHS determines that a hospital is not in compliance with any of the price transparency requirements specified in the bill, the bill requires DHS to take certain actions, including providing a written notice to the hospital, requesting a corrective action plan from the hospital, or imposing a penalty. The bill requires DHS to maintain a publicly available list of any hospital that has been found to have violated any of the price transparency requirements specified in the bill, including the dates that the hospital was not in compliance. Finally, the bill provides that any party seeking judgment against a patient for a debt owed for hospital items or services that are purchased for or provided to the patient by a hospital shall file a certification under oath to the court stating that the hospital that provided the hospital items or services to the patient is not, according to the publicly available list maintained by DHS, out of compliance with the applicable price transparency requirements as of the date of the certification before judgment may be entered in favor of the party seeking judgment. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB330 | Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act. | Current law allows any person who believes that a violation of the federal Help America Vote Act is occurring or is proposed to occur with respect to an election for national office in this state to file a written verified complaint with the Elections Commission. The person filing the complaint may request a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the commission must make a final determination regarding the merits of the complaint and issue a decision no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint. The Elections Commission has taken a position that it cannot decide a complaint brought against itself. In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with that position. See, Teigen v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2022 WI 64, 33, 403 Wis. 2d 607, 976 N.W.2d 519. The commission recently received a letter from the federal Department of Justice asserting that such a position violates the administrative complaint requirements under the Help America Vote Act. Under this bill, if the Elections Commission receives a complaint that alleges that the commission itself is violating HAVA, the commission must make a final determination on the merits of the complaint and issue a decision. The bill prohibits the commission from dismissing the complaint simply because the complaint alleges a commission violation. The bill also provides that if a hearing is requested it must be held in open session and the oral proceedings of the hearing must be recorded by stenographic or electronic means. In addition, the Elections Commission must make a transcript of oral proceedings available for public inspection. Under current law, all records that are distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission in open session are available for public inspection. Under the bill, the commission must transmit to the complainant and all known interested parties an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within five business days from the date of its receipt. In addition, if the complainant requests a hearing, a hearing must be held no later than 30 days after the commission receives the complaint. The commission must also make a final determination of all complaints alleging a HAVA violation no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint, regardless of whether the complainant requests a hearing. Finally, the bill makes changes to the complaint procedures to ensure compliance with HAVA. The bill requires the Elections Commission to examine and investigate all complaints in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, as required under HAVA. In addition, if the commission finds that a complaint has merit, the commission must take corrective action to remedy the violation alleged in the complaint. If the commission dismisses the complaint or does not grant the relief requested in the complaint, the person filing the complaint may appeal the commission[s decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. Finally, the bill requires the commission to publish the results of all dismissed complaints on its website and provide such results to the legislature and the standing committees with jurisdiction over elections. | In Committee |
| AB357 | Technical education equipment grants. (FE) | Current law provides that the Department of Workforce Development may award technical education equipment grants to school districts for certain purposes, including for the enhancement or improvement of a technical education facility or for the acquisition of equipment that is used in advanced manufacturing or construction fields in the workplace, together with any software necessary for the operation of that equipment and any instructional material necessary to train pupils in the operation of that equipment. As a condition of receiving a grant, a grant recipient must provide matching funds, in the form of money or the monetary value of equipment. The match must be 200 percent of the grant amount awarded if any of the match is contributed from school district funds, or 100 percent if the match is purely from other sources. This bill makes the following changes to the program: 1. Revises the purposes for which grants may be awarded. Under the bill, grant moneys may be used for additional specified purposes, such as the construction of a new technical education facility and instructional training on the use of tools and equipment used in technical education. 2. Requires the match to be the amount of the grant awarded, regardless of whether any of the match is contributed from school district funds. The bill also allows a match to be provided by someone other than a grant recipient and allows any in-kind contribution to count toward the match requirement, including software, tools, and equipment. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB346 | Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE) | Under current law, an owner of a fleet of 10 or more automobiles or motor trucks with a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds may register the vehicles as a fleet. This bill allows 10 or more of any combination of the following, with some exceptions, to be registered as a fleet: 1. Motor trucks with a gross weight of between 8,001 and 54,000 pounds. 2. Truck tractors or road tractors with a gross weight of between 4,500 and 54,000 pounds. 3. Trailers with a gross weight of not more than 80,000 pounds. Vehicles registered as a fleet are subject to the same annual registration fee as regularly applies to the type of vehicle, plus a onetime initial issuance fee of $8.50 for each vehicle. The Department of Transportation must provide, to the extent feasible, all vehicles registered as part of a particular fleet with the same registration expiration date. Under current law, for fleet vehicles DOT must issue registration plates of a distinctive design with the word XFleetY embossed on the plate. The bill eliminates the requirement that the word be embossed. The bill also eliminates a provision in current law allowing for fleet registration of a fleet of 100 or more trailers. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB350 | The regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to provide, for compensation, care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. Under current DCF rules, DCF regulates a child care center that provides care and supervision for four to eight children as a Xfamily child care centerY and one that provides care and supervision for nine or more children as a Xgroup child care center.Y The rules specify, among other things, the required ratio of providers to children in each type of child care center. This bill requires DCF to authorize licensed child care centers that have sufficient staff and space to provide care and supervision for four to 12 children or for 13 or more children. The bill requires DCF to update its rules so that a family child care center provides care and supervision for four to 12 children and a group child care center provides care and supervision for 13 or more children. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB328 | Providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE) | Under current law, when a child is the subject of a child or juvenile in need of protection or services (CHIPS or JIPS) proceeding, the county social or human services department, a child welfare agency, or, if the child or juvenile is located in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families is required to prepare a permanency plan for the child. The permanency plan is reviewed every six months either by a review panel or at a court hearing. Before the review or hearing, the agency is required to provide a copy of the plan, and any written comments that the agency receives about the plan, to the following people: the members of the review panel; the child[s parent, guardian, or legal custodian; the person representing the interests of the public; the child[s counsel, guardian ad litem, or court-appointed special advocate; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the child[s Indian custodian and tribe. This bill allows an agency to provide a copy of a child[s permanency plan and comments on the plan to a child[s out-of-home care provider in the context of a permanency review and a permanency hearing. An out-of-home care provider includes a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, nonrelative in whose home a child or juvenile is placed, and operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a child or juvenile is placed. Under this bill, any information that is required to remain confidential under federal or state law must be redacted from the permanency plan before it is provided to the out-of-home care provider. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB354 | The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction pays equalization aid to school districts for each school year in the following four installments: 15 percent in September, 25 percent in December, 25 percent in March, and 35 percent in June. This bill increases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in September by 2 points each school year, and decreases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in June by 2 points each school year, until the 2029-30 school year, at which time the amount of equalization aid distributed in both September and June will be 25 percent. The result is that equalization aid will be paid to school districts in four equal installments beginning in the 2029-30 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB190 | Obtaining attorney fees and costs under the state’s public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court. | Currently, if a person requests access to a public record and the agency or officer in state or local government having custody of the record, known as an XauthorityY under the public records law, withholds or delays granting access to the record or a part of the record, the requester may bring a mandamus action asking a court to order release of the record or part of the record. Current law requires the court to award reasonable attorney fees, damages of not less than $100, and other actual costs to the requester if the requester prevails in whole or in substantial part in any such action. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided in 2022 that a requester prevails in whole or in substantial part only if the requester obtains a judicially sanctioned change in the parties[ legal relationship, for example, a court order requiring disclosure of a record. See, Friends of Frame Park, U.A. v. City of Waukesha, 2022 WI 57. Under the supreme court[s decision, a requester generally is not entitled to attorney fees and costs if the authority voluntarily or unilaterally without a court order provides contested records after the requester files an action in court. This bill supersedes the supreme court[s decision in Friends of Frame Park. Under the bill, a requester has prevailed in whole or in substantial part if the requester has obtained relief through any of the following means: 1. A judicial order or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree. 2. The authority[s voluntary or unilateral release of a record if the court determines that the filing of the mandamus action was a substantial factor contributing to that voluntary or unilateral release. This standard is substantially the same as the standard that applies for a requester to obtain attorney fees and costs under the federal Freedom of Information Act. | In Committee |
| AB211 | Exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban. | This bill exempts tobacco bars from the general prohibition under current law against smoking in indoor locations if the tobacco bar satisfies all of the following: 1) the tobacco bar came into existence on or after June 4, 2009; 2) only the smoking of cigars and pipes is allowed in the tobacco bar; and 3) the tobacco bar is not a retail food establishment. Current law defines a Xtobacco barY as a tavern that generates 15 percent or more of its annual gross income from the sale on the tavern premises, other than from a vending machine, of cigars and pipe tobacco. Also, under current law, tobacco bars that existed on June 3, 2009, are exempt from the general prohibition against smoking in indoor locations. | In Committee |
| SB242 | Required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts. | Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development may not prescribe, enforce, or authorize a ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers for apprenticeship programs or apprentice contracts that requires more than one journeyworker for each apprentice. This bill increases the allowable ratio to one journeyworker to two apprentices. | In Committee |
| SB125 | A nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE) | This bill requires the Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study and to submit a report to the legislature containing the results of the study no later than 12 months after the bill takes effect. The study must satisfy certain requirements specified in the bill. The bill also requires PSC to take final action on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for a large electric generating facility that contains an advanced nuclear reactor within 150 days after the application is complete, unless the chairperson of PSC extends the time period for no more than an additional 150 days for good cause. Under current law, a person seeking to construct a large electric generating facility must obtain a CPCN from PSC. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2180/1 KP:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 125 | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB124 | Creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit. (FE) | This bill creates a State of Wisconsin Nuclear Power Summit Board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit in the city of Madison to advance nuclear power and fusion energy technology and development and to showcase Wisconsin[s leadership and innovation in the nuclear industry. The bill specifies that the board must hold the summit no later than one month after instruction commences at the new college of engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and shall ensure that summit participants have access to the new building. The bill creates an appropriation for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and requires WEDC to expend any moneys appropriated at the direction of and in support of the board[s efforts. Under the bill, the board is exempt from state requirements for public notice of proposed contracts, competitive bidding, and contractual service procurement procedures. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2181/1 KRP:skw&cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 124 | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB127 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) | Under current law provisions known as the Xspills law,Y a person that possesses or controls a hazardous substance or that causes the discharge of a hazardous substance must notify the Department of Natural Resources immediately, restore the environment to the extent practicable, and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. If action is not being adequately taken, or the identity of the person responsible for the discharge is unknown, DNR may take emergency action to contain or remove the hazardous substance; the person that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance that was discharged or that caused the discharge of the hazardous substance must then reimburse DNR for expenses DNR incurred in taking such emergency actions. The spills law allows DNR to enter property to take emergency action if entry is necessary to prevent increased environmental damages, and to inspect any record relating to a hazardous substance for the purpose of determining compliance with the spills law. DNR may also require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges. The bill exempts the following persons from all of these provisions under the spills law, if the person grants DNR permission to remediate the land at DNR[s expense: LRB-2170/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 127 1. A person that spread biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 2. A person that owns land upon which biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS were spread in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 3. A fire department, public-use airport, or municipality that responded to emergencies that required the use of PFAS or that conducted training for such emergencies in compliance with applicable federal regulations. 4. A solid waste disposal facility that accepted PFAS. 5. A person that owns, leases, manages, or contracts for property on which the PFAS contamination did not originate, unless the person also owns, leases, manages, or contracts for the property on which the PFAS discharge originated. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB275 | Challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the validity of an administrative rule may be challenged in an action for declaratory judgment or in certain other judicial proceedings when material therein. This bill requires a court, if the court declares a rule invalid, to award the party asserting the invalidity of the rule reasonable attorney fees and costs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB312 | Hours for voting by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site. (FE) | Under current law, a voter may vote by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or at an alternate site as near as practicable to the clerk[s office, as designated by the municipality. The period for voting absentee in person begins 14 days preceding the election and ends on the Sunday preceding the election, and the municipality must state the hours in the type E election notice, which, with one exception, is required to be published on the fourth Tuesday preceding each primary or election. Under this bill, the office of the municipal clerk or alternate site must be open for at least 20 hours during the period for voting absentee in person, and the type E notice must state the specific office hours during which a voter may cast an in- person absentee ballot without prior appointment. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB337 | Local grant writing and compliance assistance. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Revenue, in each year from 2026 through 2029, to provide grants of up to $5,000 to political subdivisions with populations of less than 7,500 to be used to obtain grant writing and compliance assistance services. These grants may be used to obtain services only for grants related to public works, transportation infrastructure, public safety, utility service, or cybersecurity. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB259 | The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE) | Under current law, if a county department of human services or social services or, in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DCF (collectively XagencyY) determines that a caregiver is suspected of committing or threatening abuse or neglect of a child or that a person who is not a caregiver has committed or threatened abuse of a child related to sex trafficking; cannot identify an individual who is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child; or suspects abuse of an unborn child, the agency must, within 24 hours after receiving the report, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child or unborn child is in need of protection or services. Under this bill, if an agency knows or has reason to know that a parent of a child or unborn child with respect to whom the agency has initiated such an investigation is a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the Wisconsin national guard, the agency must provide notice of that investigation to the appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense CORRECTED COPY LRB-1859/2 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 259 within 24 hours. The bill requires the notice to consist only of the name and address of the child or expectant mother and the fact that an investigation has been initiated about that child or unborn child. The bill imposes the same confidentiality requirements on such a notice as current law imposes on all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB304 | Hours for voting by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site. (FE) | Under current law, a voter may vote by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or at an alternate site as near as practicable to the clerk[s office, as designated by the municipality. The period for voting absentee in person begins 14 days preceding the election and ends on the Sunday preceding the election, and the municipality must state the hours in the type E election notice, which, with one exception, is required to be published on the fourth Tuesday preceding each primary or election. Under this bill, the office of the municipal clerk or alternate site must be open for at least 20 hours during the period for voting absentee in person, and the type E notice must state the specific office hours during which a voter may cast an in- person absentee ballot without prior appointment. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2018/1 MPG:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 304 | In Committee |
| AB274 | The expiration of administrative rules. (FE) | This bill provides for the expiration of each chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code after seven years, unless the chapter is readopted by the agency through the readoption process established under the bill. Under current law, an agency may promulgate administrative rules when it is granted rule-making authority under the statutes. administrative rules remain in effect indefinitely unless repealed or amended by the agency or suspended by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. This bill provides that each chapter of the code expires seven years after a rule that creates, or repeals and recreates, the chapter takes effect or after the chapter is readopted. The bill requires JCRAR to establish a schedule for the expiration of all existing code chapters that are in effect on the effective date of the bill. Under the bill, in the year before a code chapter is set to expire, an agency may send to JCRAR and the appropriate standing committees a notice of its intention to readopt the chapter. If no member of JCRAR or the standing committees objects to the readoption notice, the chapter is considered readopted without further action. If any member of JCRAR or either standing committee objects to readoption of the chapter, the chapter expires on its expiration date unless the agency promulgates a rule to readopt the chapter using the standard rule-making process. Under the bill, JCRAR may extend the effective date of the chapter that is set to expire for up to one year to accommodate readoption of the chapter through the standard rule- making process. The bill also requires agencies to avoid in rules the use of words and phrases that are outdated or that are now understood to be derogatory or offensive. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB277 | The expiration of administrative rules. (FE) | This bill provides for the expiration of each chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code after seven years, unless the chapter is readopted by the agency through the readoption process established under the bill. Under current law, an agency may promulgate administrative rules when it is granted rule-making authority under the statutes. administrative rules remain in effect indefinitely unless repealed or amended by the agency or suspended by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. This bill provides that each chapter of the code expires seven years after a rule that creates, or repeals and recreates, the chapter takes effect or after the chapter is readopted. The bill requires JCRAR to establish a schedule for the expiration of all existing code chapters that are in effect on the effective date of the bill. Under the LRB-2513/1 MED:cdc Once promulgated, 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 277 bill, in the year before a code chapter is set to expire, an agency may send to JCRAR and the appropriate standing committees a notice of its intention to readopt the chapter. If no member of JCRAR or the standing committees objects to the readoption notice, the chapter is considered readopted without further action. If any member of JCRAR or either standing committee objects to readoption of the chapter, the chapter expires on its expiration date unless the agency promulgates a rule to readopt the chapter using the standard rule-making process. Under the bill, JCRAR may extend the effective date of the chapter that is set to expire for up to one year to accommodate readoption of the chapter through the standard rule- making process. The bill also requires agencies to avoid in rules the use of words and phrases that are outdated or that are now understood to be derogatory or offensive. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB276 | Challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the validity of an administrative rule may be challenged in an action for declaratory judgment or in certain other judicial proceedings when material therein. This bill requires a court, if the court declares a rule invalid, to award the party asserting the invalidity of the rule reasonable attorney fees and costs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB273 | Camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles. | Current law prohibits any person from operating a motor vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle is equipped with a mirror to provide a view of the roadway to the rear of the vehicle. Current regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to be equipped with mirrors on each side of vehicle positioned to provide a view of the highway to the rear and along both sides of the CMV. FMCSA has created an exemption to this requirement for CMVs equipped with a specified camera monitor system. This bill provides that a CMV may be equipped with a camera monitor system approved by FMCSA as an alternative to mirrors that would otherwise be required. | In Committee |
| AB196 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) | Under current law, certain people who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until they are no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to an annuitant who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill allows such an annuitant who is hired by a WRS-participating employer as an employee or to provide employee services to not suspend his or her annuity for up to 60 months. The bill also requires WRS-participating employers that hire such annuitants to make payments to ETF equal to what they would have paid as required contributions for each rehired annuitant if the rehired annuitant had suspended his or her annuity. Under the bill, these payments are deposited into the employer reserve account. If the annuitant does not suspend the annuity and does not become an active WRS-participating employee, in the case of state employment, the annuitant is not eligible for group insurance benefits provided to active WRS-participating employees and may not use any of his or her service in the new position for any WRS purposes. If the annuitant opts to again become an active WRS-participating employee, the annuitant is eligible for all group insurance benefits provided to other participating employees and may accumulate additional years of creditable service under the WRS for the new period of WRS-covered employment. The bill also repeals two obsolete provisions related to WRS annuitants returning to WRS-covered employment during the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, which ended on May 13, 2020. Because this bill relates to public employee retirement or pensions, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB5 | Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty. | Under current law, the crime of battery is defined as intentionally causing another person bodily harm and is a Class A misdemeanor. Under current law, if the battery is a special circumstance battery—for example, the battery is committed against an individual because of the individual’s status as a law enforcement officer, witness in a trial, or juror—the penalty is increased to a Class H felony. Under this bill, a threat or battery against a juror or a threat or battery against a family member of a juror is a Class H felony. Current law also allows a judge, upon sentencing a person for a crime, to LRB-1322/1 MJW:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 5 prohibit the person from contacting a victim of or witness to the person’s crime during any part of the person’s sentence or probation. The bill allows a judge to prohibit a person who is convicted of a crime from contacting, for any part of the person’s sentence or probation, a juror who served at any proceeding related to the person’s crime. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Passed |
| AB35 | Withdrawal of candidacy for certain offices filled at the general election and providing a penalty. (FE) | Current law provides that any person seeking an elective office who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot may not decline nomination. The person[s name must appear on the ballot except in the case of death. Under this bill, a person who files nomination papers with the Elections Commission for an office to be filled at the general election nevertheless does not qualify to appear on the ballot at the partisan primary or general election, and the person[s name is prohibited from appearing on the ballot, if before the last day provided in current law for the Elections Commission to certify candidates[ names to the counties for the partisan primary or general election, the person files a sworn statement with the commission attesting that the person withdraws his or her candidacy. Under current law, independent candidates for president and vice president and candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the state senate and assembly, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, and district attorney file such nomination papers with the commission. The bill includes all of those offices except district attorney. The bill also requires the Elections Commission to establish and implement a process by which the commission verifies the authenticity of such sworn statements filed with the commission. The bill additionally requires that a person withdrawing his or her candidacy for for national or statewide office pay a fee of $1,000 to the Elections Commission. A person withdrawing his or her candidacy for an office that is not elected statewide must pay a fee of $250 to the commission. Under the bill, a person who intentionally makes or files a false statement withdrawing a person[s candidacy is guilty of a Class G felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB53 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person who intentionally causes bodily harm to another person commits the crime of simple battery and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Current law provides greater penalties for special circumstances battery, which is defined as intentionally causing or threatening to cause bodily harm to certain persons. For example, under current law, a person who intentionally causes or threatens to cause bodily harm to a law enforcement officer in response to an action that officer took in an official capacity is guilty of a Class H felony. The bill adds a community service officer so to make it a Class H felony to cause or threaten to cause bodily harm to a community service officer in response to an action the CSO took in an official capacity. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| AB65 | Entering certain places with intent to commit battery and providing a penalty. | Under current law, it is a Class F felony to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent, that is, to commit a burglary, with intent to steal or commit a felony therein. Under current law, such a burglary is a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply. The penalty for a Class F felony is a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 years and six months, or both, and the penalty for a Class E felony is a fine not to exceed $50,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both. Under this bill, it is also a Class F felony, or a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply, to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent with intent to commit any battery. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| AB206 | The procedure for adding federal newborn screening recommendations to the state-required newborn screenings, granting rule-making authority, and providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures. (FE) | In general, under current law, newborns must be tested for certain congenital and metabolic disorders as specified in rules promulgated by the Department of Health Services. The federal Department of Health and Human Services maintains a list of disorders for which it recommends testing in newborns, known as the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). Under this bill, DHS must evaluate each disorder that is included in the RUSP as of January 1, 2025, to determine whether newborns in this state should be tested for that disorder. This requirement does not apply to any disorder in the RUSP if, as of January 1, 2025, the disorder is already included in the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state. In addition, the bill requires DHS to evaluate any disorder added to the RUSP after January 1, 2025, to determine whether newborns in this state should be tested for that newly added disorder. If DHS determines newborns should not be tested for the disorder, DHS must annually review medical literature and the department[s capacity and resources to test for the disorder in order to determine whether to reevaluate the inclusion of the disorder in newborn testing in this state. If, in any of these evaluations or reevaluations, DHS determines that a disorder in the RUSP should be added to the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state, the bill requires DHS to promulgate rules to add that disorder. The requirements for evaluations, reviews, and reevaluations under the bill do not apply to a disorder in the RUSP if DHS is in the process of adding, by rule, the disorder to the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state. However, if the rule-making procedure for that disorder does not result in promulgation of a rule, then DHS must consider the disorder under the review and reevaluation procedures under the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB357 | Establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE) | Currently, Wisconsin has no official language. This bill provides that the official language of this state is English. The bill also allows any state or local governmental entity to provide a person with access to artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing an English language interpreter if the entity is authorized or required by law to appoint an interpreter for the person. Additionally, the bill provides that, unless otherwise specifically required by law, all oral and written communication by all state and local governmental entities must be in the English language, except that such communication may be in another language when appropriate to the circumstances of an individual case, the LRB-3756/1 MPG&KRP:ajk&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 357 implementation of a program in a specific instance, or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation. The bill also permits state and local government officers and employees to use a language other than English in oral or written communication whenever necessary for one or more of eight specified purposes. Finally, the bill precludes any state or local governmental entity from prohibiting any person from becoming proficient in any language or restricting the oral or written use of any language for a nongovernmental purpose. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB364 | The regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to provide, for compensation, care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. Under current DCF rules, DCF regulates a child care center that provides care and supervision for four to eight children as a Xfamily child care centerY and one that provides care and supervision for nine or more children as a Xgroup child care center.Y The rules specify, among other things, the required ratio of providers to children in each type of child care center. This bill requires DCF to authorize licensed child care centers that have sufficient staff and space to provide care and supervision for four to 12 children or for 13 or more children. The bill requires DCF to update its rules so that a family child care center provides care and supervision for four to 12 children and a group child care center provides care and supervision for 13 or more children. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-3780/1 MDE&EHS:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 364 | In Committee |
| SB363 | Allowing certified child care operators to provide care to up to six children. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to, for compensation including payments under Wisconsin Shares, provide care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. A person who provides care for fewer than four children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day may receive Wisconsin Shares payments if the person is certified by DCF. Under current DCF rules, a person certified by DCF, called a certified child care operator, may care for up to three children who are unrelated to the operator and up to six children in total. Under this bill, certified child care operators may care for up to six children under the age of seven in total, regardless of whether the children are related to the operator. | In Committee |
| SB359 | The minimum age of assistant child care teachers. | Under current law, the Department of Children and Families regulates child care providers and is required to promulgate rules to carry out that function. Under rules promulgated by DCF, a person hired by a licensed child care center to be an assistant child care teacher must be at least 18 or 17 years old, depending on the qualifications the person meets. An assistant child care teacher or school-age group leader who is at least 18 years old and has completed the training required for the position may provide sole supervision to a group of school-age children for up to 45 minutes if there is a qualified school-age program leader or child care teacher on the premises, and an assistant child care teacher may provide sole supervision to a group of children in full-day centers for up to two hours during opening and closing hours and during the center[s designated naptime. This bill provides in the statutes that a licensed child care center may hire an individual to be an assistant child care teacher if the individual is at least 16 years old and has completed early childhood education training. The bill maintains the current law requirements for assistant child care teachers providing sole supervision to a group of children and adds that an assistant child care teacher may LRB-3778/1 MDE:skw&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 359 only provide sole supervision to a group of children in a full-day center if there is a child care teacher on the premises. | In Committee |
| SJR71 | Honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin’s heritage. | Relating to: honoring Jerry Apps for his contributions to Wisconsin[s heritage. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB172 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill provides that, with certain, specified exceptions, no person may file or record with, or present for filing or recording to, a register of deeds a non- improvement contract or a notice, memorandum, or other instrument related to a non-improvement contract (document) and authorizes the register of deeds to reject such a document and return it unrecorded. The bill defines Xnon-improvement contractY as a contract 1) under which a person agrees to perform, furnish, or procure any work, labor, service, materials, plans, or specifications that are not used or consumed for the improvement of real estate, and 2) that purports to create a lien, encumbrance, or other security interest on real estate. A person that violates the recording or filing prohibition in the bill may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than nine months, or both. In addition, under the bill, an owner of real estate affected by such a filing or recording may bring a civil action against the person that files or records the document. If the owner prevails in the action, the court must order the real estate LRB-2472/1 KRP:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 172 released from the effect of the document and may award actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| SB169 | Privacy protections for judicial officers. | 2023 Wisconsin Act 235, effective April 1, 2025, established certain privacy protections for judicial officers upon submission of a written request. A Xwritten request,Y under Act 235, is a written notice signed by a judicial officer or a representative of the judicial officer[s employer requesting a government agency, business, association, or other person to refrain from publicly posting or displaying publicly available content that includes the personal information of the judicial officer or the judicial officer[s immediate family. The bill modifies the definition of a Xwritten requestY to include a requirement for notarization. Under the bill, a Xwritten requestY means a notarized written notice signed by a judicial officer or a LRB-2066/1 SWB:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 169 representative of the judicial officer[s employer completed and filed under the procedures established by Act 235 and amended under the bill. The bill adds a requirement that a judicial officer describe with reasonable particularity in a written request the records the judicial officer believes to contain personal information. Act 235 provides that a written request is valid if the judicial officer sends the request to the director of state courts and the director of state courts has a policy and procedure for filing the requests, or if the judicial officer sends the request directly to a government agency, person, data broker, business, or association. The bill modifies the latter option, specifying that the judicial officer must send the request directly to the designated officer of a government agency. The bill defines a Xdesignated officerY to mean the officer or employee of a government agency, the register of deeds, or a provider of a land records website designated in writing to the director of state courts, or, in the absence of a written designation, the highest ranking officer or employee for any of these entities. The bill also changes a requirement that the director of state courts must, each quarter, provide to the appropriate officer with ultimate supervisory authority for a government agency a list of judicial officers who have submitted a written request for privacy protections to instead require that the director of state courts provide the designated officer for a government agency with such a list. The bill provides that a home address constitutes personal information as defined in the bill only if it is directly associated with or displayed with the judicial officer[s name. The bill requires a judicial officer to update a written request within 90 days of the date any home address identified in the request ceases to be a home address for any reason. The bill also defines a secondary residence for purposes of the bill to mean a residence for personal use that is not a person[s permanent residence but where a person regularly resides. The bill modifies the definition of the phrase Xpublicly post or displayY established in Act 235 to expressly exclude direct communications with a judicial officer or any immediate family member of a judicial officer. The bill also adds an exception to the prohibition on a government agency publicly posting or displaying a judicial officer[s personal information subject to protections upon a written request, providing that a government agency may publicly post or display such information if required by law to do so. The bill also makes several changes to provisions of Act 235 relating to the register of deeds and land records websites, including adding clarification that a land records website does not include a website administered by the register of deeds. The bill adds to the list of exceptions under which the register of deeds may allow third-party access to a document otherwise subject to protection, including providing an exception to allow access by a title insurance company, an authorized agent of a title insurance company, or an attorney licensed to practice in the state. The bill adds liability protections for government agencies and employees of government agencies, providing that no government agency and no employee of a government agency is generally or personally liable or subject to any liability or accountability by reason of a violation of the privacy protections set forth under Act LRB-2066/1 SWB:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 169 235, unless the liability or accountability is the result of intentional or reckless actions. The bill provides that nothing in the privacy protections established under Act 235 and amended in the bill prohibits a government agency from sharing information with other government agencies for any legitimate governmental purpose. | Passed |
| AB165 | Local guaranteed income programs. | This bill prohibits a political subdivision from expending moneys of the political subdivision for the purpose of making payments to individuals under a guaranteed income program. XGuaranteed income programY is defined under the bill to mean a program under which individuals are provided with regular periodic cash payments that are unearned and that may be used for any purpose. Programs under which an individual is required to perform work or attend training are not Xguaranteed income programsY under the bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB202 | Local guaranteed income programs. | This bill prohibits a political subdivision from expending moneys of the political subdivision for the purpose of making payments to individuals under a guaranteed income program. XGuaranteed income programY is defined under the bill to mean a program under which individuals are provided with regular periodic cash payments that are unearned and that may be used for any purpose. Programs under which an individual is required to perform work or attend training are not Xguaranteed income programsY under the bill. | In Committee |
| SB275 | Statements of scope for administrative rules. (FE) | Under current law, in order to promulgate a rule, an agency must submit a statement of scope for the proposed rule for review by the Department of Administration and approval by the governor. Once the governor approves the statement, the agency must send the approved statement of scope to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register before continuing with the rule promulgation process. A statement of scope expires after 30 months, after which the agency may not promulgate any rule based on that statement of scope that has not been submitted for legislative review by the expiration date. This bill does the following: 1. Limits an agency to promulgating either a permanent or an emergency rule for a given statement of scope and requires the agency to specify in a statement of scope whether it is for a proposed emergency rule or for a proposed permanent rule. 2. Limits an agency to promulgating one permanent rule or one emergency rule per statement of scope. 3. Provides that a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires after six months and provides that when a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires, LRB-2515/1 MED:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 275 an agency may not promulgate an emergency rule based upon that statement of scope. The bill retains the 30-month expiration under current law with respect to statements of scope for proposed permanent rules. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB253 | Independence accounts. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual[s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period. Further, the bill prohibits DHS from including assets acquired by an individual by inheritance when determining the individual[s financial eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. Under current law, an independence account is an account approved by DHS that consists solely of savings, dividends, other gains derived from those savings, and income earned from paid employment after the date on which the individual began receiving Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. The Medical Assistance purchase plan is a subprogram of the Medical Assistance program that allows individuals who have a qualifying disability and who are working or who want to work to remain eligible for Medical Assistance benefits. To be eligible for benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan, among other things, an individual[s assets must not exceed $15,000, but assets accumulated in an independence account are excluded from the calculation. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB276 | Statements of scope for administrative rules. (FE) | Under current law, in order to promulgate a rule, an agency must submit a statement of scope for the proposed rule for review by the Department of Administration and approval by the governor. Once the governor approves the statement, the agency must send the approved statement of scope to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register before continuing with the rule promulgation process. A statement of scope expires after 30 months, after which the agency may not promulgate any rule based on that statement of scope that has not been submitted for legislative review by the expiration date. This bill does the following: 1. Limits an agency to promulgating either a permanent or an emergency rule for a given statement of scope and requires the agency to specify in a statement of scope whether it is for a proposed emergency rule or for a proposed permanent rule. 2. Limits an agency to promulgating one permanent rule or one emergency rule per statement of scope. 3. Provides that a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires after six months and provides that when a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires, an agency may not promulgate an emergency rule based upon that statement of scope. The bill retains the 30-month expiration under current law with respect to statements of scope for proposed permanent rules. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB77 | Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty. | Under current law, any motor vehicle for which the Department of Transportation has issued registration plates must display those plates, along with any decals issued for the plates. This bill prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, installation, and use of a registration plate concealment device, which is a manual, electronic, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle to 1) switch between two or more registration plates; 2) move, obstruct, or conceal a registration plate; or 3) alter the appearance of a registration plate so that the registration number cannot be seen and read. The bill also prohibits the equipment of any motor vehicle with a registration plate concealment device. A person who violates these prohibitions may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both. Any vehicle equipped in violation of these prohibitions may be impounded, and reasonable costs for towing and impounding the vehicle may be assessed against the owner. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SJR7 | Recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin’s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature’s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and r | Relating to: recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin[s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature[s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and related technologies in the state. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB271 | Camera monitor systems as an alternative to mirrors for commercial motor vehicles. | Current law prohibits any person from operating a motor vehicle on a highway unless the vehicle is equipped with a mirror to provide a view of the roadway to the rear of the vehicle. Current regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to be equipped with mirrors on each side of vehicle positioned to provide a view of the highway to the rear and along both sides of the CMV. FMCSA has created an exemption to this requirement for CMVs equipped with a specified camera monitor system. This bill provides that a CMV may be equipped with a camera monitor system approved by FMCSA as an alternative to mirrors that would otherwise be required. | In Committee |
| SB310 | Time limits on local unit of government chief executive officer emergency power proclamations. | Under current law, a local unit of government[s chief executive officer may exercise by proclamation the emergency power conferred to the local unit of government if the local unit of government[s governing body is unable to meet promptly. This bill limits the length of such proclamation to 60 days, unless extended by the local unit of government[s governing body. The bill also defines Xchief executive officerY as any of the following: 1) the county executive of a county, the county administrator of a county, or, in a county with an administrative coordinator, the county board chair of a county; 2) the mayor or city manager of a city; 3) the village president of a village; 4) the town board chairperson of a town; or 5) a person acting as one of the above stated persons. | In Committee |
| SB311 | Prohibiting funding for health services for unlawfully present individuals. (FE) | This bill prohibits any funds of this state, any county, village, town, long-term care district, any subdivision of this state, or any subdivision or agency of any county, city, village, or town and any federal funds passing through the state treasury from being authorized for or paid to any person to subsidize, reimburse, or otherwise provide compensation for any health care services for an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States. The prohibitions described under the bill do not apply to the extent that a payment of funds described under the bill is required under federal law or to the extent that the application of the prohibitions described under the bill would result in the loss of any federal funds. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB308 | Prohibiting funding for health services for unlawfully present individuals. (FE) | This bill prohibits any funds of this state, any county, village, town, long-term care district, any subdivision of this state, or any subdivision or agency of any county, city, village, or town and any federal funds passing through the state treasury from being authorized for or paid to any person to subsidize, reimburse, or otherwise provide compensation for any health care services for an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States. The prohibitions described under the bill do not apply to the extent that a payment of funds described under the bill is required under federal law or to the extent that the application of the prohibitions described under the bill would result in the loss of any federal funds. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB17 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person who intentionally causes bodily harm to another person commits the crime of simple battery and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Current law provides greater penalties for special circumstances battery, which is defined as intentionally causing or threatening to cause bodily harm to certain persons. For example, under current law, a person who intentionally causes or threatens to cause bodily harm to a law enforcement officer in response to an action that officer took in an official capacity is guilty of a Class H felony. The bill adds a community service officer so to make it a Class H felony to cause or threaten to cause bodily harm to a community service officer in response to an action the CSO took in an official capacity. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AJR6 | Recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin’s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature’s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and r | Relating to: recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin[s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature[s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and related technologies in the state. | In Committee |
| AB26 | Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty. | Under current law, the crime of battery is defined as intentionally causing another person bodily harm and is a Class A misdemeanor. Under current law, if the battery is a special circumstance battery—for example, the battery is committed against an individual because of the individual[s status as a law enforcement officer, witness in a trial, or juror—the penalty is increased to a Class H felony. Under this bill, a threat or battery against a juror or a threat or battery against a family member of a juror is a Class H felony. Current law also allows a judge, upon sentencing a person for a crime, to prohibit the person from contacting a victim of or witness to the person[s crime during any part of the person[s sentence or probation. The bill allows a judge to prohibit a person who is convicted of a crime from contacting, for any part of the person[s sentence or probation, a juror who served at any proceeding related to the person[s crime. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB77 | Entering certain places with intent to commit battery and providing a penalty. | Under current law, it is a Class F felony to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent, that is, to commit a burglary, with intent to steal or commit a felony therein. Under current law, such a burglary is a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply. The penalty for a Class F felony is a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 years and six months, or both, and the penalty for a Class E felony is a fine not to exceed $50,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 15 years, or both. Under this bill, it is also a Class F felony, or a Class E felony if certain additional circumstances apply, to intentionally enter a dwelling or certain other places without consent with intent to commit any battery. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AB108 | A nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE) | This bill requires the Public Service Commission to conduct a nuclear power siting study and to submit a report to the legislature containing the results of the study no later than 12 months after the bill takes effect. The study must satisfy certain requirements specified in the bill. The bill also requires PSC to take final action on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for a large electric generating facility that contains an advanced nuclear reactor within 150 days after the application is complete, unless the chairperson of PSC extends the time period for no more than an additional 150 days for good cause. Under current law, a person seeking to construct a large electric generating facility must obtain a CPCN from PSC. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB132 | Creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit. (FE) | This bill creates a State of Wisconsin Nuclear Power Summit Board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit in the city of Madison to advance nuclear power and fusion energy technology and development and to showcase Wisconsin[s leadership and innovation in the nuclear industry. The bill specifies that the board must hold the summit no later than one month after instruction commences at the new college of engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and shall ensure that summit participants have access to the new building. The bill creates an appropriation for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and requires WEDC to expend any moneys appropriated at the direction of and in support of the board[s efforts. Under the bill, the board is exempt from state requirements for public notice of proposed contracts, competitive bidding, and contractual service procurement procedures. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB296 | Enumeration of projects in the Authorized State Building Program, modifications to building program project budgets, selection of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund. (FE) | PROJECT ENUMERATIONS OF IN THE AUTHORIZED STATE BUILDING PROGRAM Under current law, the Building Commission may authorize the design and construction of any building, structure, or facility costing in excess of $2,000,000, only if that project is enumerated in the Authorized State Building Program, which appears in each biennial budget passed by the legislature. This bill eliminates that enumeration requirement for the design phase of a project and provides that the LRB-3201/1 MPG/MIM/JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 296 construction of any building, structure, or facility may not be enumerated in the authorized state building program unless the building commission determines that at least 50 percent of the project[s design phase has already been completed. REPORTS CONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO BUILDING PROGRAM PROJECTS Under current law, the Building Commission has the authority to authorize limited changes in the program or budget of a building program project if the commission determines that unanticipated program conditions or bidding conditions require the change to effectively and economically construct the project. This bill requires that the Department of Administration submit a quarterly report to the Joint Committee on Finance and each voting member of the Building Commission that identifies each project for which the Building Commission has approved a budget increase and that identifies each project enumerated in the state building program for which DOA estimates a budget increase will be necessary for project completion, including a description of the reasons for the project budget shortfall. SELECTION OF PROJECT ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS Under current law, the secretary of administration is required to establish a committee for each construction project under DOA[s supervision, except certain emergency projects, for the purpose of selecting an architect or engineer for the project. If the estimated cost of a construction project is $7,400,000 or more, the selection committee must use a request-for-proposal process established by DOA to select an architect or engineer for the project based on qualifications. The bill raises that threshold to $15,000,000. SINGLE PRIME CONTRACTING The bill creates a new exception to single prime contracting for high-dollar building projects. Single prime contracting is a process in which the state contracts only with a general prime contractor who then must contract with subcontractors. Under current law, whenever the Building Commission determines that the use of innovative types of design and construction processes will make better use of the resources and technology available in the building industry, the commission may waive certain requirements related to single prime contracting, if the action is in the best interest of the state and is approved by the commission. Under the bill, for any project costing $200,000,000 or more, at the request of the agency for which the project is constructed, the Building Commission is required to waive certain single prime contracting requirements for the project, as requested by the agency. CERTAIN PROJECT BIDDING PROCEDURES Under the bill, at any time more than two days prior to the end of the period during which bids may be submitted for a building project, a bidder or potential bidder may submit a question to DOA concerning the project. Additionally, the bill provides that DOA may issue addenda at any time during the bidding period to LRB-3201/1 MPG/MIM/JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 296 modify or clarify the drawings and specifications for the project being bid or to extend the bidding period. COOPERATION WITH ENERGY CONSERVATION CONTRACTORS Current law authorizes DOA to contract with qualified contractors for the performance of energy conservation audits at state buildings, structures, and facilities and for the performance of construction work at a state building, structure, or facility for the purpose of realizing potential savings of future energy costs identified in an energy conservation audit. The bill requires DOA and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to collaborate with energy service companies to identify and execute pilot projects using financing provided by the companies to upgrade facilities, reduce deferred maintenance, and increase sustainability. UTILITIES COSTS The bill provides that each state contract for construction work must state which party to the contract is responsible for paying project utility service connection charges and which party is responsible for paying for costs related to the consumption of utility services at the project site. ACTIONS AGAINST THE STATE RELATED TO CERTAIN CONTRACT CLAIMS Under current law, the Claims Board is required to receive, investigate, and make recommendations on all claims against the state of $10 or more that are referred to the board by DOA. The board is required to report its findings and recommendations on all claims referred to the board to the legislature. The board may deny a claim, directly pay a claim of up to $10,000, or recommend a payment in excess of $10,000 to the legislature. If the board concludes that a claim should be paid by the state and the board does not or may not directly pay the claim, current law requires the board to cause a bill to be drafted covering its recommendations. A claimant may commence a lawsuit against the state upon the refusal of the legislature to pass a bill allowing a claim. The bill creates a timeline for the board to hear and make a final determination upon certain claims related to contracts and, in addition to current law, allows claimants to bring actions against the state related to certain contract claims if certain conditions are met. Under the bill, any claim referred to the board that relates to a contract with the Department of Transportation for transportation infrastructure improvement or that relates to a contract with DOA or the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System that is awarded under current law for construction projects must be heard by the board, and the board must make a final determination on the claim, within six months from the day that the claim was referred to the board. If the board concludes that the facts of the claim would be more properly adjudicated in a court of law or if the board fails to make a final determination on the claim within six months from the date that the claim was referred to the board, the bill allows the claimant to commence an action against the state seeking judgment on the claim as provided under current law. LRB-3201/1 MPG/MIM/JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 296 TRANSFER TO THE BUILDING TRUST FUND The bill transfers $32,000,000 from the general fund to the building trust fund in fiscal year 2024-25. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB252 | Independence accounts. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual[s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period. Further, the bill prohibits DHS from including assets acquired by an individual by inheritance when determining the individual[s financial eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. Under current law, an independence account is an account approved by DHS that consists solely of savings, dividends, other gains derived from those savings, and income earned from paid employment after the date on which the individual began receiving Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. The Medical Assistance purchase plan is a subprogram of the Medical Assistance program that allows individuals who have a qualifying disability and who are working or who want to work to remain eligible for Medical Assistance benefits. To be eligible for benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan, among other things, an individual[s assets must not exceed $15,000, but assets accumulated in an independence account are excluded from the calculation. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. LRB-0174/1 JPC:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 252 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB171 | Privacy protections for judicial officers. | 2023 Wisconsin Act 235, effective April 1, 2025, established certain privacy protections for judicial officers upon submission of a written request. A Xwritten request,Y under Act 235, is a written notice signed by a judicial officer or a representative of the judicial officer[s employer requesting a government agency, business, association, or other person to refrain from publicly posting or displaying publicly available content that includes the personal information of the judicial officer or the judicial officer[s immediate family. The bill modifies the definition of a Xwritten requestY to include a requirement for notarization. Under the bill, a Xwritten requestY means a notarized written notice signed by a judicial officer or a representative of the judicial officer[s employer completed and filed under the procedures established by Act 235 and amended under the bill. The bill adds a requirement that a judicial officer describe with reasonable particularity in a written request the records the judicial officer believes to contain personal information. Act 235 provides that a written request is valid if the judicial officer sends the request to the director of state courts and the director of state courts has a policy and procedure for filing the requests, or if the judicial officer sends the request directly to a government agency, person, data broker, business, or association. The bill modifies the latter option, specifying that the judicial officer must send the request directly to the designated officer of a government agency. The bill defines a Xdesignated officerY to mean the officer or employee of a government agency, the register of deeds, or a provider of a land records website designated in writing to the director of state courts, or, in the absence of a written designation, the highest ranking officer or employee for any of these entities. The bill also changes a requirement that the director of state courts must, each quarter, provide to the appropriate officer with ultimate supervisory authority for a government agency a list of judicial officers who have submitted a written request for privacy protections to instead require that the director of state courts provide the designated officer for a government agency with such a list. The bill provides that a home address constitutes personal information as defined in the bill only if it is directly associated with or displayed with the judicial officer[s name. The bill requires a judicial officer to update a written request within 90 days of the date any home address identified in the request ceases to be a home address for any reason. The bill also defines a secondary residence for purposes of the bill to mean a residence for personal use that is not a person[s permanent residence but where a person regularly resides. The bill modifies the definition of the phrase Xpublicly post or displayY established in Act 235 to expressly exclude direct communications with a judicial officer or any immediate family member of a judicial officer. The bill also adds an exception to the prohibition on a government agency publicly posting or displaying a judicial officer[s personal information subject to protections upon a written request, providing that a government agency may publicly post or display such information if required by law to do so. The bill also makes several changes to provisions of Act 235 relating to the register of deeds and land records websites, including adding clarification that a land records website does not include a website administered by the register of deeds. The bill adds to the list of exceptions under which the register of deeds may allow third-party access to a document otherwise subject to protection, including providing an exception to allow access by a title insurance company, an authorized agent of a title insurance company, or an attorney licensed to practice in the state. The bill adds liability protections for government agencies and employees of government agencies, providing that no government agency and no employee of a government agency is generally or personally liable or subject to any liability or accountability by reason of a violation of the privacy protections set forth under Act 235, unless the liability or accountability is the result of intentional or reckless actions. The bill provides that nothing in the privacy protections established under Act 235 and amended in the bill prohibits a government agency from sharing information with other government agencies for any legitimate governmental purpose. | In Committee |
| AB172 | Consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill establishes requirements for controllers and processors of the personal data of consumers. The bill defines a XcontrollerY as a person that, alone or jointly with others, determines the purpose and means of processing personal data, and the bill applies to controllers that control or process the personal data of at least 100,000 consumers or that control or process the personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and derive over 50 percent of their gross revenue from the sale of personal data. Under the bill, Xpersonal dataY means any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual except for publicly available information. The bill provides consumers with the following rights regarding their personal data: 1) to confirm whether a controller is processing the consumer[s personal data and to access the personal data; 2) to correct inaccuracies in the consumer[s personal data; 3) to require a controller to delete personal data provided by or about the consumer; 4) to obtain a copy of the personal data that the consumer previously provided to the controller; and 5) to opt out of the processing of the consumer[s personal data for targeted advertising; the sale of the consumer[s personal data; and certain forms of automated processing of the consumer[s personal data. These rights are subject to certain exceptions specified in the bill. Controllers may not discriminate against a consumer for exercising rights under the bill, including by charging different prices for goods or providing a different level of quality of goods or services. A controller must establish one or more secure and reliable means for consumers to submit a request to exercise their consumer rights under the bill. Such means must include a clear and conspicuous link on the controller[s website to a webpage that enables a consumer or an agent of a consumer to opt out of the targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data and, on or after July 1, 2028, an opt-out preference signal sent, with a consumer[s intent, by a platform, technology, or mechanism to the controller indicating the consumer[s intent to opt out of any processing of the consumer[s personal data for the purpose of targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data. The bill requires controllers to respond to consumers[ requests to invoke rights under the bill without undue delay. If a controller declines to take action regarding a consumer[s request, the controller must inform the consumer of its justification without undue delay. The bill also requires that information provided in response to a consumer[s request be provided free of charge once annually per consumer. Controllers must also establish processes for consumers to appeal a refusal to take action on a consumer[s request. Within 60 days of receiving an appeal, a controller must inform the consumer in writing of any action taken or not taken in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for its decisions. If the appeal is denied, the controller must provide the consumer with a method through which the consumer can contact the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to submit a complaint. Under the bill, a controller must provide consumers with a privacy notice that discloses the categories of personal data processed by the controller; the purpose of processing the personal data; the categories of third parties, if any, with whom the controller shares personal data; the categories of personal data that the controller shares with third parties; and information about how consumers may exercise their rights under the bill. Controllers may not collect or process personal data for purposes that are not relevant to or reasonably necessary for the purposes disclosed in the privacy notice. The bill[s requirements do not restrict a controller[s ability to collect, use, or retain data for conducting internal research, effectuating a product recall, identifying and repairing technical errors, or performing internal operations that are reasonably aligned with consumer expectations or reasonably anticipated on the basis of a consumer[s relationship with the controller. Persons that process personal data on behalf of a controller must adhere to a contract between the controller and the processor, and such contracts must satisfy certain requirements specified in the bill. The bill also requires controllers to conduct data protection assessments related to certain activities, including processing personal data for targeted advertising, selling personal data, processing personal data for profiling purposes, and processing sensitive data, as defined in the bill. DATCP may request that a controller disclose a data protection assessment that is relevant to an investigation being conducted by DATCP. DATCP and the Department of Justice have exclusive authority to enforce violations of the bill[s requirements. A controller or processor that violates the bill[s requirements is subject to a forfeiture of up to $10,000 per violation, and DATCP or DOJ may recover reasonable investigation and litigation expenses incurred. During the time between the bill[s effective date and July 1, 2031, before bringing an action to enforce the bill[s requirements, DATCP or DOJ must first provide a controller or processor with a written notice identifying the violations. If within 30 days of receiving the notice the controller or processor cures the violation and provides DATCP or DOJ with an express written statement that the violation is cured and that no such further violations will occur, then DATCP or DOJ may not bring an action against the controller or processor. The bill also prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties from enacting or enforcing ordinances that regulate the collection, processing, or sale of personal data. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB184 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | Crossed Over |
| SB166 | Consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill establishes requirements for controllers and processors of the personal data of consumers. The bill defines a XcontrollerY as a person that, alone or jointly with others, determines the purpose and means of processing personal data, and the bill applies to controllers that control or process the personal data of at least 100,000 consumers or that control or process the personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and derive over 50 percent of their gross revenue from the sale of personal data. Under the bill, Xpersonal dataY means any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual except for publicly available information. The bill provides consumers with the following rights regarding their personal data: 1) to confirm whether a controller is processing the consumer[s personal data and to access the personal data; 2) to correct inaccuracies in the consumer[s personal data; 3) to require a controller to delete personal data provided by or about the consumer; 4) to obtain a copy of the personal data that the consumer previously provided to the controller; and 5) to opt out of the processing of the consumer[s personal data for targeted advertising; the sale of the consumer[s personal data; and certain forms of automated processing of the consumer[s personal data. These LRB-2468/1 MDE:cdc&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 166 rights are subject to certain exceptions specified in the bill. Controllers may not discriminate against a consumer for exercising rights under the bill, including by charging different prices for goods or providing a different level of quality of goods or services. A controller must establish one or more secure and reliable means for consumers to submit a request to exercise their consumer rights under the bill. Such means must include a clear and conspicuous link on the controller[s website to a webpage that enables a consumer or an agent of a consumer to opt out of the targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data and, on or after July 1, 2028, an opt-out preference signal sent, with a consumer[s intent, by a platform, technology, or mechanism to the controller indicating the consumer[s intent to opt out of any processing of the consumer[s personal data for the purpose of targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data. The bill requires controllers to respond to consumers[ requests to invoke rights under the bill without undue delay. If a controller declines to take action regarding a consumer[s request, the controller must inform the consumer of its justification without undue delay. The bill also requires that information provided in response to a consumer[s request be provided free of charge once annually per consumer. Controllers must also establish processes for consumers to appeal a refusal to take action on a consumer[s request. Within 60 days of receiving an appeal, a controller must inform the consumer in writing of any action taken or not taken in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for its decisions. If the appeal is denied, the controller must provide the consumer with a method through which the consumer can contact the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to submit a complaint. Under the bill, a controller must provide consumers with a privacy notice that discloses the categories of personal data processed by the controller; the purpose of processing the personal data; the categories of third parties, if any, with whom the controller shares personal data; the categories of personal data that the controller shares with third parties; and information about how consumers may exercise their rights under the bill. Controllers may not collect or process personal data for purposes that are not relevant to or reasonably necessary for the purposes disclosed in the privacy notice. The bill[s requirements do not restrict a controller[s ability to collect, use, or retain data for conducting internal research, effectuating a product recall, identifying and repairing technical errors, or performing internal operations that are reasonably aligned with consumer expectations or reasonably anticipated on the basis of a consumer[s relationship with the controller. Persons that process personal data on behalf of a controller must adhere to a contract between the controller and the processor, and such contracts must satisfy certain requirements specified in the bill. The bill also requires controllers to conduct data protection assessments related to certain activities, including processing personal data for targeted advertising, selling personal data, processing personal data for profiling purposes, and processing sensitive data, as defined in LRB-2468/1 MDE:cdc&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 166 the bill. DATCP may request that a controller disclose a data protection assessment that is relevant to an investigation being conducted by DATCP. DATCP and the Department of Justice have exclusive authority to enforce violations of the bill[s requirements. A controller or processor that violates the bill[s requirements is subject to a forfeiture of up to $10,000 per violation, and DATCP or DOJ may recover reasonable investigation and litigation expenses incurred. During the time between the bill[s effective date and July 1, 2031, before bringing an action to enforce the bill[s requirements, DATCP or DOJ must first provide a controller or processor with a written notice identifying the violations. If within 30 days of receiving the notice the controller or processor cures the violation and provides DATCP or DOJ with an express written statement that the violation is cured and that no such further violations will occur, then DATCP or DOJ may not bring an action against the controller or processor. The bill also prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties from enacting or enforcing ordinances that regulate the collection, processing, or sale of personal data. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB157 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill provides that, with certain, specified exceptions, no person may file or record with, or present for filing or recording to, a register of deeds a non- improvement contract or a notice, memorandum, or other instrument related to a non-improvement contract (document) and authorizes the register of deeds to reject such a document and return it unrecorded. The bill defines Xnon-improvement contractY as a contract 1) under which a person agrees to perform, furnish, or procure any work, labor, service, materials, plans, or specifications that are not used or consumed for the improvement of real estate, and 2) that purports to create a lien, encumbrance, or other security interest on real estate. A person that violates the recording or filing prohibition in the bill may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than nine months, or both. In addition, under the bill, an owner of real estate affected by such a filing or recording may bring a civil action against the person that files or records the document. If the owner prevails in the action, the court must order the real estate released from the effect of the document and may award actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB161 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | In Committee |
| AJR59 | Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB257 | Advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | NURSING PRACTICE AND LICENSURE This bill makes various changes to practice, licensure, and certification requirements for nurses, which are administered by the Board of Nursing. Licensure of advanced practice registered nurses Under current law, a person who wishes to practice professional nursing must be licensed by the Board of Nursing as a registered nurse (RN). This bill creates an additional system of licensure for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), to be administered by the board. Under the bill, in order to apply for an APRN license, a person must 1) hold, or concurrently apply for, an RN license; 2) have completed an accredited graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program preparing the person to practice as an APRN in one of four recognized roles and hold a current national certification approved by the board; 3) possess malpractice liability insurance as provided in the bill; 4) pay a fee determined by the Department of Safety and Professional Services; and 5) satisfy certain other criteria specified in the bill. The bill also allows a person who has not completed an accredited education program described above to receive an APRN license if the person 1) on January 1, 2026, is both licensed as an RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized roles and 2) satisfies additional practice or education criteria established by the board. The bill also, however, automatically grants licenses to certain RNs, as further described below. The four recognized roles, as defined in the bill, are 1) certified nurse-midwife; 2) certified registered nurse anesthetist; 3) clinical nurse specialist; and 4) nurse practitioner. The bill requires the board, upon granting a person an APRN license, to also grant the person one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized role or roles for which the person qualifies. Under the bill, all APRNs, except APRNs with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation, must practice in collaboration with a physician or dentist. However, under the bill, an APRN may practice without being supervised by a physician or dentist if the board verifies that the APRN has completed 3,840 hours of professional nursing in a clinical setting and has completed 3,840 clinical hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice in their recognized role while working with a physician or dentist during those 3,840 hours of practice. APRNs may count additional hours practiced as an APRN in collaboration with a physician or dentist towards the 3,840 required hours of professional nursing. APRNs with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation are instead required, if they offer to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting, to file and keep current with the board a proactive plan for involving a hospital or a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital in the treatment of patients with higher acuity or emergency care needs, as further described below. Regardless of whether an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the bill provides that an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques only while working in a collaborative relationship with any physician who, through education, training, and experience, specializes in pain management. Alternatively, if an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques in a hospital or clinic associated with a hospital. Further, an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques if the APRN has qualified to practice independently and has privileges in a hospital to provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques without a collaborative relationship with a physician. The holder of an APRN license may append the title XA.P.R.N.Y to his or her name, as well as a title corresponding to whichever specialty designations that the person possesses. The bill prohibits any person from using the title XA.P.R.N.,Y and from otherwise indicating that he or she is an APRN, unless the person is licensed by the board as an APRN. The bill also prohibits the use of titles and abbreviations corresponding to a recognized role unless the person has a specialty designation for that role. The bill further prohibits any person licensed by the board from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any title that is not granted under the nursing statutes unless the person holds another credential that entitles the person to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title or the person is permitted to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title under any other law of the state. However, the bill provides that a person who is licensed by the board and holds a doctorate degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name the title XdoctorY or any other words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that doctorate degree or the field in which the degree was received. If a person who is licensed by the board uses, assumes, or appends to his or her name the title Xdoctor,Y the bill requires that person to also use, assume, or append to his or her name words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree. Further, the bill provides that a person who holds a bachelor[s degree or master[s degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that degree or the field in which the degree was received. The bill allows an APRN to delegate a task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the task or order is within the scope of the APRN[s practice, the APRN is competent to perform the task or issue the order, and the APRN has reasonable evidence that the health care worker is minimally competent to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances. The bill requires an APRN to adhere to professional standards when managing situations that are beyond the APRN[s expertise. Under the bill, when an APRN renews his or her APRN license, the board must grant the person the renewal of both the person[s RN license and the person[s APRN license. The bill requires all APRNs to complete continuing education requirements each biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the APRN[s area of practice and to satisfy certain other requirements when renewing a license. Practice of nurse-midwifery This bill repeals licensure and practice requirements specific to nurse- midwives and the practice of nurse-midwifery, including specific requirements to practice with an obstetrician. Under the bill, Xcertified nurse-midwifeY is one of the four recognized roles for APRNs, and a person who is licensed as a nurse-midwife under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with a certified nurse- midwife specialty designation. The bill otherwise allows nurse-midwives to be licensed as APRNs if they satisfy the licensure requirements, except that the bill also requires that a person applying for a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation be certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. The bill also requires an APRN with a specialty designation as a certified nurse-midwife to file with the Board of Nursing, and obtain the board[s approval of, a plan for ensuring appropriate care or care transitions in treating certain patients if the APRN offers to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting. Prescribing authority Under current law, a person licensed as an RN may apply to the Board of Nursing for a certificate to issue prescription orders if the person meets certain requirements established by the board. An RN holding a certificate is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board and must possess malpractice liability insurance in an amount determined by the board. The bill eliminates certificates to issue prescription orders and generally authorizes APRNs to issue prescription orders. A person who is certified to issue prescription orders under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with his or her appropriate specialty designation. RNs who are practicing in a recognized role on January 1, 2026, but who do not hold a certificate to issue prescription orders on that date and who are granted an APRN license under the bill may not issue prescription orders. As under current law, an APRN issuing prescription orders is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board. The bill repeals a provision concerning the ability of advanced practice nurses who are certified to issue prescription orders and who are required to work in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician to obtain and practice under a federal waiver to dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for addiction treatment. Malpractice liability insurance The bill requires all APRNs to maintain malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by personal liability coverage in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists or coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the APRN in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists. Additionally, the bill requires APRNs who have qualified to practice independently and who practice outside a collaborative or employment relationship to participate in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund provides excess medical malpractice coverage for health care providers who participate in the fund and meet all other participation requirements, which includes maintaining malpractice liability insurance in coverage amounts specified under current law. OTHER CHANGES The bill makes numerous other changes throughout the statutes relating to APRNs, including various terminology changes. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| AB118 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates a Xtransition to grazing pilot programY in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to provide support and grants to farmers who are implementing livestock forage-based managed grazing systems and farmers and agribusinesses in the grazing-fed livestock business. Under the bill the department may award up to $40,000 to each grantee, and may disperse up to 75 percent of the grant in the first year following the department[s decision to grant the award and may disperse up to 12.5 percent of the award in each of the second and third years following the department[s decision to grant the award. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB113 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates a Xtransition to grazing pilot programY in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to provide support and grants to farmers who are implementing livestock forage-based managed grazing systems and farmers and agribusinesses in the grazing-fed livestock business. Under the bill the department may award up to $40,000 to each grantee, and may disperse up to 75 percent of the grant in the first year following the department[s decision to grant the award and may disperse up to 12.5 percent of the award in each of the second and third years following the department[s decision to grant the award. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB338 | Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act. | Current law allows any person who believes that a violation of the federal Help America Vote Act is occurring or is proposed to occur with respect to an election for national office in this state to file a written verified complaint with the Elections Commission. The person filing the complaint may request a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the commission must make a final determination regarding the merits of the complaint and issue a decision no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint. The Elections Commission has taken a position that it cannot decide a complaint brought against itself. In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with that position. See, Teigen v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2022 WI 64, 33, 403 Wis. 2d 607, 976 N.W.2d 519. The commission recently received a letter from the federal Department of Justice asserting that such a position violates the administrative complaint requirements under the Help America Vote Act. Under this bill, if the Elections Commission receives a complaint that alleges that the commission itself is violating HAVA, the commission must make a final determination on the merits of the complaint and issue a decision. The bill prohibits the commission from dismissing the complaint simply because the complaint alleges a commission violation. The bill also provides that if a hearing is requested it must be held in open LRB-3682/1 JK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 338 session and the oral proceedings of the hearing must be recorded by stenographic or electronic means. In addition, the Elections Commission must make a transcript of oral proceedings available for public inspection. Under current law, all records that are distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission in open session are available for public inspection. Under the bill, the commission must transmit to the complainant and all known interested parties an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within five business days from the date of its receipt. In addition, if the complainant requests a hearing, a hearing must be held no later than 30 days after the commission receives the complaint. The commission must also make a final determination of all complaints alleging a HAVA violation no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint, regardless of whether the complainant requests a hearing. Finally, the bill makes changes to the complaint procedures to ensure compliance with HAVA. The bill requires the Elections Commission to examine and investigate all complaints in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, as required under HAVA. In addition, if the commission finds that a complaint has merit, the commission must take corrective action to remedy the violation alleged in the complaint. If the commission dismisses the complaint or does not grant the relief requested in the complaint, the person filing the complaint may appeal the commission[s decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. Finally, the bill requires the commission to publish the results of all dismissed complaints on its website and provide such results to the legislature and the standing committees with jurisdiction over elections. | In Committee |
| AB304 | A grant to assist in the purchase and renovation of an existing facility in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Administration to award a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc., to assist in the purchase and renovation of the Libertas Treatment Center in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders who are in need of recovery services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB85 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Under current law, a person who is released on extended supervision, parole, or probation is subject to conditions or rules of the release. If the person violates a condition or rule, the person is subject to sanctions for the violation, which may include revocation of release. This bill requires the Department of Corrections to recommend revoking a person[s extended supervision, parole, or probation if the person is charged with a crime while on release. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| AB27 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. | This bill expands the definition of XveteranY to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans[ Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation. | In Committee |
| AB232 | Transferring adjudicatory functions for worker’s compensation from the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration to the Department of Workforce Development. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development performs various administrative and adjudicatory functions relating to worker[s compensation, except that the adjudicatory functions of DWD relating to disputed worker[s compensation claims are performed by the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration. This bill transfers the adjudicatory functions of DHA relating to disputed worker[s compensation claims to DWD. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| AB241 | Required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts. | Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development may not prescribe, enforce, or authorize a ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers for apprenticeship programs or apprentice contracts that requires more than one journeyworker for each apprentice. This bill increases the allowable ratio to one journeyworker to two apprentices. | In Committee |
| AJR50 | Recognizing the United States Army’s 250th birthday. | Relating to: recognizing the United States Army[s 250th birthday. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB278 | Grants to law enforcement agencies for data-sharing platforms. | Under current law, the Department of Justice awards grants to cities and law enforcement agencies for various purposes, including to pay for uniformed beat patrol officers and to enable agencies to purchase body cameras. This bill requires DOJ to award grants to law enforcement agencies to acquire data-sharing platforms. The bill sets forth criteria that data-sharing platforms must meet to be covered by the grant. The criteria include that the platform must be able to integrate data from common law enforcement systems on a real-time basis; eliminate redundant records; restrict access to information by data type, roles, and other parameters; allow for controlled data integration and sharing among law enforcement agencies; be accessed on devices commonly used by law enforcement agencies; and ensure that law enforcement agencies retain rights to agency data. The bill also provides that the Joint Committee on Finance, upon request by DOJ, may provide up to $2,000,000 in each fiscal year of the 2025-27 biennium to implement the grant program. | In Committee |
| SB279 | Grants to law enforcement agencies for data-sharing platforms. | Under current law, the Department of Justice awards grants to cities and law enforcement agencies for various purposes, including to pay for uniformed beat patrol officers and to enable agencies to purchase body cameras. This bill requires DOJ to award grants to law enforcement agencies to acquire data-sharing platforms. The bill sets forth criteria that data-sharing platforms must meet to be covered by the grant. The criteria include that the platform must be able to integrate data from common law enforcement systems on a real-time basis; eliminate redundant records; restrict access to information by data type, roles, and other parameters; allow for controlled data integration and sharing among law enforcement agencies; be accessed on devices commonly used by law enforcement agencies; and ensure that law enforcement agencies retain rights to agency data. The bill also provides that the Joint Committee on Finance, upon request by DOJ, may provide up to $2,000,000 in each fiscal year of the 2025-27 biennium to implement the grant program. | Crossed Over |
| SB258 | Advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | NURSING PRACTICE AND LICENSURE This bill makes various changes to practice, licensure, and certification requirements for nurses, which are administered by the Board of Nursing. Licensure of advanced practice registered nurses Under current law, a person who wishes to practice professional nursing must be licensed by the Board of Nursing as a registered nurse (RN). This bill creates an additional system of licensure for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), to be administered by the board. Under the bill, in order to apply for an APRN license, a person must 1) hold, or concurrently apply for, an RN license; 2) have completed an accredited graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program preparing the person to practice as an APRN in one of four recognized roles and hold a current national certification approved by the board; 3) possess malpractice liability insurance as provided in the bill; 4) pay a fee determined by the Department of Safety and Professional Services; and 5) satisfy certain other criteria specified in the bill. The bill also allows a person who has not completed an accredited education program described above to receive an APRN license if the person 1) on January 1, 2026, is both licensed as an RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized roles and 2) satisfies additional practice or education criteria established by the board. The bill also, however, automatically grants licenses to certain RNs, as further described below. The four recognized roles, as defined in the bill, are 1) certified nurse-midwife; 2) certified registered nurse anesthetist; 3) clinical nurse specialist; and 4) nurse practitioner. The bill requires the board, upon granting a person an APRN license, to also grant the person one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized role or roles for which the person qualifies. Under the bill, all APRNs, except APRNs with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation, must practice in collaboration with a physician or dentist. However, under the bill, an APRN may practice without being supervised by a physician or dentist if the board verifies that the APRN has completed 3,840 hours of professional nursing in a clinical setting and has completed 3,840 clinical hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice in their recognized role while working with a physician or dentist during those 3,840 hours of practice. APRNs may count additional hours practiced as an APRN in collaboration with a physician or dentist towards the 3,840 required hours of professional nursing. APRNs with a LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 certified nurse-midwife specialty designation are instead required, if they offer to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting, to file and keep current with the board a proactive plan for involving a hospital or a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital in the treatment of patients with higher acuity or emergency care needs, as further described below. Regardless of whether an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the bill provides that an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques only while working in a collaborative relationship with any physician who, through education, training, and experience, specializes in pain management. Alternatively, if an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques in a hospital or clinic associated with a hospital. Further, an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques if the APRN has qualified to practice independently and has privileges in a hospital to provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques without a collaborative relationship with a physician. The holder of an APRN license may append the title XA.P.R.N.Y to his or her name, as well as a title corresponding to whichever specialty designations that the person possesses. The bill prohibits any person from using the title XA.P.R.N.,Y and from otherwise indicating that he or she is an APRN, unless the person is licensed by the board as an APRN. The bill also prohibits the use of titles and abbreviations corresponding to a recognized role unless the person has a specialty designation for that role. The bill further prohibits any person licensed by the board from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any title that is not granted under the nursing statutes unless the person holds another credential that entitles the person to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title or the person is permitted to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title under any other law of the state. However, the bill provides that a person who is licensed by the board and holds a doctorate degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name the title XdoctorY or any other words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that doctorate degree or the field in which the degree was received. If a person who is licensed by the board uses, assumes, or appends to his or her name the title Xdoctor,Y the bill requires that person to also use, assume, or append to his or her name words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree. Further, the bill provides that a person who holds a bachelor[s degree or master[s degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that degree or the field in which the degree was received. The bill allows an APRN to delegate a task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the task or order is within the scope of the APRN[s practice, the APRN is competent to perform the task or issue the order, and the APRN has reasonable evidence that the health care worker is minimally competent LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances. The bill requires an APRN to adhere to professional standards when managing situations that are beyond the APRN[s expertise. Under the bill, when an APRN renews his or her APRN license, the board must grant the person the renewal of both the person[s RN license and the person[s APRN license. The bill requires all APRNs to complete continuing education requirements each biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the APRN[s area of practice and to satisfy certain other requirements when renewing a license. Practice of nurse-midwifery This bill repeals licensure and practice requirements specific to nurse- midwives and the practice of nurse-midwifery, including specific requirements to practice with an obstetrician. Under the bill, Xcertified nurse-midwifeY is one of the four recognized roles for APRNs, and a person who is licensed as a nurse-midwife under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with a certified nurse- midwife specialty designation. The bill otherwise allows nurse-midwives to be licensed as APRNs if they satisfy the licensure requirements, except that the bill also requires that a person applying for a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation be certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. The bill also requires an APRN with a specialty designation as a certified nurse-midwife to file with the Board of Nursing, and obtain the board[s approval of, a plan for ensuring appropriate care or care transitions in treating certain patients if the APRN offers to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting. Prescribing authority Under current law, a person licensed as an RN may apply to the Board of Nursing for a certificate to issue prescription orders if the person meets certain requirements established by the board. An RN holding a certificate is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board and must possess malpractice liability insurance in an amount determined by the board. The bill eliminates certificates to issue prescription orders and generally authorizes APRNs to issue prescription orders. A person who is certified to issue prescription orders under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with his or her appropriate specialty designation. RNs who are practicing in a recognized role on January 1, 2026, but who do not hold a certificate to issue prescription orders on that date and who are granted an APRN license under the bill may not issue prescription orders. As under current law, an APRN issuing prescription orders is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board. The bill repeals a provision concerning the ability of advanced practice nurses who are certified to issue prescription orders and who are required to work in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician to obtain and practice LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 under a federal waiver to dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for addiction treatment. Malpractice liability insurance The bill requires all APRNs to maintain malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by personal liability coverage in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists or coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the APRN in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists. Additionally, the bill requires APRNs who have qualified to practice independently and who practice outside a collaborative or employment relationship to participate in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund provides excess medical malpractice coverage for health care providers who participate in the fund and meet all other participation requirements, which includes maintaining malpractice liability insurance in coverage amounts specified under current law. OTHER CHANGES The bill makes numerous other changes throughout the statutes relating to APRNs, including various terminology changes. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB179 | Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Administrative allowance of the motor vehicle fuel tax Current law allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain as an administrative allowance 1.35 percent of the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of gasoline in this state. This bill allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain the same administrative allowance for the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of diesel fuel in this state. Retailer refund for motor vehicle fuel evaporation The bill allows a retailer who sells gasoline, diesel fuel, or both (motor vehicle fuel) in this state to claim a refund equal to 0.5 percent of the state motor vehicle fuel tax paid on the retailer[s purchase of the motor vehicle fuel to compensate for motor vehicle fuel stored on site that is lost by shrinkage or evaporation. A claim for a refund under the bill must be made to the Department of Revenue no later than 12 months after the date on which the retailer purchased the motor vehicle fuel and must be accompanied with invoices prepared by the motor vehicle fuel supplier or a LRB-2510/1 JK:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 179 list of purchases prepared by the retailer. Prior to 2019, the state provided such refunds to compensate gasoline retailers for shrinkage and evaporation losses. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB145 | The procedure for adding federal newborn screening recommendations to the state-required newborn screenings, granting rule-making authority, and providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures. (FE) | In general, under current law, newborns must be tested for certain congenital and metabolic disorders as specified in rules promulgated by the Department of Health Services. The federal Department of Health and Human Services maintains a list of disorders for which it recommends testing in newborns, known as the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). Under this bill, DHS must evaluate each disorder that is included in the RUSP as of January 1, 2025, to determine whether newborns in this state should be tested for that disorder. This requirement does not apply to any disorder in the RUSP if, as of January 1, 2025, the disorder is already included in the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state. In addition, the bill requires DHS to evaluate any disorder added to the RUSP after January 1, 2025, to determine whether newborns in this state should be tested for that newly added disorder. If DHS determines newborns should not be tested for the disorder, DHS must annually review medical literature and the department[s capacity and resources to LRB-1271/1 KMS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 145 test for the disorder in order to determine whether to reevaluate the inclusion of the disorder in newborn testing in this state. If, in any of these evaluations or reevaluations, DHS determines that a disorder in the RUSP should be added to the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state, the bill requires DHS to promulgate rules to add that disorder. The requirements for evaluations, reviews, and reevaluations under the bill do not apply to a disorder in the RUSP if DHS is in the process of adding, by rule, the disorder to the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state. However, if the rule-making procedure for that disorder does not result in promulgation of a rule, then DHS must consider the disorder under the review and reevaluation procedures under the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB182 | Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) | Emergency medical services education This bill requires the Technical College System Board to provide grants to technical colleges that provide emergency medical services courses that train and prepare individuals for initial certification or initial licensure as an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical services practitioner. No grants may be awarded to a technical college for the emergency medical services courses if admission priority to the course is given to residents based on the technical college district in which the resident lives. Tuition and materials costs for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners The bill requires the Higher Educational Aids Board to develop a program to reimburse individuals or their employers for the cost of tuition and materials necessary for the individual to qualify for initial certification or initial licensure as an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical services practitioner. To LRB-2519/1 JAM:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 182 be eligible for reimbursement for the costs necessary to qualify for an initial certification or license, the individual must satisfactorily complete any required course of instruction, pass any required examination, receive a certification or license from DHS, and apply to HEAB for reimbursement on a form prescribed by HEAB. Live 911 pilot program The bill directs the Department of Military Affairs, through a pilot program, to distribute moneys through grants to enable real-time video and multimedia communications between public safety answering points and individuals who call for emergency services. Further, the bill requires DMA to annually report to the legislature on the performance of the pilot program, including information on outcomes from the pilot program, the number of responses from dispatch that were altered due to increased information from the pilot program, and any cost savings associated with the pilot program. The bill does not require DMA to submit a report to the legislature in any year that DMA does not award any moneys through grants for the pilot program. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB94 | Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty. | This bill makes it a Class I felony to urge, promote, organize, encourage, or instigate others to commit a riot and a Class H felony to intentionally commit an act of violence while participating in a riot. The bill defines a XriotY as a public disturbance that involves an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons, that constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury or a threat of an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons having the ability of immediate execution of the threat, if the threatened action constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury. The bill establishes a civil cause of action for any person who suffers injury or loss to person or property as a result of conduct that violates the criminal prohibitions on vandalism or participation in a riot. The bill allows a person to bring a civil action against a person who committed the violation and against any person or organization that provided material support or resources with the intent LRB-2144/1 SWB:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 94 that such support or resources would be used to perpetrate the offense. The person bringing the action may obtain an order requiring the offender to fix or repair the damage caused to the person[s property if certain requirements set forth in the bill are met. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency or law enforcement officers from limiting or restricting the authority of the agency to have its officers, or certain officers, arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency from limiting or restricting the authority of law enforcement officers, or certain designated law enforcement officers, to arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or to take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. Finally, the bill provides that no government official, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement officer may discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against any employee because the employee made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing regarding a violation of the prohibitions on government officials set forth in the bill. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| AB87 | Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE) | Under current law, when a defendant is sentenced or placed on probation for a crime, the court must order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim of the crime to pay for costs incurred by the victim or the victim[s estate as a result of the crime. The court may require that restitution be paid immediately, within a specified time, or in specified installments. The court may not set the time limit to be later than the end of the defendant[s term of probation, parole, or extended supervision. When the defendant has completed the term, any outstanding restitution is enforceable in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action. The victim may use civil court actions to collect the restitution, including seeking a wage garnishment or an execution against the defendant[s property (a court order to the sheriff to seize property, sell it, and use the money toward the outstanding restitution). Under this bill, if the defendant is sentenced or placed on probation for human trafficking, the court must require restitution be paid immediately and, if the defendant fails to pay immediately, the court must issue an execution against the defendant[s property. Under current law, a person convicted of treason, felony, or bribery may not vote unless the person[s right to vote is restored through a pardon or through completion of the term of imprisonment, including parole or extended supervision, or probation for the crime that led to the disqualification. Under the bill, in addition to completing his or her term of imprisonment or probation for the crime, a person must have paid all fines, costs, fees, surcharges, and restitution, and have completed any court-ordered community service, imposed in connection with the crime. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| AB306 | Time limits on local unit of government chief executive officer emergency power proclamations. | Under current law, a local unit of government[s chief executive officer may exercise by proclamation the emergency power conferred to the local unit of government if the local unit of government[s governing body is unable to meet promptly. This bill limits the length of such proclamation to 60 days, unless extended by the local unit of government[s governing body. The bill also defines Xchief executive officerY as any of the following: 1) the county executive of a county, the county administrator of a county, or, in a county with an administrative coordinator, the county board chair of a county; 2) the mayor or city manager of a city; 3) the village president of a village; 4) the town board chairperson of a town; or 5) a person acting as one of the above stated persons. | In Committee |
| AJR66 | Congratulating Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for winning the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. | Relating to: congratulating Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for winning the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR64 | Supporting the induction of Jack Vainisi into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. | Relating to: supporting the induction of Jack Vainisi into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. | Crossed Over |
| SB335 | Ratification of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. (FE) | This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which provides for the ability of a cosmetologist to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one administrator of the cosmetology licensure authority of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including adopting bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, appointing LRB-2939/1 MED:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 335 officers and hiring employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees who receive multistate licenses to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. The ability for a cosmetologist to obtain a Xmultistate license,Y which allows a cosmetologist who satisfies certain criteria to practice cosmetology in other member states (remote states) under the remote state[s scope of practice laws and rules of the remote state[s licensing authority. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for a cosmetologist to obtain a multistate license, including holding an unencumbered cosmetology license in his or her primary state of residence (home state) and paying any required fees. A remote state may, in accordance with that state[s laws, take adverse action against a cosmetologist[s authorization to practice cosmetology in the remote state. If a cosmetologist[s home state takes adverse action against the cosmetologist[s license, the cosmetologist[s authorization to practice in all other member states is deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the home state license. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and the reporting of the existence of investigative information on a) cosmetologists and b) applicants denied a cosmetologist license. The compact requires information related to adverse actions to be shared with the commission and other member states, through the data system and otherwise. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. The compact becomes effective upon enactment by seven states. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of that repeal. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB309 | Immunity for 911 call centers and dispatchers that transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. | This bill provides that any public safety answering point, more commonly known as a 911 call center, or dispatcher that transfers a caller to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is generally immune from civil liability for any outcomes resulting from the transfer. | In Committee |
| SJR69 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative Terrence A. “Terry” Willkom. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Terrence A. XTerryY Willkom. | In Committee |
| SJR65 | Congratulating Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for winning the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. | Relating to: congratulating Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for winning the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. | In Committee |
| SB309 | Immunity for 911 call centers and dispatchers that transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. | This bill provides that any public safety answering point, more commonly known as a 911 call center, or dispatcher that transfers a caller to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is generally immune from civil liability for any outcomes resulting from the transfer. | In Committee |
| SJR63 | Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AB198 | Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) | Emergency medical services education This bill requires the Technical College System Board to provide grants to technical colleges that provide emergency medical services courses that train and prepare individuals for initial certification or initial licensure as an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical services practitioner. No grants may be awarded to a technical college for the emergency medical services courses if admission priority to the course is given to residents based on the technical college district in which the resident lives. Tuition and materials costs for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners The bill requires the Higher Educational Aids Board to develop a program to reimburse individuals or their employers for the cost of tuition and materials necessary for the individual to qualify for initial certification or initial licensure as an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical services practitioner. To be eligible for reimbursement for the costs necessary to qualify for an initial certification or license, the individual must satisfactorily complete any required course of instruction, pass any required examination, receive a certification or license from DHS, and apply to HEAB for reimbursement on a form prescribed by HEAB. Live 911 pilot program The bill directs the Department of Military Affairs, through a pilot program, to distribute moneys through grants to enable real-time video and multimedia communications between public safety answering points and individuals who call for emergency services. Further, the bill requires DMA to annually report to the legislature on the performance of the pilot program, including information on outcomes from the pilot program, the number of responses from dispatch that were altered due to increased information from the pilot program, and any cost savings associated with the pilot program. The bill does not require DMA to submit a report to the legislature in any year that DMA does not award any moneys through grants for the pilot program. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB214 | Registration of out-of-state health care providers to provide telehealth services. (FE) | This bill allows an individual who possesses a credential as a health care provider in another state to provide health care services by telehealth in this state within the scope of practice established under the laws and rules of this state by registering with the Department of Safety and Professional Services or an applicable credentialing board. In general, under current law, no person may provide health care services in this state for which a credential is required unless the person possesses a credential issued in this state issued by DSPS or a credentialing board. This bill requires DSPS and any applicable credentialing board to register an out-of-state health care provider who does not possess a credential in this state as a telehealth provider who may provide health care services in this state by telehealth if the health care provider meets certain criteria, including 1) that the health care provider possesses a credential issued by a governmental authority in another state, the District of Columbia, or a possession or territory of the United States that is active and unencumbered and that entitles the health care provider to perform health care services that are substantially similar to health care services that may be performed by a health care provider who possesses a credential issued in this state; 2) that the health care provider has not been subject to any disciplinary action relating to his or her credential during the LRB-2236/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 214 five-year period immediately preceding submission of the health care provider[s application for registration in this state that has resulted in his or her credential being limited, suspended, or revoked; and 3) that the health care provider designates an agent upon whom service of process may be made in this state. A health care provider registered to provide telehealth services under the bill may not open an office in this state and may not provide in-person health care services to patients located in this state unless the health care provider obtains a credential in this state. The bill requires individuals registered to provide telehealth services in this state to maintain and have in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage that covers services provided to patients in this state if the health care services that the individual may provide are substantially similar to services provided by a health care provider in this state who is required under law to maintain and have in effect malpractice liability insurance. The bill requires individuals registered under the bill to provide telehealth services in this state to notify DSPS or the applicable credentialing board of any restrictions placed on his or her credential in any state or jurisdiction and of any disciplinary action taken or pending against him or her in any state or jurisdiction within five business days after the restriction is placed or disciplinary action is initiated or taken. The bill allows DSPS and applicable credentialing boards to take disciplinary action against a health care provider registered to provide telehealth services under the bill if the registrant fails to notify DSPS or the applicable credentialing board of any adverse actions taken against his or her credential, if the registrant has restrictions placed on his or her credential, if disciplinary action has been commenced against the registrant in any state or jurisdiction, if the registrant violates any provision under the bill, or if the registrant commits any act that constitutes grounds for disciplinary action applicable to the registrant[s health care practice in this state. Finally, the bill requires DSPS to publish on its website a list of all health care providers registered to provide telehealth services under the bill and include, to the extent applicable, certain information including the registrant[s name, the registrant[s health care occupation, a brief explanation of the registrant[s training and education, including completion dates and any certificates or degrees obtained, the registrant[s out-of-state health care license, permit, certificate, or other approval, including any identification number associated with the registrant[s license, permit, certificate, or other approval, the registrant[s specialty, a five-year disciplinary history of the registrant, the registrant[s medical malpractice insurance provider and any policy limits under the registrant[s medical malpractice insurance coverage, and the name and address of the registrant[s agent designated for service of process in this state. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2236/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 214 | In Committee |
| SB229 | Transferring adjudicatory functions for worker’s compensation from the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration to the Department of Workforce Development. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development performs various administrative and adjudicatory functions relating to worker[s compensation, except that the adjudicatory functions of DWD relating to disputed worker[s compensation claims are performed by the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration. This bill transfers the adjudicatory functions of DHA relating to disputed worker[s compensation claims to DWD. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2823/2 MIM:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 229 | In Committee |
| SJR55 | Recognizing the United States Army’s 250th birthday. | Relating to: recognizing the United States Army[s 250th birthday. | In Committee |
| SJR62 | Proclaiming January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, as Wisconsin State Park System 125th Anniversary. | Relating to: proclaiming January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, as Wisconsin State Park System 125th Anniversary. | In Committee |
| AB284 | Enumeration of projects in the Authorized State Building Program, modifications to building program project budgets, selection of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund. (FE) | PROJECT ENUMERATIONS OF IN THE AUTHORIZED STATE BUILDING PROGRAM Under current law, the Building Commission may authorize the design and construction of any building, structure, or facility costing in excess of $2,000,000, only if that project is enumerated in the Authorized State Building Program, which appears in each biennial budget passed by the legislature. This bill eliminates that enumeration requirement for the design phase of a project and provides that the construction of any building, structure, or facility may not be enumerated in the authorized state building program unless the building commission determines that at least 50 percent of the project[s design phase has already been completed. REPORTS CONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO BUILDING PROGRAM PROJECTS Under current law, the Building Commission has the authority to authorize limited changes in the program or budget of a building program project if the commission determines that unanticipated program conditions or bidding conditions require the change to effectively and economically construct the project. This bill requires that the Department of Administration submit a quarterly report to the Joint Committee on Finance and each voting member of the Building Commission that identifies each project for which the Building Commission has approved a budget increase and that identifies each project enumerated in the state building program for which DOA estimates a budget increase will be necessary for project completion, including a description of the reasons for the project budget shortfall. SELECTION OF PROJECT ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS Under current law, the secretary of administration is required to establish a committee for each construction project under DOA[s supervision, except certain emergency projects, for the purpose of selecting an architect or engineer for the project. If the estimated cost of a construction project is $7,400,000 or more, the selection committee must use a request-for-proposal process established by DOA to select an architect or engineer for the project based on qualifications. The bill raises that threshold to $15,000,000. SINGLE PRIME CONTRACTING The bill creates a new exception to single prime contracting for high-dollar building projects. Single prime contracting is a process in which the state contracts only with a general prime contractor who then must contract with subcontractors. Under current law, whenever the Building Commission determines that the use of innovative types of design and construction processes will make better use of the resources and technology available in the building industry, the commission may waive certain requirements related to single prime contracting, if the action is in the best interest of the state and is approved by the commission. Under the bill, for any project costing $200,000,000 or more, at the request of the agency for which the project is constructed, the Building Commission is required to waive certain single prime contracting requirements for the project, as requested by the agency. CERTAIN PROJECT BIDDING PROCEDURES Under the bill, at any time more than two days prior to the end of the period during which bids may be submitted for a building project, a bidder or potential bidder may submit a question to DOA concerning the project. Additionally, the bill provides that DOA may issue addenda at any time during the bidding period to modify or clarify the drawings and specifications for the project being bid or to extend the bidding period. COOPERATION WITH ENERGY CONSERVATION CONTRACTORS Current law authorizes DOA to contract with qualified contractors for the performance of energy conservation audits at state buildings, structures, and facilities and for the performance of construction work at a state building, structure, or facility for the purpose of realizing potential savings of future energy costs identified in an energy conservation audit. The bill requires DOA and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to collaborate with energy service companies to identify and execute pilot projects using financing provided by the companies to upgrade facilities, reduce deferred maintenance, and increase sustainability. UTILITIES COSTS The bill provides that each state contract for construction work must state which party to the contract is responsible for paying project utility service connection charges and which party is responsible for paying for costs related to the consumption of utility services at the project site. ACTIONS AGAINST THE STATE RELATED TO CERTAIN CONTRACT CLAIMS Under current law, the Claims Board is required to receive, investigate, and make recommendations on all claims against the state of $10 or more that are referred to the board by DOA. The board is required to report its findings and recommendations on all claims referred to the board to the legislature. The board may deny a claim, directly pay a claim of up to $10,000, or recommend a payment in excess of $10,000 to the legislature. If the board concludes that a claim should be paid by the state and the board does not or may not directly pay the claim, current law requires the board to cause a bill to be drafted covering its recommendations. A claimant may commence a lawsuit against the state upon the refusal of the legislature to pass a bill allowing a claim. The bill creates a timeline for the board to hear and make a final determination upon certain claims related to contracts and, in addition to current law, allows claimants to bring actions against the state related to certain contract claims if certain conditions are met. Under the bill, any claim referred to the board that relates to a contract with the Department of Transportation for transportation infrastructure improvement or that relates to a contract with DOA or the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System that is awarded under current law for construction projects must be heard by the board, and the board must make a final determination on the claim, within six months from the day that the claim was referred to the board. If the board concludes that the facts of the claim would be more properly adjudicated in a court of law or if the board fails to make a final determination on the claim within six months from the date that the claim was referred to the board, the bill allows the claimant to commence an action against the state seeking judgment on the claim as provided under current law. TRANSFER TO THE BUILDING TRUST FUND The bill transfers $32,000,000 from the general fund to the building trust fund in fiscal year 2024-25. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR63 | Proclaiming January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, as Wisconsin State Park System 125th Anniversary. | Relating to: proclaiming January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, as Wisconsin State Park System 125th Anniversary. | In Committee |
| AB212 | Registration of out-of-state health care providers to provide telehealth services. (FE) | This bill allows an individual who possesses a credential as a health care provider in another state to provide health care services by telehealth in this state within the scope of practice established under the laws and rules of this state by registering with the Department of Safety and Professional Services or an applicable credentialing board. In general, under current law, no person may provide health care services in this state for which a credential is required unless the person possesses a credential issued in this state issued by DSPS or a credentialing board. This bill requires DSPS and any applicable credentialing board to register an out-of-state health care provider who does not possess a credential in this state as a telehealth provider who may provide health care services in this state by telehealth if the health care provider meets certain criteria, including 1) that the health care provider possesses a credential issued by a governmental authority in another state, the District of Columbia, or a possession or territory of the United States that is active and unencumbered and that entitles the health care provider to perform health care services that are substantially similar to health care services that may be performed by a health care provider who possesses a credential issued in this state; 2) that the health care provider has not been subject to any disciplinary action relating to his or her credential during the five-year period immediately preceding submission of the health care provider[s application for registration in this state that has resulted in his or her credential being limited, suspended, or revoked; and 3) that the health care provider designates an agent upon whom service of process may be made in this state. A health care provider registered to provide telehealth services under the bill may not open an office in this state and may not provide in-person health care services to patients located in this state unless the health care provider obtains a credential in this state. The bill requires individuals registered to provide telehealth services in this state to maintain and have in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage that covers services provided to patients in this state if the health care services that the individual may provide are substantially similar to services provided by a health care provider in this state who is required under law to maintain and have in effect malpractice liability insurance. The bill requires individuals registered under the bill to provide telehealth services in this state to notify DSPS or the applicable credentialing board of any restrictions placed on his or her credential in any state or jurisdiction and of any disciplinary action taken or pending against him or her in any state or jurisdiction within five business days after the restriction is placed or disciplinary action is initiated or taken. The bill allows DSPS and applicable credentialing boards to take disciplinary action against a health care provider registered to provide telehealth services under the bill if the registrant fails to notify DSPS or the applicable credentialing board of any adverse actions taken against his or her credential, if the registrant has restrictions placed on his or her credential, if disciplinary action has been commenced against the registrant in any state or jurisdiction, if the registrant violates any provision under the bill, or if the registrant commits any act that constitutes grounds for disciplinary action applicable to the registrant[s health care practice in this state. Finally, the bill requires DSPS to publish on its website a list of all health care providers registered to provide telehealth services under the bill and include, to the extent applicable, certain information including the registrant[s name, the registrant[s health care occupation, a brief explanation of the registrant[s training and education, including completion dates and any certificates or degrees obtained, the registrant[s out-of-state health care license, permit, certificate, or other approval, including any identification number associated with the registrant[s license, permit, certificate, or other approval, the registrant[s specialty, a five-year disciplinary history of the registrant, the registrant[s medical malpractice insurance provider and any policy limits under the registrant[s medical malpractice insurance coverage, and the name and address of the registrant[s agent designated for service of process in this state. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB2 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. | This bill expands the definition of “veteran” to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation. | Crossed Over |
| AB127 | The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE) | Under current law, a pharmacy has a duty to dispense lawfully prescribed contraceptive drugs and devices without delay unless certain factors apply, including that the prescription contains an obvious or known error or contains inadequate instructions, the prescription is contraindicated for the patient, the prescription is incompatible with another drug or device prescribed for the patient, or the prescription is potentially fraudulent. This bill expands that duty to require pharmacies to dispense any lawfully prescribed drug or device without delay. However, if any pharmacist at a pharmacy refuses to dispense a drug or device for reasons of conscience such that the pharmacy cannot fulfill the prescription order without delay, then the bill requires the pharmacy to transfer the prescription order to a different pharmacy, at the direction of the patient, that will dispense the prescribed drug or device without delay. The bill also specifies that a pharmacy may not dispense a lawfully prescribed drug or device if there is an absolute contraindication for the prescribed drug or device, rather than just a contraindication. Under the bill, Xabsolute contraindicationY is defined to mean any condition present in a patient that makes a particular drug or device inadvisable under any circumstances. Further, the bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from penalizing in any way a pharmacy or pharmacist from dispensing a prescribed drug or device that is prescribed for a use other than a use approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration if the prescribed drug or device is dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription order. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB137 | The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE) | Under current law, a pharmacy has a duty to dispense lawfully prescribed contraceptive drugs and devices without delay unless certain factors apply, including that the prescription contains an obvious or known error or contains inadequate instructions, the prescription is contraindicated for the patient, the prescription is incompatible with another drug or device prescribed for the patient, or the prescription is potentially fraudulent. This bill expands that duty to require pharmacies to dispense any lawfully prescribed drug or device without delay. However, if any pharmacist at a pharmacy refuses to dispense a drug or device for reasons of conscience such that the pharmacy cannot fulfill the prescription order without delay, then the bill requires the pharmacy to transfer the prescription order to a different pharmacy, at the direction of the patient, that will dispense the prescribed drug or device without delay. The bill also specifies that a pharmacy LRB-0508/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 137 may not dispense a lawfully prescribed drug or device if there is an absolute contraindication for the prescribed drug or device, rather than just a contraindication. Under the bill, Xabsolute contraindicationY is defined to mean any condition present in a patient that makes a particular drug or device inadvisable under any circumstances. Further, the bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from penalizing in any way a pharmacy or pharmacist from dispensing a prescribed drug or device that is prescribed for a use other than a use approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration if the prescribed drug or device is dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription order. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB290 | Local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE) | Under this bill, the rules of proceedings for a governing body of a political subdivision may not prohibit the body from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least two years after the earlier. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB308 | A grant to assist in the purchase and renovation of an existing facility in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Administration to award a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc., to assist in the purchase and renovation of the Libertas Treatment Center in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders who are in need of recovery services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB327 | Emotional support animals in housing; falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal; and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill makes changes relating to emotional support animals and service animals in the laws addressing discrimination in housing and public places of accommodation or amusement. Current law defines an emotional support animal as an animal that provides emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship to an individual, but that is not trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability. A service animal is generally defined as a dog or other animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. This bill changes the definition of Xservice animalY for purposes of the laws addressing discrimination in public places of accommodation or amusement. The bill limits service animals for those purposes to a dog or miniature horse that meets the standards set forth under federal regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act or a dog or miniature horse that is being trained to be a service animal. LRB-0196/1 MIM:ads&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 327 Under current law, it is discrimination to do any of the following with respect to an individual who has a disability and a disability-related need for an emotional support animal: refuse to rent or sell housing to the individual, charge the individual more for housing, evict the individual from housing, or harass the individual. An owner or lessor, an agent of an owner or lessor, or a representative of a condominium association (collectively, Xhousing representativeY) may request from an individual who wishes to keep an emotional support animal in housing reliable documentation of the individual[s disability-related need for an emotional support animal from a licensed health professional and may deny the individual the ability to keep the emotional support animal in the housing if the individual fails to provide the documentation. The bill allows the housing representative to require that this documentation include a prescription from a licensed health professional for the emotional support animal. An individual who provides false documentation of a prescription for an emotional support animal and a health care provider who provides a prescription for an emotional support animal without having at least a 30-day relationship with the individual before providing the prescription must each forfeit at least $500. The bill prohibits a person from intentionally misrepresenting that he or she is in possession of a service animal while at any public place of accommodation or amusement. A person who violates this prohibition is subject to a forfeiture of up to $200 for a first violation and up to $500 for a second or subsequent violation. The bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to prepare and make available to businesses upon request: 1) signage suitable for posting on a front window or door stating Xtask-trained service animals are welcomeY and that misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is a violation of state law; and 2) an informational brochure detailing the rights of businesses relating to service animals in their place of business. In preparing these materials, DWD must consult with members of organizations that represent business owners, restaurant owners, and groups that train and place service animals and guide dogs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB218 | The amount and distribution of the real estate transfer fee, grants under the land information program, real property recording notification systems, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Current law, generally, requires a person who conveys an interest in real property to file a real estate transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay a real estate transfer fee equal to 30 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. The county retains 20 percent of the fees collected and transmits the remainder to the state. This bill decreases the real estate transfer fee to 20 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. Under the bill, 30 percent of the fees collected are deposited into the general fund, 20 percent of the fees are deposited into the land information fund, and the county retains 50 percent of the fees. Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a land information program, using revenue from the land information fund, that provides funding to counties for the modernization of local land records. Under the land LRB-2260/1 KP/EVM/KRP:klm&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 218 information program, DOA awards land information system base budget grants to counties to enable county land information offices to develop, maintain, and operate basic land information systems. Currently, the minimum amount of a grant is $100,000 less the amount of certain fees retained by the county in the preceding fiscal year. The bill increases that base amount to $175,000 less the retained fees. Under current law, DOA may award a grant under the land information program to any county in an amount not less than $1,000 per year to be used for the training and education of county employees for the design, development, and implementation of a land information system. The bill increases the minimum training and education grant amount from $1,000 to $5,000. The bill directs DOA to award additional local government contribution based grants to counties to fully distribute 46 percent of the amount of real estate transfer fees that are deposited into the land information fund under the bill in each fiscal year. Under the bill, DOA annually must award 46 percent of those deposited amounts as grants to counties based on the relative proportion of the fees each county collected. This bill also requires any county that retains real estate transfer fee moneys to establish a real property recording notification system to be administered by the county[s register of deeds. Upon application by a person, such a system monitors publicly recorded real property records for activity and changes related to properties owned by a specific person or a specific property, and, upon the recording of a new document against a monitored property, notifies the person who applied for monitoring. The bill specifies that no fee may be charged to an applicant for application, monitoring, or notification under such a system. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB193 | Revoking a transfer of real property on death, obtaining evidence of the termination of a decedent’s property interests, disbursing deposits after rescission of real property wholesaler contracts, and filing satisfactions of judgment. | Revoking a transfer of real property on death Under current law, a person may transfer an interest in real property to a beneficiary without probate by designating the beneficiary, called a transfer on death (TOD) beneficiary, in a document that meets certain requirements. The designation of a TOD beneficiary in a document does not affect ownership of the interest in real property until the owner[s death. Currently, an owner of an interest in real property may cancel or change the designation of a TOD beneficiary by executing and recording another document that designates a different TOD beneficiary or no beneficiary. This bill changes this LRB-2535/1 KMS&KRP:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 193 process so that instead a document designating a TOD beneficiary may be revoked only by an instrument that is subsequently acknowledged by the owner and submitted for recording to the office of the register of deeds, and that is (1) a document designating a TOD beneficiary, (2) an instrument that expressly revokes the document designating a TOD beneficiary, or (3) an inter vivos deed containing an express revocation clause. In addition, under the bill, if a document designating a TOD beneficiary is made by more than one owner, (1) revocation by one owner does not affect the document designating a TOD beneficiary as to the interest of another owner and (2) if real property is owned by two or more individuals as joint tenants or by spouses as survivorship marital property, a document designating a TOD beneficiary of that property is revoked only if it is revoked by all of the living joint tenants or spouses. Obtaining evidences of the termination of a decedent[s property interests Under current law, a person may obtain evidence that certain property interests of a decedent have been terminated by providing information to the register of deeds of the county in which the property is located. Currently, to obtain evidence that a decedent[s property interests in real property have been terminated, a person must submit to the register of deeds a copy of the property tax bill for the year preceding the year of the decedent[s death. The bill allows a person to instead submit a copy of the most recent property tax bill. Real property wholesaler contracts; disbursing deposits after rescission Under current law, a real property wholesaler that contracts to sell its interest in a purchase agreement to a third party must provide certain written disclosures to the third party, or the third party may rescind the contract and is entitled to the return of any deposits or option fees paid by the third party. The bill provides that, if the third party rescinds the contract, a person holding deposits or option fees may disburse the deposits or option fees to the third party without any liability on the person[s part. Also under current law, a real property wholesaler that enters into a purchase agreement as a buyer must provide certain written disclosures to the seller, or the seller may rescind the purchase agreement and retain any deposits or option fees paid by the real property wholesaler. The bill provides that, if the seller rescinds the purchase agreement, a person holding deposits or option fees may disburse the deposits or option fees to the seller without any liability on the person[s part. Under current law, Xreal property wholesalerY is defined as a person that enters into a purchase agreement as a buyer and intends to sell the person[s rights as buyer to a third party, and Xpurchase agreementY is defined as a contract for the sale, exchange, option, rental, or purchase of residential real property that includes one to four dwelling units. Filing satisfactions of judgment Under current law, if a judgment debt is paid in whole or in part, a satisfaction may be filed and entered on the judgment and lien docket in the county where the judgment was first docketed. Currently, if the judgment has been entered on the judgment and lien docket in other counties, a certified copy of that satisfaction or a LRB-2535/1 KMS&KRP:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 193 certificate by that clerk of circuit court under official seal may be filed in those other counties to update the judgment and lien dockets in those counties. The bill provides that an original satisfaction signed and acknowledged by the owner or the owner[s attorney may be filed in those other counties, rather than the evidence of satisfaction obtained from the clerk of court in the county where the judgment was first docketed. | In Committee |
| AB71 | School district operating referenda. | This bill eliminates recurring operating referenda and limits a nonrecurring operating referendum to no more than four years. Current law generally limits the total amount of revenue a school district may receive from general school aids and property taxes in a school year. However, there are several exceptions to the revenue limit. One exception is for excess revenue approved by referendum for recurring and nonrecurring purposes. This type of referendum is often referred to as an operating referendum. If the operating referendum is for a nonrecurring purpose, a school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is approved only for specific school years. If the operating referendum is for a recurring purpose, the school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is permanent. Under the bill, an operating referendum to exceed a school district[s revenue limit may be only for nonrecurring purposes and the referendum may not apply to more than four years. | In Committee |
| AB24 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB57 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1735/1 EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 57 | In Committee |
| AJR8 | Restricting the governor’s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | relating to: restricting the governor[s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | In Committee |
| AB216 | The amount and distribution of the real estate transfer fee, grants under the land information program, real property recording notification systems, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Current law, generally, requires a person who conveys an interest in real property to file a real estate transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay a real estate transfer fee equal to 30 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. The county retains 20 percent of the fees collected and transmits the remainder to the state. This bill decreases the real estate transfer fee to 20 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. Under the bill, 30 percent of the fees collected are deposited into the general fund, 20 percent of the fees are deposited into the land information fund, and the county retains 50 percent of the fees. Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a land information program, using revenue from the land information fund, that provides funding to counties for the modernization of local land records. Under the land information program, DOA awards land information system base budget grants to counties to enable county land information offices to develop, maintain, and operate basic land information systems. Currently, the minimum amount of a grant is $100,000 less the amount of certain fees retained by the county in the preceding fiscal year. The bill increases that base amount to $175,000 less the retained fees. Under current law, DOA may award a grant under the land information program to any county in an amount not less than $1,000 per year to be used for the training and education of county employees for the design, development, and implementation of a land information system. The bill increases the minimum training and education grant amount from $1,000 to $5,000. The bill directs DOA to award additional local government contribution based grants to counties to fully distribute 46 percent of the amount of real estate transfer fees that are deposited into the land information fund under the bill in each fiscal year. Under the bill, DOA annually must award 46 percent of those deposited amounts as grants to counties based on the relative proportion of the fees each county collected. This bill also requires any county that retains real estate transfer fee moneys to establish a real property recording notification system to be administered by the county[s register of deeds. Upon application by a person, such a system monitors publicly recorded real property records for activity and changes related to properties owned by a specific person or a specific property, and, upon the recording of a new document against a monitored property, notifies the person who applied for monitoring. The bill specifies that no fee may be charged to an applicant for application, monitoring, or notification under such a system. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB177 | Standard industrial classification codes for linen supply and industrial launderers and modifying the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit. (FE) | Current law uses industry classifications set forth in the Standard Industrial Classification manual, published by the federal government, for a number of purposes, including to assess manufacturing property for property tax purposes. Taxpayers who own property assessed as manufacturing are also eligible to claim certain income tax credits and sales and use tax exemptions. This bill adds SIC industry codes for linen supply and industrial launderers for the purpose of assessing the property of such industries as manufacturing property. The bill also modifies the definition of Xqualified production propertyY for purposes of claiming the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit to include items that are laundered or dry cleaned and sold, leased, or rented to or exchanged with industrial, commercial, or government users. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1579/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 177 | In Committee |
| AB286 | Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) | Under this bill, $172,000,000 is lapsed to the general fund from a federal program revenue appropriation to the Department of Administration on the date the bill becomes law. On May 9, 2025, the secretary of administration reported to the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee that, as of the end of April, the total interest earned on advanced coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds and credited to the federal program revenue appropriation was $171,487,101.82. Under current law, unless specifically provided by law, miscellaneous receipts collected by a state agency, such as interest earnings, must be credited to general purpose revenues of the general fund. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB230 | Requiring retail sellers to accept cash and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill requires a retailer who sells goods or services from a physical location to accept cash as payment during a face-to-face sale with a consumer at one or more points of sale at the physical location, unless the person is otherwise prohibited by law from accepting cash. A retailer who violates this requirement is subject to a civil forfeiture of $200 to $5,000. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB280 | Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) | Under this bill, $172,000,000 is lapsed to the general fund from a federal program revenue appropriation to the Department of Administration on the date the bill becomes law. On May 9, 2025, the secretary of administration reported to the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee that, as of the end of April, the total interest earned on advanced coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds and credited to the federal program revenue appropriation was $171,487,101.82. Under current law, unless specifically provided by law, miscellaneous receipts collected by a state agency, such as interest earnings, must be credited to general purpose revenues of the general fund. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB282 | Local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE) | Under this bill, the rules of proceedings for a governing body of a political subdivision may not prohibit the body from taking up an ordinance or resolution that is substantially similar or identical to an earlier ordinance or resolution that was taken up and voted upon but not enacted or adopted if the later ordinance or resolution is taken up at least two years after the earlier. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB33 | Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty. | Under current law, it is generally a Class I felony to capture or distribute representations depicting nudity without the consent of the person depicted. This bill expands the prohibition to include what are known as Xdeep fakes.Y The bill provides that it is a Class I felony to post, publish, distribute, or exhibit a synthetic intimate representation (commonly known as a Xdeep fakeY) of an identifiable person with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate that person. Under the bill, a synthetic intimate representation is defined as a representation generated using technological means that uses an identifiable person[s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic to depict an intimate representation of that person, regardless of whether the representation includes components that are artificial, legally generated, or generally accessible. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to publish or post a private representation, which is a sexually explicit representation that is intended by the person depicted in the representation to be possessed or viewed only by the persons with whom it was directly shared, without consent of the person depicted. This bill provides that it is also a Class A misdemeanor to reproduce such representations without that person[s consent. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AB300 | A grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE) | This bill establishes a grant program, administered by the Department of Justice, that provides grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase automated registration plate reader systems. Under the bill, to be eligible for a grant, a law enforcement agency must apply for a grant and include in the application a proposed plan of expenditure of the grant moneys. The bill requires DOJ to ensure that at least 50 percent of the grant moneys awarded under the program are awarded to law enforcement agencies located in rural areas. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB311 | Changing an individual’s sex on a birth certificate. | Current law allows for changes to an individual[s sex on a birth record due to a surgical sex-change procedure or to correct an error on a birth record, subject to certain requirements. Under this bill, an individual[s sex on a birth record may not be changed due to a surgical sex-change procedure. Moreover, the bill prohibits any person from changing an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. The bill also prohibits a court from ordering a change to an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. Under the bill, Xbiological sexY means the biological state of being male or female based on sex chromosomes. | In Committee |
| AR8 | Commemorating the victims of the Abundant Life Christian School tragedy, supporting the students, staff, families, and community of Abundant Life Christian School, and condemning violence. | Relating to: commemorating the victims of the Abundant Life Christian School tragedy, supporting the students, staff, families, and community of Abundant Life Christian School, and condemning violence. | In Committee |
| SB95 | Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE) | Under current law, when a defendant is sentenced or placed on probation for a crime, the court must order the defendant to pay restitution to the victim of the crime to pay for costs incurred by the victim or the victim[s estate as a result of the crime. The court may require that restitution be paid immediately, within a specified time, or in specified installments. The court may not set the time limit to be later than the end of the defendant[s term of probation, parole, or extended supervision. When the defendant has completed the term, any outstanding restitution is enforceable in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action. The victim may use civil court actions to collect the restitution, including seeking a wage garnishment or an execution against the defendant[s property (a court order to the sheriff to seize property, sell it, and use the money toward the outstanding restitution). Under this bill, if the defendant is sentenced or placed on probation for human trafficking, the court must require restitution be paid immediately and, if LRB-2109/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 95 the defendant fails to pay immediately, the court must issue an execution against the defendant[s property. Under current law, a person convicted of treason, felony, or bribery may not vote unless the person[s right to vote is restored through a pardon or through completion of the term of imprisonment, including parole or extended supervision, or probation for the crime that led to the disqualification. Under the bill, in addition to completing his or her term of imprisonment or probation for the crime, a person must have paid all fines, costs, fees, surcharges, and restitution, and have completed any court-ordered community service, imposed in connection with the crime. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB93 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Under current law, a person who is released on extended supervision, parole, or probation is subject to conditions or rules of the release. If the person violates a condition or rule, the person is subject to sanctions for the violation, which may include revocation of release. This bill requires the Department of Corrections to recommend revoking a person[s extended supervision, parole, or probation if the person is charged with a crime while on release. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB230 | Requiring retail sellers to accept cash and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill requires a retailer who sells goods or services from a physical location to accept cash as payment during a face-to-face sale with a consumer at one or more points of sale at the physical location, unless the person is otherwise prohibited by law from accepting cash. A retailer who violates this requirement is subject to a civil forfeiture of $200 to $5,000. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB219 | Limitations on ownership of real property in this state by foreign persons. (FE) | This bill modifies current law that limits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding large amounts of agricultural and forestry land in this state. The bill also prohibits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state within 10 miles of a military installation and prohibits foreign adversaries from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. LIMITING FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND Under current law, certain foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of agricultural or forestry land in this state. The bill makes several changes to the limitation under current law. LRB-1662/1 KRP:skw/emw/cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 219 Type of land subject to acreage limit Current law generally prohibits a covered foreign person (as defined below) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that limitation does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be Xextremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.Y See Wis. Op. Att[y Gen. OAG 11-14, ?5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, foreign persons may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but covered foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill eliminates the current scheme under which the limitation applies to all land with extremely broad exceptions and replaces the scheme with a limitation that applies only to land that is classified, for property tax purposes, as agricultural (agricultural land). Under the bill, the limitation does not apply to forestry land. Amount of land foreign persons may own The bill reduces the maximum amount of agricultural land that a covered foreign person may acquire, own, or hold from 640 acres to 50 acres (acreage limit). Covered foreign persons Under current law, the following persons generally are subject to the acreage limit (covered foreign person): 1. An alien not a resident of a state of the United States (nonresident alien). 2. A corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign entity). 3. A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or association having more than 20 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership held or owned by nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign-owned entity). 4. A trust having more than 20 percent of the value of its assets held for the benefit of nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign beneficiary trust). The bill does all of the following: 1. Specifies that the acreage limit also applies to a foreign government. 2. Increases the percentage of an entity[s ownership held by nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the entity to be considered a foreign- owned entity from 20 percent to 25 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership. 3. Increases the percentage of a trust[s assets held for the benefit of LRB-1662/1 KRP:skw/emw/cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 219 nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the trust to be considered a foreign beneficiary trust from 20 percent to 25 percent of the value of its assets. 4. Specifies that, for purposes of determining whether an entity is a foreign- owned entity or whether a trust is a foreign beneficiary trust, foreign government interests are included in calculating the relevant percentage amounts. Exception for agricultural research leases Current law includes exceptions from the acreage limit for railroad and pipeline corporations and treaty rights, among other things. The bill provides that the acreage limit also does not apply to a lease that is exclusively for agricultural research purposes and encumbers no more than 50 acres of agricultural land. Divestiture period Under current law, if a covered foreign person acquires an interest in land that causes the covered foreign person to exceed the acreage limit, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest. Specifically, the covered foreign person must divest itself within four years after: 1. Acquiring the interest, if the covered foreign person is a nonresident alien or foreign entity and the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. 2. Acquiring the interest or becoming a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust, whichever is later, if the covered foreign person is a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust. The bill reduces the divestiture period from four years to three years and specifies that the divestiture requirement described under item 1 applies to a foreign government. PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY NEAR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS The bill generally prohibits a covered foreign person from acquiring, owning, or holding any real property in this state that is located on or within 10 miles of a military installation, as defined in the bill (military property). Under the bill, the prohibition does not apply to 1) an interest used to secure repayment of a debt, 2) a person whose right to hold military property is secured by treaty, or 3) a railroad or pipeline corporation. The bill allows a covered foreign person to acquire an interest in military property that the covered foreign person would otherwise be prohibited from acquiring if the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. However, if such an interest is acquired, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest within 18 months after acquiring the interest. The bill specifies that, if a person becomes a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust after the bill[s effective date, the person has 18 months to divest itself of any interest in military property the person is prohibited from owning or holding. Finally, the bill provides that any interest in military property acquired, owned, or held in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. LRB-1662/1 KRP:skw/emw/cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 219 PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY BY FOREIGN ADVERSARIES The bill prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. Under the bill, Xforeign adversaryY means a person determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce to be a foreign adversary of the United States. Those countries currently include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro. The bill provides that any interest acquired, owned, or held by a foreign adversary in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB260 | Certification of surgical technologists. | This bill prohibits hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers from employing or otherwise retaining any individual to perform surgical technology services unless the individual is qualified as provided in the bill. XSurgical technologyY is defined under the bill to mean surgical patient care and includes: 1) collaboration with a team of health care providers prior to a surgical procedure to carry out the plan of care by performing certain preparatory tasks; 2) intraoperative anticipation and response to the needs of a surgeon and other team members in the operating room by monitoring the sterile field and providing the required instruments or supplies in the sterile field; and 3) performance of tasks in the sterile field as directed in an operating room setting, including passing supplies, equipment, or instruments; sponging or suctioning an operative site; preparing and cutting suture material; handling specimens; and holding retractors. To qualify to perform surgical technology services under the bill, an individual must satisfy one of several possible criteria, including 1) successfully completing a training program for surgical technology in connection with the individual[s military service, or 2) successfully completing an accredited educational program for surgical technologists and holding and maintaining a certification as a surgical technologist from a national and accredited certifying body. The bill provides that LRB-2568/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 260 a hospital or ambulatory surgical center may employ or otherwise retain the services of an individual to perform surgical technology services during the 24- month period that immediately follows the individual[s successful completion of an educational program for surgical technologists. The bill provides that these requirements do not apply to a licensed health care provider who may provide surgical technology services within their scope of practice. Further, the bill provides that a hospital or ambulatory surgical center may establish additional requirements for any individual who performs surgical technology services as a condition of employment or contract. | In Committee |
| SB7 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. | This bill generally prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. In the bill, “foreign adversary” means a foreign government or nongovernment person determined by the federal secretary of commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of U.S. persons. Current law generally prohibits a nonresident alien or a corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign person) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that prohibition does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. LRB-0067/1 KRP:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 7 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be “extremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.” See Opinion of Wis. Att’y Gen., OAG 11-14, ¶5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, a foreign person may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but a foreign person may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill retains the current law restriction on foreign person ownership of agricultural and forestry land and adds a provision that prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring any land for agricultural or forestry purposes. | In Committee |
| SB313 | Providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE) | Under current law, when a child is the subject of a child or juvenile in need of protection or services (CHIPS or JIPS) proceeding, the county social or human services department, a child welfare agency, or, if the child or juvenile is located in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families is required to prepare a permanency plan for the child. The permanency plan is reviewed every six months either by a review panel or at a court hearing. Before the review or hearing, the agency is required to provide a copy of the plan, and any written comments that the agency receives about the plan, to the following people: the members of the review panel; the child[s parent, guardian, or legal custodian; the person representing the interests of the public; the child[s counsel, guardian ad litem, or court-appointed special advocate; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the child[s Indian custodian and tribe. This bill allows an agency to provide a copy of a child[s permanency plan and LRB-3305/1 MDE:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 313 comments on the plan to a child[s out-of-home care provider in the context of a permanency review and a permanency hearing. An out-of-home care provider includes a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, nonrelative in whose home a child or juvenile is placed, and operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a child or juvenile is placed. Under this bill, any information that is required to remain confidential under federal or state law must be redacted from the permanency plan before it is provided to the out-of-home care provider. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB312 | Changing an individual’s sex on a birth certificate. | Current law allows for changes to an individual[s sex on a birth record due to a surgical sex-change procedure or to correct an error on a birth record, subject to certain requirements. Under this bill, an individual[s sex on a birth record may not be changed due to a surgical sex-change procedure. Moreover, the bill prohibits any person from changing an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. The bill also prohibits a court from ordering a change to an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. Under the bill, Xbiological sexY means the biological state of being male or female based on sex chromosomes. | In Committee |
| AB268 | The right of appeal for complainants aggrieved by decisions of the Elections Commission concerning the conduct of election officials. | Under current law, any person eligible to vote in Wisconsin may file a complaint with the Elections Commission alleging that an election official serving the voter[s jurisdiction has failed to comply with certain election laws or has abused his or her discretion with respect to the administration of such election laws. After investigation of a complaint, current law authorizes the commission to issue an order requiring an election official to conform his or her conduct to the law, restraining an election official from taking any action inconsistent with the law, or requiring an election official to correct any action or decision inconsistent with the law. Additionally, current law authorizes any complainant who is aggrieved by an order of the commission on the complaint to appeal the commission[s decision in court. The law does not specifically define the term XaggrievedY for purposes of this right of appeal. However, in Brown v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2025 WI 5, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that a complainant not receiving a favorable decision from the Elections Commission on a complaint is aggrieved, and therefore has a right to appeal that decision in court, only if the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest as a result of the decision. This bill provides that a complainant must be considered aggrieved for purposes of that right of appeal regardless of whether the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest and that a complainant may appeal any commission order that dismisses the complaint or otherwise does not grant the relief requested in the complaint. | In Committee |
| SB190 | Ratification of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. (FE) | RESPIRATORY CARE INTERSTATE COMPACT This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, which provides for the ability of a respiratory care practitioner to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission, which includes one administrator or staff member of the licensure authorities of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including establishing bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, hiring officers, electing or appointing employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees of member states to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. A process whereby a respiratory care practitioner may obtain a compact privilege to practice in another member state. A licensee's primary state of residence is considered to be his or her home state, and any other member state in which the licensee wishes to practice is considered a remote state. A licensee providing respiratory therapy in a remote state under the compact privilege is required under the compact to function within the scope of practice authorized by the remote state. A remote state may take actions against a respiratory care practitioner[s compact privilege within that remote state, and if a respiratory care practitioner[s home state license is encumbered, the respiratory care practitioner loses his or her compact privilege in all remote states until the home state license is no longer encumbered and two years have elapsed from the date on which the license is no longer encumbered. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure and disciplinary action information on respiratory care practitioners. The compact provides that member states are responsible for reporting any adverse action against a licensee and for monitoring the database to determine whether adverse action has been taken against a licensee. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system with certain information specified in the compact, as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. The compact becomes effective in this state upon enactment in seven states. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by LRB-2628/1 MED:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 190 all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the effective date of that repeal. STATUTES AND RULES EXAMINATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS The bill prohibits the Medical Examining Board from requiring an applicant to pass a statutes and rules examination as a condition of certification as a respiratory care practitioner. The bill allows the board to require an applicant to affirm that the applicant has read and understands the statutes and rules that apply to the applicant's practice as a respiratory care practitioner. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB207 | Information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE) | Current law requires that each proposed constitutional amendment, contingent referendum, advisory referendum, or other proposal requiring a statewide referendum that is passed by the legislature include a complete statement of the ballot question to be voted on at the referendum. The ballot question may not be worded in such a manner as to require a negative vote to approve a proposition or an affirmative vote to disapprove a proposition. Also under current law, the attorney general must prepare an explanatory statement for each proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum describing the effect of either a XyesY or XnoY vote on each ballot question. This bill eliminates the requirement that the attorney general prepare such an explanatory statement. Instead, the bill requires that each proposal for a constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum that passes both houses of the legislature contain a complete state referendum disclosure notice that includes all of the following: 1. The date of the referendum. 2. The entire text of the ballot question and proposed constitutional amendment or enactment, if any. 3. To the extent applicable, a plain language summary of current law. 4. An explanation in plain language of the effect of the proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum. 5. An explanation in plain language of the effect of a XyesY vote and the effect of a XnoY vote. Under the bill, the content under items 3 to 5 combined may not exceed one page on paper not less than 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches and printed in at least 12- point font. Under the bill, the complete state referendum disclosure notice agreed to by both houses of the legislature must be included in the type C notice entitled XNotice of ReferendumY that each county clerk must provide prior to any referendum. Current law requires that the text of the type C notice be posted at polling places on election day in such a manner as to be readily observed by voters entering the polling place or waiting in line to vote. As such, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be so posted at the polls on election day. Additionally, for at least 30 days prior to the date of a statewide referendum, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be published by the Elections Commission on the website used for voter registration, currently titled MyVote Wisconsin, or other voter public access website maintained by the commission and must be posted by each county clerk at the county clerk[s office and published by the county clerk on the county clerk[s website. Finally, the notice must be included with absentee ballots provided to voters for voting in a statewide referendum. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB223 | Residency requirements for persons circulating nomination papers or recall petitions. | Under current law, any person may circulate nomination papers for a candidate if the person is eligible to vote in Wisconsin or is a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who, if he or she were a Wisconsin resident, would not be disqualified from voting in the state. A person is eligible to vote in Wisconsin if he or she is a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who has resided in an election district in this state for at least 28 consecutive days. Under this bill, a person must be eligible to vote in Wisconsin in order to circulate nomination papers for a candidate. However, under the bill, nomination papers and petitions for the candidacy of candidates for the offices of president and vice president of the United States may continue to be circulated by any person eligible to vote in Wisconsin or by any U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who, if he or she were a Wisconsin resident, would not be disqualified from voting in the state. Similarly, under current law, any person who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin or who is a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older and who, if he or she were a Wisconsin resident, would not be disqualified from voting in the state may circulate a recall petition. Under the bill, a person must be eligible to vote in Wisconsin in order to circulate a recall petition and have the signatures on the petition be counted toward a recall. | In Committee |
| AB193 | Ratification of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. (FE) | RESPIRATORY CARE INTERSTATE COMPACT This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, which provides for the ability of a respiratory care practitioner to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Commission, which includes one administrator or staff member of the licensure authorities of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including establishing bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, hiring officers, electing or appointing employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees of member states to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. A process whereby a respiratory care practitioner may obtain a compact privilege to practice in another member state. A licensee's primary state of residence is considered to be his or her home state, and any other member state in which the licensee wishes to practice is considered a remote state. A licensee providing respiratory therapy in a remote state under the compact privilege is required under the compact to function within the scope of practice authorized by the remote state. A remote state may take actions against a respiratory care practitioner[s compact privilege within that remote state, and if a respiratory care practitioner[s home state license is encumbered, the respiratory care practitioner loses his or her compact privilege in all remote states until the home state license is no longer encumbered and two years have elapsed from the date on which the license is no longer encumbered. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure and disciplinary action information on respiratory care practitioners. The compact provides that member states are responsible for reporting any adverse action against a licensee and for monitoring the database to determine whether adverse action has been taken against a licensee. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system with certain information specified in the compact, as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. The compact becomes effective in this state upon enactment in seven states. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the effective date of that repeal. STATUTES AND RULES EXAMINATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS The bill prohibits the Medical Examining Board from requiring an applicant to pass a statutes and rules examination as a condition of certification as a respiratory care practitioner. The bill allows the board to require an applicant to affirm that the applicant has read and understands the statutes and rules that apply to the applicant's practice as a respiratory care practitioner. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB148 | Interpreter action by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil or criminal proceedings. | Under current law, in any civil or criminal proceeding other than a trial, a court may permit an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means. This bill removes the exclusion for trials, so that an interpreter may act by telephone or live audiovisual means in any civil or criminal proceeding. | In Committee |
| AB163 | Redeterminations of eligibility for the Medical Assistance program and database confirmation for public assistance program eligibility. (FE) | This bill makes various changes to eligibility determinations for the Medical Assistance program. Currently, the Department of Health Services administers the Medical Assistance program, a joint federal and state program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. The bill prohibits DHS from automatically renewing the eligibility of a recipient under the Medical Assistance program. DHS must determine an individual[s eligibility every six months under the bill. DHS is also prohibited from using prepopulated forms or otherwise supplying information, except for name and address, to a recipient under the Medical Assistance program that has been supplied to DHS. Additionally, any recipient under the Medical Assistance program that fails to report to DHS or its designee any change that may affect eligibility within 10 days following such a change is ineligible for benefits for six months from the date DHS discovers the failure to report the change. Under current law, knowingly concealing or failing to disclose any event that an individual knows affects the initial or continued right to a Medical Assistance benefit is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $15,000 for each concealment or failure. If DHS determines that it is necessary to obtain permission from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to implement any portion of the bill with respect to the Medical Assistance program, the bill requires DHS to request any state plan amendment, waiver of federal law, or other federal approval necessary to implement that portion of the bill. The bill requires DHS to enter into data-sharing agreements with any agency that maintains a database of financial or personal information about residents of this state. DHS must confirm the information of an applicant for a public assistance program against the information contained in those databases. The bill also requires DHS to share data for the purpose of confirming eligibility for public assistance programs. Current law requires DHS and the Department of Children and Families to compare each department[s respective databases against the databases of death records to identify deceased participants. The bill directs DHS to complete a redetermination of eligibility for all recipients of Medical Assistance and immediately remove from Medical Assistance any recipient who is ineligible before January 1, 2026. For all such individuals removed from the Medical Assistance program, the bill directs DHS to inform them of the availability of coverage under a qualified health plan that is offered through an American health benefit exchange and that they may be eligible for premium assistance. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB299 | A grant program for the purchase of automated registration plate reader systems. (FE) | This bill establishes a grant program, administered by the Department of Justice, that provides grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase automated registration plate reader systems. Under the bill, to be eligible for a grant, a law enforcement agency must apply for a grant and include in the application a proposed plan of expenditure of the grant moneys. The bill requires DOJ to ensure that at least 50 percent of the grant moneys awarded under the program are awarded to law enforcement agencies located in rural areas. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB300 | Eliminating the 13-week limit on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors. | This bill eliminates the 13-week limit imposed on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors. Under current law, a creditor may file a garnishment notice with a court and pay a fee to a garnishee for the purpose of collecting an unsatisfied judgment for money damages from earnings owed to the debtor by the garnishee. Current law limits the number of weeks in which the earnings of a debtor, other than a debtor who is an employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state, may be garnisheed to 13 weeks. Under current law, a court-ordered assignment of a debtor[s earnings for support or maintenance in a family law matter takes priority over an earnings garnishment. The bill provides that a court-ordered earnings garnishment to satisfy an order for restitution in a criminal matter takes priority over other LRB-3019/1 KRP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 300 earnings garnishments but does not have priority over an assignment in a family law matter. The bill makes various other changes, including changes to account for the increased length of time a garnishment may continue. For example, the bill requires a creditor to provide additional notices to a debtor when a garnishment extends beyond a 13-week period. | In Committee |
| AB292 | The use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE) | Under this bill, a court may allow the use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in civil or criminal proceedings, certain municipal proceedings, and administrative contested case proceedings. Under current law, on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in any criminal proceeding, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. The bill allows an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means in a criminal trial in addition to other types of proceedings. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB295 | The use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE) | Under this bill, a court may allow the use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in civil or criminal proceedings, certain municipal proceedings, and administrative contested case proceedings. Under current law, on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in any criminal proceeding, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. The bill allows an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means in a criminal trial in addition to other types of proceedings. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB287 | The employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | State procurement Under current law, the Department of Administration, the legislature, the judiciary, and state authorities may purchase all necessary materials and contract for services. Current law also generally authorizes DOA to contract for construction work when the project cost is estimated to exceed $50,000. With some exceptions, such purchases or contracts must be awarded to the lowest bidder. This bill creates a new exception to the lowest-bidder award by prohibiting the state from purchasing or contracting for materials or services with an employer that does not verify, by using the Federal Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify Program), that all of its employees are eligible to work in the United States or that employs an individual after the E-Verify Program identifies that the individual is not eligible to work in the United States. The E-Verify Program is a system operated by the federal Department of Homeland Security and the federal Social Security Administration that allows an employer to enroll in the system and verify that its employees are eligible to work in the United States. LRB-0512/1 MIM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 287 State government and local government employment practices This bill provides that a state government agency or local governmental unit that intends to hire an employee after the bill[s effective date must verify the individual[s identity under the E-Verify Program. A state government agency or local governmental unit may not offer employment to any individual who is identified under the E-Verify Program as ineligible to work in the United States. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB281 | The employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | State procurement Under current law, the Department of Administration, the legislature, the judiciary, and state authorities may purchase all necessary materials and contract for services. Current law also generally authorizes DOA to contract for construction work when the project cost is estimated to exceed $50,000. With some exceptions, such purchases or contracts must be awarded to the lowest bidder. This bill creates a new exception to the lowest-bidder award by prohibiting the state from purchasing or contracting for materials or services with an employer that does not verify, by using the Federal Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify Program), that all of its employees are eligible to work in the United States or that employs an individual after the E-Verify Program identifies that the individual is not eligible to work in the United States. The E-Verify Program is a system operated by the federal Department of Homeland Security and the federal Social Security Administration that allows an employer to enroll in the system and verify that its employees are eligible to work in the United States. State government and local government employment practices This bill provides that a state government agency or local governmental unit that intends to hire an employee after the bill[s effective date must verify the individual[s identity under the E-Verify Program. A state government agency or local governmental unit may not offer employment to any individual who is identified under the E-Verify Program as ineligible to work in the United States. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB277 | Requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs. | Under current law, if a proposed administrative rule is reasonably expected to pass along $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, the agency proposing the rule must stop working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to reduce the expected costs or 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule. These requirements do not apply to emergency rules or to certain rules proposed by the Department of Natural Resources that relate to air quality and that are required under federal law. This bill changes those requirements so that the requirements apply when a proposed rule is reasonably expected to pass along any amount of implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period. Under the bill, the agency proposing such a rule must stop working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to eliminate the expected costs; 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule; or 3) the agency promulgates or has promulgated a different rule, in the same calendar year as proposing the rule at issue, that is reasonably expected to reduce implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, in an amount that will offset the amount of costs resulting from the proposed rule at issue. The bill also requires an agency, in the economic impact analysis of a proposed rule that the agency is required to prepare, to include an estimate of the total implementation and compliance cost savings that are reasonably expected to be realized by businesses, local governmental units, and individuals as a result of the proposed rule, expressed as a single dollar figure. | In Committee |
| SB289 | Requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs. | Under current law, if a proposed administrative rule is reasonably expected to pass along $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, the agency proposing the rule must stop working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to reduce the expected costs or 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule. These requirements do not apply to emergency rules or to certain rules proposed by the Department of Natural Resources that relate to air quality and that are required under federal law. This bill changes those requirements so that the requirements apply when a proposed rule is reasonably expected to pass along any amount of implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period. Under the bill, the agency proposing such a rule must stop LRB-2514/1 MED:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 289 working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to eliminate the expected costs; 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule; or 3) the agency promulgates or has promulgated a different rule, in the same calendar year as proposing the rule at issue, that is reasonably expected to reduce implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, in an amount that will offset the amount of costs resulting from the proposed rule at issue. The bill also requires an agency, in the economic impact analysis of a proposed rule that the agency is required to prepare, to include an estimate of the total implementation and compliance cost savings that are reasonably expected to be realized by businesses, local governmental units, and individuals as a result of the proposed rule, expressed as a single dollar figure. | In Committee |
| AB296 | Eliminating the 13-week limit on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors. | This bill eliminates the 13-week limit imposed on the garnishment of earnings of certain debtors. Under current law, a creditor may file a garnishment notice with a court and pay a fee to a garnishee for the purpose of collecting an unsatisfied judgment for money damages from earnings owed to the debtor by the garnishee. Current law limits the number of weeks in which the earnings of a debtor, other than a debtor who is an employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state, may be garnisheed to 13 weeks. Under current law, a court-ordered assignment of a debtor[s earnings for support or maintenance in a family law matter takes priority over an earnings garnishment. The bill provides that a court-ordered earnings garnishment to satisfy an order for restitution in a criminal matter takes priority over other earnings garnishments but does not have priority over an assignment in a family law matter. The bill makes various other changes, including changes to account for the increased length of time a garnishment may continue. For example, the bill requires a creditor to provide additional notices to a debtor when a garnishment extends beyond a 13-week period. | In Committee |
| AB191 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address. | Under current law, a subpoena may generally be served by any person by exhibiting and reading it to the witness, by giving the witness a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the witness[s home. This bill modifies the procedure with respect to law enforcement officers and tribal law enforcement officers served in an official capacity, requiring that a subpoena may be served upon a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer in the officer[s official capacity as a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer only at the officer[s work address by exhibiting and reading it to the officer, by giving the officer a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the officer[s work address. | In Committee |
| AB180 | Requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to request any necessary waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. Under current law, the federal food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and called FoodShare in this state, provides benefits to eligible low-income households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is administered by DHS. The federal government pays the benefits for FoodShare while the state and federal government share the cost of administration. Current federal law defines the foods eligible for purchase under FoodShare. The bill requires DHS to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits for the purchase of candy or soft drinks. If the waiver is granted, DHS must prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits to purchase candy or soft drinks. If any necessary waiver is not granted, the bill requires DHS to resubmit the waiver request annually until it is granted. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR10 | The freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | relating to: the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau EXPLANATION OF PROPOSAL This proposed constitutional amendment, to be given second consideration by the 2025 legislature for submittal to the voters in November 2026, was first considered by the 2023 legislature in 2023 Senate Joint Resolution 54, which became 2023 Enrolled Joint Resolution 11. This constitutional amendment provides that the state or a political subdivision of the state may not order the closure of or forbid gatherings in places of worship in response to a state of emergency at the national, state, or local level, including an emergency related to public health. PROCEDURE FOR SECOND CONSIDERATION When a proposed constitutional amendment is before the legislature on second consideration, any change in the text approved by the preceding legislature causes the proposed constitutional amendment to revert to first consideration status so that second consideration approval would have to be given by the next legislature before the proposal may be submitted to the people for ratification [see joint rule 57 (2)]. If the legislature approves a proposed constitutional amendment on second LRB-0654/1 MPG:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature consideration, it must also set the date for submitting the proposed constitutional amendment to the people for ratification and must determine the question or questions to appear on the ballot. | In Committee |
| AB36 | Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) | Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) the annuitant is a retired law enforcement officer or firefighter; 2) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and 3) the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows an annuitant who was a law enforcement officer or firefighter to return to work with an employer that participates in the WRS and elect to not become a participating employee for purposes of the WRS but instead continue to receive an annuity from the WRS. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB34 | Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths. | Under current law, a district attorney has the discretion as to whether or not to issue a complaint to charge a person with a crime. Current law also provides that, if a district attorney refuses to issue a complaint against a person, a judge may conduct a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the person committed a crime and, if so, issue a complaint. Under this bill, when there is an officer-involved death, which is a death that results directly from an action or an omission of a law enforcement officer, and the district attorney determined there was no basis to prosecute the officer, a court may not issue a complaint against the involved officer unless there is new or unused evidence presented. | In Committee |
| AB124 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. | Current law prohibits a person who is registered as a sex offender with the Department of Corrections from changing their name during the period they are required to register. With certain exceptions, a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of a violent crime, which is defined in the bill and includes homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault, from changing their name. A person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AB146 | Requests for information from employers about unemployment insurance claims. | Under current rules of the Department of Workforce Development, in order to determine unemployment insurance (UI) benefit claims, DWD may require employers to provide information about claimants[ employment separations, dates of work, wages and other payments, and other issues that may be disqualifying. This bill requires DWD to allow an employer no less than 12 business days to respond to an initial request for information about a UI benefit claim. | In Committee |
| SB78 | The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) | This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives: 1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a LRB-0065/1 JAM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 78 permit authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special- use fertilizer. 2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or other scientifically validated analytical method. 3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled experimental studies using the soil or plant additive. 4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it contains. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB33 | Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty. | Under current law, it is generally a Class I felony to capture or distribute representations depicting nudity without the consent of the person depicted. This bill expands the prohibition to include what are known as Xdeep fakes.Y The bill provides that it is a Class I felony to post, publish, distribute, or exhibit a synthetic intimate representation (commonly known as a Xdeep fakeY) of an identifiable person with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate that person. Under the bill, a synthetic intimate representation is defined as a representation generated using technological means that uses an identifiable person[s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic to depict an intimate representation of that person, regardless of whether the representation includes components that are artificial, legally generated, or generally accessible. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to publish or post a private representation, which is a sexually explicit representation that is intended by the person depicted in the representation to be possessed or viewed only by the persons with whom it was directly shared, without consent of the person depicted. This bill LRB-0058/1 MJW:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 33 provides that it is also a Class A misdemeanor to reproduce such representations without that person[s consent. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| SB66 | Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty. | Under current law, any motor vehicle for which the Department of Transportation has issued registration plates must display those plates, along with any decals issued for the plates. This bill prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, installation, and use of a registration plate concealment device, which is a manual, electronic, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle to 1) switch between two or more registration plates; 2) move, obstruct, or conceal a registration plate; or 3) alter the appearance of a registration plate so that the registration number cannot be seen and read. The bill also prohibits the equipment of any motor vehicle with a registration plate concealment device. A person who violates these prohibitions may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both. Any vehicle equipped in violation of these prohibitions may be impounded, and reasonable costs for towing and impounding the vehicle may be assessed against the owner. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. LRB-0665/1 ZDW:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 66 | Crossed Over |
| SB25 | Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths. | Under current law, a district attorney has the discretion as to whether or not to issue a complaint to charge a person with a crime. Current law also provides that, if a district attorney refuses to issue a complaint against a person, a judge may conduct a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the person committed a crime and, if so, issue a complaint. Under this bill, when there is an officer-involved death, which is a death that results directly from an action or an omission of a law enforcement officer, and the district attorney determined there was no basis to prosecute the officer, a court may not issue a complaint against the involved officer unless there is new or unused evidence presented. | Crossed Over |
| SB146 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. | Current law prohibits a person who is registered as a sex offender with the Department of Corrections from changing their name during the period they are required to register. With certain exceptions, a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of a violent crime, which is defined in the bill and includes homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault, from changing their name. A person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| SB147 | Interpreter action by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil or criminal proceedings. | Under current law, in any civil or criminal proceeding other than a trial, a court may permit an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means. This bill removes the exclusion for trials, so that an interpreter may act by telephone or live audiovisual means in any civil or criminal proceeding. | Crossed Over |
| SB194 | Obtaining attorney fees and costs under the state’s public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court. | Currently, if a person requests access to a public record and the agency or officer in state or local government having custody of the record, known as an XauthorityY under the public records law, withholds or delays granting access to the record or a part of the record, the requester may bring a mandamus action asking a court to order release of the record or part of the record. Current law requires the court to award reasonable attorney fees, damages of not less than $100, and other actual costs to the requester if the requester prevails in whole or in substantial part in any such action. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided in 2022 that a requester prevails in whole or in substantial part only if the requester obtains a judicially sanctioned change in the parties[ legal relationship, for example, a court order requiring disclosure of a record. See, Friends of Frame Park, U.A. v. City of Waukesha, 2022 WI 57. Under the supreme court[s decision, a requester generally is not entitled to LRB-2242/1 MPG:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 194 attorney fees and costs if the authority voluntarily or unilaterally without a court order provides contested records after the requester files an action in court. This bill supersedes the supreme court[s decision in Friends of Frame Park. Under the bill, a requester has prevailed in whole or in substantial part if the requester has obtained relief through any of the following means: 1. A judicial order or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree. 2. The authority[s voluntary or unilateral release of a record if the court determines that the filing of the mandamus action was a substantial factor contributing to that voluntary or unilateral release. This standard is substantially the same as the standard that applies for a requester to obtain attorney fees and costs under the federal Freedom of Information Act. | Crossed Over |
| SB191 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address. | Under current law, a subpoena may generally be served by any person by exhibiting and reading it to the witness, by giving the witness a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the witness[s home. This bill modifies the procedure with respect to law enforcement officers and tribal law enforcement officers served in an official capacity, requiring that a subpoena may be served upon a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer in the officer[s official capacity as a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer only at the officer[s work address by exhibiting and reading it to the officer, by giving the officer a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the officer[s work address. | Crossed Over |
| SJR36 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse women’s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]La Crosse women[s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | Crossed Over |
| SJR30 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey National Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]Madison women[s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women[s Hockey National Championship. | Crossed Over |
| SB246 | A special observance day in schools for Armenian Genocide Awareness Day. | This bill adds April 24, Armenian Genocide Awareness Day, to the list of special observance days that apply to general school operations. Current law provides a list of 22 special observance days, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Susan B. Anthony[s birthday; Environmental Awareness Day; Bullying Awareness Day; and Veterans Day. Under current law, a special observance day must be appropriately observed when school is held on that day or, if the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on the school day immediately preceding or following the special observance day. | In Committee |
| AB256 | A special observance day in schools for Armenian Genocide Awareness Day. | This bill adds April 24, Armenian Genocide Awareness Day, to the list of special observance days that apply to general school operations. Current law provides a list of 22 special observance days, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Susan B. Anthony[s birthday; Environmental Awareness Day; Bullying Awareness Day; and Veterans Day. Under current law, a special observance day must be appropriately observed when school is held on that day or, if the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on the school day immediately preceding or following the special observance day. | In Committee |
| SB270 | The right of appeal for complainants aggrieved by decisions of the Elections Commission concerning the conduct of election officials. | Under current law, any person eligible to vote in Wisconsin may file a complaint with the Elections Commission alleging that an election official serving the voter[s jurisdiction has failed to comply with certain election laws or has abused his or her discretion with respect to the administration of such election laws. After investigation of a complaint, current law authorizes the commission to issue an order requiring an election official to conform his or her conduct to the law, restraining an election official from taking any action inconsistent with the law, or requiring an election official to correct any action or decision inconsistent with the law. Additionally, current law authorizes any complainant who is aggrieved by an order of the commission on the complaint to appeal the commission[s decision in court. The law does not specifically define the term XaggrievedY for purposes of this right of appeal. However, in Brown v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2025 WI 5, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that a complainant not receiving a favorable decision from the Elections Commission on a complaint is aggrieved, and therefore has a right to appeal that decision in court, only if the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest as a result of the decision. LRB-2416/1 MPG:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 270 This bill provides that a complainant must be considered aggrieved for purposes of that right of appeal regardless of whether the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest and that a complainant may appeal any commission order that dismisses the complaint or otherwise does not grant the relief requested in the complaint. | In Committee |
| AJR29 | Celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB263 | Findings of fact when the court grants less than equal physical placement of a child. | Under current law, in an action affecting a family that involves a child, the court is required to determine the legal custody and the physical placement of the child. Current law requires the court to set a physical placement schedule that allows a child to have regularly occurring, meaningful periods of physical placement with each parent and that maximizes the amount of time for a child with each parent. In determining a physical placement schedule, the court must, in each case, consider a statutory list of best-interest factors. Current law provides that, if the court grants less than 25 percent of physical placement to one parent in a temporary or final order in an action affecting the family, specific findings of fact must be entered as to the reasons that greater physical placement with that parent is not in the best interest of the child. This bill changes the requirement such that specific findings of fact must be entered if the court grants less than 50 percent of physical placement to one parent in a temporary or final order in an action affecting the family. LRB-2980/1 SWB:ajk&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 263 | In Committee |
| AB218 | Limitations on ownership of real property in this state by foreign persons. (FE) | This bill modifies current law that limits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding large amounts of agricultural and forestry land in this state. The bill also prohibits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state within 10 miles of a military installation and prohibits foreign adversaries from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. LIMITING FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND Under current law, certain foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of agricultural or forestry land in this state. The bill makes several changes to the limitation under current law. Type of land subject to acreage limit Current law generally prohibits a covered foreign person (as defined below) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that limitation does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be Xextremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.Y See Wis. Op. Att[y Gen. OAG 11-14, ?5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, foreign persons may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but covered foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill eliminates the current scheme under which the limitation applies to all land with extremely broad exceptions and replaces the scheme with a limitation that applies only to land that is classified, for property tax purposes, as agricultural (agricultural land). Under the bill, the limitation does not apply to forestry land. Amount of land foreign persons may own The bill reduces the maximum amount of agricultural land that a covered foreign person may acquire, own, or hold from 640 acres to 50 acres (acreage limit). Covered foreign persons Under current law, the following persons generally are subject to the acreage limit (covered foreign person): 1. An alien not a resident of a state of the United States (nonresident alien). 2. A corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign entity). 3. A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or association having more than 20 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership held or owned by nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign-owned entity). 4. A trust having more than 20 percent of the value of its assets held for the benefit of nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign beneficiary trust). The bill does all of the following: 1. Specifies that the acreage limit also applies to a foreign government. 2. Increases the percentage of an entity[s ownership held by nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the entity to be considered a foreign- owned entity from 20 percent to 25 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership. 3. Increases the percentage of a trust[s assets held for the benefit of nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the trust to be considered a foreign beneficiary trust from 20 percent to 25 percent of the value of its assets. 4. Specifies that, for purposes of determining whether an entity is a foreign- owned entity or whether a trust is a foreign beneficiary trust, foreign government interests are included in calculating the relevant percentage amounts. Exception for agricultural research leases Current law includes exceptions from the acreage limit for railroad and pipeline corporations and treaty rights, among other things. The bill provides that the acreage limit also does not apply to a lease that is exclusively for agricultural research purposes and encumbers no more than 50 acres of agricultural land. Divestiture period Under current law, if a covered foreign person acquires an interest in land that causes the covered foreign person to exceed the acreage limit, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest. Specifically, the covered foreign person must divest itself within four years after: 1. Acquiring the interest, if the covered foreign person is a nonresident alien or foreign entity and the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. 2. Acquiring the interest or becoming a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust, whichever is later, if the covered foreign person is a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust. The bill reduces the divestiture period from four years to three years and specifies that the divestiture requirement described under item 1 applies to a foreign government. PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY NEAR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS The bill generally prohibits a covered foreign person from acquiring, owning, or holding any real property in this state that is located on or within 10 miles of a military installation, as defined in the bill (military property). Under the bill, the prohibition does not apply to 1) an interest used to secure repayment of a debt, 2) a person whose right to hold military property is secured by treaty, or 3) a railroad or pipeline corporation. The bill allows a covered foreign person to acquire an interest in military property that the covered foreign person would otherwise be prohibited from acquiring if the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. However, if such an interest is acquired, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest within 18 months after acquiring the interest. The bill specifies that, if a person becomes a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust after the bill[s effective date, the person has 18 months to divest itself of any interest in military property the person is prohibited from owning or holding. Finally, the bill provides that any interest in military property acquired, owned, or held in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY BY FOREIGN ADVERSARIES The bill prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. Under the bill, Xforeign adversaryY means a person determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce to be a foreign adversary of the United States. Those countries currently include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro. The bill provides that any interest acquired, owned, or held by a foreign adversary in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR2 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | To create section 1m of article III of the constitution; Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR4 | Honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR14 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative David O. Martin. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative David O. Martin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR12 | Honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB266 | Human trafficking and trafficking of a child and providing a penalty. | This bill increases the penalty for human trafficking from a Class D felony to a Class C felony, increases the penalty for trafficking a child from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, and creates a mandatory minimum term of confinement in prison of 10 years for human trafficking and 15 years for trafficking a child. Under current law, a Class D felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 15 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 10 years; a Class C felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 25 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 15 years; and a Class B felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 60 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 40 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 20 years. Under LRB-3006/1 MJW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 266 current law, there is no mandatory minimum term of confinement for human trafficking or trafficking of a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AB194 | Modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE) | This bill makes modifications to three housing programs administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority: the residential housing infrastructure revolving loan program, also known as the Infrastructure Access Program; the main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan program, also known as the Restore Main Street Program; and the commercial-to-housing conversion revolving loan program, also known as the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program. For the Infrastructure Access Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to a developer to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit to provide up to 25 percent of total project costs. Under current law, a loan to a developer may provide up to 20 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit may provide up to 10 percent of total project costs. 2. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For the Restore Main Street Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to $50,000 per dwelling unit or 33 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $20,000 per dwelling unit or 25 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 3. Allows loans to be awarded to projects under the jurisdiction of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band. For the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs related to constructing residential housing and eliminates the dollar amount cap on loans. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $1,000,000 per project or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Permits housing developments with four or more dwelling units to be eligible for a loan if the housing development is located in a governmental unit with a population of 10,000 or less. Under current law, an eligible housing development must have 16 or more dwelling units. 3. Allows a project converting a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development that contains residential housing to be eligible for a loan under the program. Under current law, to be eligible for a loan, a construction project must convert a vacant commercial building to residential housing. Under the bill, a loan awarded for the conversion of a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development must be for costs associated with constructing residential housing within the mixed-use development. 4. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 5. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For all three of the programs, the bill does all of the following: 1. Permits eligible projects to benefit from a tax incremental district and to use historic tax credits. Under current law, eligible projects may not benefit from a tax incremental district or use historic tax credits. 2. Allows a loan to be awarded for projects on tribal reservation or trust lands not subject to property taxes in this state if the land is designated as tribal reservation or trust lands on the effective date of the bill. 3. In applying for a loan, requires that, in addition to the current law requirement that a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing in connection with the eligible project, a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing within the governmental unit, generally. 4. Allows a governmental unit to satisfy the loan eligibility condition that it update the housing element of the statutorily required local government comprehensive plan if, within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the loan application, the governmental unit adopts an ordinance or resolution certifying that the housing element of the governmental unit[s current comprehensive plan provides an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the governmental unit. 5. Allows a loan to be secured by a corporate guarantee. Under current law, a loan under any of the three programs must be secured by a personal guarantee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB258 | License eligibility and restriction extensions relating to ignition interlock devices. | Under current law, if a person is convicted of a second or subsequent offense related to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or other drug, with a prohibited alcohol concentration, or with a measurable amount of a controlled substance in their blood (OWI offense), a court must order the person[s operating privilege restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with an ignition interlock device (IID). The restriction begins on the date of the IID order and lasts for at least one year, but no longer than the maximum operating privilege revocation period authorized for the refusal or violation. Under the bill, the restriction of a person[s operating privilege under an IID order must be extended by 180 days for each occurrence of any of the following events detected by an IID: 1) three or more violations within a 60-day period, 2) tampering with or attempting to circumvent the IID, or 3) removing the IID authorization. Under current law, a person whose operating privilege is administratively revoked for a first offense of refusing a test may apply for an occupational license after 30 days. The bill eliminates the 30-day waiting period and provides that a CORRECTED COPY person may apply for an occupational license upon installation of an IID on any motor vehicle that the person operates. Under current law, when a person is convicted of an OWI offense, the convicting court orders the person[s operating privilege be revoked. The length of time for a court-ordered revocation increases with each subsequent OWI offense, as does the waiting period before the person may apply for an occupational license. In general, a person with prior OWI offenses may apply after 45 days. The bill eliminates the 45-day waiting period and provides that a person may apply for an occupational license upon installation of an IID on each motor vehicle that the person operates. | In Committee |
| AJR47 | Declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. | Relating to: declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR55 | Designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB261 | Certification of surgical technologists. | This bill prohibits hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers from employing or otherwise retaining any individual to perform surgical technology services unless the individual is qualified as provided in the bill. XSurgical technologyY is defined under the bill to mean surgical patient care and includes: 1) collaboration with a team of health care providers prior to a surgical procedure to carry out the plan of care by performing certain preparatory tasks; 2) intraoperative anticipation and response to the needs of a surgeon and other team members in the operating room by monitoring the sterile field and providing the required instruments or supplies in the sterile field; and 3) performance of tasks in the sterile field as directed in an operating room setting, including passing supplies, equipment, or instruments; sponging or suctioning an operative site; preparing and cutting suture material; handling specimens; and holding retractors. To qualify to perform surgical technology services under the bill, an individual must satisfy one of several possible criteria, including 1) successfully completing a training program for surgical technology in connection with the individual[s military service, or 2) successfully completing an accredited educational program for surgical technologists and holding and maintaining a certification as a surgical technologist from a national and accredited certifying body. The bill provides that a hospital or ambulatory surgical center may employ or otherwise retain the services of an individual to perform surgical technology services during the 24- month period that immediately follows the individual[s successful completion of an educational program for surgical technologists. The bill provides that these requirements do not apply to a licensed health care provider who may provide surgical technology services within their scope of practice. Further, the bill provides that a hospital or ambulatory surgical center may establish additional requirements for any individual who performs surgical technology services as a condition of employment or contract. | In Committee |
| AB262 | Findings of fact when the court grants less than equal physical placement of a child. | Under current law, in an action affecting a family that involves a child, the court is required to determine the legal custody and the physical placement of the child. Current law requires the court to set a physical placement schedule that allows a child to have regularly occurring, meaningful periods of physical placement with each parent and that maximizes the amount of time for a child with each parent. In determining a physical placement schedule, the court must, in each case, consider a statutory list of best-interest factors. Current law provides that, if the court grants less than 25 percent of physical placement to one parent in a temporary or final order in an action affecting the family, specific findings of fact must be entered as to the reasons that greater physical placement with that parent is not in the best interest of the child. This bill changes the requirement such that specific findings of fact must be entered if the court grants less than 50 percent of physical placement to one parent in a temporary or final order in an action affecting the family. | In Committee |
| AB265 | Human trafficking and trafficking of a child and providing a penalty. | This bill increases the penalty for human trafficking from a Class D felony to a Class C felony, increases the penalty for trafficking a child from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, and creates a mandatory minimum term of confinement in prison of 10 years for human trafficking and 15 years for trafficking a child. Under current law, a Class D felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 15 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 10 years; a Class C felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 25 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 15 years; and a Class B felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 60 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 40 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 20 years. Under current law, there is no mandatory minimum term of confinement for human trafficking or trafficking of a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AB73 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. | This bill statutorily recognizes specialized dockets for treatment courts and for commercial cases. The bill recognizes in statute treatment courts, which are defined in the bill to include adult drug treatment court, juvenile drug treatment court, operating while intoxicated treatment court, mental health treatment court, family dependency treatment court, veterans treatment court, hybrid treatment court, and tribal healing to wellness court. The bill also statutorily recognizes a specialized docket for commercial cases. Under the bill, the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, taking into consideration recommendations from the relevant chief judges of the judicial administrative districts, must select circuit court judges who will be assigned to the commercial court docket upon each judge[s agreement to serve. The bill provides that a judge who presides over cases on the commercial court docket is not prohibited from working on any other assigned docket. Under the bill, certain commercial case types must be assigned to the commercial court docket, including cases involving all of the following: governance or internal affairs of business organizations; 2) tortious or statutorily prohibited business activity, unfair competition, or antitrust claims; 3) the sale, consolidation, or merger of a business organization or the conversion, share exchange, or sale of substantially all of the assets of a business organization; 4) the issuance, sale, or transfer of securities; 5) intellectual property rights; 6) the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee or similar distribution relationship; 7) certain claims or disputes involving the Uniform Commercial Code, when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; 8) receiverships in excess of $250,000; 9) confirmation of arbitration awards and compelling or enforcing arbitration awards when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; and 10) real estate construction disputes when the amount in controversy exceeds $250,000. The bill provides that certain types of cases are ineligible for assignment to the commercial court docket, including small claims cases, cases involving a governmental entity or political subdivision seeking to enforce a statutory or regulatory restriction or prohibition, or disputes between landlords and tenants. The commercial court docket created under the bill is a commercial case docket that generally involves disputes between commercial entities rather than individuals and does not include actions typically involving individuals such as personal injury suits, products liability, malpractice, or other tort claims or landlord and tenant disputes or similar claims. Under the bill, parties may jointly move for discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket if the case is one that is not identified under the mandatory criteria but is not otherwise ineligible for assignment. The bill provides that a decision granting or denying a motion for a discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket is final and nonappealable. The bill also allows that parties to a case that is filed in a judicial administrative district that does not have a dedicated commercial court docket may, in certain circumstances, jointly petition for transfer of the case to a commercial court docket. Under the bill, no party may withdraw a request for transfer to the commercial court docket after a judicial assignment of the case has been made. | Passed |
| AB5 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents. | This bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident’s written request to inspect a textbook, curriculum, or instructional material within 14 days. Under the bill, a school board must comply with a school district resident’s written request to inspect curricula or instructional materials used in a school in the school district by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. The bill also requires each school board to adopt procedures under which the school board is able to produce for inspection any curriculum or instructional material used in a school in the school district in fewer than 14 days. The bill defines “curriculum” as a curriculum plan adopted by a school board to comply with state law and defines “instructional material” as any course content or resource included in a curriculum. Similarly, the bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident’s written request to inspect a textbook on the school board’s list of adopted textbooks by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. Under the bill, a school board must also adopt procedures under which the school board is capable of producing for inspection any textbook included on the school board’s list of adopted textbooks in no more than 14 days. Current law requires each school board to adopt all textbooks necessary for use in schools in the school district and file a list of adopted textbooks with the school district clerk. Under the bill, each school board must also post the list of adopted textbooks on the school board’s website. Finally, the bill specifies that nothing in the bill may be construed to require a school board to take an action that would violate federal copyright law and that the bill does not limit any rights a school district resident has to inspect or copy records under open records law. | Crossed Over |
| SB22 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents. | This bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident[s written request to inspect a textbook, curriculum, or instructional material within 14 days. Under the bill, a school board must comply with a school district resident[s written request to inspect curricula or instructional materials used in a school in the school district by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. The bill also requires each school board to adopt procedures under which the school board is able to produce for inspection any curriculum or instructional material used in a school in the school district in fewer than 14 days. The bill defines XcurriculumY as a curriculum plan adopted by a school board to comply with state law and defines Xinstructional materialY as any course content or resource included in a curriculum. Similarly, the bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident[s written request to inspect a textbook on the school board[s list of adopted LRB-1620/1 FFK:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 22 textbooks by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. Under the bill, a school board must also adopt procedures under which the school board is capable of producing for inspection any textbook included on the school board[s list of adopted textbooks in no more than 14 days. Current law requires each school board to adopt all textbooks necessary for use in schools in the school district and file a list of adopted textbooks with the school district clerk. Under the bill, each school board must also post the list of adopted textbooks on the school board[s website. Finally, the bill specifies that nothing in the bill may be construed to require a school board to take an action that would violate federal copyright law and that the bill does not limit any rights a school district resident has to inspect or copy records under open records law. | In Committee |
| AB202 | Voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases. (FE) | Under current law, a residential lease is void and unenforceable if it contains certain provisions (voidable provisions). Examples of voidable provisions include provisions that: 1) allow landlords to refuse to renew a lease because a tenant has contacted an entity for law enforcement, health, or safety services; 2) waive a landlord[s obligation to mitigate damages; 3) impose liability on a tenant for personal injury arising from causes clearly beyond the tenant[s control, and; 4) allow landlords to terminate a tenancy for a crime committed in relation to the rental property when the tenant[s lease did not include a statutorily required notice of domestic abuse protections. This bill provides that if court of competent jurisdiction finds that a residential lease includes a voidable provision, a tenant may elect to: 1) void the lease and have their tenancy converted into a periodic tenancy, or; 2) sever the voidable provision from their lease and continue under the remainder of the lease. In addition, in April 2024, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals published a decision, Koble Invs. v Marquardt, 2024 WI App 26, regarding certain landlord and CORRECTED COPY tenant matters. As of February 28, 2025, the case was on appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with parties[ first briefings due to the court in March 2025. Among the holdings in Koble, the court of appeals determined that a particular landlord was acting as a Xdebt collectorY and that landlord[s tenant was a XcustomerY as those terms are defined under Wisconsin Consumer Act. The court of appeals also held that because the landlord violated a provision of the Wisconsin Consumer Act, the tenant[s attorney was entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Under this bill, the Wisconsin Consumer Act does not apply to residential leases or mobile home leases. In the same case, the court of appeals held that the tenant[s lease was void and unenforceable under landlord and tenant law, and that, under another law enforcing fair methods of competition, the tenant could recover twice the amount of the tenant[s pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs. The bill provides that under landlord and tenant law, a person injured by a voidable provision can recover twice the amount of the pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs, and provides that such pecuniary loss does not include any rent paid by the tenant. The bill also limits the remedies a person may seek when a rental agreement includes a voidable provision to only those remedies provided in the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR26 | Celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| SJR32 | Designating the first full week in May as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. | Relating to: designating the first full week in May as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB244 | Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program to post in a conspicuous location in a public area of each school building a sign that contains the telephone number for the local county or state agency that is responsible for receiving reports of, and conducting investigations regarding, child abuse or neglect. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR41 | Proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | Relating to: proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | Crossed Over |
| SJR53 | Designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| SB4 | Agreements for direct primary care. | This bill exempts valid direct primary care agreements from the application of insurance law. A “direct primary care agreement,” as defined in the bill, is a contract between a health care provider that provides primary care services under the provider’s scope of practice and an individual patient or the patient’s legal representative or employer in which the health care provider agrees to provide primary care services to the patient for an agreed-upon subscription fee and period of time. A valid direct primary care agreement is in writing and satisfies all of the following: 1. It is signed by the health care provider or an agent of the health care provider and the individual patient, the patient’s legal representative, or a representative of the patient’s employer. 2. It allows either party to terminate the agreement upon written notice. 3. It describes and quantifies the specific primary care services that are provided under the agreement. 4. It specifies the subscription fee for the agreement and specifies terms for termination of the agreement. 5. It specifies the duration of the agreement. LRB-0507/1 JPC:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 4 6. It prohibits the provider and patient from billing an insurer or any other third party on a fee-for-service basis for the primary care services included in the subscription fee under the agreement. 7. It prominently states, in writing, several provisions, including that the agreement is not health insurance and the agreement alone may not satisfy individual or employer insurance coverage requirements under federal law; that the patient is responsible for paying, or directing the patient’s employer to pay, the provider for all services that are not included in the subscription fee under the agreement; that the patient is encouraged to consult with a health insurance advisor, the patient’s health insurance carrier, or the patient’s employer-sponsored health plan, as applicable, before entering into the agreement; and that direct primary care fees might not be credited toward deductibles or out-of-pocket maximum amounts under any health insurance the patient has. Under the bill, a health care provider may not decline to enter into or terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient solely because of the patient’s health status. The bill allows a health care provider to decline to accept a patient for a direct primary care agreement only if the health care provider’s practice has reached its maximum patient capacity or if the patient’s medical condition is such that the health care provider is unable to provide the appropriate level and type of primary care services the patient requires. A health care provider may terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient only if the patient or the patient’s employer fails to pay the subscription fee, the patient fails repeatedly to adhere to the treatment plan, the patient has performed an act of fraud related to the direct primary care agreement, the patient is abusive in a manner described in the bill, the health care provider discontinues operation as a direct primary care provider, or the health care provider believes that the relationship is no longer therapeutic for the patient due to a dysfunctional relationship between the provider and the patient. | Passed |
| SB14 | Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients. | This bill requires hospitals to ensure written informed consent is obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. The bill also creates a Department of Health Services rule providing that hospitals must maintain written policies and procedures requiring written informed consent to be obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. | Passed |
| SB43 | Allowing advanced practice nurse prescribers to pronounce the date, time, and place of a patient’s death for purposes of the preparation of death records. | Under current law, any person who moves a corpse for the purpose of final disposition must file a death record for the corpse in a manner prescribed by the state registrar when the death occurred in this state, the corpse was found in this state, or certain other circumstances apply. For purposes of preparing the death record, certain health care providers may pronounce the date, time, and place of the death in certain circumstances, including naturopathic doctors and physician assistants. This bill allows advanced practice nurse prescribers who are directly involved with the care of a patient who dies to pronounce the date, time, and place of the patient[s death for purposes of preparation of the death record. | Passed |
| SB31 | State agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who provide services without compensation for local health departments or school districts. (FE) | This bill provides that physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers who are not employed by a local health department but who provide services without compensation for the programs and services provided by a local health department are, for the provision of those services, state agents of the Department of Health Services in certain circumstances for certain legal purposes and protections. For example, under the bill, if a physician assistant or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber who is considered a state agent of DHS is a defendant in any action or special proceeding because of acts they committed within the scope of their agency, any judgment as to damages and costs entered against them shall be paid by DHS. Further, this bill provides that physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers may be selected by a school district or a local health department to supervise an immunization program and issue orders for the administration of LRB-1923/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 31 immunizations that are in accordance with written protocols issued by DHS. If the physician assistant or advanced practice nurse prescriber is not an employee of the school district or local health department, receives no compensation for his or her services as supervisor of the immunization program, and acts in accordance with written protocols issued by DHS, he or she is a state agent of DHS for the same legal purposes and protections as described above. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| SB35 | Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) | Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) the annuitant is a retired law enforcement officer or firefighter; 2) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an LRB-0063/1 MIM:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 35 agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and 3) the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows an annuitant who was a law enforcement officer or firefighter to return to work with an employer that participates in the WRS and elect to not become a participating employee for purposes of the WRS but instead continue to receive an annuity from the WRS. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB8 | Agreements for direct primary care. | This bill exempts valid direct primary care agreements from the application of insurance law. A Xdirect primary care agreement,Y as defined in the bill, is a contract between a health care provider that provides primary care services under the provider[s scope of practice and an individual patient or the patient[s legal representative or employer in which the health care provider agrees to provide primary care services to the patient for an agreed-upon subscription fee and period of time. A valid direct primary care agreement is in writing and satisfies all of the following: 1. It is signed by the health care provider or an agent of the health care provider and the individual patient, the patient[s legal representative, or a representative of the patient[s employer. 2. It allows either party to terminate the agreement upon written notice. 3. It describes and quantifies the specific primary care services that are provided under the agreement. 4. It specifies the subscription fee for the agreement and specifies terms for termination of the agreement. 5. It specifies the duration of the agreement. 6. It prohibits the provider and patient from billing an insurer or any other third party on a fee-for-service basis for the primary care services included in the subscription fee under the agreement. 7. It prominently states, in writing, several provisions, including that the agreement is not health insurance and the agreement alone may not satisfy individual or employer insurance coverage requirements under federal law; that the patient is responsible for paying, or directing the patient[s employer to pay, the provider for all services that are not included in the subscription fee under the agreement; that the patient is encouraged to consult with a health insurance advisor, the patient[s health insurance carrier, or the patient[s employer-sponsored health plan, as applicable, before entering into the agreement; and that direct primary care fees might not be credited toward deductibles or out-of-pocket maximum amounts under any health insurance the patient has. Under the bill, a health care provider may not decline to enter into or terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient solely because of the patient[s health status. The bill allows a health care provider to decline to accept a patient for a direct primary care agreement only if the health care provider[s practice has reached its maximum patient capacity or if the patient[s medical condition is such that the health care provider is unable to provide the appropriate level and type of primary care services the patient requires. The bill also provides that a health care provider may not decline to enter into a direct primary care agreement with a patient, terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient, or otherwise discriminate against a patient in the provision of health care services under a direct primary care agreement on the basis of race, color, national origin, religious belief or affiliation, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. A health care provider may terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient only if the patient or the patient[s employer fails to pay the subscription fee, the patient fails repeatedly to adhere to the treatment plan, the patient has performed an act of fraud related to the direct primary care agreement, the patient is abusive in a manner described in the bill, the health care provider discontinues operation as a direct primary care provider, or the health care provider believes that the relationship is no longer therapeutic for the patient due to a dysfunctional relationship between the provider and the patient. | In Committee |
| AB11 | Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients. | This bill requires hospitals to ensure written informed consent is obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. The bill also creates a Department of Health Services rule providing that hospitals must maintain written policies and procedures requiring written informed consent to be obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. | In Committee |
| AB44 | Allowing advanced practice nurse prescribers to pronounce the date, time, and place of a patient’s death for purposes of the preparation of death records. | Under current law, any person who moves a corpse for the purpose of final disposition must file a death record for the corpse in a manner prescribed by the state registrar when the death occurred in this state, the corpse was found in this state, or certain other circumstances apply. For purposes of preparing the death record, certain health care providers may pronounce the date, time, and place of the death in certain circumstances, including naturopathic doctors and physician assistants. This bill allows advanced practice nurse prescribers who are directly involved with the care of a patient who dies to pronounce the date, time, and place of the patient[s death for purposes of preparation of the death record. | In Committee |
| SJR45 | Proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | Relating to: proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | In Committee |
| SJR51 | Declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. | Relating to: declaring May as Eye Health Awareness Month. | In Committee |
| AJR32 | Designating the first full week in May as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. | Relating to: designating the first full week in May as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. | In Committee |
| AB166 | Academic and career planning services provided to pupils and requiring the reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes. (FE) | This bill requires University of Wisconsin System institutions, technical colleges, and private nonprofit colleges in this state (higher education institutions) to report cost and student outcome data that are ultimately made available as part of the academic and career planning services provided to high school juniors and seniors. The bill requires higher education institutions to collect and annually report to the Higher Educational Aids Board all of the following information relating to their undergraduate degree programs: graduates six months and, every fifth year, five years after graduation, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 2) the average debt of the institution[s students upon graduation or discontinuation of studies, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 3) the institution[s graduation rate, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 4) the institution[s annual total cost of attendance and average net cost; 5) the financial aid available to students; and 6) the 10 most popular degree programs offered by the institution. HEAB must incorporate the data from these reports into an electronic document formatted in a manner that facilitates comparison of information among higher education institutions. HEAB must annually provide this electronic document to the Department of Public Instruction with a list, prepared in cooperation with the Department of Workforce Development, of the 50 most in-demand jobs in this state, including the average starting salary and required education level for each job. Under current law, the state superintendent of public instruction must ensure that each school board provides academic and career planning services to pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 12. Beginning in the 2027]28 school year, the bill requires the superintendent to provide the electronic document described above to school boards and requires school boards to provide the electronic document to high school juniors and seniors as part of the academic and career planning services provided to the pupils. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB170 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) | Under current law, certain people who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until they are no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to an annuitant who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill allows such an annuitant who is hired by a WRS-participating employer as an employee or to provide employee services to not suspend his or her annuity for up to 60 months. The bill also requires WRS-participating employers that hire such annuitants to make payments to ETF equal to what they would have paid as required contributions for each rehired annuitant if the rehired annuitant LRB-2369/1 MIM:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 170 had suspended his or her annuity. Under the bill, these payments are deposited into the employer reserve account. If the annuitant does not suspend the annuity and does not become an active WRS-participating employee, in the case of state employment, the annuitant is not eligible for group insurance benefits provided to active WRS-participating employees and may not use any of his or her service in the new position for any WRS purposes. If the annuitant opts to again become an active WRS-participating employee, the annuitant is eligible for all group insurance benefits provided to other participating employees and may accumulate additional years of creditable service under the WRS for the new period of WRS-covered employment. The bill also repeals two obsolete provisions related to WRS annuitants returning to WRS-covered employment during the public health emergency declared on March 12, 2020, by executive order 72, which ended on May 13, 2020. Because this bill relates to public employee retirement or pensions, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB141 | Provisional social worker certificates and licenses. | Current law prohibits a person from using the title Xsocial workerY without holding a social worker certificate, and similarly prohibits the use of other titles corresponding to higher levels of social work practice without a corresponding credential for that level of social work practice. Those higher levels of social work practice include advanced practice social work, independent social work, and clinical social work. Current law further prohibits the practice of clinical social work without a clinical social worker license. Current law specifies requirements for obtaining these social worker credentials, all of which include a requirement of passage of an examination. This bill provides for an alternative pathway to obtain a social work credential without passage of a national examination. Under the bill, an individual who has taken the examination corresponding to a particular category of social work credential and has not passed the examination, but who otherwise satisfies the requirements for the credential, may obtain a provisional credential. With the provisional credential, the individual is allowed to practice the corresponding level of social work, may use the corresponding title, and is considered to be that level of social worker, but the individual must obtain at least three hours of supervision during every 160 hours of practice, in accordance with the bill and rules promulgated by the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board and subject to periodic evaluation. Upon successful completion of the supervised practice requirement, the individual must receive a final evaluation and may obtain a corresponding nonprovisional social worker credential without passage of the examination. | In Committee |
| SB140 | Provisional social worker certificates and licenses. | Current law prohibits a person from using the title Xsocial workerY without holding a social worker certificate, and similarly prohibits the use of other titles corresponding to higher levels of social work practice without a corresponding credential for that level of social work practice. Those higher levels of social work practice include advanced practice social work, independent social work, and clinical social work. Current law further prohibits the practice of clinical social work without a clinical social worker license. Current law specifies requirements for obtaining these social worker credentials, all of which include a requirement of passage of an examination. This bill provides for an alternative pathway to obtain a social work credential without passage of a national examination. Under the bill, an individual who has taken the examination corresponding to a particular category of social work credential and has not passed the examination, but who otherwise satisfies the requirements for the credential, may obtain a provisional credential. With the provisional credential, the individual is allowed to practice the corresponding level of social work, may use the corresponding title, and is considered to be that level of LRB-2171/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 140 social worker, but the individual must obtain at least three hours of supervision during every 160 hours of practice, in accordance with the bill and rules promulgated by the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board and subject to periodic evaluation. Upon successful completion of the supervised practice requirement, the individual must receive a final evaluation and may obtain a corresponding nonprovisional social worker credential without passage of the examination. | In Committee |
| SB180 | Modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE) | This bill makes modifications to three housing programs administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority: the residential housing infrastructure revolving loan program, also known as the Infrastructure Access Program; the main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan program, also known as the Restore Main Street Program; and the commercial-to-housing conversion revolving loan program, also known as the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program. For the Infrastructure Access Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to a developer to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit to provide up to 25 percent of total project costs. Under current law, a loan to a developer may provide up to 20 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit may provide up to 10 percent of total project costs. 2. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For the Restore Main Street Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to $50,000 per dwelling unit or 33 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $20,000 per dwelling unit or 25 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 3. Allows loans to be awarded to projects under the jurisdiction of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band. For the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs related to constructing residential housing and eliminates the dollar amount cap on loans. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $1,000,000 per project or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Permits housing developments with four or more dwelling units to be eligible for a loan if the housing development is located in a governmental unit with a population of 10,000 or less. Under current law, an eligible housing development must have 16 or more dwelling units. 3. Allows a project converting a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development that contains residential housing to be eligible for a loan under the LRB-1325/1 MDE:klm&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 180 program. Under current law, to be eligible for a loan, a construction project must convert a vacant commercial building to residential housing. Under the bill, a loan awarded for the conversion of a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development must be for costs associated with constructing residential housing within the mixed-use development. 4. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 5. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For all three of the programs, the bill does all of the following: 1. Permits eligible projects to benefit from a tax incremental district and to use historic tax credits. Under current law, eligible projects may not benefit from a tax incremental district or use historic tax credits. 2. Allows a loan to be awarded for projects on tribal reservation or trust lands not subject to property taxes in this state if the land is designated as tribal reservation or trust lands on the effective date of the bill. 3. In applying for a loan, requires that, in addition to the current law requirement that a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing in connection with the eligible project, a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing within the governmental unit, generally. 4. Allows a governmental unit to satisfy the loan eligibility condition that it update the housing element of the statutorily required local government comprehensive plan if, within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the loan application, the governmental unit adopts an ordinance or resolution certifying that the housing element of the governmental unit[s current comprehensive plan provides an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the governmental unit. 5. Allows a loan to be secured by a corporate guarantee. Under current law, a loan under any of the three programs must be secured by a personal guarantee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB248 | License eligibility and restriction extensions relating to ignition interlock devices. | Under current law, if a person is convicted of a second or subsequent offense related to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or other drug, with a prohibited alcohol concentration, or with a measurable amount of a controlled substance in their blood (OWI offense), a court must order the person[s operating privilege restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with an ignition interlock device (IID). The restriction begins on the date of the IID order and lasts for at least one year, but no longer than the maximum operating privilege revocation period authorized for the refusal or violation. Under the bill, the restriction of a person[s operating privilege under an IID order must be extended by 180 days for each occurrence of any of the following events detected by an IID: 1) three or more violations within a 60-day period, 2) tampering with or attempting to circumvent the IID, or 3) removing the IID authorization. Under current law, a person whose operating privilege is administratively revoked for a first offense of refusing a test may apply for an occupational license after 30 days. The bill eliminates the 30-day waiting period and provides that a CORRECTED COPY LRB-1013/1 ZDW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 248 person may apply for an occupational license upon installation of an IID on any motor vehicle that the person operates. Under current law, when a person is convicted of an OWI offense, the convicting court orders the person[s operating privilege be revoked. The length of time for a court-ordered revocation increases with each subsequent OWI offense, as does the waiting period before the person may apply for an occupational license. In general, a person with prior OWI offenses may apply after 45 days. The bill eliminates the 45-day waiting period and provides that a person may apply for an occupational license upon installation of an IID on each motor vehicle that the person operates. | In Committee |
| AB247 | Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) | This bill requires a political subdivision to reduce the fee it charges for a building permit by 75 percent or $500, whichever reduction is less, if the permit is for improvements to the primary residence of a disabled veteran, the improvements are necessary to accommodate a disability of the disabled veteran, and the residence is owned by the disabled veteran or a caretaker of the disabled veteran. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB249 | Vacancies in appointive state offices. | Under current law, vacancies in public office may occur in a number of ways, including when the incumbent resigns, dies, or is removed from office, or, in the case of elected office, when the incumbent[s term expires. However, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court held in State ex rel. Kaul v. Prehn, 2022 WI 50, expiration of an incumbent[s term of office does not create a vacancy if the office is filled by appointment for a fixed term. Absent a vacancy or removal for cause, these incumbents may remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. Under this bill, a vacancy in public office is created if the office is an appointive state office for a fixed term and the incumbent[s term expires. | In Committee |
| AB248 | Vacancies in appointive state offices. | Under current law, vacancies in public office may occur in a number of ways, including when the incumbent resigns, dies, or is removed from office, or, in the case of elected office, when the incumbent[s term expires. However, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court held in State ex rel. Kaul v. Prehn, 2022 WI 50, expiration of an incumbent[s term of office does not create a vacancy if the office is filled by appointment for a fixed term. Absent a vacancy or removal for cause, these incumbents may remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. Under this bill, a vacancy in public office is created if the office is an appointive state office for a fixed term and the incumbent[s term expires. | In Committee |
| AB252 | The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE) | Under current law, if a county department of human services or social services or, in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DCF (collectively XagencyY) determines that a caregiver is suspected of committing or threatening abuse or neglect of a child or that a person who is not a caregiver has committed or threatened abuse of a child related to sex trafficking; cannot identify an individual who is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child; or suspects abuse of an unborn child, the agency must, within 24 hours after receiving the report, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child or unborn child is in need of protection or services. Under this bill, if an agency knows or has reason to know that a parent of a child or unborn child with respect to whom the agency has initiated such an investigation is a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the Wisconsin national guard, the agency must provide notice of that investigation to the appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense CORRECTED COPY within 24 hours. The bill requires the notice to consist only of the name and address of the child or expectant mother and the fact that an investigation has been initiated about that child or unborn child. The bill imposes the same confidentiality requirements on such a notice as current law imposes on all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB175 | Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) | This bill requires a political subdivision to reduce the fee it charges for a building permit by 75 percent or $500, whichever reduction is less, if the permit is for improvements to the primary residence of a disabled veteran, the improvements are necessary to accommodate a disability of the disabled veteran, and the residence is owned by the disabled veteran or a caretaker of the disabled veteran. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB183 | Standard industrial classification codes for linen supply and industrial launderers and modifying the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit. (FE) | Current law uses industry classifications set forth in the Standard Industrial Classification manual, published by the federal government, for a number of purposes, including to assess manufacturing property for property tax purposes. Taxpayers who own property assessed as manufacturing are also eligible to claim certain income tax credits and sales and use tax exemptions. This bill adds SIC industry codes for linen supply and industrial launderers for the purpose of assessing the property of such industries as manufacturing property. The bill also modifies the definition of Xqualified production propertyY for purposes of claiming the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit to include items that are laundered or dry cleaned and sold, leased, or rented to or exchanged with industrial, commercial, or government users. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB80 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. | This bill statutorily recognizes specialized dockets for treatment courts and for commercial cases. The bill recognizes in statute treatment courts, which are defined in the bill to include adult drug treatment court, juvenile drug treatment court, operating while intoxicated treatment court, mental health treatment court, family dependency treatment court, veterans treatment court, hybrid treatment court, and tribal healing to wellness court. The bill also statutorily recognizes a specialized docket for commercial cases. Under the bill, the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, taking into consideration recommendations from the relevant chief judges of the judicial administrative districts, must select circuit court judges who will be assigned to the commercial court docket upon each judge[s agreement to serve. The bill provides that a judge who presides over cases on the commercial court docket is not prohibited from working on any other assigned docket. Under the bill, certain commercial case types must be assigned to the commercial court docket, including cases involving all of the following: governance or internal affairs of business organizations; 2) tortious or statutorily prohibited business activity, unfair competition, or antitrust claims; 3) the sale, consolidation, or merger of a business organization or the conversion, share LRB-2002/1 SWB:emw 1) the 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 80 exchange, or sale of substantially all of the assets of a business organization; 4) the issuance, sale, or transfer of securities; 5) intellectual property rights; 6) the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee or similar distribution relationship; 7) certain claims or disputes involving the Uniform Commercial Code, when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; 8) receiverships in excess of $250,000; 9) confirmation of arbitration awards and compelling or enforcing arbitration awards when the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; and 10) real estate construction disputes when the amount in controversy exceeds $250,000. The bill provides that certain types of cases are ineligible for assignment to the commercial court docket, including small claims cases, cases involving a governmental entity or political subdivision seeking to enforce a statutory or regulatory restriction or prohibition, or disputes between landlords and tenants. The commercial court docket created under the bill is a commercial case docket that generally involves disputes between commercial entities rather than individuals and does not include actions typically involving individuals such as personal injury suits, products liability, malpractice, or other tort claims or landlord and tenant disputes or similar claims. Under the bill, parties may jointly move for discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket if the case is one that is not identified under the mandatory criteria but is not otherwise ineligible for assignment. The bill provides that a decision granting or denying a motion for a discretionary assignment of a case to the commercial court docket is final and nonappealable. The bill also allows that parties to a case that is filed in a judicial administrative district that does not have a dedicated commercial court docket may, in certain circumstances, jointly petition for transfer of the case to a commercial court docket. Under the bill, no party may withdraw a request for transfer to the commercial court docket after a judicial assignment of the case has been made. | In Committee |
| AB88 | Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty. | This bill makes it a Class I felony to urge, promote, organize, encourage, or instigate others to commit a riot and a Class H felony to intentionally commit an act of violence while participating in a riot. The bill defines a XriotY as a public disturbance that involves an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons, that constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury or a threat of an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons having the ability of immediate execution of the threat, if the threatened action constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury. The bill establishes a civil cause of action for any person who suffers injury or loss to person or property as a result of conduct that violates the criminal prohibitions on vandalism or participation in a riot. The bill allows a person to bring a civil action against a person who committed the violation and against any person or organization that provided material support or resources with the intent that such support or resources would be used to perpetrate the offense. The person bringing the action may obtain an order requiring the offender to fix or repair the damage caused to the person[s property if certain requirements set forth in the bill are met. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency or law enforcement officers from limiting or restricting the authority of the agency to have its officers, or certain officers, arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency from limiting or restricting the authority of law enforcement officers, or certain designated law enforcement officers, to arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or to take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. Finally, the bill provides that no government official, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement officer may discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against any employee because the employee made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing regarding a violation of the prohibitions on government officials set forth in the bill. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB81 | School district operating referenda. | This bill eliminates recurring operating referenda and limits a nonrecurring operating referendum to no more than four years. Current law generally limits the total amount of revenue a school district may receive from general school aids and property taxes in a school year. However, there are several exceptions to the revenue limit. One exception is for excess revenue approved by referendum for recurring and nonrecurring purposes. This type of referendum is often referred to as an operating referendum. If the operating referendum is for a nonrecurring purpose, a school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is approved only for specific school years. If the operating referendum is for a recurring purpose, the school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is permanent. Under the bill, an operating referendum to exceed a school district[s revenue limit may be only for nonrecurring purposes and the referendum may not apply to more than four years. | In Committee |
| SB151 | Requests for information from employers about unemployment insurance claims. | Under current rules of the Department of Workforce Development, in order to determine unemployment insurance (UI) benefit claims, DWD may require employers to provide information about claimants[ employment separations, dates of work, wages and other payments, and other issues that may be disqualifying. This bill requires DWD to allow an employer no less than 12 business days to respond to an initial request for information about a UI benefit claim. | In Committee |
| SB8 | Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty. | This bill creates requirements, commonly known as a “lemon law,” for the repair and replacement of an implement of husbandry that has a condition or defect (nonconformity) that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the implement of husbandry and that is covered by an express warranty. Under the bill, if an implement of husbandry does not conform to an applicable express warranty, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the lessor, or any of the manufacturer’s authorized dealers and makes the implement of husbandry available for repair, the manufacturer, lessor, or authorized dealer must repair the nonconformity. If the same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least four times and the nonconformity continues, or if the implement of husbandry is out of service for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of warranty nonconformities, the consumer is entitled to a replacement implement of husbandry or a full refund. LRB-0046/1 ZDW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 8 | In Committee |
| SB58 | Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) | Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the referendum. Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which LRB-1978/1 EVM:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 58 bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under the bill, the question must also provide all of the following: 1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the bonds. 2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased. 3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that would result from passage of the referendum. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB201 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | This bill requires any state agency or authority that operates, coordinates, or oversees a workforce development program or activity, as defined in the bill, to track and report, at least annually, on the performance of that workforce development program or activity, using the primary indicators of performance under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These performance indicators are: 1) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 2) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; 3) the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 4) the percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in or within one year after exit from the program; 5) the percentage of program participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward LRB-2742/1 MED:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 201 such a credential or employment; and 6) the indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, defined currently as the percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program who were employed by the same employer in the second and fourth quarters after exit. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB198 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) | UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Misconduct Currently, if an employee is discharged for misconduct connected with his or her employment, the employee is ineligible to receive UI benefits until certain requalification criteria are satisfied. In addition, all wages earned with the employer that discharges the employee are excluded in determining the amount of any future benefits to which the employee is entitled. Current law provides a LRB-2741/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 198 general definition of misconduct and also specifies a number of specific actions that constitute misconduct. The bill does all of the following with respect to what is considered misconduct: 1. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes theft of an employer[s property or services with intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently, theft of currency of any value, felonious conduct connected with an employee[s employment with his or her employer, or intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes substantial damage to his or her employer[s property. The bill does the following: a. Eliminates the requirement that the employee have intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently. b. Provides that intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes the destruction of an employer[s records is also considered misconduct. c. Adds unauthorized possession of an employer[s property, theft or unauthorized distribution of an employer[s confidential or proprietary information, and use of an employer[s credit card or other financial instrument for an unauthorized or nonbusiness purpose without prior approval from the employer to the list of what is considered misconduct. 2. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes absenteeism by an employee on more than two occasions within the 120-day period before the date of the employee[s termination, unless otherwise specified by his or her employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature, or excessive tardiness by an employee in violation of a policy of the employer that has been communicated to the employee, if the employee does not provide to his or her employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism or tardiness. The bill instead provides that misconduct includes both of the following: 1) a violation of an employer[s reasonable policy that covers employee absenteeism, tardiness, or both and that results in an employee[s termination, if that termination is in accordance with that policy and the policy is specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature; and 2) if an employer does not have a policy covering absenteeism that meets the criteria just described, absenteeism on more than two occasions within the 120-day period preceding an employee[s termination, if the employee does not provide to the employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism. 3. The bill specifically provides that misconduct includes a violation by an employee of an employer[s reasonable employment policy that covers the use of social media specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work LRB-2741/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 198 search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires a claimant who resides outside this state and who is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week to register with his or her local job center website or labor market exchange and requires DWD to verify that each such claimant has complied with that requirement. 2. Requires DWD to conduct random audits for at least 50 percent of all work search actions reported to have been performed by claimants. Current law requires random audits of work search actions, but does not require a specific number or level of audits. OTHER CHANGES UI benefit augmentations subject to review by Joint Committee on Finance The bill provides that whenever any UI benefit augmentation is provided for through an act of Congress or by executive action of the president of the United States, the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance must be notified, in writing, of the proposed benefit augmentation. The bill defines Xbenefit augmentationY to mean any action whereby the governor or any other state official or agency would encumber or expend moneys received from, or accept reimbursement from, the federal government or whereby the governor or any other state agency or official would enter into any contract or agreement with the federal government or any federal agency to 1) increase the weekly UI benefit rate payable to claimants above what is provided under state law, or 2) increase the total amount of UI benefits to which a claimant is entitled above what is provided under state law. Under the bill, such a benefit augmentation is subject to a seven-day passive review by the Joint Committee on Finance. In addition, the bill provides that no benefit augmentation may be effectuated unless it is subject to termination or cancellation by the Joint Committee on Finance. Worker[s compensation; misconduct Currently, under the worker[s compensation law, an employer is not liable for temporary disability benefits during an employee[s healing period if the employee is suspended or terminated from employment due to misconduct, as defined under the UI law. Under the bill, the changes to the UI law[s definition of misconduct described above apply under the worker[s compensation law as well. LRB-2741/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 198 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB197 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE) | This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Program name change The bill changes references in the statutes to Xunemployment insuranceY to Xreemployment assistanceY and requires the program and its benefits to be known as reemployment assistance. The bill also requires DWD to have a division known as the Division of Reemployment Assistance and requires the reemployment assistance law to be administered by that division. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires, for the third and subsequent weeks of a claimant[s benefit year, that at least two of the required weekly work search actions be direct contacts with potential employers. 2. Requires a claimant who resides in this state, for each week other than an initial week, to submit and keep posted on the DWD[s job center website a current resume. 3. Requires, when a claimant is claiming benefits with less than three weeks of benefits left, that the claimant complete a reemployment counseling session. Additionally, current law allows DWD to use information or job application materials described above to assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain suitable work. However, current law provides that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the required weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for any specific positions on the list of potential opportunities in order to satisfy the work search requirement. The bill requires, instead of allows, DWD to provide this assistance. The bill also repeals the language in current law providing that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for specific positions provided by DWD and requires DWD to provide each claimant with at least four potential opportunities each week, one or more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company. Finally, current law allows DWD to require a claimant to participate in a LRB-2752/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 197 public employment office workshop or training program. The bill provides that DWD must require a claimant to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program if the claimant is likely to exhaust regular UI benefits. DWD may also require other claimants to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program, but must prioritize claimants more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment. Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants Under federal law, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) operates the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program, whereby grants are awarded to states to provide reemployment services to claimants. Participation in the RESEA program is voluntary and requires that a state submit a state plan to USDOL that outlines how the state intends to conduct a program of reemployment services and eligibility assessments. The bill requires that DWD act to continue to participate in the RESEA program and requires DWD to provide certain RESEA services to all UI claimants. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB169 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | This bill makes various changes regarding the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Suitable work; work search Current law requires that, as a condition of being eligible for UI benefits for a given week, a claimant must 1) be able to work and available for work; 2) register for work in the manner prescribed by DWD; and 3) conduct a reasonable search for suitable work. Separately, current law also makes a claimant ineligible for UI benefits if a claimant fails, without good cause, to accept suitable work when offered. The bill provides that an employer may report to DWD whenever 1) an individual declines a job interview or job offer; 2) an individual fails to respond to a job interview offer or job offer; 3) an individual cancels or fails to attend a scheduled job interview without attempting to reschedule the job interview; 4) a UI claimant is unavailable for, or unable to perform, work actually available within a given week; or 5) under certain circumstances, the employer recalls a former employee receiving UI benefits who fails to return to work. The bill requires DWD to consider these reports in determining claimants[ attachment to the labor market. The bill also provides that a UI claimant is not considered to have conducted a reasonable search for suitable work in a given week, and is therefore ineligible for benefits for that week, if the claimant declined a job interview, failed to respond to a job interview offer, or canceled or failed to attend a job interview in that week. The bill, however, provides that a report of a canceled or missed interview is to be disregarded if the claimant demonstrates that he or she promptly attempted to reschedule the interview and allows reports to be disregarded upon certain showings by a claimant. The bill requires a claimant to provide weekly verification of all job offers, job interview offers, recalls to return to work, and any other offers of work received or responded to by the claimant since the prior week[s verification, as further prescribed by DWD, and requires DWD to investigate reports from employers as needed to determine their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. A disqualification of a claimant from receiving benefits for a given week based upon the claimant[s failure to conduct a reasonable search for suitable work does not reduce the claimant[s total UI benefit entitlement and does not preclude the claimant from receiving UI benefits in subsequent weeks, if the claimant is otherwise eligible for those weeks. The bill requires DWD to include information on reports submitted by employers under the bill in its annual UI fraud report made to the Council on Unemployment Insurance, including actions taken by DWD in response to the reports and their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. In addition, the bill requires that this annual fraud report be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. The bill requires DWD to have in effect methods to address any circumstances in which a claimant for UI benefits fails to return to work or to accept suitable work without good cause or is unavailable for work or unable to work, including reporting methods for employers and a notice from DWD to claimants about the laws governing such circumstances. Recovery of overpayments Current law allows DWD to act to recover overpayments in certain circumstances and allows overpayments to be required to be repaid in cases where an individual makes misrepresentations to obtain benefits in the name of another person. This bill makes such recoveries mandatory, instead of permissive. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB168 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Identity proofing The bill requires DWD to implement identity-proofing measures for UI claimants who are engaging in benefit-related transactions with DWD that 1) require a claimant to verify his or her identity prior to filing an initial claim for benefits and when engaging in other transactions with DWD, and 2) achieve the IAL2 and AAL2 standards adopted in the National Institute of Standards and Technology[s Digital Identity Guidelines. Statute of limitations Under current law, a prosecution for a felony must be commenced within six years after it was committed. Current law provides several exceptions for certain felonies, and the bill adds another exception. Under the bill, a prosecution for a felony must be commenced within eight years after it was committed if the felony involves fraud in obtaining UI benefits and benefits under the special unemployment benefit programs under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. Education and informational materials Current law requires DWD to compile and provide to employers certain information about how the UI system works, including a handbook on the UI system for employers and information concerning the financing of the UI system that is published on DWD[s website. The bill requires DWD to also provide certain training materials for employers and claimants on the UI system. The bill requires DWD to publish training videos on its website and also to provide live training seminars for employing units that are free of charge and provided on a quarterly basis. Assistance call center The bill requires DWD to operate a call center to assist claimants for UI benefits or similar federal payments. Furthermore, the bill requires DWD to do the following: 1. If the volume of calls has increased by 100 percent or more over the same week during the previous year or if there is a declared state of emergency for the state that causes or relates to an increase in UI claims, operate the call center with hours of at least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. 2. If the volume of calls has increased by 300 percent or more over the same week during the previous year or if there is a declared state of emergency for the state that causes or relates to an increase in UI claims, operate the call center with evening hours after 5 p.m. and weekend hours. Database comparisons The bill requires DWD to perform a comparison of state and national databases that track death records, employment records, prison records, citizenship and immigration, and immigrations and customs against recipients of UI benefits for the purposes of detecting fraud or erroneous payments. The bill requires DWD to perform the comparison on at least a weekly basis. The bill provides that DWD may also make such comparisons with other databases. Fraud detection The bill requires DWD, if it suspends or reduces any method used by the department to detect fraud committed against the unemployment insurance program, to submit a notification detailing the suspension or reduction and the reasons therefor to the Council on Unemployment Insurance, the Governor, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB167 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) | UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Misconduct Currently, if an employee is discharged for misconduct connected with his or her employment, the employee is ineligible to receive UI benefits until certain requalification criteria are satisfied. In addition, all wages earned with the employer that discharges the employee are excluded in determining the amount of any future benefits to which the employee is entitled. Current law provides a general definition of misconduct and also specifies a number of specific actions that constitute misconduct. The bill does all of the following with respect to what is considered misconduct: 1. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes theft of an employer[s property or services with intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently, theft of currency of any value, felonious conduct connected with an employee[s employment with his or her employer, or intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes substantial damage to his or her employer[s property. The bill does the following: a. Eliminates the requirement that the employee have intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently. b. Provides that intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes the destruction of an employer[s records is also considered misconduct. c. Adds unauthorized possession of an employer[s property, theft or unauthorized distribution of an employer[s confidential or proprietary information, and use of an employer[s credit card or other financial instrument for an unauthorized or nonbusiness purpose without prior approval from the employer to the list of what is considered misconduct. 2. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes absenteeism by an employee on more than two occasions within the 120-day period before the date of the employee[s termination, unless otherwise specified by his or her employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature, or excessive tardiness by an employee in violation of a policy of the employer that has been communicated to the employee, if the employee does not provide to his or her employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism or tardiness. The bill instead provides that misconduct includes both of the following: 1) a violation of an employer[s reasonable policy that covers employee absenteeism, tardiness, or both and that results in an employee[s termination, if that termination is in accordance with that policy and the policy is specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature; and 2) if an employer does not have a policy covering absenteeism that meets the criteria just described, absenteeism on more than two occasions within the 120-day period preceding an employee[s termination, if the employee does not provide to the employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism. 3. The bill specifically provides that misconduct includes a violation by an employee of an employer[s reasonable employment policy that covers the use of social media specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires a claimant who resides outside this state and who is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week to register with his or her local job center website or labor market exchange and requires DWD to verify that each such claimant has complied with that requirement. 2. Requires DWD to conduct random audits for at least 50 percent of all work search actions reported to have been performed by claimants. Current law requires random audits of work search actions, but does not require a specific number or level of audits. OTHER CHANGES UI benefit augmentations subject to review by Joint Committee on Finance The bill provides that whenever any UI benefit augmentation is provided for through an act of Congress or by executive action of the president of the United States, the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance must be notified, in writing, of the proposed benefit augmentation. The bill defines Xbenefit augmentationY to mean any action whereby the governor or any other state official or agency would encumber or expend moneys received from, or accept reimbursement from, the federal government or whereby the governor or any other state agency or official would enter into any contract or agreement with the federal government or any federal agency to 1) increase the weekly UI benefit rate payable to claimants above what is provided under state law, or 2) increase the total amount of UI benefits to which a claimant is entitled above what is provided under state law. Under the bill, such a benefit augmentation is subject to a seven-day passive review by the Joint Committee on Finance. In addition, the bill provides that no benefit augmentation may be effectuated unless it is subject to termination or cancellation by the Joint Committee on Finance. Worker[s compensation; misconduct Currently, under the worker[s compensation law, an employer is not liable for temporary disability benefits during an employee[s healing period if the employee is suspended or terminated from employment due to misconduct, as defined under the UI law. Under the bill, the changes to the UI law[s definition of misconduct described above apply under the worker[s compensation law as well. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB164 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE) | This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Program name change The bill changes references in the statutes to Xunemployment insuranceY to Xreemployment assistanceY and requires the program and its benefits to be known as reemployment assistance. The bill also requires DWD to have a division known as the Division of Reemployment Assistance and requires the reemployment assistance law to be administered by that division. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires, for the third and subsequent weeks of a claimant[s benefit year, that at least two of the required weekly work search actions be direct contacts with potential employers. 2. Requires a claimant who resides in this state, for each week other than an initial week, to submit and keep posted on the DWD[s job center website a current resume. 3. Requires, when a claimant is claiming benefits with less than three weeks of benefits left, that the claimant complete a reemployment counseling session. Additionally, current law allows DWD to use information or job application materials described above to assess a claimant[s efforts, skills, and ability to find or obtain work and to develop a list of potential opportunities for a claimant to obtain suitable work. However, current law provides that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the required weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for any specific positions on the list of potential opportunities in order to satisfy the work search requirement. The bill requires, instead of allows, DWD to provide this assistance. The bill also repeals the language in current law providing that a claimant who otherwise satisfies the weekly work search requirement is not required to apply for specific positions provided by DWD and requires DWD to provide each claimant with at least four potential opportunities each week, one or more of which may be opportunities with a temporary help company. Finally, current law allows DWD to require a claimant to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program. The bill provides that DWD must require a claimant to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program if the claimant is likely to exhaust regular UI benefits. DWD may also require other claimants to participate in a public employment office workshop or training program, but must prioritize claimants more likely to have difficulty obtaining reemployment. Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants Under federal law, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) operates the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program, whereby grants are awarded to states to provide reemployment services to claimants. Participation in the RESEA program is voluntary and requires that a state submit a state plan to USDOL that outlines how the state intends to conduct a program of reemployment services and eligibility assessments. The bill requires that DWD act to continue to participate in the RESEA program and requires DWD to provide certain RESEA services to all UI claimants. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB196 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | This bill makes various changes regarding the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Suitable work; work search Current law requires that, as a condition of being eligible for UI benefits for a given week, a claimant must 1) be able to work and available for work; 2) register for work in the manner prescribed by DWD; and 3) conduct a reasonable search for suitable work. Separately, current law also makes a claimant ineligible for UI benefits if a claimant fails, without good cause, to accept suitable work when offered. The bill provides that an employer may report to DWD whenever 1) an individual declines a job interview or job offer; 2) an individual fails to respond to a job interview offer or job offer; 3) an individual cancels or fails to attend a scheduled LRB-2743/1 MED:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 196 job interview without attempting to reschedule the job interview; 4) a UI claimant is unavailable for, or unable to perform, work actually available within a given week; or 5) under certain circumstances, the employer recalls a former employee receiving UI benefits who fails to return to work. The bill requires DWD to consider these reports in determining claimants[ attachment to the labor market. The bill also provides that a UI claimant is not considered to have conducted a reasonable search for suitable work in a given week, and is therefore ineligible for benefits for that week, if the claimant declined a job interview, failed to respond to a job interview offer, or canceled or failed to attend a job interview in that week. The bill, however, provides that a report of a canceled or missed interview is to be disregarded if the claimant demonstrates that he or she promptly attempted to reschedule the interview and allows reports to be disregarded upon certain showings by a claimant. The bill requires a claimant to provide weekly verification of all job offers, job interview offers, recalls to return to work, and any other offers of work received or responded to by the claimant since the prior week[s verification, as further prescribed by DWD, and requires DWD to investigate reports from employers as needed to determine their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. A disqualification of a claimant from receiving benefits for a given week based upon the claimant[s failure to conduct a reasonable search for suitable work does not reduce the claimant[s total UI benefit entitlement and does not preclude the claimant from receiving UI benefits in subsequent weeks, if the claimant is otherwise eligible for those weeks. The bill requires DWD to include information on reports submitted by employers under the bill in its annual UI fraud report made to the Council on Unemployment Insurance, including actions taken by DWD in response to the reports and their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. In addition, the bill requires that this annual fraud report be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. The bill requires DWD to have in effect methods to address any circumstances in which a claimant for UI benefits fails to return to work or to accept suitable work without good cause or is unavailable for work or unable to work, including reporting methods for employers and a notice from DWD to claimants about the laws governing such circumstances. Recovery of overpayments Current law allows DWD to act to recover overpayments in certain circumstances and allows overpayments to be required to be repaid in cases where an individual makes misrepresentations to obtain benefits in the name of another person. This bill makes such recoveries mandatory, instead of permissive. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2743/1 MED:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 196 | In Committee |
| AB162 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | This bill requires any state agency or authority that operates, coordinates, or oversees a workforce development program or activity, as defined in the bill, to track and report, at least annually, on the performance of that workforce development program or activity, using the primary indicators of performance under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These performance indicators are: 1) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 2) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; 3) the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 4) the percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in or within one year after exit from the program; 5) the percentage of program participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward such a credential or employment; and 6) the indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, defined currently as the percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program who were employed by the same employer in the second and fourth quarters after exit. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB200 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Identity proofing The bill requires DWD to implement identity-proofing measures for UI claimants who are engaging in benefit-related transactions with DWD that 1) require a claimant to verify his or her identity prior to filing an initial claim for benefits and when engaging in other transactions with DWD, and 2) achieve the IAL2 and AAL2 standards adopted in the National Institute of Standards and Technology[s Digital Identity Guidelines. Statute of limitations Under current law, a prosecution for a felony must be commenced within six years after it was committed. Current law provides several exceptions for certain felonies, and the bill adds another exception. Under the bill, a prosecution for a LRB-2746/1 MED&CMH:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 200 felony must be commenced within eight years after it was committed if the felony involves fraud in obtaining UI benefits and benefits under the special unemployment benefit programs under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. Education and informational materials Current law requires DWD to compile and provide to employers certain information about how the UI system works, including a handbook on the UI system for employers and information concerning the financing of the UI system that is published on DWD[s website. The bill requires DWD to also provide certain training materials for employers and claimants on the UI system. The bill requires DWD to publish training videos on its website and also to provide live training seminars for employing units that are free of charge and provided on a quarterly basis. Assistance call center The bill requires DWD to operate a call center to assist claimants for UI benefits or similar federal payments. Furthermore, the bill requires DWD to do the following: 1. If the volume of calls has increased by 100 percent or more over the same week during the previous year or if there is a declared state of emergency for the state that causes or relates to an increase in UI claims, operate the call center with hours of at least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. 2. If the volume of calls has increased by 300 percent or more over the same week during the previous year or if there is a declared state of emergency for the state that causes or relates to an increase in UI claims, operate the call center with evening hours after 5 p.m. and weekend hours. Database comparisons The bill requires DWD to perform a comparison of state and national databases that track death records, employment records, prison records, citizenship and immigration, and immigrations and customs against recipients of UI benefits for the purposes of detecting fraud or erroneous payments. The bill requires DWD to perform the comparison on at least a weekly basis. The bill provides that DWD may also make such comparisons with other databases. Fraud detection The bill requires DWD, if it suspends or reduces any method used by the department to detect fraud committed against the unemployment insurance program, to submit a notification detailing the suspension or reduction and the reasons therefor to the Council on Unemployment Insurance, the Governor, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2746/1 MED&CMH:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 200 | In Committee |
| SB205 | Information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE) | Current law requires that each proposed constitutional amendment, contingent referendum, advisory referendum, or other proposal requiring a statewide referendum that is passed by the legislature include a complete statement of the ballot question to be voted on at the referendum. The ballot question may not be worded in such a manner as to require a negative vote to approve a proposition or an affirmative vote to disapprove a proposition. Also under current law, the attorney general must prepare an explanatory statement for each proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum describing the effect of either a XyesY or XnoY vote on each ballot question. This bill eliminates the requirement that the attorney general prepare such an explanatory statement. Instead, the bill requires that each proposal for a constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum that passes both houses of the legislature contain a complete state referendum disclosure notice that includes all of the following: 1. The date of the referendum. LRB-2640/1 MPG:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 205 2. The entire text of the ballot question and proposed constitutional amendment or enactment, if any. 3. To the extent applicable, a plain language summary of current law. 4. An explanation in plain language of the effect of the proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum. 5. An explanation in plain language of the effect of a XyesY vote and the effect of a XnoY vote. Under the bill, the content under items 3 to 5 combined may not exceed one page on paper not less than 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches and printed in at least 12- point font. Under the bill, the complete state referendum disclosure notice agreed to by both houses of the legislature must be included in the type C notice entitled XNotice of ReferendumY that each county clerk must provide prior to any referendum. Current law requires that the text of the type C notice be posted at polling places on election day in such a manner as to be readily observed by voters entering the polling place or waiting in line to vote. As such, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be so posted at the polls on election day. Additionally, for at least 30 days prior to the date of a statewide referendum, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be published by the Elections Commission on the website used for voter registration, currently titled MyVote Wisconsin, or other voter public access website maintained by the commission and must be posted by each county clerk at the county clerk[s office and published by the county clerk on the county clerk[s website. Finally, the notice must be included with absentee ballots provided to voters for voting in a statewide referendum. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR43 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse women’s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]La Crosse women[s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | In Committee |
| AB236 | The rights of sexual assault crime victims. | Under current law, crime victims are provided certain rights under Wisconsin[s Bill of Rights for Victims and Witnesses, which generally relates to ensuring that all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity throughout the criminal justice process. This bill adds to the bill of rights for crime victims to provide that if a victim of sexual assault has provided a sexual assault kit as evidence of the crime, he or she has all of the following rights: 1. To have his or her kit tested in accordance with statutory timelines. 2. Upon request, to be informed of the location, testing date, and testing results of the sexual assault kit. 3. Upon request, to be informed whether a deoxyribonucleic acid analysis has been performed on the kit and, if an analysis has, whether or not a deoxyribonucleic acid profile has been developed and whether a comparison of the profile to profiles of known persons has identified a person. 4. Upon request, to be informed of the estimated destruction date of the sexual assault kit. 5. To be informed of any change in the status of his or her case, including if the case has been closed or reopened. | In Committee |
| SB234 | Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program to post in a conspicuous location in a public area of each school building a sign that contains the telephone number for the local county or state agency that is responsible for receiving reports of, and conducting investigations regarding, child abuse or neglect. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB154 | Requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to request any necessary waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. Under current law, the federal food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and called FoodShare in this state, provides benefits to eligible low-income households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is administered by DHS. The federal government pays the benefits for FoodShare while the state and federal government share the cost of administration. Current federal law defines the foods eligible for purchase under FoodShare. The bill requires DHS to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits for the purchase of candy or soft drinks. If the waiver is granted, DHS must prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits to purchase candy or soft drinks. If any necessary waiver is not granted, the bill requires DHS to resubmit the waiver request annually until it is granted. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2415/1 SWB:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 154 | In Committee |
| AB93 | The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) | This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives: 1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a permit authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special- use fertilizer. 2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or other scientifically validated analytical method. 3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled experimental studies using the soil or plant additive. 4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it contains. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR25 | Proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AJR23 | Designating April 2025 and April 2026 as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Months. | Relating to: designating April 2025 and April 2026 as Parkinson[s Disease Awareness Months. | In Committee |
| AB200 | Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Administrative allowance of the motor vehicle fuel tax Current law allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain as an administrative allowance 1.35 percent of the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of gasoline in this state. This bill allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain the same administrative allowance for the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of diesel fuel in this state. Retailer refund for motor vehicle fuel evaporation The bill allows a retailer who sells gasoline, diesel fuel, or both (motor vehicle fuel) in this state to claim a refund equal to 0.5 percent of the state motor vehicle fuel tax paid on the retailer[s purchase of the motor vehicle fuel to compensate for motor vehicle fuel stored on site that is lost by shrinkage or evaporation. A claim for a refund under the bill must be made to the Department of Revenue no later than 12 months after the date on which the retailer purchased the motor vehicle fuel and must be accompanied with invoices prepared by the motor vehicle fuel supplier or a list of purchases prepared by the retailer. Prior to 2019, the state provided such refunds to compensate gasoline retailers for shrinkage and evaporation losses. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB224 | The rights of sexual assault crime victims. | Under current law, crime victims are provided certain rights under Wisconsin[s Bill of Rights for Victims and Witnesses, which generally relates to ensuring that all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity throughout the criminal justice process. This bill adds to the bill of rights for crime victims to provide that if a victim of sexual assault has provided a sexual assault kit as evidence of the crime, he or she has all of the following rights: 1. To have his or her kit tested in accordance with statutory timelines. 2. Upon request, to be informed of the location, testing date, and testing results of the sexual assault kit. 3. Upon request, to be informed whether a deoxyribonucleic acid analysis has been performed on the kit and, if an analysis has, whether or not a deoxyribonucleic acid profile has been developed and whether a comparison of the profile to profiles of known persons has identified a person. 4. Upon request, to be informed of the estimated destruction date of the sexual assault kit. 5. To be informed of any change in the status of his or her case, including if the case has been closed or reopened. LRB-0060/1 MJW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 224 | In Committee |
| SB220 | Residency requirements for persons circulating nomination papers or recall petitions. | Under current law, any person may circulate nomination papers for a candidate if the person is eligible to vote in Wisconsin or is a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who, if he or she were a Wisconsin resident, would not be disqualified from voting in the state. A person is eligible to vote in Wisconsin if he or she is a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who has resided in an election district in this state for at least 28 consecutive days. Under this bill, a person must be eligible to vote in Wisconsin in order to circulate nomination papers for a candidate. However, under the bill, nomination papers and petitions for the candidacy of candidates for the offices of president and vice president of the United States may continue to be circulated by any person eligible to vote in Wisconsin or by any U.S. citizen aged 18 or older who, if he or she were a Wisconsin resident, would not be disqualified from voting in the state. Similarly, under current law, any person who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin or who is a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older and who, if he or she were a Wisconsin LRB-2251/1 MPG:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 220 resident, would not be disqualified from voting in the state may circulate a recall petition. Under the bill, a person must be eligible to vote in Wisconsin in order to circulate a recall petition and have the signatures on the petition be counted toward a recall. | In Committee |
| SJR27 | Proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming April 24, 2025, to be Holocaust Remembrance Day and April 27, 2025, to May 4, 2025, as Holocaust Days of Remembrance in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR29 | Designating April 2025 and April 2026 as Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Months. | Relating to: designating April 2025 and April 2026 as Parkinson[s Disease Awareness Months. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR16 | Recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB135 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that impair the ability of the motor vehicle owners and the persons that repair motor vehicles from accessing motor vehicles[ vehicle-generated data, critical repair information, or tools in order to repair the motor vehicles; that affect motor vehicle owners[ ability to use a vehicle towing provider or service provider of their choice; or that affect motor vehicle owners[ abilities to diagnose, repair, and maintain their vehicle in the same manner as would the motor vehicle manufacturer. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that affect the ability of aftermarket parts manufacturers, aftermarket parts remanufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, motor vehicle repair facilities, distributors, or service providers to produce or offer compatible aftermarket parts. Additionally, the bill requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide to motor vehicle owners and certain other entities access to certain data and tools related to the repair of the motor vehicles it manufactures. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from making certain mandates in regards to what parts, tools, or equipment must be used on its vehicles. A manufacturer that violates a provision of the bill is subject to a forfeiture of $10,000 per violation. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB76 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Under current law, a prosecutor may dismiss or amend a criminal charge without approval from the court. Under this bill, a prosecutor must get the court[s approval to dismiss or amend a charge if the charge is for any of the following: 1) a crime of domestic abuse or a violation of a domestic violence temporary restraining order or injunction; 2) theft of an automobile; 3) a crime of abuse of an individual at risk or a violation of an individual-at-risk TRO or injunction; 4) first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree sexual assault; 5) a crime against a child; 6) illegal possession of a firearm if the person has been convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of, committing, soliciting, conspiring, or attempting to commit a violent felony, as defined under current law; or 7) reckless driving that results in great bodily harm. The court may approve the dismissal or amendment of such a charge only if the court finds the LRB-2036/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 76 action is consistent with the public[s interest in deterring the commission of these crimes and with the legislature[s intent, expressed in this bill, to vigorously prosecute individuals who commit these crimes. If the court approves any dismissal or amendment in a year, the court must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing each approval. Current law allows a prosecutor to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with a crime. Generally, under a deferred prosecution agreement, the prosecutor agrees to dismiss a charge or not file a charge if the defendant complies with specified conditions. In addition, current law provides specific criteria for a deferred prosecution agreement if the defendant is or may be charged with child sexual abuse if the defendant is the parent of, the guardian of, a close relative of, or residing with the child; with a crime of domestic violence; or with a violation of a domestic violence TRO or injunction. Current law also prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance, causing injury to another while operating a vehicle while under the influence, or homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The bill prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant if a complaint or information is filed that alleges the person committed any of the same crimes listed in items 1 to 7 above. | Crossed Over |
| AB30 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. | This bill generally prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. In the bill, Xforeign adversaryY means a foreign government or nongovernment person determined by the federal secretary of commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of U.S. persons. Current law generally prohibits a nonresident alien or a corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign person) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that prohibition does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be Xextremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.Y See Opinion of Wis. Att[y Gen., OAG 11-14, ?5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, a foreign person may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but a foreign person may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill retains the current law restriction on foreign person ownership of agricultural and forestry land and adds a provision that prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring any land for agricultural or forestry purposes. | In Committee |
| AB58 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, any flag other than the U.S. flag and the flag of the state of Wisconsin from being flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of any state office building or facility, including the state capitol, or from any local government building or school building. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes a similar requirement but authorizes the governor to direct otherwise. | In Committee |
| AJR17 | Proclaiming the week of April 14, 2025, as Two Lights for Tomorrow Week in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming the week of April 14, 2025, as Two Lights for Tomorrow Week in the state of Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR14 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative David O. Martin. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative David O. Martin. | In Committee |
| AJR30 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey National Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]Madison women[s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women[s Hockey National Championship. | In Committee |
| SB211 | Exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban. | This bill exempts tobacco bars from the general prohibition under current law against smoking in indoor locations if the tobacco bar satisfies all of the following: 1) the tobacco bar came into existence on or after June 4, 2009; 2) only the smoking of cigars and pipes is allowed in the tobacco bar; and 3) the tobacco bar is not a retail food establishment. Current law defines a Xtobacco barY as a tavern that generates 15 percent or more of its annual gross income from the sale on the tavern premises, other than from a vending machine, of cigars and pipe tobacco. Also, under current law, tobacco bars that existed on June 3, 2009, are exempt from the general prohibition against smoking in indoor locations. | In Committee |
| SB206 | Voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases. (FE) | Under current law, a residential lease is void and unenforceable if it contains certain provisions (voidable provisions). Examples of voidable provisions include provisions that: 1) allow landlords to refuse to renew a lease because a tenant has contacted an entity for law enforcement, health, or safety services; 2) waive a landlord[s obligation to mitigate damages; 3) impose liability on a tenant for personal injury arising from causes clearly beyond the tenant[s control, and; 4) allow landlords to terminate a tenancy for a crime committed in relation to the rental property when the tenant[s lease did not include a statutorily required notice of domestic abuse protections. This bill provides that if court of competent jurisdiction finds that a residential lease includes a voidable provision, a tenant may elect to: 1) void the lease and have their tenancy converted into a periodic tenancy, or; 2) sever the voidable provision from their lease and continue under the remainder of the lease. In addition, in April 2024, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals published a decision, Koble Invs. v Marquardt, 2024 WI App 26, regarding certain landlord and CORRECTED COPY LRB-2555/1 JAM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 206 tenant matters. As of February 28, 2025, the case was on appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, with parties[ first briefings due to the court in March 2025. Among the holdings in Koble, the court of appeals determined that a particular landlord was acting as a Xdebt collectorY and that landlord[s tenant was a XcustomerY as those terms are defined under Wisconsin Consumer Act. The court of appeals also held that because the landlord violated a provision of the Wisconsin Consumer Act, the tenant[s attorney was entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Under this bill, the Wisconsin Consumer Act does not apply to residential leases or mobile home leases. In the same case, the court of appeals held that the tenant[s lease was void and unenforceable under landlord and tenant law, and that, under another law enforcing fair methods of competition, the tenant could recover twice the amount of the tenant[s pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs. The bill provides that under landlord and tenant law, a person injured by a voidable provision can recover twice the amount of the pecuniary loss, together with reasonable attorney fees and court costs, and provides that such pecuniary loss does not include any rent paid by the tenant. The bill also limits the remedies a person may seek when a rental agreement includes a voidable provision to only those remedies provided in the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR11 | Restricting the governor’s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | relating to: restricting the governor[s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | In Committee |
| SB129 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that impair the ability of the motor vehicle owners and the persons that repair motor vehicles from accessing motor vehicles[ vehicle-generated data, critical repair information, or tools in order to repair the motor vehicles; that affect motor vehicle owners[ ability to use a vehicle towing provider or service provider of their choice; or that affect motor vehicle owners[ abilities to diagnose, repair, and maintain their vehicle in the same manner as would the motor vehicle manufacturer. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that affect the ability of aftermarket parts manufacturers, aftermarket parts remanufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, motor vehicle repair facilities, distributors, or service providers to produce or offer compatible aftermarket parts. Additionally, the bill requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide to motor vehicle owners and certain other entities access to certain data and tools related to the repair of the motor vehicles it manufactures. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from making certain mandates in regards to what parts, tools, or equipment must be used on its vehicles. A manufacturer that violates a provision of the bill is subject to a forfeiture of $10,000 per violation. LRB-2114/1 JAM:skw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 129 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB34 | Withdrawal of candidacy for certain offices filled at the general election and providing a penalty. (FE) | Current law provides that any person seeking an elective office who files nomination papers and qualifies to appear on the ballot may not decline nomination. The person[s name must appear on the ballot except in the case of death. Under this bill, a person who files nomination papers with the Elections Commission for an office to be filled at the general election nevertheless does not qualify to appear on the ballot at the partisan primary or general election, and the person[s name is prohibited from appearing on the ballot, if before the last day provided in current law for the Elections Commission to certify candidates[ names to the counties for the partisan primary or general election, the person files a sworn statement with the commission attesting that the person withdraws his or her candidacy. Under current law, independent candidates for president and vice president and candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the state senate and assembly, governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, and district attorney file such nomination papers with the commission. The bill includes all of those offices except district attorney. The bill also requires the Elections Commission to establish and implement a process by LRB-1342/1 MPG:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 34 which the commission verifies the authenticity of such sworn statements filed with the commission. The bill additionally requires that a person withdrawing his or her candidacy for for national or statewide office pay a fee of $1,000 to the Elections Commission. A person withdrawing his or her candidacy for an office that is not elected statewide must pay a fee of $250 to the commission. Under the bill, a person who intentionally makes or files a false statement withdrawing a person[s candidacy is guilty of a Class G felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $25,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 10 years, or both. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB65 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain reckless driving offenses. (FE) | Under current law, a political subdivision may enact an ordinance authorizing law enforcement officers to impound vehicles used in reckless driving offenses if the person cited for reckless driving is the owner of the vehicle and the person has a prior reckless driving conviction for which a forfeiture was imposed that has not been fully paid. Under this bill, such an ordinance may authorize the impoundment of any vehicle used in a reckless driving offense regardless of ownership of the vehicle or prior record of the operator. The bill also provides that a local ordinance may authorize impounding such a vehicle until outstanding fines and forfeitures owed by the vehicle[s owner are fully paid. Also under the bill, upon impounding a vehicle under such an ordinance, the law enforcement officer must attempt to determine if the vehicle has been reported as stolen, and if so, the officer or the impounding political subdivision must attempt to contact the owner. If the vehicle is reported as stolen, the vehicle must be released to the owner without the payment of a fee or charge. LRB-2000/1 EVM:emw&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 65 For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB39 | Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer. | Under this bill, state agencies must require employees to perform their work in person at state agency offices during the employee[s regularly scheduled work hours, beginning July 1, 2025. The bill exempts telehealth services and duties that were performed off site before March 1, 2020. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB91 | Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of trafficking a child, or who knowingly benefits from the crime of trafficking a child, is guilty of a Class C felony. This bill increases the penalty to a Class A felony if the crime involved at least three victims who were children at the time the crime was committed. A Class A felony carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under current law, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence on a person who is being sentenced for a felony that was committed on or after December 31, 1999. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that comprises a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision in the community. Under current law, a court that sentences a person who has been convicted of a Class A felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, must determine one of the following: 1) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving a 20-year LRB-2201/1 CMH:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 91 term of confinement in prison; 2) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision on a certain date that is after the person serves a 20-year term of confinement in prison; or 3) the person is not eligible for release to extended supervision. Under this bill, a person is not eligible for release to extended supervision if the person is convicted of a Class A felony violation of trafficking a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB92 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, the penalty for the crime of property theft varies by the value of the property taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property is not more than $2,500 to a Class F felony if the value of the property exceeds $100,000. Similarly, the penalty for the crime of retail theft varies by the value of the merchandise or service that is taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value is not more than $500 to a Class G felony if the value exceeds $10,000. This bill specifies that, if, in a six-month period, a defendant commits more than one violation of property theft or more than one violation of retail theft, the value of items taken at each violation may be aggregated and the crimes may be prosecuted as one property theft crime or one retail theft crime. The penalty for the crime would be determined by the aggregated value of the items taken. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2282/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 92 | In Committee |
| AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Under current law, a prosecutor may dismiss or amend a criminal charge without approval from the court. Under this bill, a prosecutor must get the court[s approval to dismiss or amend a charge if the charge is for any of the following: 1) a crime of domestic abuse or a violation of a domestic violence temporary restraining order or injunction; 2) theft of an automobile; 3) a crime of abuse of an individual at risk or a violation of an individual-at-risk TRO or injunction; 4) first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree sexual assault; 5) a crime against a child; 6) illegal possession of a firearm if the person has been convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of, committing, soliciting, conspiring, or attempting to commit a violent felony, as defined under current law; or 7) reckless driving that results in great bodily harm. The court may approve the dismissal or amendment of such a charge only if the court finds the action is consistent with the public[s interest in deterring the commission of these crimes and with the legislature[s intent, expressed in this bill, to vigorously prosecute individuals who commit these crimes. If the court approves any dismissal or amendment in a year, the court must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing each approval. Current law allows a prosecutor to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with a crime. Generally, under a deferred prosecution agreement, the prosecutor agrees to dismiss a charge or not file a charge if the defendant complies with specified conditions. In addition, current law provides specific criteria for a deferred prosecution agreement if the defendant is or may be charged with child sexual abuse if the defendant is the parent of, the guardian of, a close relative of, or residing with the child; with a crime of domestic violence; or with a violation of a domestic violence TRO or injunction. Current law also prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance, causing injury to another while operating a vehicle while under the influence, or homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The bill prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant if a complaint or information is filed that alleges the person committed any of the same crimes listed in items 1 to 7 above. | Crossed Over |
| AB86 | Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of trafficking a child, or who knowingly benefits from the crime of trafficking a child, is guilty of a Class C felony. This bill increases the penalty to a Class A felony if the crime involved at least three victims who were children at the time the crime was committed. A Class A felony carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under current law, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence on a person who is being sentenced for a felony that was committed on or after December 31, 1999. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that comprises a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision in the community. Under current law, a court that sentences a person who has been convicted of a Class A felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, must determine one of the following: 1) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving a 20-year term of confinement in prison; 2) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision on a certain date that is after the person serves a 20-year term of confinement in prison; or 3) the person is not eligible for release to extended supervision. Under this bill, a person is not eligible for release to extended supervision if the person is convicted of a Class A felony violation of trafficking a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB89 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, the penalty for the crime of property theft varies by the value of the property taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property is not more than $2,500 to a Class F felony if the value of the property exceeds $100,000. Similarly, the penalty for the crime of retail theft varies by the value of the merchandise or service that is taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value is not more than $500 to a Class G felony if the value exceeds $10,000. This bill specifies that, if, in a six-month period, a defendant commits more than one violation of property theft or more than one violation of retail theft, the value of items taken at each violation may be aggregated and the crimes may be prosecuted as one property theft crime or one retail theft crime. The penalty for the crime would be determined by the aggregated value of the items taken. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB78 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain reckless driving offenses. (FE) | Under current law, a political subdivision may enact an ordinance authorizing law enforcement officers to impound vehicles used in reckless driving offenses if the person cited for reckless driving is the owner of the vehicle and the person has a prior reckless driving conviction for which a forfeiture was imposed that has not been fully paid. Under this bill, such an ordinance may authorize the impoundment of any vehicle used in a reckless driving offense regardless of ownership of the vehicle or prior record of the operator. The bill also provides that a local ordinance may authorize impounding such a vehicle until outstanding fines and forfeitures owed by the vehicle[s owner are fully paid. Also under the bill, upon impounding a vehicle under such an ordinance, the law enforcement officer must attempt to determine if the vehicle has been reported as stolen, and if so, the officer or the impounding political subdivision must attempt to contact the owner. If the vehicle is reported as stolen, the vehicle must be released to the owner without the payment of a fee or charge. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB195 | Revoking a transfer of real property on death, obtaining evidence of the termination of a decedent’s property interests, disbursing deposits after rescission of real property wholesaler contracts, and filing satisfactions of judgment. | Revoking a transfer of real property on death Under current law, a person may transfer an interest in real property to a beneficiary without probate by designating the beneficiary, called a transfer on death (TOD) beneficiary, in a document that meets certain requirements. The designation of a TOD beneficiary in a document does not affect ownership of the interest in real property until the owner[s death. Currently, an owner of an interest in real property may cancel or change the designation of a TOD beneficiary by executing and recording another document that designates a different TOD beneficiary or no beneficiary. This bill changes this process so that instead a document designating a TOD beneficiary may be revoked only by an instrument that is subsequently acknowledged by the owner and submitted for recording to the office of the register of deeds, and that is (1) a document designating a TOD beneficiary, (2) an instrument that expressly revokes the document designating a TOD beneficiary, or (3) an inter vivos deed containing an express revocation clause. In addition, under the bill, if a document designating a TOD beneficiary is made by more than one owner, (1) revocation by one owner does not affect the document designating a TOD beneficiary as to the interest of another owner and (2) if real property is owned by two or more individuals as joint tenants or by spouses as survivorship marital property, a document designating a TOD beneficiary of that property is revoked only if it is revoked by all of the living joint tenants or spouses. Obtaining evidences of the termination of a decedent[s property interests Under current law, a person may obtain evidence that certain property interests of a decedent have been terminated by providing information to the register of deeds of the county in which the property is located. Currently, to obtain evidence that a decedent[s property interests in real property have been terminated, a person must submit to the register of deeds a copy of the property tax bill for the year preceding the year of the decedent[s death. The bill allows a person to instead submit a copy of the most recent property tax bill. Real property wholesaler contracts; disbursing deposits after rescission Under current law, a real property wholesaler that contracts to sell its interest in a purchase agreement to a third party must provide certain written disclosures to the third party, or the third party may rescind the contract and is entitled to the return of any deposits or option fees paid by the third party. The bill provides that, if the third party rescinds the contract, a person holding deposits or option fees may disburse the deposits or option fees to the third party without any liability on the person[s part. Also under current law, a real property wholesaler that enters into a purchase agreement as a buyer must provide certain written disclosures to the seller, or the seller may rescind the purchase agreement and retain any deposits or option fees paid by the real property wholesaler. The bill provides that, if the seller rescinds the purchase agreement, a person holding deposits or option fees may disburse the deposits or option fees to the seller without any liability on the person[s part. Under current law, Xreal property wholesalerY is defined as a person that enters into a purchase agreement as a buyer and intends to sell the person[s rights as buyer to a third party, and Xpurchase agreementY is defined as a contract for the sale, exchange, option, rental, or purchase of residential real property that includes one to four dwelling units. Filing satisfactions of judgment Under current law, if a judgment debt is paid in whole or in part, a satisfaction may be filed and entered on the judgment and lien docket in the county where the judgment was first docketed. Currently, if the judgment has been entered on the judgment and lien docket in other counties, a certified copy of that satisfaction or a certificate by that clerk of circuit court under official seal may be filed in those other counties to update the judgment and lien dockets in those counties. The bill provides that an original satisfaction signed and acknowledged by the owner or the owner[s attorney may be filed in those other counties, rather than the evidence of satisfaction obtained from the clerk of court in the county where the judgment was first docketed. | In Committee |
| SB29 | Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time. | This bill requires each school board to adopt, by July 1, 2026, a policy that generally prohibits pupils from using wireless communication devices during instructional time. For purposes of these policies, the bill requires each school board to define a Xwireless communication deviceY as a portable wireless device that is capable of providing voice, messaging, or other data communication between two or more parties. The bill expressly states that this definition must include cellular phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and gaming devices. Finally, under the bill, each school board must include in its wireless communication device policy exceptions to the general prohibition against using wireless communication devices during instructional time 1) for emergencies and perceived threats, 2) to manage a pupil[s health care, 3) for a use included in an individualized education program or 504 plan, and 4) for a use authorized by a teacher for educational purposes. The bill also authorizes a school board to include other exceptions if the school board determines that doing so is beneficial for pupil education or well-being. LRB-1382/1 FFK:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 29 | In Committee |
| AB2 | Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time. | This bill requires each school board to adopt, by July 1, 2026, a policy that generally prohibits pupils from using wireless communication devices during instructional time. For purposes of these policies, the bill requires each school board to define a “wireless communication device” as a portable wireless device that is capable of providing voice, messaging, or other data communication between two or more parties. The bill expressly states that this definition must include cellular phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and gaming devices. Finally, under the bill, each school board must include in its wireless communication device policy exceptions to the general prohibition against using wireless communication devices during instructional time 1) for emergencies and perceived threats, 2) to manage a pupil’s health care, 3) for a use included in an individualized education program or 504 plan, and 4) for a use authorized by a teacher for educational purposes. The bill also authorizes a school board to include other exceptions if the school board determines that doing so is beneficial for pupil education or well-being. | Crossed Over |
| SB6 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses. | Under this bill, in addition to the penalties available under current law for the following offenses, the vehicle used in the offense may be immediately impounded and remain impounded for 90 days or, for a violation occurring on a highway under the jurisdiction of a political subdivision, a shorter period established by the political subdivision: 1. Operating a vehicle without a license, with certain exceptions, or with a revoked operating privilege. 2. Speeding at a rate higher than 25 miles per hour above the speed limit. 3. Fleeing from a law enforcement officer. 4. Racing on a highway. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB170 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) | This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from using the legal services of any person who is not a state employee or federal employee or agent to assist in the investigation or prosecution of any civil or criminal cause or matter unless DOJ uses a specific process under current law for contracting for legal services on a contingent fee basis or that person is a legal intern who earns no more than $10,000 annually from their internship employer. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB59 | Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) | This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and 17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 59 this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability, the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or 2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for tuition and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in a UW System school or technical college. This bill eliminates the five-year durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service. Under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse and children are still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the veteran or the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of whether the veteran or veteran[s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a resident student for tuition or fee purposes. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB167 | Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE) | Both federal law and state law prohibit a person from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. Federal and state law provide several identical exceptions to the prohibition, such as for law enforcement and for persons in accordance with a contract between the person and the school. Federal law provides another exception for a person who is licensed to possess a firearm by the state if the state requires a background check to ensure the person is qualified for the license. Since the Department of Justice requires a background check before it issues a person a license to carry a concealed weapon, a licensee is allowed under federal law to LRB-1593/1 CMH:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 167 possess a firearm on the grounds of a school. State law, however, does not provide an identical exception, so a licensee is prohibited under state law from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. This bill creates a state exception that is similar to the federal exception. Under the bill, a person who has a license issued by DOJ may possess a firearm on the grounds of a school if the person is employed by the school and the school board or governing entity has adopted a policy that allows employees who are licensees to possess a firearm. Under current law, a person who applies to DOJ for a license to carry a concealed weapon must pay an application fee and a person who is renewing a license must pay a renewal fee. DOJ must set the fee amount on the basis of the cost it incurs in licensing, but the fee can be no more than $37 for an initial license and $12 for a license renewal. In addition, the person must pay for a background check for each initial application and renewal application; that fee amount is currently $10. The bill waives the initial application fee, renewal fee, and background check fee for teachers who apply for a license. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB1 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction is required to annually publish a school and school district accountability report, commonly known as school and school district report cards, for the previous school year. To measure school performance and school district improvement for purposes of the report cards, particularly measures related to pupil achievement in reading and math, DPI uses data derived from pupil performance on assessments administered in the previous school year, including assessments commonly referred to as the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, which includes the Wisconsin Forward Exam, PreACT, the ACT with Writing, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Under the bill, beginning with report cards published for the school year in which the bill becomes law, for the index system to identify school and school district performance and improvement, also known as the accountability rating categories, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and corresponding qualitative descriptions that DPI used for report cards published in the 2019-20 school year. In addition, beginning with the WSAS administered in the school year in which the bill becomes law, DPI must do the following: 1. For the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, align cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories to the cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. For the PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, use the same cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories that DPI used for the same assessments administered in the 2021-22 school year. The bill specifically requires DPI to use the terms “below basic,” “basic,” “proficient,” and “advanced” for pupil performance categories on these assessments. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Vetoed |
| SB51 | Flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits any flag other than the U.S. flag, the state flag, the official POW/MIA flag recognized by Congress, and the official flags of each branch of the U.S. armed forces from being flown, hung, or displayed from any flagpole or building, structure, or facility, including the state capitol, that is owned or occupied entirely by a state agency or authority or by a city, village, town, or county. However, the bill authorizes the legislature to make exceptions for state flagpoles and facilities by joint resolution adopted by a three-fourths majority vote of all members elected to each house. Similarly, a city, village, town, or county may make exceptions for its flagpoles and facilities by a three-fourths majority vote of all members elected to its governing body. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes requirements similar to those of the bill but that authorizes the governor to make exceptions. The bill delays its requirements for state flagpoles and facilities until January 1, 2027. LRB-1545/1 MPG:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 51 | In Committee |
| AB46 | Flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits any flag other than the U.S. flag, the state flag, the official POW/MIA flag recognized by Congress, and the official flags of each branch of the U.S. armed forces from being flown, hung, or displayed from any flagpole or building, structure, or facility, including the state capitol, that is owned or occupied entirely by a state agency or authority or by a city, village, town, or county. However, the bill authorizes the legislature to make exceptions for state flagpoles and facilities by joint resolution adopted by a three-fourths majority vote of all members elected to each house. Similarly, a city, village, town, or county may make exceptions for its flagpoles and facilities by a three-fourths majority vote of all members elected to its governing body. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes requirements similar to those of the bill but that authorizes the governor to make exceptions. The bill delays its requirements for state flagpoles and facilities until January 1, 2027. | In Committee |
| AB104 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | This bill prohibits health care providers from engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making referrals for, certain medical intervention practices upon an individual under 18 years of age if done for the purpose of changing the minor[s body to correspond to a sex that is discordant with the minor[s biological sex. The prohibitions under the bill do not apply to any of the following: provider providing a service in accordance with a good faith medical decision of a parent or guardian of a minor born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development; 2) the treatment of any infection, injury, disease, or disorder that has been caused by or exacerbated by the performance of a gender transition medical procedure, whether or not that procedure was performed in accordance with state and federal law; or 3) any procedure undertaken because the minor suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the minor in imminent danger of death or impairment of a major bodily function unless surgery is performed. Under the bill, the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, and the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board are required to investigate any allegation that any person licensed or certified by the respective boards has violated any of the prohibitions on engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making certain referrals for the medical intervention practices described in the bill. Upon a finding by the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board that the holder of a license or certificate has violated any of these prohibitions, the bill requires the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Affiliated Credentialing Board to revoke that person[s license or certificate. | Crossed Over |
| SB157 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | This bill prohibits health care providers from engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making referrals for, certain medical intervention practices upon an individual under 18 years of age if done for the purpose of changing the minor[s body to correspond to a sex that is discordant with the minor[s biological sex. The prohibitions under the bill do not apply to any of the following: provider providing a service in accordance with a good faith medical decision of a parent or guardian of a minor born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development; 2) the treatment of any infection, injury, disease, or disorder that has been caused by or exacerbated by the performance of a gender transition medical procedure, whether or not that procedure was performed in accordance with state and federal law; or 3) any procedure undertaken because the minor suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the minor in imminent danger of death or impairment of a major bodily function unless surgery is performed. LRB-1359/1 SWB&JPC:cjs 1) a health care 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 157 Under the bill, the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, and the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board are required to investigate any allegation that any person licensed or certified by the respective boards has violated any of the prohibitions on engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making certain referrals for the medical intervention practices described in the bill. Upon a finding by the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board that the holder of a license or certificate has violated any of these prohibitions, the bill requires the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Affiliated Credentialing Board to revoke that person[s license or certificate. | In Committee |
| AB74 | Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, governing body of a private school, and operator of a charter school to notify a pupil[s parent or guardian if the school board, governing body, or operator receives a credible report alleging sexual misconduct by a school staff member and the pupil is identified as an alleged victim, target, or recipient of the misconduct. Under the bill, a school board, governing body, or operator must notify the pupil[s parent or guardian by no later than the end of the day on which the school board receives the report containing the alleged sexual misconduct. Under the bill, a report is considered to be received by a school board or operator of a charter school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, assistant school district superintendent, school district superintendent, or school district administrator, and is considered to be received by the governing body of a private school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, executive director, or other individual who acts as the administrative head of the private school. Under current law, it is a Class I felony for a school staff member to commit an act of sexual misconduct against a pupil. Under current law and the bill, Xsexual misconductY means 1) communications made intentionally to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator or 2) intentional touching by the perpetrator or, upon the perpetrator[s instruction, by the use of a body part or object, if the purpose of the intentional touching is to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator. The bill also requires school boards to annually provide information about how parents and guardians may access records related to school employee discipline under the state public records law. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB31 | Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty. | This bill creates requirements, commonly known as a Xlemon law,Y for the repair and replacement of an implement of husbandry that has a condition or defect (nonconformity) that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the implement of husbandry and that is covered by an express warranty. Under the bill, if an implement of husbandry does not conform to an applicable express warranty, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the lessor, or any of the manufacturer[s authorized dealers and makes the implement of husbandry available for repair, the manufacturer, lessor, or authorized dealer must repair the nonconformity. If the same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least four times and the nonconformity continues, or if the implement of husbandry is out of service for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of warranty nonconformities, the consumer is entitled to a replacement implement of husbandry or a full refund. | In Committee |
| SB27 | Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer. (FE) | Under this bill, state agencies must require employees to perform their work in person at state agency offices during the employee[s regularly scheduled work hours, beginning July 1, 2025. The bill exempts telehealth services and duties that were performed off site before March 1, 2020. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB100 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Current law requires, beginning January 1, 2024, the school board of a first class city school district (currently only Milwaukee Public Schools) to ensure that at least 25 school resource officers are present at schools within the school district (SRO requirement). Under current law, a Xschool resource officerY is a law enforcement officer who is deployed in community-oriented policing and assigned by the law enforcement agency that employs him or her to work in a full-time capacity in collaboration with a school district. Current law also requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to agree on how to apportion the costs of meeting the SRO requirement between the two entities. On October 8, 2024, a complaint was filed in Milwaukee County that alleged MPS is failing to comply with the SRO requirement and asked for a writ of mandamus to require compliance. On January 23, 2025, a Milwaukee County judge ordered MPS to comply with the SRO requirement on or before February 17, 2025. On February 17, 2025, the same Milwaukee County judge gave MPS an additional 10 days to comply with the January 23, 2025 order. LRB-1376/1 FFK&KP:emw&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 100 This bill requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to apportion 75 percent of the costs of complying with the SRO requirement to MPS and 25 percent to the City of Milwaukee. The bill further requires that by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law 1) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement and 2) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must jointly certify to the Joint Committee on Finance that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. Under the bill, a similar certification process is required if the initial agreement between MPS and the City of Milwaukee is terminated. First, MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement within 30 days of the termination of the agreement. Second, by no later than 30 days after entering into the agreement, the City of Milwaukee must certify to JCF that at least 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Lastly, by no later than 30 days after the certification is made to JCF, MPS must certify to JCF that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. The bill also creates financial consequences for both the City of Milwaukee and MPS if these requirements are not met. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Administration to withhold 10 percent of the supplemental county and municipal aid to the City of Milwaukee if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the city and MPS or if the City of Milwaukee fails to certify to JCF, by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools and, if a new agreement is entered into in the future, that 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Similarly, the bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to withhold 20 percent of the per pupil categorical aid payment owed to MPS if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the City of Milwaukee and MPS or if MPS fails to certify to JCF by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law and, if required in the future due to a new agreement, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB97 | Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, governing body of a private school, and operator of a charter school to notify a pupil[s parent or guardian if the school board, governing body, or operator receives a credible report alleging sexual misconduct by a school staff member and the pupil is identified as an alleged victim, target, or recipient of the misconduct. Under the bill, a school board, governing body, or operator must notify the pupil[s parent or guardian by no later than the end of the day on which the school board receives the report containing the alleged sexual misconduct. Under the bill, a report is considered to be received by a school board or operator of a charter school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, assistant school district superintendent, school district superintendent, or school district administrator, and is considered to be received by the governing body of a private school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, executive director, or other individual who acts as the administrative head of the private school. Under current law, it is a Class I felony for a school staff member to commit an act of sexual misconduct against a pupil. Under current law and the bill, Xsexual misconductY means 1) communications made intentionally to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator or 2) intentional touching by the perpetrator or, upon the perpetrator[s instruction, LRB-2255/1 FFK:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 97 by the use of a body part or object, if the purpose of the intentional touching is to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator. The bill also requires school boards to annually provide information about how parents and guardians may access records related to school employee discipline under the state public records law. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR6 | Honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Relating to: honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB105 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet. | This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the Internet on a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs a reasonable age verification method to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. XMaterial harmful to minorsY is defined in the bill to include material 1) that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, 2) that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts including pubic areas, genitals, buttocks, and female nipples, and 3) that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. In the bill, a Xreasonable age verification methodY includes various methods whereby the business entity may verify that an individual seeking to access the material is not a minor. Under the bill, persons that perform reasonable age verification methods may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual[s access has been granted or denied. The bill also requires a business entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material to prevent persons from accessing the website from an internet protocol address or internet protocol address range that is linked to or known to be a virtual private network system or provider. In addition, this bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing obscene material or an obscene depiction of a purported child on the Internet. XObscene materialY is defined to mean a writing, picture, film, or other recording that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to the prurient interest if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. XObscene depiction of a purported childY is defined to mean a visual representation that appears to depict an actual child in the form of a photograph, film, motion picture, or digital or computer-generated image or picture, that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to prurient interests if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexually explicit conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. A person that violates the provisions of the bill may be subject to civil liability for damages and the payment of court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Sovereign immunity may not be raised as an affirmative defense to a civil action brought alleging a violation of a provision of the bill. | Crossed Over |
| AJR15 | Proclaiming March 26, 2025, as Purple Day for epilepsy. | Relating to: proclaiming March 26, 2025, as Purple Day for epilepsy. | Crossed Over |
| AB102 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each University of Wisconsin institution and technical college that operates or sponsors an intercollegiate or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport as one of the following based on the sex of the participating students: 1) males or men; or 2) females or women. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined by a physician at birth and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires a UW institution or technical college to prohibit 1) a male student from participating on an athletic team or in a sport designated for females, and 2) a male student from using locker rooms designated for females. | Crossed Over |
| AB100 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program (educational institution) that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport based on the sex of the participating pupils. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from 1) participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females and 2) using a locker room designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport. CORRECTED COPY | Crossed Over |
| SB139 | Transfer of nursing home beds. | Under current law, the Department of Health Services licenses nursing home beds and beds in facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled and enforces a maximum limit on the number of these licensed beds in the state. A nursing home may transfer a licensed bed to another nursing home under certain circumstances, including that the receiving nursing home is within the same area for allocation of nursing home beds as is the transferring home, or is in a county adjoining that area, that the transferring nursing home and the receiving nursing home are owned by corporations that are owned by the same person, and that DHS reviews and approves the transfer. This bill repeals the transfer of nursing home beds. Instead, closed nursing home beds will be made available for distribution under procedures specified under current law. Under current law, DHS is required to redistribute nursing home beds within a county if the number of other nursing home beds for each 1,000 persons 65 years of age or over in the county is less than 80 percent of the statewide average and the total occupancy level for the other nursing homes in the county is equal to or more than the statewide average nursing home occupancy rate. Further, DHS must publish a notice at least once per year describing the number of beds that are available in each health planning area of the state. Nursing homes may then apply LRB-0506/1 JPC:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 139 for any available beds. DHS is responsible for reviewing each application it receives and making decisions on each application using criteria specified by statute and any further criteria that DHS develops by rule. | In Committee |
| AJR9 | Honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Relating to: honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | In Committee |
| SB90 | The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) | Under current law, electricity and natural gas sold during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April for residential use is exempt from the sales and use tax. This bill exempts from the sales and use tax electricity and natural gas sold for residential use regardless of when it is sold. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB91 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Current law requires, beginning January 1, 2024, the school board of a first class city school district (currently only Milwaukee Public Schools) to ensure that at least 25 school resource officers are present at schools within the school district (SRO requirement). Under current law, a Xschool resource officerY is a law enforcement officer who is deployed in community-oriented policing and assigned by the law enforcement agency that employs him or her to work in a full-time capacity in collaboration with a school district. Current law also requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to agree on how to apportion the costs of meeting the SRO requirement between the two entities. On October 8, 2024, a complaint was filed in Milwaukee County that alleged MPS is failing to comply with the SRO requirement and asked for a writ of mandamus to require compliance. On January 23, 2025, a Milwaukee County judge ordered MPS to comply with the SRO requirement on or before February 17, 2025. On February 17, 2025, the same Milwaukee County judge gave MPS an additional 10 days to comply with the January 23, 2025 order. This bill requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to apportion 75 percent of the costs of complying with the SRO requirement to MPS and 25 percent to the City of Milwaukee. The bill further requires that by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law 1) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement and 2) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must jointly certify to the Joint Committee on Finance that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. Under the bill, a similar certification process is required if the initial agreement between MPS and the City of Milwaukee is terminated. First, MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement within 30 days of the termination of the agreement. Second, by no later than 30 days after entering into the agreement, the City of Milwaukee must certify to JCF that at least 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Lastly, by no later than 30 days after the certification is made to JCF, MPS must certify to JCF that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. The bill also creates financial consequences for both the City of Milwaukee and MPS if these requirements are not met. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Administration to withhold 10 percent of the supplemental county and municipal aid to the City of Milwaukee if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the city and MPS or if the City of Milwaukee fails to certify to JCF, by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools and, if a new agreement is entered into in the future, that 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Similarly, the bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to withhold 20 percent of the per pupil categorical aid payment owed to MPS if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the City of Milwaukee and MPS or if MPS fails to certify to JCF by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law and, if required in the future due to a new agreement, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB130 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet. | This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the Internet on a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs a reasonable age verification method to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. XMaterial harmful to minorsY is defined in the bill to include material 1) that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, 2) that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts including pubic areas, genitals, buttocks, and female nipples, and 3) that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. In the bill, a Xreasonable age verification methodY includes various methods whereby the business entity may verify that an individual seeking to access the material is not a minor. Under the bill, persons that perform reasonable age verification methods may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual[s access has been granted or denied. The bill also requires a business entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material to prevent persons from accessing the LRB-2322/1 JAM:... 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 130 website from an internet protocol address or internet protocol address range that is linked to or known to be a virtual private network system or provider. In addition, this bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing obscene material or an obscene depiction of a purported child on the Internet. XObscene materialY is defined to mean a writing, picture, film, or other recording that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to the prurient interest if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. XObscene depiction of a purported childY is defined to mean a visual representation that appears to depict an actual child in the form of a photograph, film, motion picture, or digital or computer-generated image or picture, that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to prurient interests if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexually explicit conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. A person that violates the provisions of the bill may be subject to civil liability for damages and the payment of court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Sovereign immunity may not be raised as an affirmative defense to a civil action brought alleging a violation of a provision of the bill. | In Committee |
| SB132 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person may not impersonate a peace officer, a fire fighter, an emergency services medical practitioner, or an emergency medical provider with the intent to mislead others into believing that the person is actually an officer, a fire fighter, or emergency personnel. Current law classifies the crime as a Class A misdemeanor. This bill changes the classification to a Class I felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AB130 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) | Under current law provisions known as the Xspills law,Y a person that possesses or controls a hazardous substance or that causes the discharge of a hazardous substance must notify the Department of Natural Resources immediately, restore the environment to the extent practicable, and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. If action is not being adequately taken, or the identity of the person responsible for the discharge is unknown, DNR may take emergency action to contain or remove the hazardous substance; the person that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance that was discharged or that caused the discharge of the hazardous substance must then reimburse DNR for expenses DNR incurred in taking such emergency actions. The spills law allows DNR to enter property to take emergency action if entry is necessary to prevent increased environmental damages, and to inspect any record relating to a hazardous substance for the purpose of determining compliance with the spills law. DNR may also require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges. The bill exempts the following persons from all of these provisions under the spills law, if the person grants DNR permission to remediate the land at DNR[s expense: 1. A person that spread biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 2. A person that owns land upon which biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS were spread in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 3. A fire department, public-use airport, or municipality that responded to emergencies that required the use of PFAS or that conducted training for such emergencies in compliance with applicable federal regulations. 4. A solid waste disposal facility that accepted PFAS. 5. A person that owns, leases, manages, or contracts for property on which the PFAS contamination did not originate, unless the person also owns, leases, manages, or contracts for the property on which the PFAS discharge originated. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB15 | Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty. | SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under this bill, any act of sexual misconduct that is currently a second degree sexual assault is a first degree sexual assault if the victim is an adult at risk. Under current law, if a person engages in any of the specified acts of sexual misconduct, he or she is guilty of a Class C felony. Under the bill, he or she is guilty of a Class B felony if the victim is an adult at risk, regardless of whether or not he or she knew the victim[s status as an adult at risk. FREEZING OF ASSETS Under current law, there is a procedure for a court to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged with a financial exploitation crime when the victim is an elder person. The procedure allows a court to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of the property involved in the defendant[s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of preserving the property for future payment of restitution to the crime victim. This bill allows the court to apply the same procedure to freeze or seize assets when the crime victim an adult at risk. PHYSICAL ABUSE OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, there is a set of penalties that apply to physical abuse of an elder person, which range from a Class I felony to a Class C felony depending on the severity of the conduct. This bill applies those same penalties to physical abuse of an adult at risk. INCREASED PENALTIES This bill allows a term of imprisonment that is imposed for a criminal conviction to be increased in length if the crime victim was an adult at risk. Under the bill, a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to two years; a maximum term of imprisonment of one to 10 years may be increased by up to four years; and a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by up to six years. Under the bill, the term of imprisonment may be lengthened irrespective of whether the defendant knew that the crime victim was an adult at risk. RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, a person seeking a domestic violence, individual-at-risk, or harassment restraining order must appear in person in the courtroom at a hearing to obtain a restraining order. This bill allows an adult at risk who is seeking a domestic violence, individual- at-risk, or harassment restraining order to appear in a court hearing by telephone or live audiovisual means. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, LRB-0059/1 MJW:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 15 the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB18 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction is required to annually publish a school and school district accountability report, commonly known as school and school district report cards, for the previous school year. To measure school performance and school district improvement for purposes of the report cards, particularly measures related to pupil achievement in reading and math, DPI uses data derived from pupil performance on assessments administered in the previous school year, including assessments commonly referred to as the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, which includes the Wisconsin Forward Exam, PreACT, the ACT with Writing, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Under the bill, beginning with report cards published for the school year in which the bill becomes law, for the index system to identify school and school district performance and improvement, also known as the accountability rating categories, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and corresponding qualitative descriptions that DPI used for report cards published in the 2019-20 LRB-0976/4 FFK:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 18 school year. In addition, beginning with the WSAS administered in the school year in which the bill becomes law, DPI must do the following: 1. For the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, align cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories to the cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. For the PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, use the same cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories that DPI used for the same assessments administered in the 2021-22 school year. The bill specifically requires DPI to use the terms Xbelow basic,Y Xbasic,Y Xproficient,Y and XadvancedY for pupil performance categories on these assessments. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB55 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) | This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from using the legal services of any person who is not a state employee or federal employee or agent to assist in the investigation or prosecution of any civil or criminal cause or matter unless DOJ uses a specific process under current law for contracting for legal services on a contingent fee basis or that person is a legal intern who earns no more than $10,000 annually from their internship employer. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB136 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person may not impersonate a peace officer, a fire fighter, an emergency services medical practitioner, or an emergency medical provider with the intent to mislead others into believing that the person is actually an officer, a fire fighter, or emergency personnel. Current law classifies the crime as a Class A misdemeanor. This bill changes the classification to a Class I felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AR5 | Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17, 2025. | Relating to: celebrating Saint Patrick[s Day on March 17, 2025. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR16 | Recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AB119 | Transfer of nursing home beds. | Under current law, the Department of Health Services licenses nursing home beds and beds in facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled and enforces a maximum limit on the number of these licensed beds in the state. A nursing home may transfer a licensed bed to another nursing home under certain circumstances, including that the receiving nursing home is within the same area for allocation of nursing home beds as is the transferring home, or is in a county adjoining that area, that the transferring nursing home and the receiving nursing home are owned by corporations that are owned by the same person, and that DHS reviews and approves the transfer. This bill repeals the transfer of nursing home beds. Instead, closed nursing home beds will be made available for distribution under procedures specified under current law. Under current law, DHS is required to redistribute nursing home beds within a county if the number of other nursing home beds for each 1,000 persons 65 years of age or over in the county is less than 80 percent of the statewide average and the total occupancy level for the other nursing homes in the county is equal to or more than the statewide average nursing home occupancy rate. Further, DHS must publish a notice at least once per year describing the number of beds that are available in each health planning area of the state. Nursing homes may then apply for any available beds. DHS is responsible for reviewing each application it receives and making decisions on each application using criteria specified by statute and any further criteria that DHS develops by rule. | In Committee |
| SJR13 | Honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller. | In Committee |
| SB117 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program (educational institution) that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport based on the sex of the participating pupils. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from 1) participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females and 2) using a locker room designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport. CORRECTED COPY LRB-1553/2 FFK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 117 | In Committee |
| SB116 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each University of Wisconsin institution and technical college that operates or sponsors an intercollegiate or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport as one of the following based on the sex of the participating students: 1) males or men; or 2) females or women. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined by a physician at birth and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires a UW institution or technical college to prohibit 1) a male student from participating on an athletic team or in a sport designated for females, and 2) a male student from using locker rooms designated for females. | In Committee |
| AB60 | Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) | Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the referendum. Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under the bill, the question must also provide all of the following: 1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the bonds. 2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased. 3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that would result from passage of the referendum. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB47 | Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) | This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and 17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability, the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or 2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for tuition and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in a UW System school or technical college. This bill eliminates the five-year durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service. Under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse and children are still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the veteran or the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of whether the veteran or veteran[s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a resident student for tuition or fee purposes. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB29 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses. | Under this bill, in addition to the penalties available under current law for the following offenses, the vehicle used in the offense may be immediately impounded and remain impounded for 90 days or, for a violation occurring on a highway under the jurisdiction of a political subdivision, a shorter period established by the political subdivision: 1. Operating a vehicle without a license, with certain exceptions, or with a revoked operating privilege. 2. Speeding at a rate higher than 25 miles per hour above the speed limit. 3. Fleeing from a law enforcement officer. 4. Racing on a highway. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB56 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) | This bill requires, within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, that each public building in this state display the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y in a location that is visible to the public if the building is open to the public, and in a location where notices for employees are regularly posted if it is a building that is not open to the public. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the bill also requires that the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y be displayed in each public school classroom, including charter school classrooms. Under current law, each school board and governing body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day. Under the bill, the required displays in both public buildings and public schools must 1) be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, 2) be on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall, and 3) be presented in English in a legible font. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB83 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | In Committee |
| AB69 | The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) | Under current law, electricity and natural gas sold during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April for residential use is exempt from the sales and use tax. This bill exempts from the sales and use tax electricity and natural gas sold for residential use regardless of when it is sold. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB82 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | In Committee |
| SB75 | Venue for actions in which there is a governmental party. | This bill provides that when certain governmental parties are parties to or intervene in an action filed in a county in which there is a first or second class city, any party to the action may seek to have the clerk of the circuit court in which the case has been filed assign venue at random. Under the bill, a governmental party means 1) the legislature, either house of the legislature, or a committee of the legislature or of either house of the legislature, or any member of the legislature acting in his or her official capacity; 2) the elections commission or the ethics commission, or any commissioner thereof, acting in his or her official capacity; or 3) if acting in his or her official capacity, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, or superintendent of public instruction, a secretary or deputy secretary of a department, a commissioner or deputy commissioner of an independent agency, the president or vice president of the United States, or any U.S. senator or representative in Congress from this state. The bill provides that if an action is filed in a county in which there is a first or second class city and a governmental party is a party to the action, including as an intervenor, any party to the action has the option to elect random venue LRB-1911/1 SWB:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 75 assignment. A plaintiff seeking to exercise the option for random venue assignment must file a notice not later than five days after the summons and complaint are filed. If the party seeking to exercise the option for random venue assignment is not the plaintiff, that party must file notice not later than five days after the service of a summons and complaint upon that party. In an action in which a governmental party files a motion to intervene, the notice must be filed not later than five days after that governmental party[s motion to intervene is granted. Under the bill, upon receipt of a notice from a party seeking random venue assignment, the clerk of the circuit court in which the case is filed must select a circuit at random, excluding the circuit in which the case was originally filed, and then assign the selected circuit as the venue for the case. The clerk of courts for the county where the action was initially filed must notify the clerk of courts for the county where the action is assigned of the venue assignment. The court to which the action is assigned must then issue an order to notify the parties of the venue assignment. If a case is assigned under the provisions of the bill, no party may seek to exercise the random venue assignment option again in the case, and neither a court, acting on its own, nor any party or intervenor may move for any subsequent change of venue. | In Committee |
| SB79 | A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption. | This bill provides a method by which a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father may disclaim his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one who is not an Indian child in writing as an alternative to appearing in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. The bill also allows payments to be made to a licensed out-of-state private child placing agency for services provided in connection with an adoption. Disclaimer of parental rights Subject to certain exceptions, current law generally requires a birth parent to appear in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. This bill adds an exception that allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to avoid appearing in court if he or she files with the court an affidavit disclaiming his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one and if no participant in the court proceeding knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child. A minor may use such an affidavit of disclaimer only after the TPR LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 petition has been filed, he or she has been offered legal counseling, and he or she has been appointed a guardian ad litem and only if the guardian ad litem approves the disclaimer. The affidavit must comply with certain requirements, including that it must be witnessed and notarized and must include a statement that the parent understands the effect of an order to terminate parental rights and that he or she voluntarily disclaims any rights that he or she may have to the child. The bill requires the court to review the affidavit and make findings on whether it meets all of the requirements. Under the bill, the affidavit containing a disclaimer of parental rights may be executed before the birth of the child by the father or alleged or presumed father but not the mother and may be executed by either parent 120 hours or more after the birth until the child[s first birthday; however, the affidavit may not be executed by either parent from birth until 120 hours after the birth or on or after the child[s first birthday. Under the bill, if executed by the father or alleged or presumed father before the child[s birth, the disclaimer is revokable for any reason until 72 hours after execution or 120 hours after the birth, whichever is later. If executed by the mother, the disclaimer is revocable for any reason until 72 hours after execution. If not revoked by the applicable time limit, the disclaimer is irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. Under the bill, no action to invalidate a disclaimer, including an action based on fraud or duress, may be commenced more than three months after the affidavit was executed. If parental rights to a child are terminated based upon such a disclaimer of parental rights, the bill prohibits a court from entering an order granting adoption of the child until three months have passed since the affidavit was executed. The bill requires the agency making the placement of the child for adoption, whether the agency is the Department of Children and Families, the county department of human services or social services, or a licensed child welfare agency, to offer both counseling and legal counseling to the person disclaiming his or her parental rights, at the agency[s expense, prior to execution of the affidavit. The person must acknowledge in the affidavit that he or she has been offered these counseling and legal counseling sessions and whether or not he or she accepted them. Payments relating to adoption This bill allows payments to be made to an out-of-state private child placing agency that is licensed in the state in which it operates for services provided in connection with an adoption and, where applicable, in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, as certified to DCF. Under the bill, a private child placing agency means a private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney, that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another state. Current law LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 allows payments for such services only to a child welfare agency licensed in this state. | In Committee |
| SB53 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) | This bill requires, within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, that each public building in this state display the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y in a location that is visible to the public if the building is open to the public, and in a location where notices for employees are regularly posted if it is a building that is not open to the public. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the bill also requires that the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y be displayed in each public school classroom, including charter school classrooms. Under current law, each school board and governing body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day. Under the bill, the required displays in both public buildings and public schools must 1) be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, 2) be on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall, and 3) be presented in English in a legible font. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1631/1 FFK & MIM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 53 | In Committee |
| AB55 | Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE) | Both federal law and state law prohibit a person from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. Federal and state law provide several identical exceptions to the prohibition, such as for law enforcement and for persons in accordance with a contract between the person and the school. Federal law provides another exception for a person who is licensed to possess a firearm by the state if the state requires a background check to ensure the person is qualified for the license. Since the Department of Justice requires a background check before it issues a person a license to carry a concealed weapon, a licensee is allowed under federal law to possess a firearm on the grounds of a school. State law, however, does not provide an identical exception, so a licensee is prohibited under state law from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. This bill creates a state exception that is similar to the federal exception. Under the bill, a person who has a license issued by DOJ may possess a firearm on the grounds of a school if the person is employed by the school and the school board or governing entity has adopted a policy that allows employees who are licensees to possess a firearm. Under current law, a person who applies to DOJ for a license to carry a concealed weapon must pay an application fee and a person who is renewing a license must pay a renewal fee. DOJ must set the fee amount on the basis of the cost it incurs in licensing, but the fee can be no more than $37 for an initial license and $12 for a license renewal. In addition, the person must pay for a background check for each initial application and renewal application; that fee amount is currently $10. The bill waives the initial application fee, renewal fee, and background check fee for teachers who apply for a license. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB30 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, this bill requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include in their respective curricula instruction in civics that includes the following topics and pupil development goals: 1. An understanding of pupils[ shared rights and responsibilities as residents of this state and the United States and of the founding principles of the United States. 2. A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at the local, state, and federal levels. 3. An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before governmental bodies and officials. 4. An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and LRB-1842/1 FFK:wlj&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 30 desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the benefits of liberty inherited from previous generations and secured by the U.S. Constitution. 5. Knowledge of other nations[ governing philosophies, including communism, socialism, and totalitarianism, and an understanding of how those philosophies compare with the philosophy and principles of freedom and representative democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States. The bill also requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to annually report to the Department of Public Instruction regarding how they are meeting the civics instruction requirement created under the bill. DPI must then compile the information and submit it to the legislature. Finally, under current law, a school board may grant a high school diploma to a pupil only if the pupil meets specific statutory requirements, including earning a certain number of credits in various subjects in the high school grades and passing a civics test comprised of questions that are identical to those that are asked as part of the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. Currently, a pupil must earn at least three credits of social studies, including state and local government. The bill specifies that the social studies credits also must include one-half credit of civics instruction. This graduation requirement first applies to pupils who graduate in the 2030-31 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB70 | A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption. | This bill provides a method by which a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father may disclaim his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one who is not an Indian child in writing as an alternative to appearing in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. The bill also allows payments to be made to a licensed out-of-state private child placing agency for services provided in connection with an adoption. Disclaimer of parental rights Subject to certain exceptions, current law generally requires a birth parent to appear in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. This bill adds an exception that allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to avoid appearing in court if he or she files with the court an affidavit disclaiming his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one and if no participant in the court proceeding knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child. A minor may use such an affidavit of disclaimer only after the TPR petition has been filed, he or she has been offered legal counseling, and he or she has been appointed a guardian ad litem and only if the guardian ad litem approves the disclaimer. The affidavit must comply with certain requirements, including that it must be witnessed and notarized and must include a statement that the parent understands the effect of an order to terminate parental rights and that he or she voluntarily disclaims any rights that he or she may have to the child. The bill requires the court to review the affidavit and make findings on whether it meets all of the requirements. Under the bill, the affidavit containing a disclaimer of parental rights may be executed before the birth of the child by the father or alleged or presumed father but not the mother and may be executed by either parent 120 hours or more after the birth until the child[s first birthday; however, the affidavit may not be executed by either parent from birth until 120 hours after the birth or on or after the child[s first birthday. Under the bill, if executed by the father or alleged or presumed father before the child[s birth, the disclaimer is revokable for any reason until 72 hours after execution or 120 hours after the birth, whichever is later. If executed by the mother, the disclaimer is revocable for any reason until 72 hours after execution. If not revoked by the applicable time limit, the disclaimer is irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. Under the bill, no action to invalidate a disclaimer, including an action based on fraud or duress, may be commenced more than three months after the affidavit was executed. If parental rights to a child are terminated based upon such a disclaimer of parental rights, the bill prohibits a court from entering an order granting adoption of the child until three months have passed since the affidavit was executed. The bill requires the agency making the placement of the child for adoption, whether the agency is the Department of Children and Families, the county department of human services or social services, or a licensed child welfare agency, to offer both counseling and legal counseling to the person disclaiming his or her parental rights, at the agency[s expense, prior to execution of the affidavit. The person must acknowledge in the affidavit that he or she has been offered these counseling and legal counseling sessions and whether or not he or she accepted them. Payments relating to adoption This bill allows payments to be made to an out-of-state private child placing agency that is licensed in the state in which it operates for services provided in connection with an adoption and, where applicable, in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, as certified to DCF. Under the bill, a private child placing agency means a private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney, that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another state. Current law allows payments for such services only to a child welfare agency licensed in this state. | In Committee |
| AB67 | Venue for actions in which there is a governmental party. | This bill provides that when certain governmental parties are parties to or intervene in an action filed in a county in which there is a first or second class city, any party to the action may seek to have the clerk of the circuit court in which the case has been filed assign venue at random. Under the bill, a governmental party means 1) the legislature, either house of the legislature, or a committee of the legislature or of either house of the legislature, or any member of the legislature acting in his or her official capacity; 2) the elections commission or the ethics commission, or any commissioner thereof, acting in his or her official capacity; or 3) if acting in his or her official capacity, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, or superintendent of public instruction, a secretary or deputy secretary of a department, a commissioner or deputy commissioner of an independent agency, the president or vice president of the United States, or any U.S. senator or representative in Congress from this state. The bill provides that if an action is filed in a county in which there is a first or second class city and a governmental party is a party to the action, including as an intervenor, any party to the action has the option to elect random venue assignment. A plaintiff seeking to exercise the option for random venue assignment must file a notice not later than five days after the summons and complaint are filed. If the party seeking to exercise the option for random venue assignment is not the plaintiff, that party must file notice not later than five days after the service of a summons and complaint upon that party. In an action in which a governmental party files a motion to intervene, the notice must be filed not later than five days after that governmental party[s motion to intervene is granted. Under the bill, upon receipt of a notice from a party seeking random venue assignment, the clerk of the circuit court in which the case is filed must select a circuit at random, excluding the circuit in which the case was originally filed, and then assign the selected circuit as the venue for the case. The clerk of courts for the county where the action was initially filed must notify the clerk of courts for the county where the action is assigned of the venue assignment. The court to which the action is assigned must then issue an order to notify the parties of the venue assignment. If a case is assigned under the provisions of the bill, no party may seek to exercise the random venue assignment option again in the case, and neither a court, acting on its own, nor any party or intervenor may move for any subsequent change of venue. | In Committee |
| AB3 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) | This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to incorporate cursive writing into the model academic standards for English language arts. The bill also requires all school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include cursive writing in its respective curriculum for the elementary grades. Specifically, each elementary school curriculum must include the objective that pupils be able to write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, this bill requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include in their respective curricula instruction in civics that includes the following topics and pupil development goals: 1. An understanding of pupils’ shared rights and responsibilities as residents of this state and the United States and of the founding principles of the United States. 2. A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at the local, state, and federal levels. 3. An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before governmental bodies and officials. 4. An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the benefits of liberty inherited from previous generations and secured by the U.S. Constitution. 5. Knowledge of other nations’ governing philosophies, including communism, socialism, and totalitarianism, and an understanding of how those philosophies compare with the philosophy and principles of freedom and representative democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States. The bill also requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to annually report to the Department of Public Instruction regarding how they are meeting the civics instruction requirement created under the bill. DPI must then compile the information and submit it to the legislature. Finally, under current law, a school board may grant a high school diploma to a pupil only if the pupil meets specific statutory requirements, including earning a certain number of credits in various subjects in the high school grades and passing a civics test comprised of questions that are identical to those that are asked as part of the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. Currently, a pupil must earn at least three credits of social studies, including state and local government. The bill specifies that the social studies credits also must include one-half credit of civics instruction. This graduation requirement first applies to pupils who graduate in the 2030-31 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB13 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) | This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to incorporate cursive writing into the model academic standards for English language arts. The bill also requires all school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include cursive writing in its respective curriculum for the elementary grades. Specifically, each elementary school curriculum must include the objective that pupils be able to write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB40 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, any flag other than the U.S. flag and the flag of the state of Wisconsin from being flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of any state office building or facility, including the state capitol, or from any local government building or school building. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes a similar requirement but authorizes the governor to direct otherwise. | In Committee |
| SJR9 | Honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | In Committee |
| AB7 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval. | Current law prohibits a person from beginning construction of a large electric generating facility (LEGF) unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed facility. An LEGF is defined as a facility with a nominal operating capacity of 100 megawatts or more. In addition, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless PSC grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. The bill defines a Xsolar projectY and Xwind projectY as an area of land on which, respectively, solar photovoltaic panels or devices used for collecting wind energy, along with any associated equipment and facilities, are installed in order to generate electricity and which altogether is designed for nominal operation at a capacity of 15 megawatts or more. Under this bill, before PSC may approve a CA or a CPCN for the construction of a solar project or wind project, the person seeking the certificate must seek approval from each city, village, and town in which the solar project or wind project is to be located. The bill requires a city, village, or town to approve or disapprove a proposed solar project or wind project by adopting a resolution to that effect no later than 90 days after receiving a request for such approval. If the city, village, or town fails to act within that time period, the project is considered approved. The bill allows this deadline to be extended for certain reasons. Current law limits the authority of political subdivisions to regulate solar and wind energy systems, allowing political subdivisions to impose restrictions only if they meet certain conditions. The bill provides that those limitations do not apply to the approval or disapproval of a solar project or a wind project by a city, town, or village. Current law also imposes procedures for political subdivisions that receive applications for approval relating to wind energy systems. Those procedures do not apply to approval or disapproval of a wind project under the bill. Under the bill, PSC may not issue a CPCN or CA for a solar project or wind project unless each city, village, and town in which the project is proposed to be located has adopted a resolution approving the project. | In Committee |
| SB3 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval. | Current law prohibits a person from beginning construction of a large electric generating facility (LEGF) unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed facility. An LEGF is defined as a facility with a nominal operating capacity of 100 megawatts or more. In addition, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless PSC grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. The bill defines a “solar project” and “wind project” as an area of land on which, respectively, solar photovoltaic panels or devices used for collecting wind energy, along with any associated equipment and facilities, are installed in order to generate electricity and which altogether is designed for nominal operation at a capacity of 15 megawatts or more. Under this bill, before PSC may approve a CA or a CPCN for the construction of a solar project or wind project, the person seeking the certificate must seek approval from each city, village, and town in which the solar project or wind project LRB-0775/1 SWB&EHS:emw&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 3 is to be located. The bill requires a city, village, or town to approve or disapprove a proposed solar project or wind project by adopting a resolution to that effect no later than 90 days after receiving a request for such approval. If the city, village, or town fails to act within that time period, the project is considered approved. The bill allows this deadline to be extended for certain reasons. Current law limits the authority of political subdivisions to regulate solar and wind energy systems, allowing political subdivisions to impose restrictions only if they meet certain conditions. The bill provides that those limitations do not apply to the approval or disapproval of a solar project or a wind project by a city, town, or village. Current law also imposes procedures for political subdivisions that receive applications for approval relating to wind energy systems. Those procedures do not apply to approval or disapproval of a wind project under the bill. Under the bill, PSC may not issue a CPCN or CA for a solar project or wind project unless each city, village, and town in which the project is proposed to be located has adopted a resolution approving the project. | In Committee |
| AJR3 | Proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AB19 | Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty. | SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under this bill, any act of sexual misconduct that is currently a second degree sexual assault is a first degree sexual assault if the victim is an adult at risk. Under current law, if a person engages in any of the specified acts of sexual misconduct, he or she is guilty of a Class C felony. Under the bill, he or she is guilty of a Class B felony if the victim is an adult at risk, regardless of whether or not he or she knew the victim[s status as an adult at risk. FREEZING OF ASSETS Under current law, there is a procedure for a court to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged with a financial exploitation crime when the victim is an elder person. The procedure allows a court to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of the property involved in the defendant[s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of preserving the property for future payment of restitution to the crime victim. This bill allows the court to apply the same procedure to freeze or seize assets when the crime victim an adult at risk. PHYSICAL ABUSE OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, there is a set of penalties that apply to physical abuse of an elder person, which range from a Class I felony to a Class C felony depending on the severity of the conduct. This bill applies those same penalties to physical abuse of an adult at risk. INCREASED PENALTIES This bill allows a term of imprisonment that is imposed for a criminal conviction to be increased in length if the crime victim was an adult at risk. Under the bill, a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to two years; a maximum term of imprisonment of one to 10 years may be increased by up to four years; and a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by up to six years. Under the bill, the term of imprisonment may be lengthened irrespective of whether the defendant knew that the crime victim was an adult at risk. RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, a person seeking a domestic violence, individual-at-risk, or harassment restraining order must appear in person in the courtroom at a hearing to obtain a restraining order. This bill allows an adult at risk who is seeking a domestic violence, individual- at-risk, or harassment restraining order to appear in a court hearing by telephone or live audiovisual means. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SJR4 | The freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | To amend section 18 of article I of the constitution; Relating to: the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | In Committee |
| SJR3 | Proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AJR1 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | To create section 1m of article III of the constitution; Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 24 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 23 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 22 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 21 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 20 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 19 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 18 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 17 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 16 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 15 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 14 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 13 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 12 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 11 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 10 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 9 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 8 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 7 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 6 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 5 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 4 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| SB45 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB17 | Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB63 | Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB108 | Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB108 | Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB106 | Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB106 | Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AJR50 | Recognizing the United States Army’s 250th birthday. | Assembly: Adopted | 06/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB269 | Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/18/2025 | Yea |
| SB24 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB23 | Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB43 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB137 | Maximum life and allocation period for Tax Incremental District Number 9 in the village of DeForest and the total value of taxable property that may be included in tax incremental financing districts created in the village of DeForest. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB140 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Port Washington. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB73 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB164 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB165 | Local guaranteed income programs. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB166 | Academic and career planning services provided to pupils and requiring the reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB162 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB168 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB169 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB167 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB102 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB100 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB103 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB104 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB105 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB24 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB96 | Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB94 | Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB95 | Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB14 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB15 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB16 | Repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Natural Resources related to the possession of firearms. | Assembly: Referred to Environment | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB13 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB75 | Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB85 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB85 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB89 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB91 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB91 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB87 | Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB1 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB5 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB3 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB2 | Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB6 | Requiring a school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and annual pay increases for school administrators. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB6 | Requiring a school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and annual pay increases for school administrators. (FE) | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| SJR2 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 01/14/2025 | Yea |
| AR1 | Notifying the senate and the governor that the 2025-2026 assembly is organized. | Assembly: Adopted | 01/06/2025 | Yea |
| SJR1 | The session schedule for the 2025-2026 biennial session period. | Assembly: Concurred in | 01/06/2025 | Yea |
| AR2 | Establishing the assembly committee structure and names for the 2025-2026 legislative session. | Assembly: Adopted | 01/06/2025 | Yea |
| Committee | Position | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Agriculture Committee | 5 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee | 3 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee | Chair | 1 |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Financial Institutions Committee | 4 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Housing and Real Estate Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WI | Wisconsin Assembly District 56 | Assembly | Republican | In Office | 01/07/2013 |