Legislator
Legislator > Shae Sortwell
State Representative
Shae Sortwell
(R) - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Assembly District 02
In Office - Started: 01/07/2019
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: 608-237-9102
Phone 2: 888-534-0002
Voting Address
13219 County Road Q
Two Rivers, WI 54241
Two Rivers, WI 54241
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB318 | A requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid. | Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides state aid to counties, agricultural societies, associations, and boards that hold local fairs in order to cover the cost of prizes paid out to exhibitors, up to $20,000 per fair. No later than 30 days after the close of the fair, an entity that seeks to claim this state aid must file with DATCP an itemized statement showing the net premiums actually paid at the preceding fair, and that statement must include a statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. This bill removes the requirement for the statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB282 | Membership on the Board of Nursing. | Under current law, the Board of Nursing has several powers and duties related to the licensure of nurses and the regulation of the practice of nursing in this state. The Board of Nursing consists of the following nine members appointed for staggered four-year terms: five currently licensed registered nurses, one currently licensed practical nurse, one individual who is either a licensed registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse, and two public members. This bill revises the membership of the Board of Nursing to provide that the board consist of three currently licensed registered nurses, one currently licensed practical nurse, one currently certified advanced practice nurse prescriber, one nurse educator, one member who is either a licensed registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse, and two public members. The bill provides that the two members of the Board of Nursing who were appointed as currently licensed registered nurses whose terms expire the earliest following the effective date of the bill must be replaced by a currently certified advanced practice nurse prescriber and a nurse educator after their terms expire. | In Committee |
| AB294 | Membership on the Board of Nursing. | Under current law, the Board of Nursing has several powers and duties related to the licensure of nurses and the regulation of the practice of nursing in this state. The Board of Nursing consists of the following nine members appointed for staggered four-year terms: five currently licensed registered nurses, one currently licensed practical nurse, one individual who is either a licensed registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse, and two public members. This bill revises the membership of the Board of Nursing to provide that the board consist of three currently licensed registered nurses, one currently licensed practical nurse, one currently certified advanced practice nurse prescriber, one nurse educator, one member who is either a licensed registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse, and two public members. The bill provides that the two members of the Board of Nursing who were appointed as currently licensed registered nurses whose terms expire the earliest following the effective date of the bill must be replaced by a currently certified advanced practice nurse prescriber and a nurse educator after their terms expire. | 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 |
| 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 |
| SB21 | 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) | This bill creates tax incentives related to businesses in this state converting to an employee ownership business structure and requires the Department of Revenue to establish an outreach and education program to promote employee ownership business structures. Employee ownership conversion costs tax credit Under the bill, DOR may certify a business to claim a nonrefundable income tax credit for an amount equal to 70 percent of costs related to converting the business to a worker-owned cooperative or 50 percent of the costs related to LRB-1413/1 KP:cdc&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 21 converting the business to an employee stock ownership plan. The credit is limited to a maximum amount of $100,000. A business is qualified to receive the credit if the business is subject to income and franchise taxes in this state and, at the time the business receives the credit, does not have an employee stock ownership plan and is not, in whole or in part, a worker-owned cooperative. Capital gain deduction The bill also creates an individual income tax subtraction and a corporate income and franchise tax deduction for the amount of the capital gain realized from the transfer of ownership of a business in this state to an employee stock ownership plan or worker-owned cooperative. Employee ownership outreach and education Finally, the bill directs DOR to establish an economic development program for the purpose of promoting employee ownership business structures, including the business structures of employee stock ownership plans and worker-owned cooperatives, through education, outreach, technical assistance, and training related to converting existing businesses to an employee ownership business structure or starting new businesses with an employee ownership business structure. The bill directs DOR to submit an application to the U.S. secretary of labor for a grant under 29 USC 3228 for use in administering the program created in the bill. 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 fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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) | This bill creates tax incentives related to businesses in this state converting to an employee ownership business structure and requires the Department of Revenue to establish an outreach and education program to promote employee ownership business structures. Employee ownership conversion costs tax credit Under the bill, DOR may certify a business to claim a nonrefundable income tax credit for an amount equal to 70 percent of costs related to converting the business to a worker-owned cooperative or 50 percent of the costs related to converting the business to an employee stock ownership plan. The credit is limited to a maximum amount of $100,000. A business is qualified to receive the credit if the business is subject to income and franchise taxes in this state and, at the time the business receives the credit, does not have an employee stock ownership plan and is not, in whole or in part, a worker-owned cooperative. Capital gain deduction The bill also creates an individual income tax subtraction and a corporate income and franchise tax deduction for the amount of the capital gain realized from the transfer of ownership of a business in this state to an employee stock ownership plan or worker-owned cooperative. Employee ownership outreach and education Finally, the bill directs DOR to establish an economic development program for the purpose of promoting employee ownership business structures, including the business structures of employee stock ownership plans and worker-owned cooperatives, through education, outreach, technical assistance, and training related to converting existing businesses to an employee ownership business structure or starting new businesses with an employee ownership business structure. The bill directs DOR to submit an application to the U.S. secretary of labor for a grant under 29 USC 3228 for use in administering the program created in the bill. 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 fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| AB187 | Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a service award program to provide length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. This bill expands the program to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire companies to make training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Under the bill, in order to receive a grant, the municipality in which a department or company is organized must have a municipal ordinance that provides a 100 percent match. The completion award for a volunteer firefighter who completes 60 hours of training is $500. The bill also requires that any money a volunteer fire department or fire company receives beyond what it expends on awards each calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. Finally, under the bill, DOA is required to provide a report to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the start of the program that includes the number of people who received the grant through the preceding year and the number of those people who are still firefighters in Wisconsin. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB149 | The nomination of presidential electors. | Under current law, at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October of each year in which there is a presidential election, the following members of a political party must convene in the state capitol to nominate the party[s presidential electors: candidates for state senate or assembly, state officers, and holdover state senators. A vote for a party[s candidates for president and vice president in the presidential election is a vote for the party[s presidential electors so nominated. After the election, the presidential electors of the winning candidates for president and vice president then convene and transmit their votes for president and vice president to Congress. Under this bill, if, in a presidential election year, a political party does not have a candidate for state senate or assembly, state officer, or holdover state senator, in lieu of a convention described above, no later than 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October preceding the presidential election, the chairperson of the state committee of the political party must nominate the party[s presidential electors. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| AB295 | Allowing certified advanced practice nurse prescribers to engage in the practice of radiography. | Under current law, no person may engage in the practice of radiography unless the person is granted a license by the Radiography Examining Board. XPractice of radiographyY is defined to mean the imaging of anatomical structures, produced by the combined application of X-rays to the human body and the application of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, radiographic positioning, and radiographic technique, and knowledge of principles of radiation protection, for the purpose of medical diagnosis. Current law provides several exceptions from the requirement that a person be licensed by the Radiography Examining Board in order to engage in the practice of radiography, including for physicians, chiropractors, dentists, and physician assistants. This bill adds certified advanced practice nurse prescribers to the list of persons who are not required to obtain a license from the Radiography Examining Board to engage in the practice of radiography. | 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 |
| 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 |
| SB143 | The nomination of presidential electors. | Under current law, at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October of each year in which there is a presidential election, the following members of a political party must convene in the state capitol to nominate the party[s presidential electors: candidates for state senate or assembly, state officers, and holdover state senators. A vote for a party[s candidates for president and vice president in the presidential election is a vote for the party[s presidential electors so nominated. After the election, the presidential electors of the winning candidates for president and vice president then convene and transmit their votes for president and vice president to Congress. Under this bill, if, in a presidential election year, a political party does not have a candidate for state senate or assembly, state officer, or holdover state senator, in lieu of a convention described above, no later than 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October preceding the presidential election, the chairperson of the state committee of the political party must nominate the party[s presidential electors. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB186 | Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a service award program to provide length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. This bill expands the program to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire companies to make training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Under the bill, in order to receive a grant, the municipality in which a department or company is organized must have a municipal ordinance that provides a 100 percent match. The completion award for a volunteer firefighter who completes 60 hours of training is $500. The bill also requires that any money a volunteer fire department or fire company receives beyond what it expends on awards each calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. Finally, under the bill, DOA is required to provide a report to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the start of the program that includes the LRB-2625/1 MIM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 186 number of people who received the grant through the preceding year and the number of those people who are still firefighters in Wisconsin. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB328 | A requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid. | Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides state aid to counties, agricultural societies, associations, and boards that hold local fairs in order to cover the cost of prizes paid out to exhibitors, up to $20,000 per fair. No later than 30 days after the close of the fair, an entity that seeks to claim this state aid must file with DATCP an itemized statement showing the net premiums actually paid at the preceding fair, and that statement must include a statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. This bill removes the requirement for the statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB173 | Regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers, and application of prescription drug payments to health insurance cost-sharing requirements. (FE) | This bill makes several changes to the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers and their interactions with pharmacies and pharmacists. Under current law, pharmacy benefit managers are generally required to be licensed as a pharmacy benefit manager or an employee benefit plan administrator by the commissioner of insurance. A pharmacy benefit manager is an entity that contracts to administer or manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of an insurer, a cooperative, or another entity that provides prescription drug benefits to Wisconsin residents. Major provisions of the bill are summarized below. Pharmacy benefit manager regulation The bill requires a pharmacy benefit manager to pay a pharmacy or pharmacist a professional dispensing fee at a rate not less than is paid by the state under the Medical Assistance program for each pharmaceutical product that the pharmacy or pharmacist dispenses to an individual. The professional dispensing fee is required to be paid in addition to the amount the pharmacy benefit manager reimburses the pharmacy or pharmacist for the cost of the pharmaceutical product that the pharmacy or pharmacist dispenses. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from assessing, charging, or collecting from a pharmacy or pharmacist any form of remuneration that passes from the pharmacy or pharmacist to the pharmacy benefit manager including claim-processing fees, performance-based fees, network-participation fees, or accreditation fees. Further, under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager may not use any certification or accreditation requirement as a determinant of pharmacy network participation that is inconsistent with, more stringent than, or in addition to the federal requirements for licensure as a pharmacy and the requirements for licensure as a pharmacy provided under state law. The bill requires a pharmacy benefit manager to allow a participant or beneficiary of a pharmacy benefits plan or program that the pharmacy benefit manager serves to use any pharmacy or pharmacist in this state that is licensed to dispense the pharmaceutical product that the participant or beneficiary seeks to obtain if the pharmacy or pharmacist accepts the same terms and conditions that the pharmacy benefit manager establishes for at least one of the networks of pharmacies or pharmacists that the pharmacy benefit manager has established to serve individuals in the state. A pharmacy benefit manager may establish a preferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists and a nonpreferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists; however, under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager may not prohibit a pharmacy or pharmacist from participating in either type of network provided that the pharmacy or pharmacist is licensed by this state and the federal government and accepts the same terms and conditions that the pharmacy benefit manager establishes for other pharmacies or pharmacists participating in the network that the pharmacy or pharmacist wants to join. Under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager may not charge a participant or beneficiary of a pharmacy benefits plan or program that the pharmacy benefit manager serves a different copayment obligation or additional fee, or provide any inducement or financial incentive, for the participant or beneficiary to use a pharmacy or pharmacist in a particular network of pharmacies or pharmacists that the pharmacy benefit manager has established to serve individuals in the state. Further, the bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager, third-party payer, or health benefit plan from excluding a pharmacy or pharmacist from its network because the pharmacy or pharmacist serves less than a certain portion of the population of the state or serves a population living with certain health conditions. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager may neither prohibit a pharmacy or pharmacist that dispenses a pharmaceutical product from, nor penalize a pharmacy or pharmacist that dispenses a pharmaceutical product for, informing an individual about the cost of the pharmaceutical product, the amount in reimbursement that the pharmacy or pharmacist receives for dispensing the pharmaceutical product, or any difference between the cost to the individual under the individual[s pharmacy benefits plan or program and the cost to the individual if the individual purchases the pharmaceutical product without making a claim for benefits under the individual[s pharmacy benefits plan or program. The bill prohibits any pharmacy benefit manager or any insurer or self- insured health plan from requiring, or penalizing a person who is covered under a health insurance policy or plan for using or for not using, a specific retail, mail- order, or other pharmacy provider within the network of pharmacy providers under the policy or plan. Prohibited penalties include an increase in premium, deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to remit payment for a claim to a pharmacy or pharmacist within 30 days from the day that the claim is submitted to the pharmacy benefit manager by the pharmacy or pharmacist. Pharmaceutical product reimbursements The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager that uses a maximum allowable cost list must include all of the following information on the list: 1) the average acquisition cost of each pharmaceutical product and the cost of the pharmaceutical product set forth in the national average drug acquisition cost data published by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services; 2) the average manufacturer price of each pharmaceutical product; 3) the average wholesale price of each pharmaceutical product; 4) the brand effective rate or generic effective rate for each pharmaceutical product; 5) any applicable discount indexing; 6) the federal upper limit for each pharmaceutical product published by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services; pharmaceutical product; and 8) any other terms that are used to establish the maximum allowable costs. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager may place or continue a particular pharmaceutical product on a maximum allowable cost list only if the pharmaceutical product 1) is listed as a drug product equivalent or is rated by a nationally recognized reference as Xnot ratedY or Xnot availableY; 2) is available for purchase by all pharmacies and pharmacists in the state from national or regional pharmaceutical wholesalers operating in the state; and 3) has not been determined by the drug manufacturer to be obsolete. Further, the bill provides that any pharmacy benefit manager that uses a maximum allowable cost list must provide access to the maximum allowable cost list to each pharmacy or pharmacist subject to the maximum allowable cost list, update the maximum allowable cost list on a timely basis, provide a process for a pharmacy or pharmacist subject to the maximum allowable cost list to receive notification of an update to the maximum allowable cost list, and update the maximum allowable cost list no later than seven days after the pharmacy acquisition cost of the pharmaceutical product increases by 10 percent or more from at least 60 percent of the pharmaceutical wholesalers doing business in the state or there is a change in the methodology on which the maximum allowable cost list is based or in the value of a variable involved in the methodology. A maximum allowable cost list is a list of pharmaceutical products that sets forth the maximum amount that a pharmacy benefit manager will pay to a pharmacy or pharmacist for dispensing a pharmaceutical product. A maximum allowable cost list may directly establish maximum costs or may set forth a method for how the maximum costs are calculated. The bill further provides that a pharmacy benefit manager that uses a maximum allowable cost list must provide a process for a pharmacy or pharmacist to appeal and resolve disputes regarding claims that the maximum payment amount for a pharmaceutical product is below the pharmacy acquisition cost. A pharmacy benefit manager that receives an appeal from or on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacist under this bill is required to resolve the appeal and notify the pharmacy or pharmacist of the pharmacy benefit manager[s determination no later than seven business days after the appeal is received. If the pharmacy benefit manager grants the relief requested in the appeal, the bill requires the pharmacy benefit manager to make the requested change in the maximum allowable cost, allow the pharmacy or pharmacist to reverse and rebill the relevant claim, provide to the pharmacy or pharmacist the national drug code number published in a directory by the federal Food and Drug Administration on which the increase or change is based, and make the change effective for each similarly situated pharmacy or pharmacist subject to the maximum allowable cost list. If the pharmacy benefit manager denies the relief requested in the appeal, the bill requires the pharmacy benefit manager to provide the pharmacy or pharmacist a reason for the denial, the national drug code number published in a directory by the FDA for the pharmaceutical product to which the claim relates, and the name of a national or regional wholesaler that has the pharmaceutical product currently in stock at a price below the amount specified in the pharmacy benefit manager[s maximum allowable cost list. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager may not deny a pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s appeal if the relief requested in the appeal relates to the maximum allowable cost for a pharmaceutical product that is not available for the pharmacy or pharmacist to purchase at a cost that is below the pharmacy acquisition cost from the pharmaceutical wholesaler from which the pharmacy or pharmacist purchases the majority of pharmaceutical products for resale. If a pharmaceutical product is not available for a pharmacy or pharmacist to purchase at a cost that is below the pharmacy acquisition cost from the pharmaceutical wholesaler from which the pharmacy or pharmacist purchases the majority of pharmaceutical products for resale, the pharmacy benefit manager must revise the maximum allowable cost list to increase the maximum allowable cost for the pharmaceutical product to an amount equal to or greater than the pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s pharmacy acquisition cost and allow the pharmacy or pharmacist to reverse and rebill each claim affected by the pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s inability to procure the pharmaceutical product at a cost that is equal to or less than the maximum allowable cost that was the subject of the pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s appeal. The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from reimbursing a pharmacy or pharmacist in the state an amount less than the amount that the pharmacy benefit manager reimburses a pharmacy benefit manager affiliate for providing the same pharmaceutical product. Under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager affiliate is a pharmacy or pharmacist that is an affiliate of a pharmacy benefit manager. Finally, the bill allows a pharmacy or pharmacist to decline to provide a pharmaceutical product to an individual or pharmacy benefit manager if, as a result of a maximum allowable cost list, the pharmacy or pharmacist would be paid less than the pharmacy acquisition cost of the pharmacy or pharmacist providing the pharmaceutical product. Drug formularies This bill makes several changes with respect to drug formularies. Under current law, a disability insurance policy that offers a prescription drug benefit, a self-insured health plan that offers a prescription drug benefit, or a pharmacy benefit manager acting on behalf of a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan must provide to an enrollee advanced written notice of a formulary change that removes a prescription drug from the formulary of the policy or plan or that reassigns a prescription drug to a benefit tier for the policy or plan that has a higher deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. The advanced written notice of a formulary change must be provided no fewer than 30 days before the expected date of the removal or reassignment. This bill provides that a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit shall make the formulary and all drug costs associated with the formulary available to plan sponsors and individuals prior to selection or enrollment. Further, the bill provides that no disability insurance policy, self-insured health plan, or pharmacy benefit manager acting on behalf of a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan may remove a prescription drug from the formulary except at the time of coverage renewal. Finally, the bill provides that advanced written notice of a formulary change must be provided no fewer than 90 days before the expected date of the removal or reassignment of a prescription drug on the formulary. Pharmacy networks Under the bill, if an enrollee utilizes a pharmacy or pharmacist in a preferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists, no disability insurance policy or self- insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit or pharmacy benefit manager that provides services under a contract with a policy or plan may require the enrollee to pay any amount or impose on the enrollee any condition that would not be required if the enrollee utilized a different pharmacy or pharmacist in the same preferred network. Further, the bill provides that any disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit, or any pharmacy benefit manager that provides services under a contract with a policy or plan, that has established a preferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists must reimburse each pharmacy or pharmacist in the same network at the same rates. Audits of pharmacists and pharmacies This bill makes several changes to audits of pharmacists and pharmacies. The bill requires an entity that conducts audits of pharmacists and pharmacies to ensure that each pharmacist or pharmacy audited by the entity is audited under the same standards and parameters as other similarly situated pharmacists or pharmacies audited by the entity, that the entity randomizes the prescriptions that the entity audits and the entity audits the same number of prescriptions in each prescription benefit tier, and that each audit of a prescription reimbursed under Part D of the federal Medicare program is conducted separately from audits of prescriptions reimbursed under other policies or plans. The bill prohibits any pharmacy benefit manager from recouping reimbursements made to a pharmacist or pharmacy for errors that involve no actual financial harm to an enrollee or a policy or plan sponsor unless the error is the result of the pharmacist or pharmacy failing to comply with a formal corrective action plan. The bill further prohibits any pharmacy benefit manager from using extrapolation in calculating reimbursements that it may recoup, and instead requires a pharmacy benefit manager to base the finding of errors for which reimbursements will be recouped on an actual error in reimbursement and not a projection of the number of patients served having a similar diagnosis or on a projection of the number of similar orders or refills for similar prescription drugs. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager that recoups any reimbursements made to a pharmacist or pharmacy for an error that was the cause of financial harm must return the recouped reimbursement to the enrollee or the policy or plan sponsor who was harmed by the error. Pharmacy benefit manager fiduciary and disclosure requirements The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager owes a fiduciary duty to a health benefit plan sponsor. The bill also requires that a pharmacy benefit manager annually disclose all of the following information to the health benefit plan sponsor: 1. The indirect profit received by the pharmacy benefit manager from owning a pharmacy or health service provider. 2. Any payments made to a consultant or broker who works on behalf of the plan sponsor. 3. From the amounts received from drug manufacturers, the amounts retained by the pharmacy benefit manager that are related to the plan sponsor[s claims or bona fide service fees. 4. The amounts received from network pharmacies and pharmacists and the amount retained by the pharmacy benefit manager. Discriminatory reimbursement of 340B entities The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from taking certain actions with respect to 340B covered entities, pharmacies and pharmacists contracted with 340B covered entities, and patients who obtain prescription drugs from 340B covered entities. The 340B drug pricing program is a federal program that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers that participate in the federal Medicaid program to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to certain health care organizations that provide health care for uninsured and low-income patients. Entities that are eligible for discounted prices under the 340B drug pricing program include federally qualified health centers, critical access hospitals, and certain public and nonprofit disproportionate share hospitals. The bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from doing any of the following: 1. Refusing to reimburse a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity for dispensing 340B drugs. 2. Imposing requirements or restrictions on 340B covered entities or pharmacies or pharmacists contracted with 340B covered entities that are not imposed on other entities, pharmacies, or pharmacists. 3. Reimbursing a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity for a 340B drug at a rate lower than the amount paid for the same drug to pharmacies or pharmacists that are not 340B covered entities or pharmacies or pharmacists contracted with a 340B covered entity. 4. Assessing a fee, charge back, or other adjustment against a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity after a claim has been paid or adjudicated. 5. Restricting the access of a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity to a third-party payer[s pharmacy network solely because the 340B covered entity or the pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity participates in the 340B drug pricing program. 6. Requiring a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity to contract with a specific pharmacy or pharmacist or health benefit plan in order to access a third-party payer[s pharmacy network. 7. Imposing a restriction or an additional charge on a patient who obtains a 340B drug from a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity. 8. Restricting the methods by which a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity may dispense or deliver 340B drugs. 9. Requiring a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity to share pharmacy bills or invoices with a pharmacy benefit manager, a third-party payer, or a health benefit plan. Application of prescription drug payments Health insurance policies and plans often apply cost-sharing requirements and out-of-pocket maximum amounts to the benefits covered by the policy or plan. A cost-sharing requirement is a share of covered benefits that an insured is required to pay under a health insurance policy or plan. Cost-sharing requirements include copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. An out-of-pocket maximum amount is a limit specified by a policy or plan on the amount that an insured pays, and, once that limit is reached, the policy or plan covers the benefit entirely. The bill generally requires health insurance policies that offer prescription drug benefits, self-insured health plans, and pharmacy benefit managers acting on behalf of policies or plans to apply amounts paid by or on behalf of an individual covered under the policy or plan for brand name prescription drugs to any cost- sharing requirement or to any calculation of an out-of-pocket maximum amount of the policy or plan. Health insurance policies are referred to in the bill as disability insurance policies. Prohibited retaliation The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from retaliating against a pharmacy or pharmacist for reporting an alleged violation of certain laws applicable to pharmacy benefit managers or for exercising certain rights or remedies. Retaliation includes terminating or refusing to renew a contract with a pharmacy or pharmacist, subjecting a pharmacy or pharmacist to increased audits, or failing to promptly pay a pharmacy or pharmacist any money that the pharmacy benefit manager owes to the pharmacy or pharmacist. The bill provides that a pharmacy or pharmacist may bring an action in court for injunctive relief if a pharmacy benefit manager is retaliating against the pharmacy or pharmacist as provided in the bill. In addition to equitable relief, the court may award a pharmacy or pharmacist that prevails in such an action 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 |
| AB315 | The Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program and a major land acquisitions program. (FE) | This bill reauthorizes the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program until 2030, makes changes to the land acquisition and property development and local assistance subprograms, and creates a separate major land acquisitions program. Reauthorization and changes to the stewardship program Current law authorizes the state to incur public debt for certain conservation activities under the stewardship program, which is administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The state may incur this debt to acquire land for the state for conservation purposes and for property development activities and may award grants or state aid to certain local governmental units and nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs) to acquire and develop land for these purposes. Current law establishes the amounts that DNR may obligate in each fiscal year through fiscal year 2025-26 for expenditure under each of five subprograms of the stewardship program. The bill reauthorizes the stewardship program until fiscal year 2029-30. Under the stewardship subprogram for land acquisition, the bill continues to require that $1,000,000 be set aside to be obligated only for DNR land acquisition in each fiscal year. This equals the amount that current law requires to be set aside to be obligated only for DNR to acquire land for the Ice Age Trail. The bill reduces from $7,000,000 to $2,000,000 the amount to be set aside to be obligated for grants to NCOs to acquire and develop property for certain conservation purposes. Under current law, in the stewardship program the term XobligateY means to encumber or otherwise commit or to expend without having previously encumbered or otherwise committed, and is used with respect to limits on obligating or requirements to obligate certain amounts in the stewardship program. The bill specifies that XobligateY only refers to encumbering, otherwise committing, or expending public debt that the state is authorized to contract. In other words, XobligateY does not refer to amounts that are not the result of bonding. Under current law, DNR may obligate moneys for local assistance under the subprogram for property development and local assistance only for grant programs for urban green space, local parks, acquisition of property development rights, and urban rivers. Current law requires that such a grant may only be for up to 50 percent of the acquisition costs or development costs of a project. Under the bill, for such grants awarded to a governmental unit, no more than 30 percent of the remaining costs may be paid with funding provided from grants or in-kind contributions. Under current law, these grant programs define Xgovernmental unitY to include a city, village, town, county, or the Kickapoo reserve management board and, for urban green space grants, to also include a lake sanitary district or public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district. The bill also provides that if a governmental unit applies for such a grant after closing on the acquisition of the land in question, the grant may only be for up to 40 percent of the acquisition costs. The bill requires DNR to prioritize projects under any subprogram that involves property development over those that involve land acquisition. The bill eliminates a current law restriction providing that, of the amount set aside for DNR land acquisition and county forest grants under the stewardship program in a given fiscal year, not more than one-third may be obligated for the purpose of DNR land acquisition. The bill also eliminates a current law restriction providing that, of all of the available stewardship program bonding authority in a fiscal year, not more than 20 percent may be obligated for the acquisition of parcels of lands that are less than 10 acres in size. The bill adds a restriction that DNR may not obligate stewardship moneys for a land acquisition project that exceeds $1,000,000. For such projects, the bill creates a new, separate major land acquisitions program. Under the bill, in addition to obligating stewardship moneys to provide grants to NCOs for the acquisition of land for certain conservation purposes, DNR may obligate moneys to provide grants to NCOs to develop, manage, preserve, restore, and maintain wildlife habitat on public lands to benefit game species and other wildlife. The bill requires DNR to prioritize wildlife habitat grants over land acquisition grants under the NCO grant program. Under current law, if in a given fiscal year the amount DNR obligates to provide land acquisition grants to NCOs is less than the amount set aside for that purpose in that fiscal year, DNR may obligate the unobligated amount in the next fiscal year but only for the purpose of awarding a grant to a county for the acquisition of land for a county forest. Under this bill, such unobligated amounts may only be obligated for local assistance grants. Under current law, if DNR does not obligate an amount authorized to be obligated for a subprogram in a fiscal year, DNR may not adjust the annual bonding authority for that subprogram by raising the annual bonding authority for the next fiscal year. Under current law, portions of the unobligated amounts for the land acquisition, property development and local assistance, and recreational boating aids subprograms from various fiscal years from 2011-12 to 2025-26 are obligated for specific purposes. One such provision under current law requires DNR to obligate all unobligated amounts from those subprograms from any fiscal year, including for drilling new wells, facility maintenance, upgrades, and renovations, and construction of new buildings. The bill limits this obligation to only those unobligated amounts for those subprograms from the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23, and specifies that $2,500,000 of that unobligated amount must be obligated for projects at the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery and the Brule State Fish Hatchery, including drilling new wells, facility maintenance, upgrades and renovations, and construction of new buildings. Major land acquisitions program The bill creates a new major land acquisitions program, under which the bill authorizes DNR to use or obligate moneys to acquire land for the state for conservation purposes or to award grants to NCOs or local governments to acquire land for those purposes if two conditions are met: 1) the project or grant exceeds $1,000,000; and 2) the project or grant is enumerated through legislation. To request enumeration of such projects, the bill requires DNR annually to, no later than January 15, submit to the joint committee on finance and to the appropriate legislative standing committees a list of all proposed major land acquisitions for the subsequent fiscal biennium, including estimated purchase prices, requested state funding sources, and nonstate sources of funding, such as federal grants or donations. The bill authorizes DNR to submit a list of proposed major land acquisitions not listed under the prior proposed list at any time during a fiscal biennium. Under the bill, the legislature may enumerate projects from either list through legislation. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB316 | The Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program and a major land acquisitions program. (FE) | This bill reauthorizes the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program until 2030, makes changes to the land acquisition and property LRB-3557/1 EHS:skw&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 316 development and local assistance subprograms, and creates a separate major land acquisitions program. Reauthorization and changes to the stewardship program Current law authorizes the state to incur public debt for certain conservation activities under the stewardship program, which is administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The state may incur this debt to acquire land for the state for conservation purposes and for property development activities and may award grants or state aid to certain local governmental units and nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs) to acquire and develop land for these purposes. Current law establishes the amounts that DNR may obligate in each fiscal year through fiscal year 2025-26 for expenditure under each of five subprograms of the stewardship program. The bill reauthorizes the stewardship program until fiscal year 2029-30. Under the stewardship subprogram for land acquisition, the bill continues to require that $1,000,000 be set aside to be obligated only for DNR land acquisition in each fiscal year. This equals the amount that current law requires to be set aside to be obligated only for DNR to acquire land for the Ice Age Trail. The bill reduces from $7,000,000 to $2,000,000 the amount to be set aside to be obligated for grants to NCOs to acquire and develop property for certain conservation purposes. Under current law, in the stewardship program the term XobligateY means to encumber or otherwise commit or to expend without having previously encumbered or otherwise committed, and is used with respect to limits on obligating or requirements to obligate certain amounts in the stewardship program. The bill specifies that XobligateY only refers to encumbering, otherwise committing, or expending public debt that the state is authorized to contract. In other words, XobligateY does not refer to amounts that are not the result of bonding. Under current law, DNR may obligate moneys for local assistance under the subprogram for property development and local assistance only for grant programs for urban green space, local parks, acquisition of property development rights, and urban rivers. Current law requires that such a grant may only be for up to 50 percent of the acquisition costs or development costs of a project. Under the bill, for such grants awarded to a governmental unit, no more than 30 percent of the remaining costs may be paid with funding provided from grants or in-kind contributions. Under current law, these grant programs define Xgovernmental unitY to include a city, village, town, county, or the Kickapoo reserve management board and, for urban green space grants, to also include a lake sanitary district or public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district. The bill also provides that if a governmental unit applies for such a grant after closing on the acquisition of the land in question, the grant may only be for up to 40 percent of the acquisition costs. The bill requires DNR to prioritize projects under any subprogram that involves property development over those that involve land acquisition. The bill eliminates a current law restriction providing that, of the amount set aside for DNR land acquisition and county forest grants under the stewardship program in a given fiscal year, not more than one-third may be obligated for the purpose of DNR land acquisition. The bill also eliminates a current law restriction LRB-3557/1 EHS:skw&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 316 providing that, of all of the available stewardship program bonding authority in a fiscal year, not more than 20 percent may be obligated for the acquisition of parcels of lands that are less than 10 acres in size. The bill adds a restriction that DNR may not obligate stewardship moneys for a land acquisition project that exceeds $1,000,000. For such projects, the bill creates a new, separate major land acquisitions program. Under the bill, in addition to obligating stewardship moneys to provide grants to NCOs for the acquisition of land for certain conservation purposes, DNR may obligate moneys to provide grants to NCOs to develop, manage, preserve, restore, and maintain wildlife habitat on public lands to benefit game species and other wildlife. The bill requires DNR to prioritize wildlife habitat grants over land acquisition grants under the NCO grant program. Under current law, if in a given fiscal year the amount DNR obligates to provide land acquisition grants to NCOs is less than the amount set aside for that purpose in that fiscal year, DNR may obligate the unobligated amount in the next fiscal year but only for the purpose of awarding a grant to a county for the acquisition of land for a county forest. Under this bill, such unobligated amounts may only be obligated for local assistance grants. Under current law, if DNR does not obligate an amount authorized to be obligated for a subprogram in a fiscal year, DNR may not adjust the annual bonding authority for that subprogram by raising the annual bonding authority for the next fiscal year. Under current law, portions of the unobligated amounts for the land acquisition, property development and local assistance, and recreational boating aids subprograms from various fiscal years from 2011-12 to 2025-26 are obligated for specific purposes. One such provision under current law requires DNR to obligate all unobligated amounts from those subprograms from any fiscal year, including for drilling new wells, facility maintenance, upgrades, and renovations, and construction of new buildings. The bill limits this obligation to only those unobligated amounts for those subprograms from the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23, and specifies that $2,500,000 of that unobligated amount must be obligated for projects at the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery and the Brule State Fish Hatchery, including drilling new wells, facility maintenance, upgrades and renovations, and construction of new buildings. Major land acquisitions program The bill creates a new major land acquisitions program, under which the bill authorizes DNR to use or obligate moneys to acquire land for the state for conservation purposes or to award grants to NCOs or local governments to acquire land for those purposes if two conditions are met: 1) the project or grant exceeds $1,000,000; and 2) the project or grant is enumerated through legislation. To request enumeration of such projects, the bill requires DNR annually to, no later than January 15, submit to the joint committee on finance and to the appropriate legislative standing committees a list of all proposed major land acquisitions for the subsequent fiscal biennium, including estimated purchase prices, requested state funding sources, and nonstate sources of funding, such as federal grants or donations. The bill authorizes DNR to submit a list of proposed major land LRB-3557/1 EHS:skw&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 316 acquisitions not listed under the prior proposed list at any time during a fiscal biennium. Under the bill, the legislature may enumerate projects from either list through legislation. For further information see the state and local 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB195 | Serving maple syrup in a public eating place. | Under this bill, a public eating place may not serve a food product identified as maple syrup unless the product is made entirely of maple syrup, as the term is defined in federal regulations. | In Committee |
| AB205 | Serving maple syrup in a public eating place. | Under this bill, a public eating place may not serve a food product identified as maple syrup unless the product is made entirely of maple syrup, as the term is defined in federal regulations. | In Committee |
| SB203 | Regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers, and application of prescription drug payments to health insurance cost-sharing requirements. (FE) | This bill makes several changes to the regulation of pharmacy benefit LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 managers and their interactions with pharmacies and pharmacists. Under current law, pharmacy benefit managers are generally required to be licensed as a pharmacy benefit manager or an employee benefit plan administrator by the commissioner of insurance. A pharmacy benefit manager is an entity that contracts to administer or manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of an insurer, a cooperative, or another entity that provides prescription drug benefits to Wisconsin residents. Major provisions of the bill are summarized below. Pharmacy benefit manager regulation The bill requires a pharmacy benefit manager to pay a pharmacy or pharmacist a professional dispensing fee at a rate not less than is paid by the state under the Medical Assistance program for each pharmaceutical product that the pharmacy or pharmacist dispenses to an individual. The professional dispensing fee is required to be paid in addition to the amount the pharmacy benefit manager reimburses the pharmacy or pharmacist for the cost of the pharmaceutical product that the pharmacy or pharmacist dispenses. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from assessing, charging, or collecting from a pharmacy or pharmacist any form of remuneration that passes from the pharmacy or pharmacist to the pharmacy benefit manager including claim-processing fees, performance-based fees, network-participation fees, or accreditation fees. Further, under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager may not use any certification or accreditation requirement as a determinant of pharmacy network participation that is inconsistent with, more stringent than, or in addition to the federal requirements for licensure as a pharmacy and the requirements for licensure as a pharmacy provided under state law. The bill requires a pharmacy benefit manager to allow a participant or beneficiary of a pharmacy benefits plan or program that the pharmacy benefit manager serves to use any pharmacy or pharmacist in this state that is licensed to dispense the pharmaceutical product that the participant or beneficiary seeks to obtain if the pharmacy or pharmacist accepts the same terms and conditions that the pharmacy benefit manager establishes for at least one of the networks of pharmacies or pharmacists that the pharmacy benefit manager has established to serve individuals in the state. A pharmacy benefit manager may establish a preferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists and a nonpreferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists; however, under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager may not prohibit a pharmacy or pharmacist from participating in either type of network provided that the pharmacy or pharmacist is licensed by this state and the federal government and accepts the same terms and conditions that the pharmacy benefit manager establishes for other pharmacies or pharmacists participating in the network that the pharmacy or pharmacist wants to join. Under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager may not charge a participant or beneficiary of a LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 pharmacy benefits plan or program that the pharmacy benefit manager serves a different copayment obligation or additional fee, or provide any inducement or financial incentive, for the participant or beneficiary to use a pharmacy or pharmacist in a particular network of pharmacies or pharmacists that the pharmacy benefit manager has established to serve individuals in the state. Further, the bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager, third-party payer, or health benefit plan from excluding a pharmacy or pharmacist from its network because the pharmacy or pharmacist serves less than a certain portion of the population of the state or serves a population living with certain health conditions. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager may neither prohibit a pharmacy or pharmacist that dispenses a pharmaceutical product from, nor penalize a pharmacy or pharmacist that dispenses a pharmaceutical product for, informing an individual about the cost of the pharmaceutical product, the amount in reimbursement that the pharmacy or pharmacist receives for dispensing the pharmaceutical product, or any difference between the cost to the individual under the individual[s pharmacy benefits plan or program and the cost to the individual if the individual purchases the pharmaceutical product without making a claim for benefits under the individual[s pharmacy benefits plan or program. The bill prohibits any pharmacy benefit manager or any insurer or self- insured health plan from requiring, or penalizing a person who is covered under a health insurance policy or plan for using or for not using, a specific retail, mail- order, or other pharmacy provider within the network of pharmacy providers under the policy or plan. Prohibited penalties include an increase in premium, deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to remit payment for a claim to a pharmacy or pharmacist within 30 days from the day that the claim is submitted to the pharmacy benefit manager by the pharmacy or pharmacist. Pharmaceutical product reimbursements The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager that uses a maximum allowable cost list must include all of the following information on the list: 1) the average acquisition cost of each pharmaceutical product and the cost of the pharmaceutical product set forth in the national average drug acquisition cost data published by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services; 2) the average manufacturer price of each pharmaceutical product; 3) the average wholesale price of each pharmaceutical product; 4) the brand effective rate or generic effective rate for each pharmaceutical product; 5) any applicable discount indexing; 6) the federal upper limit for each pharmaceutical product published by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services; pharmaceutical product; and 8) any other terms that are used to establish the maximum allowable costs. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager may place or continue a particular pharmaceutical product on a maximum allowable cost list only if the pharmaceutical product 1) is listed as a drug product equivalent or is rated by a LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 7) the wholesale acquisition cost of each 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 nationally recognized reference as Xnot ratedY or Xnot availableY; 2) is available for purchase by all pharmacies and pharmacists in the state from national or regional pharmaceutical wholesalers operating in the state; and 3) has not been determined by the drug manufacturer to be obsolete. Further, the bill provides that any pharmacy benefit manager that uses a maximum allowable cost list must provide access to the maximum allowable cost list to each pharmacy or pharmacist subject to the maximum allowable cost list, update the maximum allowable cost list on a timely basis, provide a process for a pharmacy or pharmacist subject to the maximum allowable cost list to receive notification of an update to the maximum allowable cost list, and update the maximum allowable cost list no later than seven days after the pharmacy acquisition cost of the pharmaceutical product increases by 10 percent or more from at least 60 percent of the pharmaceutical wholesalers doing business in the state or there is a change in the methodology on which the maximum allowable cost list is based or in the value of a variable involved in the methodology. A maximum allowable cost list is a list of pharmaceutical products that sets forth the maximum amount that a pharmacy benefit manager will pay to a pharmacy or pharmacist for dispensing a pharmaceutical product. A maximum allowable cost list may directly establish maximum costs or may set forth a method for how the maximum costs are calculated. The bill further provides that a pharmacy benefit manager that uses a maximum allowable cost list must provide a process for a pharmacy or pharmacist to appeal and resolve disputes regarding claims that the maximum payment amount for a pharmaceutical product is below the pharmacy acquisition cost. A pharmacy benefit manager that receives an appeal from or on behalf of a pharmacy or pharmacist under this bill is required to resolve the appeal and notify the pharmacy or pharmacist of the pharmacy benefit manager[s determination no later than seven business days after the appeal is received. If the pharmacy benefit manager grants the relief requested in the appeal, the bill requires the pharmacy benefit manager to make the requested change in the maximum allowable cost, allow the pharmacy or pharmacist to reverse and rebill the relevant claim, provide to the pharmacy or pharmacist the national drug code number published in a directory by the federal Food and Drug Administration on which the increase or change is based, and make the change effective for each similarly situated pharmacy or pharmacist subject to the maximum allowable cost list. If the pharmacy benefit manager denies the relief requested in the appeal, the bill requires the pharmacy benefit manager to provide the pharmacy or pharmacist a reason for the denial, the national drug code number published in a directory by the FDA for the pharmaceutical product to which the claim relates, and the name of a national or regional wholesaler that has the pharmaceutical product currently in stock at a price below the amount specified in the pharmacy benefit manager[s maximum allowable cost list. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager may not deny a pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s appeal if the relief requested in the appeal relates to LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 the maximum allowable cost for a pharmaceutical product that is not available for the pharmacy or pharmacist to purchase at a cost that is below the pharmacy acquisition cost from the pharmaceutical wholesaler from which the pharmacy or pharmacist purchases the majority of pharmaceutical products for resale. If a pharmaceutical product is not available for a pharmacy or pharmacist to purchase at a cost that is below the pharmacy acquisition cost from the pharmaceutical wholesaler from which the pharmacy or pharmacist purchases the majority of pharmaceutical products for resale, the pharmacy benefit manager must revise the maximum allowable cost list to increase the maximum allowable cost for the pharmaceutical product to an amount equal to or greater than the pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s pharmacy acquisition cost and allow the pharmacy or pharmacist to reverse and rebill each claim affected by the pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s inability to procure the pharmaceutical product at a cost that is equal to or less than the maximum allowable cost that was the subject of the pharmacy[s or pharmacist[s appeal. The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from reimbursing a pharmacy or pharmacist in the state an amount less than the amount that the pharmacy benefit manager reimburses a pharmacy benefit manager affiliate for providing the same pharmaceutical product. Under the bill, a pharmacy benefit manager affiliate is a pharmacy or pharmacist that is an affiliate of a pharmacy benefit manager. Finally, the bill allows a pharmacy or pharmacist to decline to provide a pharmaceutical product to an individual or pharmacy benefit manager if, as a result of a maximum allowable cost list, the pharmacy or pharmacist would be paid less than the pharmacy acquisition cost of the pharmacy or pharmacist providing the pharmaceutical product. Drug formularies This bill makes several changes with respect to drug formularies. Under current law, a disability insurance policy that offers a prescription drug benefit, a self-insured health plan that offers a prescription drug benefit, or a pharmacy benefit manager acting on behalf of a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan must provide to an enrollee advanced written notice of a formulary change that removes a prescription drug from the formulary of the policy or plan or that reassigns a prescription drug to a benefit tier for the policy or plan that has a higher deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. The advanced written notice of a formulary change must be provided no fewer than 30 days before the expected date of the removal or reassignment. This bill provides that a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit shall make the formulary and all drug costs associated with the formulary available to plan sponsors and individuals prior to selection or enrollment. Further, the bill provides that no disability insurance policy, self-insured health plan, or pharmacy benefit manager acting on behalf of a disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan may remove a prescription LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 drug from the formulary except at the time of coverage renewal. Finally, the bill provides that advanced written notice of a formulary change must be provided no fewer than 90 days before the expected date of the removal or reassignment of a prescription drug on the formulary. Pharmacy networks Under the bill, if an enrollee utilizes a pharmacy or pharmacist in a preferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists, no disability insurance policy or self- insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit or pharmacy benefit manager that provides services under a contract with a policy or plan may require the enrollee to pay any amount or impose on the enrollee any condition that would not be required if the enrollee utilized a different pharmacy or pharmacist in the same preferred network. Further, the bill provides that any disability insurance policy or self-insured health plan that provides a prescription drug benefit, or any pharmacy benefit manager that provides services under a contract with a policy or plan, that has established a preferred network of pharmacies or pharmacists must reimburse each pharmacy or pharmacist in the same network at the same rates. Audits of pharmacists and pharmacies This bill makes several changes to audits of pharmacists and pharmacies. The bill requires an entity that conducts audits of pharmacists and pharmacies to ensure that each pharmacist or pharmacy audited by the entity is audited under the same standards and parameters as other similarly situated pharmacists or pharmacies audited by the entity, that the entity randomizes the prescriptions that the entity audits and the entity audits the same number of prescriptions in each prescription benefit tier, and that each audit of a prescription reimbursed under Part D of the federal Medicare program is conducted separately from audits of prescriptions reimbursed under other policies or plans. The bill prohibits any pharmacy benefit manager from recouping reimbursements made to a pharmacist or pharmacy for errors that involve no actual financial harm to an enrollee or a policy or plan sponsor unless the error is the result of the pharmacist or pharmacy failing to comply with a formal corrective action plan. The bill further prohibits any pharmacy benefit manager from using extrapolation in calculating reimbursements that it may recoup, and instead requires a pharmacy benefit manager to base the finding of errors for which reimbursements will be recouped on an actual error in reimbursement and not a projection of the number of patients served having a similar diagnosis or on a projection of the number of similar orders or refills for similar prescription drugs. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager that recoups any reimbursements made to a pharmacist or pharmacy for an error that was the cause of financial harm must return the recouped reimbursement to the enrollee or the policy or plan sponsor who was harmed by the error. Pharmacy benefit manager fiduciary and disclosure requirements The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager owes a fiduciary duty to a health benefit plan sponsor. The bill also requires that a pharmacy benefit LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 manager annually disclose all of the following information to the health benefit plan sponsor: 1. The indirect profit received by the pharmacy benefit manager from owning a pharmacy or health service provider. 2. Any payments made to a consultant or broker who works on behalf of the plan sponsor. 3. From the amounts received from drug manufacturers, the amounts retained by the pharmacy benefit manager that are related to the plan sponsor[s claims or bona fide service fees. 4. The amounts received from network pharmacies and pharmacists and the amount retained by the pharmacy benefit manager. Discriminatory reimbursement of 340B entities The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from taking certain actions with respect to 340B covered entities, pharmacies and pharmacists contracted with 340B covered entities, and patients who obtain prescription drugs from 340B covered entities. The 340B drug pricing program is a federal program that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers that participate in the federal Medicaid program to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to certain health care organizations that provide health care for uninsured and low-income patients. Entities that are eligible for discounted prices under the 340B drug pricing program include federally qualified health centers, critical access hospitals, and certain public and nonprofit disproportionate share hospitals. The bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from doing any of the following: 1. Refusing to reimburse a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity for dispensing 340B drugs. 2. Imposing requirements or restrictions on 340B covered entities or pharmacies or pharmacists contracted with 340B covered entities that are not imposed on other entities, pharmacies, or pharmacists. 3. Reimbursing a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity for a 340B drug at a rate lower than the amount paid for the same drug to pharmacies or pharmacists that are not 340B covered entities or pharmacies or pharmacists contracted with a 340B covered entity. 4. Assessing a fee, charge back, or other adjustment against a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity after a claim has been paid or adjudicated. 5. Restricting the access of a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity to a third-party payer[s pharmacy network solely because the 340B covered entity or the pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity participates in the 340B drug pricing program. 6. Requiring a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 with a 340B covered entity to contract with a specific pharmacy or pharmacist or health benefit plan in order to access a third-party payer[s pharmacy network. 7. Imposing a restriction or an additional charge on a patient who obtains a 340B drug from a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity. 8. Restricting the methods by which a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity may dispense or deliver 340B drugs. 9. Requiring a 340B covered entity or a pharmacy or pharmacist contracted with a 340B covered entity to share pharmacy bills or invoices with a pharmacy benefit manager, a third-party payer, or a health benefit plan. Application of prescription drug payments Health insurance policies and plans often apply cost-sharing requirements and out-of-pocket maximum amounts to the benefits covered by the policy or plan. A cost-sharing requirement is a share of covered benefits that an insured is required to pay under a health insurance policy or plan. Cost-sharing requirements include copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. An out-of-pocket maximum amount is a limit specified by a policy or plan on the amount that an insured pays, and, once that limit is reached, the policy or plan covers the benefit entirely. The bill generally requires health insurance policies that offer prescription drug benefits, self-insured health plans, and pharmacy benefit managers acting on behalf of policies or plans to apply amounts paid by or on behalf of an individual covered under the policy or plan for brand name prescription drugs to any cost- sharing requirement or to any calculation of an out-of-pocket maximum amount of the policy or plan. Health insurance policies are referred to in the bill as disability insurance policies. Prohibited retaliation The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from retaliating against a pharmacy or pharmacist for reporting an alleged violation of certain laws applicable to pharmacy benefit managers or for exercising certain rights or remedies. Retaliation includes terminating or refusing to renew a contract with a pharmacy or pharmacist, subjecting a pharmacy or pharmacist to increased audits, or failing to promptly pay a pharmacy or pharmacist any money that the pharmacy benefit manager owes to the pharmacy or pharmacist. The bill provides that a pharmacy or pharmacist may bring an action in court for injunctive relief if a pharmacy benefit manager is retaliating against the pharmacy or pharmacist as provided in the bill. In addition to equitable relief, the court may award a pharmacy or pharmacist that prevails in such an action reasonable attorney fees and costs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1278/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 203 | 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 |
| 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 |
| SB37 | Local regulation of vegetable gardens. | This bill prohibits a political subdivision from requiring a permit for or prohibiting the cultivation of a vegetable or flower garden on residential property not owned by the political subdivision. | In Committee |
| SB44 | Local regulation of fowl. | This bill prohibits political subdivisions and sewerage districts from prohibiting the keeping of up to four chickens or quail (fowl) by property owners or certain lessors on properties zoned for residential use. The bill specifically allows political subdivisions and sewerage districts to do any of the following with regard to the keeping of fowl: 1. Require a keeper of fowl to obtain a permit. 2. Require notification of adjoining land owners. 3. Impose reasonable regulations related to the location of fowl housing on a property. 4. Prohibit the keeping of roosters. 5. Impose reasonable cleanliness standards. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB281 | Allowing certified advanced practice nurse prescribers to engage in the practice of radiography. | Under current law, no person may engage in the practice of radiography unless the person is granted a license by the Radiography Examining Board. XPractice of radiographyY is defined to mean the imaging of anatomical structures, produced by the combined application of X-rays to the human body and the application of knowledge in the fields of anatomy, radiographic positioning, and radiographic technique, and knowledge of principles of radiation protection, for the purpose of medical diagnosis. Current law provides several exceptions from the requirement that a person be licensed by the Radiography Examining Board in order to engage in the practice of radiography, including for physicians, chiropractors, dentists, and physician assistants. This bill adds certified advanced practice nurse prescribers to the list of persons who are not required to obtain a license from the Radiography Examining Board to engage in the practice of radiography. | In Committee |
| AB270 | A school psychologist loan program. (FE) | This bill creates a school psychologist loan program to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, including enrollment at an institution of higher education in a program of study leading to a school psychologist career. Under the program, HEAB may award to an eligible graduate student a loan of up to $10,000 annually for up to three years. HEAB must forgive 25 percent of the loan for each school year that the recipient is employed as a school psychologist in a rural county or urbanized area, as defined in the bill. XSchool psychologistY is defined in the bill as a licensed psychologist who practices in a school-based setting or an individual who is licensed as a school psychologist under rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB269 | A school psychologist loan program. (FE) | This bill creates a school psychologist loan program to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, including enrollment at an institution of higher education in a program of study leading to a school psychologist career. Under the program, HEAB may award to an eligible graduate student a loan of up to $10,000 annually for up to three years. HEAB must forgive 25 percent of the loan for each school year that the recipient is employed as a school psychologist in a rural county or urbanized area, as defined in the bill. XSchool psychologistY is defined in the bill as a licensed psychologist who practices in a school-based setting or an individual who is licensed as a school psychologist under rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB178 | Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations. Under this bill, a program funded by a TAD grant need not focus solely on alcohol and other drug treatment but may provide treatment programs for a person who has any mental illness. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB83 | Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE) | This bill prohibits the Department of Health Services from imposing any utilization management controls for prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program that are approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration and are classified as antipsychotic. Utilization management controls are formal techniques used by a health carrier or prescription drug utilization management entity that are designed to evaluate prescription drug medical necessity, appropriateness, efficacy, or efficiency. Currently, DHS administers the Medical Assistance program, which is a joint federal and state 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 |
| AB54 | Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE) | This bill prohibits the Department of Health Services from imposing any utilization management controls for prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program that are approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration and are classified as antipsychotic. Utilization management controls are formal techniques used by a health carrier or prescription drug utilization management entity that are designed to evaluate prescription drug medical necessity, appropriateness, efficacy, or efficiency. Currently, DHS administers the Medical Assistance program, which is a joint federal and state 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 |
| 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 |
| SB153 | Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations. Under this bill, a program funded by a TAD grant need not focus solely on alcohol and other drug treatment but may provide treatment programs for a person who has any mental illness. LRB-2349/1 MJW:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 153 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB42 | Local regulation of fowl. | This bill prohibits political subdivisions and sewerage districts from prohibiting the keeping of up to four chickens or quail (fowl) by property owners or certain lessors on properties zoned for residential use. The bill specifically allows political subdivisions and sewerage districts to do any of the following with regard to the keeping of fowl: 1. Require a keeper of fowl to obtain a permit. 2. Require notification of adjoining land owners. 3. Impose reasonable regulations related to the location of fowl housing on a property. 4. Prohibit the keeping of roosters. 5. Impose reasonable cleanliness standards. | In Committee |
| AB41 | Local regulation of vegetable gardens. | This bill prohibits a political subdivision from requiring a permit for or prohibiting the cultivation of a vegetable or flower garden on residential property not owned by the political subdivision. | 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 |
| SB61 | Excluding expenditures funded by referenda from shared costs for the purpose of determining equalization aid for school districts. (FE) | Under current law, a school district[s shared cost is one of the factors used to calculate a school district[s equalization aid. Generally, under current law, a school district[s shared cost is the sum of the school district[s expenditures from its general fund and its debt service fund. Under this bill, expenditures from either a school district[s general fund or debt service fund that are authorized by 1) an operating referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to exceed the school district[s revenue limit by more than $50,000,000 or 2) a capital referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to borrow more than $50,000,000 are excluded from the school district[s shared cost, unless the school district was a negative tertiary school district in the previous school year. A school district is a negative tertiary school district if its equalized valuation exceeds the tertiary guaranteed valuation per member. LRB-1974/1 KMS:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 61 For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
| AB81 | Excluding expenditures funded by referenda from shared costs for the purpose of determining equalization aid for school districts. (FE) | Under current law, a school district[s shared cost is one of the factors used to calculate a school district[s equalization aid. Generally, under current law, a school district[s shared cost is the sum of the school district[s expenditures from its general fund and its debt service fund. Under this bill, expenditures from either a school district[s general fund or debt service fund that are authorized by 1) an operating referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to exceed the school district[s revenue limit by more than $50,000,000 or 2) a capital referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to borrow more than $50,000,000 are excluded from the school district[s shared cost, unless the school district was a negative tertiary school district in the previous school year. A school district is a negative tertiary school district if its equalized valuation exceeds the tertiary guaranteed valuation per member. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 | Nay |
| 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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee | 9 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee | 8 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Government Operations, Accountability and Transparency Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Insurance Committee | 5 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Regulatory Licensing Reform Committee | Chair | 1 |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Sporting Heritage Committee | 6 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WI | Wisconsin Assembly District 02 | Assembly | Republican | In Office | 01/07/2019 |