Legislator
Legislator > David Armstrong
State Representative
David Armstrong
(R) - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Assembly District 67
In Office - Started: 01/06/2025
contact info
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 8952
State Capitol, 2 E. Main St.
Madison, WI 53708
State Capitol, 2 E. Main St.
Madison, WI 53708
Phone: 608-237-9167
Phone 2: 888-534-0067
Voting Address
11 Phipps Ave.
Rice Lake, WI 54868
Rice Lake, WI 54868
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJR75 | Recognizing June 2025 as Black Music Month in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing June 2025 as Black Music Month in the state of Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| SB367 | Virtual credit card payments in health insurance policies. | Under this bill, an insurer that offers a health insurance policy may not require a health care provider to accept payments under the health insurance policy via virtual credit card payment. The bill requires an insurer to inform a health care provider of the fees associated with any available payment methods and how to select a payment method other than virtual credit card payments before providing a payment via virtual credit card payment. The bill defines Xvirtual credit card paymentY as an electronic funds transfer in which an insurer issues a single-use series of numbers that are associated with a payment, are chargeable to a predetermined dollar amount, and expire upon payment processing. Additionally, under the bill, if an insurer transmits a payment to a health care provider in accordance with certain federal standards for transmitting electronic funds, the insurer may not charge a fee solely for the transmission, unless the provider has consented to the fee. Health insurance policies are referred to in the bill as disability insurance policies. | In Committee |
| SB366 | Technical education equipment grants. (FE) | Current law provides that the Department of Workforce Development may award technical education equipment grants to school districts for certain purposes, including for the enhancement or improvement of a technical education facility or for the acquisition of equipment that is used in advanced manufacturing or construction fields in the workplace, together with any software necessary for the operation of that equipment and any instructional material necessary to train pupils in the operation of that equipment. As a condition of receiving a grant, a grant recipient must provide matching funds, in the form of money or the monetary value of equipment. The match must be 200 percent of the grant amount awarded if any of the match is contributed from school district funds, or 100 percent if the match is purely from other sources. This bill makes the following changes to the program: 1. Revises the purposes for which grants may be awarded. Under the bill, grant moneys may be used for additional specified purposes, such as the construction of a new technical education facility and instructional training on the use of tools and equipment used in technical education. 2. Requires the match to be the amount of the grant awarded, regardless of LRB-3650/1 MED:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 366 whether any of the match is contributed from school district funds. The bill also allows a match to be provided by someone other than a grant recipient and allows any in-kind contribution to count toward the match requirement, including software, tools, and equipment. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB341 | The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction pays equalization aid to school districts for each school year in the following four installments: 15 percent in September, 25 percent in December, 25 percent in March, and 35 percent in June. This bill increases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in September by 2 points each school year, and decreases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in June by 2 points each school year, until the 2029-30 school year, at which time the amount of equalization aid distributed in both September and June will be 25 percent. The result is that equalization aid will be paid to school districts in four equal installments beginning in the 2029-30 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-3223/1 FFK:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 341 | In Committee |
| AB326 | Local grant writing and compliance assistance. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Revenue, in each year from 2026 through 2029, to provide grants of up to $5,000 to political subdivisions with populations of less than 7,500 to be used to obtain grant writing and compliance assistance services. These grants may be used to obtain services only for grants related to public works, transportation infrastructure, public safety, utility service, or cybersecurity. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB351 | Virtual credit card payments in health insurance policies. | Under this bill, an insurer that offers a health insurance policy may not require a health care provider to accept payments under the health insurance policy via virtual credit card payment. The bill requires an insurer to inform a health care provider of the fees associated with any available payment methods and how to select a payment method other than virtual credit card payments before providing a payment via virtual credit card payment. The bill defines Xvirtual credit card paymentY as an electronic funds transfer in which an insurer issues a single-use series of numbers that are associated with a payment, are chargeable to a predetermined dollar amount, and expire upon payment processing. Additionally, under the bill, if an insurer transmits a payment to a health care provider in accordance with certain federal standards for transmitting electronic funds, the insurer may not charge a fee solely for the transmission, unless the provider has consented to the fee. Health insurance policies are referred to in the bill as disability insurance policies. | In Committee |
| AB320 | Increasing certain court fees and surcharges and indexing those amounts for inflation. (FE) | This bill 1) increases various court fees and surcharges collected by clerks of court, municipal judges, and registers in probate, 2) increases certain court fees paid to witnesses, interpreters, supplemental court commissioners, court reporters, sheriffs, and appraisers, and 3) indexes these and some other fee and surcharge amounts for inflation. For mileage reimbursement rates that are increased under the bill, the bill sets those rates at the rate determined by the federal Internal Revenue Service for the business standard mileage rate for federal income tax purposes. Under current law, a county must submit a portion of each amount the county collects, as specified in current law, to the Department of Administration for various state uses, and the county may retain the balance for use by the county. The bill generally provides for the county to retain for use by the county the additional amounts collected as a result of the increases in the bill. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB327 | The weight limit for utility terrain vehicles. | This bill raises from 3,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds the maximum weight allowable for a motor driven device to be classified as a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). Under current law, a UTV is defined as a commercially designed and manufactured motor driven device, other than a golf cart, low-speed vehicle, dune buggy, mini-truck, or tracked vehicle, that is designed to be used primarily off of a highway and that was manufactured to meet certain size and equipment specifications. Current law specifications limit UTVs to a weight, without fluids, of not more than 3,000 pounds. | In Committee |
| AB357 | Technical education equipment grants. (FE) | Current law provides that the Department of Workforce Development may award technical education equipment grants to school districts for certain purposes, including for the enhancement or improvement of a technical education facility or for the acquisition of equipment that is used in advanced manufacturing or construction fields in the workplace, together with any software necessary for the operation of that equipment and any instructional material necessary to train pupils in the operation of that equipment. As a condition of receiving a grant, a grant recipient must provide matching funds, in the form of money or the monetary value of equipment. The match must be 200 percent of the grant amount awarded if any of the match is contributed from school district funds, or 100 percent if the match is purely from other sources. This bill makes the following changes to the program: 1. Revises the purposes for which grants may be awarded. Under the bill, grant moneys may be used for additional specified purposes, such as the construction of a new technical education facility and instructional training on the use of tools and equipment used in technical education. 2. Requires the match to be the amount of the grant awarded, regardless of whether any of the match is contributed from school district funds. The bill also allows a match to be provided by someone other than a grant recipient and allows any in-kind contribution to count toward the match requirement, including software, tools, and equipment. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB354 | The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction pays equalization aid to school districts for each school year in the following four installments: 15 percent in September, 25 percent in December, 25 percent in March, and 35 percent in June. This bill increases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in September by 2 points each school year, and decreases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in June by 2 points each school year, until the 2029-30 school year, at which time the amount of equalization aid distributed in both September and June will be 25 percent. The result is that equalization aid will be paid to school districts in four equal installments beginning in the 2029-30 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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) | Under current law, the equalized value of taxable property of a new or amended tax incremental district (TID) plus the value increment of all existing TIDs in a city or village may not exceed 12 percent of the total equalized value of taxable property in the city or village. Under this bill, the 12 percent rule does not apply to TID Number 5 created by the city of Port Washington. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB190 | Obtaining attorney fees and costs under the state’s public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court. | Currently, if a person requests access to a public record and the agency or officer in state or local government having custody of the record, known as an XauthorityY under the public records law, withholds or delays granting access to the record or a part of the record, the requester may bring a mandamus action asking a court to order release of the record or part of the record. Current law requires the court to award reasonable attorney fees, damages of not less than $100, and other actual costs to the requester if the requester prevails in whole or in substantial part in any such action. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided in 2022 that a requester prevails in whole or in substantial part only if the requester obtains a judicially sanctioned change in the parties[ legal relationship, for example, a court order requiring disclosure of a record. See, Friends of Frame Park, U.A. v. City of Waukesha, 2022 WI 57. Under the supreme court[s decision, a requester generally is not entitled to attorney fees and costs if the authority voluntarily or unilaterally without a court order provides contested records after the requester files an action in court. This bill supersedes the supreme court[s decision in Friends of Frame Park. Under the bill, a requester has prevailed in whole or in substantial part if the requester has obtained relief through any of the following means: 1. A judicial order or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree. 2. The authority[s voluntary or unilateral release of a record if the court determines that the filing of the mandamus action was a substantial factor contributing to that voluntary or unilateral release. This standard is substantially the same as the standard that applies for a requester to obtain attorney fees and costs under the federal Freedom of Information Act. | In Committee |
| AB211 | Exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban. | This bill exempts tobacco bars from the general prohibition under current law against smoking in indoor locations if the tobacco bar satisfies all of the following: 1) the tobacco bar came into existence on or after June 4, 2009; 2) only the smoking of cigars and pipes is allowed in the tobacco bar; and 3) the tobacco bar is not a retail food establishment. Current law defines a Xtobacco barY as a tavern that generates 15 percent or more of its annual gross income from the sale on the tavern premises, other than from a vending machine, of cigars and pipe tobacco. Also, under current law, tobacco bars that existed on June 3, 2009, are exempt from the general prohibition against smoking in indoor locations. | In Committee |
| SB232 | Grants to child advocacy centers. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Justice must provide $17,000 in each fiscal year to specified child advocacy centers for education, training, medical advice, and quality assurance activities. This bill instead provides that DOJ must award grants in each fiscal year to specified child advocacy centers to enhance the multidisciplinary response to suspected child maltreatment. The bill adds two centers as recipients, the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center in Sheboygan County and Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin, and updates the names of the centers that are designated recipients under current law. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB124 | Creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit. (FE) | This bill creates a State of Wisconsin Nuclear Power Summit Board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit in the city of Madison to advance nuclear power and fusion energy technology and development and to showcase Wisconsin[s leadership and innovation in the nuclear industry. The bill specifies that the board must hold the summit no later than one month after instruction commences at the new college of engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and shall ensure that summit participants have access to the new building. The bill creates an appropriation for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and requires WEDC to expend any moneys appropriated at the direction of and in support of the board[s efforts. Under the bill, the board is exempt from state requirements for public notice of proposed contracts, competitive bidding, and contractual service procurement procedures. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2181/1 KRP:skw&cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 124 | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB242 | Required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts. | Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development may not prescribe, enforce, or authorize a ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers for apprenticeship programs or apprentice contracts that requires more than one journeyworker for each apprentice. This bill increases the allowable ratio to one journeyworker to two apprentices. | In Committee |
| SB56 | The use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Administration and the Department of Natural Resources administer the safe drinking water loan program (SDWLP), which provides financial assistance from the environmental improvement program to local governmental units and to the private owners of community water systems that serve local governmental units for projects for the planning, designing, construction, or modification of public water systems. DNR establishes a funding list for SDWLP projects, and DOA allocates funding for those projects. Current law specifies several allowable methods of providing financial assistance under the SDWLP, one of which is using funds received as federal capitalization grants. There is, however, a prohibition on using those funds to provide principal forgiveness to a private owner of a community water system. This bill provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of federal capitalization grants for forgiveness of loans for the replacement of lead service lines. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB128 | Programs and requirements to address PFAS. | This bill creates several new programs and requirements relating to PFAS, which is defined in the bill to mean any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance. Municipal PFAS grant program The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to create a municipal PFAS grant program, which applies only to types of PFAS for which there is a state or federal standard, a public health recommendation from the Department of Health Services, or a health advisory issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Under the bill, the municipal PFAS grant program provides all of the following grants: 1. Grants to municipalities (defined under current law as a city, town, village, county, county utility district, town sanitary district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, or metropolitan sewage district) for PFAS testing at municipal water systems and municipal wastewater treatment facilities, or for reimbursement for such testing if performed at properties owned, leased, managed, LRB-2168/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 128 or contracted for by municipalities and if there are promulgated standards for those types of PFAS. 2. Grants to nonmunicipal entities regulated as public or community water systems, distributed in equal shares up to $1,800, to test their drinking water supply for PFAS, if required to do so by DNR, or for reimbursement for such testing. 3. Grants to privately owned landfills, in equal shares up to $15,000, to test for the presence of PFAS in leachate. 4. Grants to municipalities to test for PFAS levels at municipally owned, leased, managed, or contracted locations where PFAS may be present, including testing for PFAS levels in leachate at landfills. If the property to be tested is not owned by the municipality, DNR may not issue a grant unless the property owner gives the municipality written consent to enter the property and conduct testing. These grants are not available to municipalities that receive a grant under this program to test for PFAS at municipal water systems and municipal wastewater treatment facilities. For these grants, DNR may require matching funds of up to 20 percent from the applicant. 5. Grants to municipalities and privately owned landfills to dispose of PFAS- containing biosolids or leachate at facilities that accept such biosolids or leachate or to purchase and install on-site treatment systems to address PFAS contained in biosolids or leachate. For these grants, DNR may require matching funds of up to 20 percent from the applicant and the grants may not be used for costs associated with landspreading. 6. Grants for capital costs or debt service, including for facility upgrades or new infrastructure, to municipalities that are small or disadvantaged or in which rates for water or wastewater utilities will increase by more than 20 percent as a direct result of steps taken to address PFAS contamination. When issuing these grants, DNR must give priority to projects that are necessary to address an exceedence of an applicable state or federal standard. 7. Grants to municipalities for capital costs or other costs related to PFAS that are not otherwise paid from the segregated environmental improvement fund, including costs for addressing landfills or other contaminated lands owned, leased, managed, or contracted for by municipalities or costs incurred by fire departments; grants to municipalities for the preparation and implementation of pollutant minimization plans; and grants to municipalities for costs incurred by public utilities or metropolitan sewerage districts for pretreatment or other PFAS reduction measures in certain circumstances. For these grants, DNR may require matching funds of up to 20 percent from the applicant. For all of the grants provided under the municipal PFAS grant program, DNR may not require a grant recipient to take any action to address PFAS unless PFAS levels exceed any applicable standard under state or federal law. The bill also prohibits DNR from publicly disclosing the results of any PFAS testing conducted under this grant program unless DNR notifies the grant recipient at least 72 hours before publicly disclosing any test result, with certain exceptions. LRB-2168/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 128 Current law provides that whenever a state agency is authorized to provide state funds to any county, city, village, or town for any purpose, funds may also be granted by that agency to any federally recognized tribal governing body for the same purpose. Innocent landowner grant program The bill also requires DNR to create an innocent landowner grant program, which applies only to types of PFAS for which there is a state or federal standard, a public health recommendation from the Department of Health Services, or a health advisory issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Under the program, DNR may provide grants to an eligible person or to a person who is applying on behalf of multiple eligible persons that are located in the same geographic region, if the applicant will be the entity performing any authorized activities. Under the program, an Xeligible personY is 1) a person that spread biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS in compliance with any applicable license or permit, 2) a person that owns land upon which biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS were spread in compliance with any applicable license or permit, 3) a fire department, public-use airport, or municipality that responded to emergencies that required the use of PFAS or that conducted training for such emergencies in compliance with applicable federal regulations, 4) a solid waste disposal facility that accepted PFAS, and 5) a person that owns, leases, manages, or contracts for property on which the PFAS contamination did not originate, unless the person also owns, leases, manages, or contracts for the property on which the PFAS discharge originated. The total amount of grants awarded to each eligible person may not exceed $250,000 and DNR may require grant recipients to provide matching funds of not more than 5 percent of the grant amount. Under current law provisions known as the Xspills law,Y a person that possesses or controls a hazardous substance or that causes the discharge of a hazardous substance must notify DNR immediately, restore the environment to the extent practicable, and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. If action is not being adequately taken, or the identity of the person responsible for the discharge is unknown, DNR may take emergency action to contain or remove the hazardous substance; the person that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance that was discharged or that caused the discharge of the hazardous substance must then reimburse DNR for expenses DNR incurred in taking such emergency actions. The spills law allows DNR to enter property to take emergency action if entry is necessary to prevent increased environmental damages, and to inspect any record relating to a hazardous substance for the purpose of determining compliance with the spills law. DNR may also require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges. Spills law exemptions Under the bill, if a person is eligible for a grant under the innocent landowner LRB-2168/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 128 grant program, the person is exempt from all of the provisions under the spills law described above with respect to PFAS contamination, if the person grants DNR permission to remediate the land at DNR[s expense. If a person is not eligible for a grant under the innocent landowner grant program, the person is exempt from all of the provisions under the spills law described above, based on the results of any PFAS testing conducted on samples taken from lands not owned by the state, unless PFAS levels violate any applicable state or federal law, including any standard promulgated under state or federal law. Limitations on DNR actions relating to PFAS Under the bill, DNR may not prevent, delay, or otherwise impede any construction project or project of public works based on a presence of PFAS contamination unless DNR determines that 1) the project poses a substantial risk to public health or welfare, 2) there is a substantial risk that the project will create worsening environmental conditions, 3) the entity proposing to complete the project is responsible for the original contamination, as a result of conduct that was reckless or was done with the intent to discharge PFAS into the environment, or 4) DNR is specifically required under the federal Clean Water Act to prevent, delay, or otherwise impede the project. XPublic worksY is defined to mean the physical structures and facilities developed or acquired by a local unit of government or a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state to provide services and functions for the benefit and use of the public, including water, sewerage, waste disposal, utilities, and transportation, and privately owned landfills that accept residential waste. In addition, under the bill, if DNR seeks to collect samples from lands not owned by the state based on permission from the landowner, such permission must be in writing, and DNR must notify the landowner that such permission includes the authority to collect samples, to test those samples, and to publicly disclose the results of that testing. The landowner may revoke such permission at any time prior to the collection of samples. Under the bill, DNR also may not publicly disclose such PFAS testing results unless it notifies the landowner of the test results at least 72 hours before publicly disclosing them. The bill also requires DNR, or a third-party contract by DNR, to respond in a timely manner to requests from any person to conduct PFAS testing on samples taken from the person[s property if practicable and if funds are available to do so, if there is a reasonable belief that PFAS contamination may be present on the property, and if existing information such as public water supply testing data is not available. The bill also requires DNR, in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, to increase its voluntary PFAS testing activities. Firefighting foam The bill requires DNR to survey or resurvey local fire departments about their use and possession of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, send communications and LRB-2168/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 128 information regarding PFAS-containing firefighting foam, and contract with a third party to voluntarily collect PFAS-containing firefighting foam. Well compensation grant program Under current law, an individual owner or renter of a contaminated private well, subject to eligibility requirements, may apply for a grant from DNR to cover a portion of the costs to treat the water, reconstruct the well, construct a new well, connect to a public water supply, or fill and seal the well. The bill provides that a grant for costs to treat the water may be used to cover the cost of a filtration device and up to two replacement filters. In addition, under the bill, if DNR determines that a claimant who is applying for a grant under the well compensation grant program on the basis of PFAS contamination would be eligible for a grant under the innocent landowner grant program created under the bill, and funding under that program is available, DNR must refer the claimant[s application to that program instead of processing it under the well compensation grant program. If the claimant is denied under the innocent landowner grant program, DNR must refer the claim back to the well compensation grant program. Portable water treatment system pilot project The bill requires DNR to contract with an entity to conduct a pilot project in which PFAS-contaminated surface water is partially or fully diverted to a portable treatment system and treated water is returned to the surface water. DNR and the entity must conduct tests to evaluate the success of the pilot project. Remedial action at sites contaminated by PFAS The bill allows DNR, or a contracted third party, to begin response and remedial actions, including site investigations, at any PFAS-contaminated site where a responsible party has not been identified or where the responsible party qualifies for a grant under the innocent landowner grant program. The bill directs DNR to prioritize response and remedial actions at sites that have the highest levels of PFAS contamination and sites with the greatest threats to public health or the environment because of PFAS. Assistance for testing laboratories The bill requires DNR and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to enter into a memorandum of understanding to ensure that the state laboratory of hygiene provides guidance and other materials, conducts training, and provides assistance to laboratories in this state that are certified to test for contaminants other than PFAS in order for them to become certified to test for PFAS, and to assist laboratories certified to test for PFAS in this state to reduce their testing costs and shorten the timeline for receiving test results. Under the bill, the Board of Regents, in coordination with DNR, may provide grants to laboratories in this state that are certified to test for PFAS, or that are seeking such certification, to assist with up to 40 percent of the costs of purchasing equipment necessary for testing for PFAS. LRB-2168/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 128 The bill requires the state laboratory of hygiene to prepare a report on these efforts and provide the report to the legislature. PFAS studies and reporting The bill requires DNR and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to enter into a memorandum of understanding to 1) study and analyze the cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of different methods of treating PFAS before they are released into a water system or water body; 2) conduct a cost-benefit analysis of different options for disposing of biosolids or sludge that contains or may contain PFAS; 3) study and analyze the cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of different destruction and disposal methods for PFAS; 4) study and analyze the cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of different methods for remediating PFAS that leave the contaminated medium in place and methods that remove the contaminated medium; 5) study and analyze the migration of PFAS into the bay of Green Bay; 6) study and analyze the migration of PFAS into the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries; 7) conduct any additional studies related to PFAS, as approved by the Joint Committee on Finance; and 8) create a comprehensive, interactive map showing all available PFAS testing data and, for each data point, whether it exceeds any applicable state or federal standard for PFAS. Such data may not contain any personally identifiable information unless the entity to which the data applies is a municipal entity that is required to test and disclose its results under state law. DNR reporting requirements The bill requires DNR to report to the legislature once every six months for a period of three years to provide a detailed description of DNR[s expenditures under the bill and a detailed description of DNR[s progress in implementing the provisions of the bill. Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Under current law, the Department of Administration and DNR administer the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP), which provides financial assistance to municipalities, and to the private owners of community water systems that serve municipalities, for projects that will help the municipalities comply with federal drinking water standards. DNR establishes a funding priority list for SDWLP projects, and DOA allocates funding for those projects. Also under current law, DNR administers the Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP), which provides financial assistance to municipalities for projects to control water pollution, such as sewage treatment plants. Under the bill, if DNR, when ranking SDWLP or CWFP projects or determining an applicant[s eligibility for assistance under those programs, considers whether an applicant that intends to extend service outside municipal boundaries because of water contamination is XsmallY or Xdisadvantaged,Y DNR must determine the applicant to be small or disadvantaged if the area receiving the extended service would normally be determined to be small or disadvantaged, LRB-2168/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 128 regardless of whether the existing service area would normally be determined to be small or disadvantaged. Public water utility projects Under current law, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. Under the bill, if a water public utility or a combined water and sewer public utility (water utility) fails to obtain a CA before commencing a project for which one is required, PSC may not investigate, impose a penalty against, or bring an action to enjoin the water utility if 1) the water utility undertook the project in response to a public health concern caused by PFAS, the presence of which was unknown to the water utility until shortly before it commenced the project, and the water utility provides evidence showing that the utility has exceeded or is likely to exceed the applicable state or federal standard for that type of PFAS; 2) the water utility promptly notifies PSC of the work and, within 30 days after commencing the work, submits the appropriate application and supporting documentation to PSC; and 3) the total cost of the project is not greater than $2,000,000. In the PSC administrative code, the bill adds an emergency resulting from water supply contamination to the circumstances under which PSC authorization is not necessary prior to a utility beginning necessary repair work. The current administrative code limits this to an emergency resulting from the failure of power supply or from fire, storm, or similar events. Use of revenue for PFAS source reduction measures The bill authorizes a municipal public utility or metropolitan sewerage district to use revenues from its water or sewerage services for up to half of the cost of pretreatment or other PFAS source reduction measures for an interconnected customer or other regular customer if the costs incurred are less than the costs of the upgrades otherwise required at the endpoint treatment facility and if the costs are approved by the governing body of the municipality or the metropolitan sewerage district. Test wells for community water systems Under rules promulgated by DNR relating to community water systems (a system for providing piped water for human consumption to the public and that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents), DNR must preapprove any test wells that will be converted into permanent wells and any test wells that will pump at least 70 gallons per minute for more than 72 hours. DNR rules require test wells to be drilled for permanent wells for community water systems to determine geologic formation information and water quality and quantity data. DNR rules also allow DNR to designate special well casing depth areas within which wells must be drilled to a greater depth and meet other requirements to avoid contamination. This bill provides that test wells for community water systems must also be LRB-2168/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 128 approved by DNR if they are located in special well casing depth areas that have been designated based in whole or in part on the presence of PFAS. | In Committee |
| SB127 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) | Under current law provisions known as the Xspills law,Y a person that possesses or controls a hazardous substance or that causes the discharge of a hazardous substance must notify the Department of Natural Resources immediately, restore the environment to the extent practicable, and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. If action is not being adequately taken, or the identity of the person responsible for the discharge is unknown, DNR may take emergency action to contain or remove the hazardous substance; the person that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance that was discharged or that caused the discharge of the hazardous substance must then reimburse DNR for expenses DNR incurred in taking such emergency actions. The spills law allows DNR to enter property to take emergency action if entry is necessary to prevent increased environmental damages, and to inspect any record relating to a hazardous substance for the purpose of determining compliance with the spills law. DNR may also require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges. The bill exempts the following persons from all of these provisions under the spills law, if the person grants DNR permission to remediate the land at DNR[s expense: LRB-2170/1 MCP:skw/wlj/emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 127 1. A person that spread biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 2. A person that owns land upon which biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS were spread in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 3. A fire department, public-use airport, or municipality that responded to emergencies that required the use of PFAS or that conducted training for such emergencies in compliance with applicable federal regulations. 4. A solid waste disposal facility that accepted PFAS. 5. A person that owns, leases, manages, or contracts for property on which the PFAS contamination did not originate, unless the person also owns, leases, manages, or contracts for the property on which the PFAS discharge originated. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB275 | Challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the validity of an administrative rule may be challenged in an action for declaratory judgment or in certain other judicial proceedings when material therein. This bill requires a court, if the court declares a rule invalid, to award the party asserting the invalidity of the rule reasonable attorney fees and costs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB337 | Local grant writing and compliance assistance. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Revenue, in each year from 2026 through 2029, to provide grants of up to $5,000 to political subdivisions with populations of less than 7,500 to be used to obtain grant writing and compliance assistance services. These grants may be used to obtain services only for grants related to public works, transportation infrastructure, public safety, utility service, or cybersecurity. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB274 | The expiration of administrative rules. (FE) | This bill provides for the expiration of each chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code after seven years, unless the chapter is readopted by the agency through the readoption process established under the bill. Under current law, an agency may promulgate administrative rules when it is granted rule-making authority under the statutes. administrative rules remain in effect indefinitely unless repealed or amended by the agency or suspended by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. This bill provides that each chapter of the code expires seven years after a rule that creates, or repeals and recreates, the chapter takes effect or after the chapter is readopted. The bill requires JCRAR to establish a schedule for the expiration of all existing code chapters that are in effect on the effective date of the bill. Under the bill, in the year before a code chapter is set to expire, an agency may send to JCRAR and the appropriate standing committees a notice of its intention to readopt the chapter. If no member of JCRAR or the standing committees objects to the readoption notice, the chapter is considered readopted without further action. If any member of JCRAR or either standing committee objects to readoption of the chapter, the chapter expires on its expiration date unless the agency promulgates a rule to readopt the chapter using the standard rule-making process. Under the bill, JCRAR may extend the effective date of the chapter that is set to expire for up to one year to accommodate readoption of the chapter through the standard rule- making process. The bill also requires agencies to avoid in rules the use of words and phrases that are outdated or that are now understood to be derogatory or offensive. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB277 | The expiration of administrative rules. (FE) | This bill provides for the expiration of each chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code after seven years, unless the chapter is readopted by the agency through the readoption process established under the bill. Under current law, an agency may promulgate administrative rules when it is granted rule-making authority under the statutes. administrative rules remain in effect indefinitely unless repealed or amended by the agency or suspended by the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules. This bill provides that each chapter of the code expires seven years after a rule that creates, or repeals and recreates, the chapter takes effect or after the chapter is readopted. The bill requires JCRAR to establish a schedule for the expiration of all existing code chapters that are in effect on the effective date of the bill. Under the LRB-2513/1 MED:cdc Once promulgated, 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 277 bill, in the year before a code chapter is set to expire, an agency may send to JCRAR and the appropriate standing committees a notice of its intention to readopt the chapter. If no member of JCRAR or the standing committees objects to the readoption notice, the chapter is considered readopted without further action. If any member of JCRAR or either standing committee objects to readoption of the chapter, the chapter expires on its expiration date unless the agency promulgates a rule to readopt the chapter using the standard rule-making process. Under the bill, JCRAR may extend the effective date of the chapter that is set to expire for up to one year to accommodate readoption of the chapter through the standard rule- making process. The bill also requires agencies to avoid in rules the use of words and phrases that are outdated or that are now understood to be derogatory or offensive. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB276 | Challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the validity of an administrative rule may be challenged in an action for declaratory judgment or in certain other judicial proceedings when material therein. This bill requires a court, if the court declares a rule invalid, to award the party asserting the invalidity of the rule reasonable attorney fees and costs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | This bill directs the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to establish and administer an economic development program for the purpose of awarding grants for talent recruitment programs to incentivize households outside of this state to relocate to municipalities in this state. An applicant is eligible for a grant under the bill if the applicant 1) is a city, village, town, county, or American Indian tribe or band in this state or a nonprofit organization with a mission that includes economic development, workforce and talent development, or community development; 2) provides WEDC with a talent recruitment program plan identifying the estimated costs and economic impacts of the program and the program[s total Xhousehold goal,Y meaning the total number of households the program seeks to successfully incentivize to relocate or commit to relocate from outside this state to a municipality in this state; 3) demonstrates its ability to contribute at least 20 percent of the total program cost, which may include local investments and in-kind donations; and 4) if the applicant is a previous recipient of a grant under the bill, the applicant has met its household goal stated in the talent recruitment program plan for the previous grant. A recipient of a grant under the bill must provide WEDC with semiannual reports detailing information regarding talent recruitment program outcomes. Under the bill, a household residing outside this state relocating to this state is eligible for incentives under a talent recruitment program if the household resides outside of this state at the time the household applies for incentives, has an individual household income of at least $55,000, and submits an application to the recipient of a grant under the bill. Under the bill, no more than $500,000 in grant moneys may be awarded to support talent recruitment programming in a single municipality in a single fiscal year. WEDC must disburse 50 percent of the total grant award upon entering into a grant contract and 50 percent of the total grant award upon the recipient reporting to WEDC that it has successfully met 50 percent of its household goal. If the recipient fails to meet half of its household goal, WEDC may not disburse the remaining grant amount. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| 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) | This bill makes the following changes to laws governing the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, which is a public body corporate and politic created outside of official state government: 1. Under current law, WHEFA may issue bonds to finance certain projects of health, educational, research, and other nonprofit institutions. The bill authorizes WHEFA to issue bonds for the purpose of financing working capital of such institutions to cover operating costs. 2. Current law authorizes WHEFA to help finance the costs of projects located outside of Wisconsin provided that the project includes a substantial component located within the state. The bill instead authorizes the financing of a project outside the state if the owner or operator of the project, or an affiliate of the owner or operator, has a presence within the state. 3. Under current law, WHEFA appoints an executive director to administer the authority. The executive director[s compensation may not exceed the maximum of the salary range established for state government positions assigned to executive salary group six. This bill increases that maximum assignment to executive salary group eight. 4. Similarly, current law provides that all other WHEFA employees may not receive compensation that exceeds the maximum of the salary range established for state government positions assigned to executive salary group three. This bill increases that maximum assignment to executive salary group five. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB53 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person who intentionally causes bodily harm to another person commits the crime of simple battery and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Current law provides greater penalties for special circumstances battery, which is defined as intentionally causing or threatening to cause bodily harm to certain persons. For example, under current law, a person who intentionally causes or threatens to cause bodily harm to a law enforcement officer in response to an action that officer took in an official capacity is guilty of a Class H felony. The bill adds a community service officer so to make it a Class H felony to cause or threaten to cause bodily harm to a community service officer in response to an action the CSO took in an official capacity. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| AB153 | Income change notifications for child support or maintenance orders. | This bill makes changes to the requirements for notice of a change of employer, address, and ability to pay for parties in child support and maintenance agreements. Under current law, the requirements for a notice of a change of employer, address, or ability to pay in child support and maintenance agreements apply only to payers of child support or maintenance. The bill extends these requirements to payees. The bill also specifies that the type of income for which a party must notify the other party of a change is defined by rule by the Department of Children and Families. DCF currently defines Xgross incomeY for child support purposes to include a number of income sources, including wages and salaries, investment income, and certain benefits. The bill establishes that in an order for child support, but not maintenance, neither party is required to disclose income that is not considered gross income under DCF rules and the payee is not required to disclose a change in employer or income if the payer is not a Xshared-placement parent,Y as defined by DCF. The bill also removes references to Xfamily support,Y an alternative form of support that combined child support and maintenance into a single obligation. Orders for family support in this state were eliminated by 2021 Wisconsin Act 35. Finally, the bill allows a party to redact certain personally identifying information from an income change notice to another party, establishes the confidentiality of any information disclosed as part of an income change notice, and establishes that an individual who fails to provide an income change notice required under law may be proceeded against for contempt of court and may be required to provide damages, including reasonable attorney fees. | Crossed Over |
| AB123 | Calculation of miles for purposes of relocation of a child 100 miles or more from the other parent in an action affecting the family. | Under current law, a parent granted periods of physical placement with a child in an action affecting the family must obtain a court order if the parent intends to relocate and reside with the child 100 miles or more from the other parent if the other parent also has court-ordered periods of physical placement with the child. Also under current law, during the pendency of an action affecting the family, parties are generally prohibited from relocating and establishing a residence with a minor child of the parties that is more than 100 miles from the residence of the other party, if the party does not have consent of the other party or an order of the court. The requirement to obtain a court order allowing relocation does not apply if the parents already live more than 100 miles apart when a parent proposes to relocate and reside with the child, but in that situation, the parent who intends to relocate with the child must serve written notice of the intent to relocate on the other parent at least 60 days before relocation. This bill adds an express requirement that the 100-mile distance for purposes of these provisions must be calculated as Xdriving miles,Y defined in the bill to mean the actual distance traveling by road required to get from one location to another rather than the straight-line distance between those locations. | Crossed Over |
| SB98 | Conversion of cooperative associations organized to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care into service insurance corporations. | This bill allows a health care cooperative to convert into a service insurance corporation. Under current law, a cooperative may be formed by filing articles of incorporation with the Department of Financial Institutions. A cooperative is organized and owned by its members and managed by a board of directors. Under current law, a cooperative may be organized primarily to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care for their members and their members[ dependents. Also under current law, a service insurance corporation, sometimes referred to as a Xnonprofit service plan,Y may be formed by following many of the same procedures that apply to nonstock corporations, like filing articles of incorporation and bylaws, except that service insurance corporations are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance instead of DFI. A service insurance corporation is a corporation incorporated in this state to provide insured service benefits, like health care, to consumers within a flexible legal framework. Under this bill, a health care cooperative may convert into a service insurance corporation. To convert into a service insurance corporation, a health care LRB-0784/4 JPC&ARG:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 98 cooperative seeking conversion must adopt a plan of conversion, obtain the commissioner[s approval of the plan of conversion, have the members of the health care cooperative agree to the conversion as provided under current law, and submit evidence to the commissioner that the members of the cooperative association approve of the plan of conversion. The bill requires the commissioner to approve any submitted plan of conversion unless the commissioner concludes, after a hearing, that the plan is contrary to law, the surplus of the resulting service insurance corporation or the contracts that the resulting service insurance corporation possesses with providers are inadequate to support the plan, or the plan is contrary to the interests of members of the health care cooperative seeking conversion or to the interests of the public. If all requirements for conversion are met, the bill provides that the commissioner must issue a certificate of authority to the new service insurance corporation and that, immediately after issuing the certificate of authority, the legal existence of the health care cooperative ceases. The bill provides that the new service insurance corporation has all the assets and is liable for all of the obligations of the converted health care cooperative. | Passed |
| 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 |
| SB291 | Making certain child care expenditures eligible for the business development tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, a business may receive a refundable business development tax credit for an amount equal to up to 15 percent of the business[s investment in establishing an employee child care program for employees. Such investments may include only capital expenditures made by the person. Because the credit is refundable, if the credit exceeds the claimant[s tax liability, the claimant will receive the difference as a refund check. Under this bill, a business may receive a credit for an amount of up to 15 percent of the business[s costs incurred to provide child care services for employees. XCosts incurred to provide child care services for employeesY includes capital expenditures made to establish a child care program for employees, expenditures for the operation of a child care program for employees, expenditures to reimburse employees for child care expenses, expenditures to purchase or reserve child care slots on behalf of employees, contributions made by an employer to an employee[s LRB-2366/1 MDE&KP:skw&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 291 dependent care flexible spending account, and any other cost or expense incurred due to a benefit provided by an employer to facilitate the provision or utilization by employees of child care services. The bill also provides that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may certify a nonprofit entity described under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code for the business development tax credit for expenditures on providing child care services to employees. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB283 | Making certain child care expenditures eligible for the business development tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, a business may receive a refundable business development tax credit for an amount equal to up to 15 percent of the business[s investment in establishing an employee child care program for employees. Such investments may include only capital expenditures made by the person. Because the credit is refundable, if the credit exceeds the claimant[s tax liability, the claimant will receive the difference as a refund check. Under this bill, a business may receive a credit for an amount of up to 15 percent of the business[s costs incurred to provide child care services for employees. XCosts incurred to provide child care services for employeesY includes capital expenditures made to establish a child care program for employees, expenditures for the operation of a child care program for employees, expenditures to reimburse employees for child care expenses, expenditures to purchase or reserve child care slots on behalf of employees, contributions made by an employer to an employee[s dependent care flexible spending account, and any other cost or expense incurred due to a benefit provided by an employer to facilitate the provision or utilization by employees of child care services. The bill also provides that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may certify a nonprofit entity described under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code for the business development tax credit for expenditures on providing child care services to employees. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB276 | Statements of scope for administrative rules. (FE) | Under current law, in order to promulgate a rule, an agency must submit a statement of scope for the proposed rule for review by the Department of Administration and approval by the governor. Once the governor approves the statement, the agency must send the approved statement of scope to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register before continuing with the rule promulgation process. A statement of scope expires after 30 months, after which the agency may not promulgate any rule based on that statement of scope that has not been submitted for legislative review by the expiration date. This bill does the following: 1. Limits an agency to promulgating either a permanent or an emergency rule for a given statement of scope and requires the agency to specify in a statement of scope whether it is for a proposed emergency rule or for a proposed permanent rule. 2. Limits an agency to promulgating one permanent rule or one emergency rule per statement of scope. 3. Provides that a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires after six months and provides that when a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires, an agency may not promulgate an emergency rule based upon that statement of scope. The bill retains the 30-month expiration under current law with respect to statements of scope for proposed permanent rules. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB275 | Statements of scope for administrative rules. (FE) | Under current law, in order to promulgate a rule, an agency must submit a statement of scope for the proposed rule for review by the Department of Administration and approval by the governor. Once the governor approves the statement, the agency must send the approved statement of scope to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register before continuing with the rule promulgation process. A statement of scope expires after 30 months, after which the agency may not promulgate any rule based on that statement of scope that has not been submitted for legislative review by the expiration date. This bill does the following: 1. Limits an agency to promulgating either a permanent or an emergency rule for a given statement of scope and requires the agency to specify in a statement of scope whether it is for a proposed emergency rule or for a proposed permanent rule. 2. Limits an agency to promulgating one permanent rule or one emergency rule per statement of scope. 3. Provides that a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires after six months and provides that when a statement of scope for an emergency rule expires, LRB-2515/1 MED:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 275 an agency may not promulgate an emergency rule based upon that statement of scope. The bill retains the 30-month expiration under current law with respect to statements of scope for proposed permanent rules. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB286 | Workforce housing and childcare awards under the business development tax credit. (FE) | This bill makes adjustments to the workforce housing investment and child care investment awards under the business development tax credit. Under current law, a person may claim tax benefits of an amount equal to up to 15 percent of the person[s investment in workforce housing for employees and up to 15 percent of the person[s investment in establishing an employee child care program for employees. Under current law, such investments may only include capital expenditures made by the person. Under the bill, the investments in workforce housing and child care for which a person may receive tax benefits may include contributions made to a third party for building or rehabilitating workforce housing or establishing a child care program, including contributions made to a local revolving loan fund program. The bill also removes the requirement that the workforce housing and child care program for which a person may receive tax benefits for investing in be for employees. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-3023/1 MDE&KP:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 286 | In Committee |
| AB280 | Workforce housing and childcare awards under the business development tax credit. (FE) | This bill makes adjustments to the workforce housing investment and child care investment awards under the business development tax credit. Under current law, a person may claim tax benefits of an amount equal to up to 15 percent of the person[s investment in workforce housing for employees and up to 15 percent of the person[s investment in establishing an employee child care program for employees. Under current law, such investments may only include capital expenditures made by the person. Under the bill, the investments in workforce housing and child care for which a person may receive tax benefits may include contributions made to a third party for building or rehabilitating workforce housing or establishing a child care program, including contributions made to a local revolving loan fund program. The bill also removes the requirement that the workforce housing and child care program for which a person may receive tax benefits for investing in be for employees. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB285 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | This bill directs the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to establish and administer an economic development program for the purpose of awarding grants for talent recruitment programs to incentivize households outside of this state to relocate to municipalities in this state. An applicant is eligible for a grant under the bill if the applicant 1) is a city, village, town, county, or American Indian tribe or band in this state or a nonprofit organization with a mission that includes economic development, workforce and talent development, or community development; 2) provides WEDC with a talent recruitment program plan identifying the estimated costs and economic impacts of the program and the program[s total Xhousehold goal,Y meaning the total number of households the program seeks to successfully incentivize to relocate or commit to relocate from outside this state to a municipality in this state; 3) demonstrates its ability to contribute at least 20 percent of the total program cost, which may include local investments and in-kind donations; and 4) if the applicant is a previous recipient of a grant under the bill, the applicant has met its household goal stated in the talent recruitment program plan for the previous grant. A recipient of a grant under the bill must provide WEDC with semiannual reports detailing information regarding talent recruitment program outcomes. Under the bill, a household residing outside this state relocating to this state is LRB-3150/1 MDE:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 285 eligible for incentives under a talent recruitment program if the household resides outside of this state at the time the household applies for incentives, has an individual household income of at least $55,000, and submits an application to the recipient of a grant under the bill. Under the bill, no more than $500,000 in grant moneys may be awarded to support talent recruitment programming in a single municipality in a single fiscal year. WEDC must disburse 50 percent of the total grant award upon entering into a grant contract and 50 percent of the total grant award upon the recipient reporting to WEDC that it has successfully met 50 percent of its household goal. If the recipient fails to meet half of its household goal, WEDC may not disburse the remaining grant amount. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB296 | Enumeration of projects in the Authorized State Building Program, modifications to building program project budgets, selection of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund. (FE) | PROJECT ENUMERATIONS OF IN THE AUTHORIZED STATE BUILDING PROGRAM Under current law, the Building Commission may authorize the design and construction of any building, structure, or facility costing in excess of $2,000,000, only if that project is enumerated in the Authorized State Building Program, which appears in each biennial budget passed by the legislature. This bill eliminates that enumeration requirement for the design phase of a project and provides that the LRB-3201/1 MPG/MIM/JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 296 construction of any building, structure, or facility may not be enumerated in the authorized state building program unless the building commission determines that at least 50 percent of the project[s design phase has already been completed. REPORTS CONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO BUILDING PROGRAM PROJECTS Under current law, the Building Commission has the authority to authorize limited changes in the program or budget of a building program project if the commission determines that unanticipated program conditions or bidding conditions require the change to effectively and economically construct the project. This bill requires that the Department of Administration submit a quarterly report to the Joint Committee on Finance and each voting member of the Building Commission that identifies each project for which the Building Commission has approved a budget increase and that identifies each project enumerated in the state building program for which DOA estimates a budget increase will be necessary for project completion, including a description of the reasons for the project budget shortfall. SELECTION OF PROJECT ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS Under current law, the secretary of administration is required to establish a committee for each construction project under DOA[s supervision, except certain emergency projects, for the purpose of selecting an architect or engineer for the project. If the estimated cost of a construction project is $7,400,000 or more, the selection committee must use a request-for-proposal process established by DOA to select an architect or engineer for the project based on qualifications. The bill raises that threshold to $15,000,000. SINGLE PRIME CONTRACTING The bill creates a new exception to single prime contracting for high-dollar building projects. Single prime contracting is a process in which the state contracts only with a general prime contractor who then must contract with subcontractors. Under current law, whenever the Building Commission determines that the use of innovative types of design and construction processes will make better use of the resources and technology available in the building industry, the commission may waive certain requirements related to single prime contracting, if the action is in the best interest of the state and is approved by the commission. Under the bill, for any project costing $200,000,000 or more, at the request of the agency for which the project is constructed, the Building Commission is required to waive certain single prime contracting requirements for the project, as requested by the agency. CERTAIN PROJECT BIDDING PROCEDURES Under the bill, at any time more than two days prior to the end of the period during which bids may be submitted for a building project, a bidder or potential bidder may submit a question to DOA concerning the project. Additionally, the bill provides that DOA may issue addenda at any time during the bidding period to LRB-3201/1 MPG/MIM/JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 296 modify or clarify the drawings and specifications for the project being bid or to extend the bidding period. COOPERATION WITH ENERGY CONSERVATION CONTRACTORS Current law authorizes DOA to contract with qualified contractors for the performance of energy conservation audits at state buildings, structures, and facilities and for the performance of construction work at a state building, structure, or facility for the purpose of realizing potential savings of future energy costs identified in an energy conservation audit. The bill requires DOA and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to collaborate with energy service companies to identify and execute pilot projects using financing provided by the companies to upgrade facilities, reduce deferred maintenance, and increase sustainability. UTILITIES COSTS The bill provides that each state contract for construction work must state which party to the contract is responsible for paying project utility service connection charges and which party is responsible for paying for costs related to the consumption of utility services at the project site. ACTIONS AGAINST THE STATE RELATED TO CERTAIN CONTRACT CLAIMS Under current law, the Claims Board is required to receive, investigate, and make recommendations on all claims against the state of $10 or more that are referred to the board by DOA. The board is required to report its findings and recommendations on all claims referred to the board to the legislature. The board may deny a claim, directly pay a claim of up to $10,000, or recommend a payment in excess of $10,000 to the legislature. If the board concludes that a claim should be paid by the state and the board does not or may not directly pay the claim, current law requires the board to cause a bill to be drafted covering its recommendations. A claimant may commence a lawsuit against the state upon the refusal of the legislature to pass a bill allowing a claim. The bill creates a timeline for the board to hear and make a final determination upon certain claims related to contracts and, in addition to current law, allows claimants to bring actions against the state related to certain contract claims if certain conditions are met. Under the bill, any claim referred to the board that relates to a contract with the Department of Transportation for transportation infrastructure improvement or that relates to a contract with DOA or the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System that is awarded under current law for construction projects must be heard by the board, and the board must make a final determination on the claim, within six months from the day that the claim was referred to the board. If the board concludes that the facts of the claim would be more properly adjudicated in a court of law or if the board fails to make a final determination on the claim within six months from the date that the claim was referred to the board, the bill allows the claimant to commence an action against the state seeking judgment on the claim as provided under current law. LRB-3201/1 MPG/MIM/JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 296 TRANSFER TO THE BUILDING TRUST FUND The bill transfers $32,000,000 from the general fund to the building trust fund in fiscal year 2024-25. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB17 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person who intentionally causes bodily harm to another person commits the crime of simple battery and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Current law provides greater penalties for special circumstances battery, which is defined as intentionally causing or threatening to cause bodily harm to certain persons. For example, under current law, a person who intentionally causes or threatens to cause bodily harm to a law enforcement officer in response to an action that officer took in an official capacity is guilty of a Class H felony. The bill adds a community service officer so to make it a Class H felony to cause or threaten to cause bodily harm to a community service officer in response to an action the CSO took in an official capacity. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AJR6 | Recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin’s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature’s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and r | Relating to: recognizing that the Wisconsin State Legislature supports nuclear power and fusion energy as clean energy sources that are critical to safely meeting Wisconsin[s growing energy demands and declaring the legislature[s commitment to the continuation and expansion of nuclear power and nuclear technologies, the development of nuclear technologies and fusion energy, and employing the leadership and resources necessary to support the development of and investment in nuclear power, fusion energy, and related technologies in the state. | In Committee |
| AB107 | Conversion of cooperative associations organized to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care into service insurance corporations. | This bill allows a health care cooperative to convert into a service insurance corporation. Under current law, a cooperative may be formed by filing articles of incorporation with the Department of Financial Institutions. A cooperative is organized and owned by its members and managed by a board of directors. Under current law, a cooperative may be organized primarily to establish and operate nonprofit plans or programs for health care for their members and their members[ dependents. Also under current law, a service insurance corporation, sometimes referred to as a Xnonprofit service plan,Y may be formed by following many of the same procedures that apply to nonstock corporations, like filing articles of incorporation and bylaws, except that service insurance corporations are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance instead of DFI. A service insurance corporation is a corporation incorporated in this state to provide insured service benefits, like health care, to consumers within a flexible legal framework. Under this bill, a health care cooperative may convert into a service insurance corporation. To convert into a service insurance corporation, a health care cooperative seeking conversion must adopt a plan of conversion, obtain the commissioner[s approval of the plan of conversion, have the members of the health care cooperative agree to the conversion as provided under current law, and submit evidence to the commissioner that the members of the cooperative association approve of the plan of conversion. The bill requires the commissioner to approve any submitted plan of conversion unless the commissioner concludes, after a hearing, that the plan is contrary to law, the surplus of the resulting service insurance corporation or the contracts that the resulting service insurance corporation possesses with providers are inadequate to support the plan, or the plan is contrary to the interests of members of the health care cooperative seeking conversion or to the interests of the public. If all requirements for conversion are met, the bill provides that the commissioner must issue a certificate of authority to the new service insurance corporation and that, immediately after issuing the certificate of authority, the legal existence of the health care cooperative ceases. The bill provides that the new service insurance corporation has all the assets and is liable for all of the obligations of the converted health care cooperative. | 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 |
| SB62 | 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) | This bill makes the following changes to laws governing the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, which is a public body corporate and politic created outside of official state government: 1. Under current law, WHEFA may issue bonds to finance certain projects of health, educational, research, and other nonprofit institutions. The bill authorizes WHEFA to issue bonds for the purpose of financing working capital of such institutions to cover operating costs. 2. Current law authorizes WHEFA to help finance the costs of projects located outside of Wisconsin provided that the project includes a substantial component located within the state. The bill instead authorizes the financing of a project outside the state if the owner or operator of the project, or an affiliate of the owner or operator, has a presence within the state. 3. Under current law, WHEFA appoints an executive director to administer the authority. The executive director[s compensation may not exceed the maximum LRB-1943/1 MDE:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 62 of the salary range established for state government positions assigned to executive salary group six. This bill increases that maximum assignment to executive salary group eight. 4. Similarly, current law provides that all other WHEFA employees may not receive compensation that exceeds the maximum of the salary range established for state government positions assigned to executive salary group three. This bill increases that maximum assignment to executive salary group five. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB59 | The use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Administration and the Department of Natural Resources administer the safe drinking water loan program (SDWLP), which provides financial assistance from the environmental improvement program to local governmental units and to the private owners of community water systems that serve local governmental units for projects for the planning, designing, construction, or modification of public water systems. DNR establishes a funding list for SDWLP projects, and DOA allocates funding for those projects. Current law specifies several allowable methods of providing financial assistance under the SDWLP, one of which is using funds received as federal capitalization grants. There is, however, a prohibition on using those funds to provide principal forgiveness to a private owner of a community water system. This bill provides that this prohibition does not apply to the use of federal capitalization grants for forgiveness of loans for the replacement of lead service lines. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
| SB131 | Calculation of miles for purposes of relocation of a child 100 miles or more from the other parent in an action affecting the family. | Under current law, a parent granted periods of physical placement with a child in an action affecting the family must obtain a court order if the parent intends to relocate and reside with the child 100 miles or more from the other parent if the other parent also has court-ordered periods of physical placement with the child. Also under current law, during the pendency of an action affecting the family, parties are generally prohibited from relocating and establishing a residence with a minor child of the parties that is more than 100 miles from the residence of the other party, if the party does not have consent of the other party or an order of the court. The requirement to obtain a court order allowing relocation does not apply if the parents already live more than 100 miles apart when a parent proposes to relocate and reside with the child, but in that situation, the parent who intends to relocate with the child must serve written notice of the intent to relocate on the other parent at least 60 days before relocation. This bill adds an express requirement that the 100-mile distance for purposes of these provisions must be calculated as Xdriving miles,Y defined in the bill to mean LRB-0421/1 SWB:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 131 the actual distance traveling by road required to get from one location to another rather than the straight-line distance between those locations. | 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 |
| AB233 | Grants to child advocacy centers. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Justice must provide $17,000 in each fiscal year to specified child advocacy centers for education, training, medical advice, and quality assurance activities. This bill instead provides that DOJ must award grants in each fiscal year to specified child advocacy centers to enhance the multidisciplinary response to suspected child maltreatment. The bill adds two centers as recipients, the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center in Sheboygan County and Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin, and updates the names of the centers that are designated recipients under current law. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB219 | A tax credit for rail infrastructure modernization. (FE) | This bill creates an income and franchise tax credit for railroads that make rail infrastructure and railroad maintenance expenditures. Under the bill, a claimant that is classified by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board as a class II or class III railroad may claim a rail infrastructure modernization credit that is equal to the sum of the following amounts: 1. Fifty percent of the qualified short line railroad maintenance expenditures made by the railroad. This portion of the credit is limited to an amount equal to $5,000 multiplied by the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the railroad. The bill defines Xqualified short line railroad maintenance expendituresY as gross expenditures for railroad infrastructure rehabilitation or maintenance improvements located in this state. 2. Fifty percent of the railroad[s qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures. This portion of the credit is limited to $2,000,000 per project. The bill defines Xqualified new rail infrastructure expendituresY as expenditures for rail infrastructure and improvements in this state placed in service after December 31, 2024. A claimant that owns or leases a rail siding, industrial spur, or industry track may claim the portion of the credit described above for the claimant[s qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures. Before claiming a credit under the bill, a claimant must first apply to and receive approval from the Department of Revenue to claim the credit. DOR may approve up to $10,000,000 in total credits for qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures for each tax year, and DOR must approve applications for credits on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR59 | Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR60 | Proclaiming the week of June 22 to June 28, 2025, as Amateur Radio Week in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming the week of June 22 to June 28, 2025, as Amateur Radio Week in the state of Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| AB260 | A pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE) | In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 biennium, this bill requires the Department of Health Services to distribute an amount determined by the secretary of health services to a provider to operate a school-centered mental health program in two schools in this state for two school years; one school must be located in a rural school district and one school must be located in a suburban or urban school district. Under the bill, the provider must use the money to support full-time therapist positions, family coach positions, and any other positions necessary to operate the school-centered mental health program. Under the bill, a school-centered mental health program is a program that meets various criteria, including that it serve at- risk pupils and families at school, at home, and in the community, serve pupils and families year-round, include classroom observations and pupil-specific behavior intervention, include evidence-based individual or family therapy, and provide family coaching that is aligned with therapeutic goals. Finally, the bill requires the provider who receives money from DHS to submit a report to DHS on the impact of the school-centered mental health program on pupils and families by six months after the end of the program, and requires DHS to distribute the report to the legislature. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB304 | A grant to assist in the purchase and renovation of an existing facility in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Administration to award a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc., to assist in the purchase and renovation of the Libertas Treatment Center in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders who are in need of recovery services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB303 | 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline grants. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to award grants to organizations that provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals who contact the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from anywhere within the state. Currently, DHS partners with Wisconsin Lifeline to provide statewide 988 crisis hotline services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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) | DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES General This bill provides that under specific circumstances, delivery network couriers and drivers for transportation network companies (application-based drivers) are not employees of the delivery network companies and transportation network companies (network companies) for the purposes of worker[s compensation insurance, minimum wage laws, and unemployment insurance. In the bill, Xapplication-based driverY is defined as a delivery network courier or participating driver who provides services through the online-enabled application, software, website, or system of a network company. Under the bill, if a network company does not engage in all of the following practices, an application-based driver is not an employee or agent of the company: 1) prescribe specific dates, times of day, or a minimum number of hours during which the driver must be logged into the network company[s online-enabled application, software, or system; 2) terminate the contract of the driver for not accepting a specific request for transportation or delivery service request; 3) restrict the driver from performing services through other network companies except while performing services through that network company; and 4) restrict the driver from working in any other lawful occupation or business. The bill provides that if this provision is held invalid by a court, the provisions regarding portable benefits accounts and group or blanket accident and sickness insurance coverage for application based drivers are invalid. Portable benefit accounts Under the bill, if certain conditions are satisfied, a financial services provider or other person may obtain approval from the Department of Financial Institutions to offer portable benefit accounts. A Xportable benefit accountY is an account administered by such an approved financial services provider or other person (portable benefit account provider) from which an individual may receive distributions for the purposes described below. Under the bill, a network company may offer portable benefit accounts. If an application-based driver meets certain eligibility requirements (eligible driver), a network company may contribute an amount equal to 4 percent of that driver[s quarterly earnings to a portable benefit account, and the driver may also contribute to the portable benefit account. Contributions to a portable benefit account by the account owner may be subtracted from the owner[s income for state income tax purposes. Under the bill, an eligible driver may receive a distribution from a portable benefit account for the following purposes: income due to an illness or accident or loss of work due to the birth or adoption of the driver[s child; 2) to transfer the money to an individual retirement account (IRA); 3) to pay vision, dental, or health insurance premiums; and 4) to compensate for lost income through no fault of the driver from work for a network company. A network company must ensure that the portable benefit account provider it selects offers at least three options for IRA providers and an eligible driver may not transfer money from a portable benefit account to an IRA in an amount exceeding the contribution limits under federal law. A portable benefit account provider may include an income replacement benefit to be made available to eligible drivers. A financial services provider may not commingle assets in a portable benefit account with other property, except in a common trust fund or common investment fund. Insurance coverage The bill provides that a network company may carry, provide, or otherwise make available group or blanket accident and sickness insurance for its application- based drivers. The bill requires a network company to make available, upon reasonable request, a copy of its group or blanket accident and sickness insurance policy. The bill specifies that the state[s worker[s compensation laws do not apply to such a policy. The bill also provides that a network company may carry, provide, or otherwise make available group or blanket occupational accident insurance to cover the medical expenses and lost income resulting from an injury suffered by an application-based driver while engaged on the network company[s online-enabled application, software, or system. The bill requires a network company to make available, upon reasonable request, a copy of its blanket occupational accident insurance policy. The bill requires that the policy provide, in aggregate, at least $1,000,000 of coverage for the medical expenses, short-term disability, long-term disability, and survivor benefits. The coverage must include at least $250,000 for medical expenses; weekly disability payments equal to two-thirds of an application- based driver[s average weekly income, subject to certain restrictions, for up to 104 weeks following an injury; and survivor benefits in an amount equal to an application-based driver[s average weekly income, subject to certain restrictions, multiplied by 104. The bill provides that if a claim is covered by occupational accident insurance maintained by more than one network company, the insurer of the network company against whom a claim is filed is entitled to a contribution for the pro rata share of coverage attributable to one or more other network companies. Under the bill, any benefit provided to an application-based driver under an occupational accident insurance policy is treated as amounts payable under a worker[s compensation law or disability benefit for the purpose of determining amounts payable under uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. 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. | Passed |
| AB241 | Required ratio of journeyworkers to apprentices in apprenticeship programs and contracts. | Under current law, the Department of Workforce Development may not prescribe, enforce, or authorize a ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers for apprenticeship programs or apprentice contracts that requires more than one journeyworker for each apprentice. This bill increases the allowable ratio to one journeyworker to two apprentices. | In Committee |
| AB27 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. | This bill expands the definition of XveteranY to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans[ Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation. | In Committee |
| SB41 | School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill requires the Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice to establish a competitive grant program that is open to public and private schools for grants to improve the safety of school buildings and to provide security training to school personnel. In administering the program, the Office of School Safety must give preference to applicants that have not yet received a school safety grant from DOJ. The bill provides $30,000,000 for these grants and specifies that the maximum amount DOJ may award to an applicant is $20,000. The bill also requires the Office of School Safety to submit an annual report related to these grants to the Joint Committee on Finance. Finally, the grant program sunsets on July 1, 2027. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB61 | Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty. | Under current law, no person may do any of the following to any animal that is used by a law enforcement agency or fire department to perform agency or department functions or duties: frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass the animal; strike, shove, kick, or otherwise subject the animal to physical contact; or strike the animal by using a dangerous weapon. Under current law, any person who intentionally does any of those actions and causes injury to the animal is guilty of a Class I felony, and any person who intentionally does any of those actions and causes death of the animal is guilty of a Class H felony. Additionally, for such a violation, a sentencing court must require a criminal violator to pay restitution, including veterinary care expenses or the value of a replacement animal. This bill increases the penalty for injuring such an animal to a Class H felony and the penalty for causing the death of such an animal to a Class G felony. A Class H felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to six years, or both, and a Class G felony is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for up to 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. | Passed |
| SB179 | Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Administrative allowance of the motor vehicle fuel tax Current law allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain as an administrative allowance 1.35 percent of the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of gasoline in this state. This bill allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain the same administrative allowance for the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of diesel fuel in this state. Retailer refund for motor vehicle fuel evaporation The bill allows a retailer who sells gasoline, diesel fuel, or both (motor vehicle fuel) in this state to claim a refund equal to 0.5 percent of the state motor vehicle fuel tax paid on the retailer[s purchase of the motor vehicle fuel to compensate for motor vehicle fuel stored on site that is lost by shrinkage or evaporation. A claim for a refund under the bill must be made to the Department of Revenue no later than 12 months after the date on which the retailer purchased the motor vehicle fuel and must be accompanied with invoices prepared by the motor vehicle fuel supplier or a LRB-2510/1 JK:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 179 list of purchases prepared by the retailer. Prior to 2019, the state provided such refunds to compensate gasoline retailers for shrinkage and evaporation losses. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB333 | Increasing certain court fees and surcharges and indexing those amounts for inflation. (FE) | This bill 1) increases various court fees and surcharges collected by clerks of court, municipal judges, and registers in probate, 2) increases certain court fees paid to witnesses, interpreters, supplemental court commissioners, court reporters, sheriffs, and appraisers, and 3) indexes these and some other fee and surcharge amounts for inflation. For mileage reimbursement rates that are increased under the bill, the bill sets those rates at the rate determined by the federal Internal Revenue Service for the business standard mileage rate for federal income tax purposes. Under current law, a county must submit a portion of each amount the county collects, as specified in current law, to the Department of Administration for various state uses, and the county may retain the balance for use by the county. The bill generally provides for the county to retain for use by the county the additional amounts collected as a result of the increases in the bill. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB339 | The weight limit for utility terrain vehicles. | This bill raises from 3,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds the maximum weight allowable for a motor driven device to be classified as a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). Under current law, a UTV is defined as a commercially designed and manufactured motor driven device, other than a golf cart, low-speed vehicle, dune buggy, mini-truck, or tracked vehicle, that is designed to be used primarily off of a highway and that was manufactured to meet certain size and equipment specifications. Current law specifications limit UTVs to a weight, without fluids, of not more than 3,000 pounds. | In Committee |
| AB201 | Extortion, sexual extortion, and providing a penalty. | This bill creates a new crime for activity known as Xsextortion.Y Under the bill, it is a generally a Class I felony for a person to do any of the following: 1. Threaten to injure the property or reputation of another to coerce that person to engage in sexual conduct or to produce an intimate representation. 2. Threaten to commit violence against another to coerce that person to engage in sexual conduct or to produce an intimate representation. 3. Threaten to distribute an intimate representation of another person with intent to coerce that person to engage in sexual conduct, produce an intimate representation, or to provide payment of money, property, services, or anything of value, or to do or refrain from doing any act against that person[s will. Under the bill, such a violation is a Class H felony if the victim, as a result of the violation, engages in sexual conduct, produces an intimate representation, provides the payment of money, property, services, or any other thing of value, or suffers great bodily harm or if the victim is under age 18 and the defendant is not more than four years older than the victim, and such a violation is a Class G felony if the defendant was previously convicted of a sexually violent offense, the violation was committed during the course of a child abduction, or the victim is under age 18 and the defendant is more than four years older than the victim. Additionally, the bill provides that a person may be prosecuted for felony murder if the person commits extortion or sexual extortion and as a result of the violation causes the death of the victim. Under current law, extortion generally is punishable as a Class I felony, and the penalty for felony murder is imprisonment for up to 15 years longer than the maximum term of imprisonment for the crime that caused the victim[s death. Under current law, a Class I felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to three years and six months, or both; a Class H felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to six years, or both; and a Class G felony is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. This bill also provides that a crime victim, or the victim[s family member, is eligible for payment from the Department of Justice[s crime victim compensation fund if the crime victim is a victim of extortion or sexual extortion and is injured or dies as a result of the crime and provides that a crime victim, or the victim[s family member, may be compensated for death or injury that results from suicide or attempted suicide if the crime was a substantial causal factor in the victim[s suicide or attempted suicide. 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 |
| SJR59 | Proclaiming the week of June 22 to June 28, 2025, as Amateur Radio Week in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming the week of June 22 to June 28, 2025, as Amateur Radio Week in the state of Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| SJR63 | Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | 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 |
| SB256 | 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) | DELIVERY AND TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES General This bill provides that under specific circumstances, delivery network couriers and drivers for transportation network companies (application-based drivers) are LRB-0875/1 MIM/KMS/ARG/KP:cc/cs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 256 not employees of the delivery network companies and transportation network companies (network companies) for the purposes of worker[s compensation insurance, minimum wage laws, and unemployment insurance. In the bill, Xapplication-based driverY is defined as a delivery network courier or participating driver who provides services through the online-enabled application, software, website, or system of a network company. Under the bill, if a network company does not engage in all of the following practices, an application-based driver is not an employee or agent of the company: 1) prescribe specific dates, times of day, or a minimum number of hours during which the driver must be logged into the network company[s online-enabled application, software, or system; 2) terminate the contract of the driver for not accepting a specific request for transportation or delivery service request; 3) restrict the driver from performing services through other network companies except while performing services through that network company; and 4) restrict the driver from working in any other lawful occupation or business. The bill provides that if this provision is held invalid by a court, the provisions regarding portable benefits accounts and group or blanket accident and sickness insurance coverage for application based drivers are invalid. Portable benefit accounts Under the bill, if certain conditions are satisfied, a financial services provider or other person may obtain approval from the Department of Financial Institutions to offer portable benefit accounts. A Xportable benefit accountY is an account administered by such an approved financial services provider or other person (portable benefit account provider) from which an individual may receive distributions for the purposes described below. Under the bill, a network company may offer portable benefit accounts. If an application-based driver meets certain eligibility requirements (eligible driver), a network company may contribute an amount equal to 4 percent of that driver[s quarterly earnings to a portable benefit account, and the driver may also contribute to the portable benefit account. Contributions to a portable benefit account by the account owner may be subtracted from the owner[s income for state income tax purposes. Under the bill, an eligible driver may receive a distribution from a portable benefit account for the following purposes: income due to an illness or accident or loss of work due to the birth or adoption of the driver[s child; 2) to transfer the money to an individual retirement account (IRA); 3) to pay vision, dental, or health insurance premiums; and 4) to compensate for lost income through no fault of the driver from work for a network company. A network company must ensure that the portable benefit account provider it selects offers at least three options for IRA providers and an eligible driver may not transfer money from a portable benefit account to an IRA in an amount exceeding the contribution limits under federal law. A portable benefit account provider may include an income replacement benefit to be made available to eligible drivers. A LRB-0875/1 MIM/KMS/ARG/KP:cc/cs 1) to compensate for lost 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 256 financial services provider may not commingle assets in a portable benefit account with other property, except in a common trust fund or common investment fund. Insurance coverage The bill provides that a network company may carry, provide, or otherwise make available group or blanket accident and sickness insurance for its application- based drivers. The bill requires a network company to make available, upon reasonable request, a copy of its group or blanket accident and sickness insurance policy. The bill specifies that the state[s worker[s compensation laws do not apply to such a policy. The bill also provides that a network company may carry, provide, or otherwise make available group or blanket occupational accident insurance to cover the medical expenses and lost income resulting from an injury suffered by an application-based driver while engaged on the network company[s online-enabled application, software, or system. The bill requires a network company to make available, upon reasonable request, a copy of its blanket occupational accident insurance policy. The bill requires that the policy provide, in aggregate, at least $1,000,000 of coverage for the medical expenses, short-term disability, long-term disability, and survivor benefits. The coverage must include at least $250,000 for medical expenses; weekly disability payments equal to two-thirds of an application- based driver[s average weekly income, subject to certain restrictions, for up to 104 weeks following an injury; and survivor benefits in an amount equal to an application-based driver[s average weekly income, subject to certain restrictions, multiplied by 104. The bill provides that if a claim is covered by occupational accident insurance maintained by more than one network company, the insurer of the network company against whom a claim is filed is entitled to a contribution for the pro rata share of coverage attributable to one or more other network companies. Under the bill, any benefit provided to an application-based driver under an occupational accident insurance policy is treated as amounts payable under a worker[s compensation law or disability benefit for the purpose of determining amounts payable under uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. 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 |
| 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 |
| SB222 | Extortion, sexual extortion, and providing a penalty. | This bill creates a new crime for activity known as Xsextortion.Y Under the bill, it is a generally a Class I felony for a person to do any of the following: 1. Threaten to injure the property or reputation of another to coerce that person to engage in sexual conduct or to produce an intimate representation. 2. Threaten to commit violence against another to coerce that person to engage in sexual conduct or to produce an intimate representation. 3. Threaten to distribute an intimate representation of another person with LRB-2773/1 MJW:skw&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 222 intent to coerce that person to engage in sexual conduct, produce an intimate representation, or to provide payment of money, property, services, or anything of value, or to do or refrain from doing any act against that person[s will. Under the bill, such a violation is a Class H felony if the victim, as a result of the violation, engages in sexual conduct, produces an intimate representation, provides the payment of money, property, services, or any other thing of value, or suffers great bodily harm or if the victim is under age 18 and the defendant is not more than four years older than the victim, and such a violation is a Class G felony if the defendant was previously convicted of a sexually violent offense, the violation was committed during the course of a child abduction, or the victim is under age 18 and the defendant is more than four years older than the victim. Additionally, the bill provides that a person may be prosecuted for felony murder if the person commits extortion or sexual extortion and as a result of the violation causes the death of the victim. Under current law, extortion generally is punishable as a Class I felony, and the penalty for felony murder is imprisonment for up to 15 years longer than the maximum term of imprisonment for the crime that caused the victim[s death. Under current law, a Class I felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to three years and six months, or both; a Class H felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to six years, or both; and a Class G felony is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. This bill also provides that a crime victim, or the victim[s family member, is eligible for payment from the Department of Justice[s crime victim compensation fund if the crime victim is a victim of extortion or sexual extortion and is injured or dies as a result of the crime and provides that a crime victim, or the victim[s family member, may be compensated for death or injury that results from suicide or attempted suicide if the crime was a substantial causal factor in the victim[s suicide or attempted suicide. 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 |
| 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 |
| SB64 | Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty. | Under current law, no person may do any of the following to any animal that is used by a law enforcement agency or fire department to perform agency or department functions or duties: frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass the animal; strike, shove, kick, or otherwise subject the animal to physical contact; or strike the animal by using a dangerous weapon. Under current law, any person who intentionally does any of those actions and causes injury to the animal is guilty of a Class I felony, and any person who intentionally does any of those actions and causes death of the animal is guilty of a Class H felony. Additionally, for such a violation, a sentencing court must require a criminal violator to pay restitution, including veterinary care expenses or the value of a replacement animal. This bill increases the penalty for injuring such an animal to a Class H felony and the penalty for causing the death of such an animal to a Class G felony. A Class H felony is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to six years, or both, and a Class G felony is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, LRB-2029/1 MJW:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 64 the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB12 | A sales and use tax exemption for the sale of gun safes. (FE) | This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for sales of gun safes. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB2 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War. | This bill expands the definition of “veteran” to include individuals who were naturalized pursuant to the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill extends most veterans benefits to anyone who meets this newly expanded definition of veteran, however, admission to a state veterans home and burial in a veterans cemetery are not included benefits as they are subject to federal regulation. | Crossed Over |
| AB284 | Enumeration of projects in the Authorized State Building Program, modifications to building program project budgets, selection of project architects and engineers, single prime contracting, agency cooperation with energy conservation contractors, timeline for claims before the Claims Board, and making a transfer to the state building trust fund. (FE) | PROJECT ENUMERATIONS OF IN THE AUTHORIZED STATE BUILDING PROGRAM Under current law, the Building Commission may authorize the design and construction of any building, structure, or facility costing in excess of $2,000,000, only if that project is enumerated in the Authorized State Building Program, which appears in each biennial budget passed by the legislature. This bill eliminates that enumeration requirement for the design phase of a project and provides that the construction of any building, structure, or facility may not be enumerated in the authorized state building program unless the building commission determines that at least 50 percent of the project[s design phase has already been completed. REPORTS CONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO BUILDING PROGRAM PROJECTS Under current law, the Building Commission has the authority to authorize limited changes in the program or budget of a building program project if the commission determines that unanticipated program conditions or bidding conditions require the change to effectively and economically construct the project. This bill requires that the Department of Administration submit a quarterly report to the Joint Committee on Finance and each voting member of the Building Commission that identifies each project for which the Building Commission has approved a budget increase and that identifies each project enumerated in the state building program for which DOA estimates a budget increase will be necessary for project completion, including a description of the reasons for the project budget shortfall. SELECTION OF PROJECT ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS Under current law, the secretary of administration is required to establish a committee for each construction project under DOA[s supervision, except certain emergency projects, for the purpose of selecting an architect or engineer for the project. If the estimated cost of a construction project is $7,400,000 or more, the selection committee must use a request-for-proposal process established by DOA to select an architect or engineer for the project based on qualifications. The bill raises that threshold to $15,000,000. SINGLE PRIME CONTRACTING The bill creates a new exception to single prime contracting for high-dollar building projects. Single prime contracting is a process in which the state contracts only with a general prime contractor who then must contract with subcontractors. Under current law, whenever the Building Commission determines that the use of innovative types of design and construction processes will make better use of the resources and technology available in the building industry, the commission may waive certain requirements related to single prime contracting, if the action is in the best interest of the state and is approved by the commission. Under the bill, for any project costing $200,000,000 or more, at the request of the agency for which the project is constructed, the Building Commission is required to waive certain single prime contracting requirements for the project, as requested by the agency. CERTAIN PROJECT BIDDING PROCEDURES Under the bill, at any time more than two days prior to the end of the period during which bids may be submitted for a building project, a bidder or potential bidder may submit a question to DOA concerning the project. Additionally, the bill provides that DOA may issue addenda at any time during the bidding period to modify or clarify the drawings and specifications for the project being bid or to extend the bidding period. COOPERATION WITH ENERGY CONSERVATION CONTRACTORS Current law authorizes DOA to contract with qualified contractors for the performance of energy conservation audits at state buildings, structures, and facilities and for the performance of construction work at a state building, structure, or facility for the purpose of realizing potential savings of future energy costs identified in an energy conservation audit. The bill requires DOA and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to collaborate with energy service companies to identify and execute pilot projects using financing provided by the companies to upgrade facilities, reduce deferred maintenance, and increase sustainability. UTILITIES COSTS The bill provides that each state contract for construction work must state which party to the contract is responsible for paying project utility service connection charges and which party is responsible for paying for costs related to the consumption of utility services at the project site. ACTIONS AGAINST THE STATE RELATED TO CERTAIN CONTRACT CLAIMS Under current law, the Claims Board is required to receive, investigate, and make recommendations on all claims against the state of $10 or more that are referred to the board by DOA. The board is required to report its findings and recommendations on all claims referred to the board to the legislature. The board may deny a claim, directly pay a claim of up to $10,000, or recommend a payment in excess of $10,000 to the legislature. If the board concludes that a claim should be paid by the state and the board does not or may not directly pay the claim, current law requires the board to cause a bill to be drafted covering its recommendations. A claimant may commence a lawsuit against the state upon the refusal of the legislature to pass a bill allowing a claim. The bill creates a timeline for the board to hear and make a final determination upon certain claims related to contracts and, in addition to current law, allows claimants to bring actions against the state related to certain contract claims if certain conditions are met. Under the bill, any claim referred to the board that relates to a contract with the Department of Transportation for transportation infrastructure improvement or that relates to a contract with DOA or the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System that is awarded under current law for construction projects must be heard by the board, and the board must make a final determination on the claim, within six months from the day that the claim was referred to the board. If the board concludes that the facts of the claim would be more properly adjudicated in a court of law or if the board fails to make a final determination on the claim within six months from the date that the claim was referred to the board, the bill allows the claimant to commence an action against the state seeking judgment on the claim as provided under current law. TRANSFER TO THE BUILDING TRUST FUND The bill transfers $32,000,000 from the general fund to the building trust fund in fiscal year 2024-25. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB307 | 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline grants. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to award grants to organizations that provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals who contact the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from anywhere within the state. Currently, DHS partners with Wisconsin Lifeline to provide statewide 988 crisis hotline services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB308 | A grant to assist in the purchase and renovation of an existing facility in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Administration to award a grant in the amount of $1,000,000 to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc., to assist in the purchase and renovation of the Libertas Treatment Center in the city of Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center to men with substance use disorders who are in need of recovery services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB245 | A pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE) | In each fiscal year of the 2025-27 biennium, this bill requires the Department of Health Services to distribute an amount determined by the secretary of health services to a provider to operate a school-centered mental health program in two schools in this state for two school years; one school must be located in a rural school district and one school must be located in a suburban or urban school district. Under the bill, the provider must use the money to support full-time therapist positions, family coach positions, and any other positions necessary to operate the school-centered mental health program. Under the bill, a school-centered mental health program is a program that meets various criteria, including that it serve at- risk pupils and families at school, at home, and in the community, serve pupils and families year-round, include classroom observations and pupil-specific behavior intervention, include evidence-based individual or family therapy, and provide family coaching that is aligned with therapeutic goals. Finally, the bill requires the provider who receives money from DHS to submit a report to DHS on the impact of the school-centered mental health program on pupils and families by six months after the end of the program, and requires DHS to distribute the report to the legislature. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2902/1 FFK:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 245 | In Committee |
| SB218 | The amount and distribution of the real estate transfer fee, grants under the land information program, real property recording notification systems, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Current law, generally, requires a person who conveys an interest in real property to file a real estate transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay a real estate transfer fee equal to 30 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. The county retains 20 percent of the fees collected and transmits the remainder to the state. This bill decreases the real estate transfer fee to 20 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. Under the bill, 30 percent of the fees collected are deposited into the general fund, 20 percent of the fees are deposited into the land information fund, and the county retains 50 percent of the fees. Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a land information program, using revenue from the land information fund, that provides funding to counties for the modernization of local land records. Under the land LRB-2260/1 KP/EVM/KRP:klm&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 218 information program, DOA awards land information system base budget grants to counties to enable county land information offices to develop, maintain, and operate basic land information systems. Currently, the minimum amount of a grant is $100,000 less the amount of certain fees retained by the county in the preceding fiscal year. The bill increases that base amount to $175,000 less the retained fees. Under current law, DOA may award a grant under the land information program to any county in an amount not less than $1,000 per year to be used for the training and education of county employees for the design, development, and implementation of a land information system. The bill increases the minimum training and education grant amount from $1,000 to $5,000. The bill directs DOA to award additional local government contribution based grants to counties to fully distribute 46 percent of the amount of real estate transfer fees that are deposited into the land information fund under the bill in each fiscal year. Under the bill, DOA annually must award 46 percent of those deposited amounts as grants to counties based on the relative proportion of the fees each county collected. This bill also requires any county that retains real estate transfer fee moneys to establish a real property recording notification system to be administered by the county[s register of deeds. Upon application by a person, such a system monitors publicly recorded real property records for activity and changes related to properties owned by a specific person or a specific property, and, upon the recording of a new document against a monitored property, notifies the person who applied for monitoring. The bill specifies that no fee may be charged to an applicant for application, monitoring, or notification under such a system. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB10 | A sales and use tax exemption for the sale of gun safes. (FE) | This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for sales of gun safes. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB24 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB57 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1735/1 EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 57 | In Committee |
| SB303 | Grants for technical colleges to provide mapping data to law enforcement. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Justice awards grants to school boards and governing bodies of private schools to assist them in submitting interactive critical mapping data for each school building and facility in the district to law enforcement agencies and the Office of School Safety in DOJ. This bill requires OSS to award grants to technical college district boards so they may submit interactive critical mapping data for each of their technical college buildings to law enforcement agencies and OSS. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB216 | The amount and distribution of the real estate transfer fee, grants under the land information program, real property recording notification systems, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Current law, generally, requires a person who conveys an interest in real property to file a real estate transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay a real estate transfer fee equal to 30 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. The county retains 20 percent of the fees collected and transmits the remainder to the state. This bill decreases the real estate transfer fee to 20 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. Under the bill, 30 percent of the fees collected are deposited into the general fund, 20 percent of the fees are deposited into the land information fund, and the county retains 50 percent of the fees. Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a land information program, using revenue from the land information fund, that provides funding to counties for the modernization of local land records. Under the land information program, DOA awards land information system base budget grants to counties to enable county land information offices to develop, maintain, and operate basic land information systems. Currently, the minimum amount of a grant is $100,000 less the amount of certain fees retained by the county in the preceding fiscal year. The bill increases that base amount to $175,000 less the retained fees. Under current law, DOA may award a grant under the land information program to any county in an amount not less than $1,000 per year to be used for the training and education of county employees for the design, development, and implementation of a land information system. The bill increases the minimum training and education grant amount from $1,000 to $5,000. The bill directs DOA to award additional local government contribution based grants to counties to fully distribute 46 percent of the amount of real estate transfer fees that are deposited into the land information fund under the bill in each fiscal year. Under the bill, DOA annually must award 46 percent of those deposited amounts as grants to counties based on the relative proportion of the fees each county collected. This bill also requires any county that retains real estate transfer fee moneys to establish a real property recording notification system to be administered by the county[s register of deeds. Upon application by a person, such a system monitors publicly recorded real property records for activity and changes related to properties owned by a specific person or a specific property, and, upon the recording of a new document against a monitored property, notifies the person who applied for monitoring. The bill specifies that no fee may be charged to an applicant for application, monitoring, or notification under such a system. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB231 | Creating a tax credit for expenses related to film production services and for capital investments made by a film production company, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates income and franchise tax credits for film production companies and creates the State Film Office, attached to the Department of Tourism, to implement the tax credit accreditations and allocations. Under the bill, a film production company may claim a credit in an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the salary or wages paid to the company[s employees in the taxable year for services rendered in this state to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production, as approved by the State Film Office, and paid to employees who were residents of this state at the time that they were paid. The total amount of the credits that may be claimed by a taxpayer may not exceed an amount that is equal to the first $250,000 of salary or wages paid to each of the taxpayer[s employees in the taxable year, not including the salary or wages paid to the taxpayer[s two highest-paid employees in the taxable year, for a production with budgeted expenditures of $1,000,000 or more. If the total amount of the credits claimed by a taxpayer exceeds the taxpayer[s tax liability, the state will not issue a refund, but the taxpayer may carry forward any remaining credit to subsequent taxable years. Under the bill, a film production company may claim an income and franchise tax credit in an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the production expenditures paid by the company in the taxable year to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production. If the total amount of the credits claimed by the company exceeds the company[s tax liability, the state will issue a refund. The bill also allows a film production company to claim an income and franchise tax credit, for the first three taxable years that the company is doing business in this state, in an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the amount that the claimant paid in the taxable year to purchase depreciable tangible personal property or to acquire, construct, rehabilitate, remodel, or repair real property. Under the bill, a film production company may claim an income and franchise tax credit in an amount that is equal to the amount of sales and use taxes that the claimant paid for tangible personal property and taxable services that are used to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production in this state. The bill provides that the State Film Office may not allocate more than $10,000,000 in film production and investment tax credits in each fiscal year. The bill also requires the State Film Office to annually submit a report to the legislature that specifies the number of persons who submitted credit applications in the previous year and the amount of the credits allocated to each such applicant and to make recommendations on improving the efficiency of the program. Finally, the bill requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to biennially prepare a performance evaluation audit of the accreditation program implemented by the State Film Office. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB231 | Creating a tax credit for expenses related to film production services and for capital investments made by a film production company, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates income and franchise tax credits for film production companies and creates the State Film Office, attached to the Department of Tourism, to implement the tax credit accreditations and allocations. Under the bill, a film production company may claim a credit in an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the salary or wages paid to the company[s employees in the taxable year for services rendered in this state to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production, as approved by the State Film Office, and paid to LRB-2810/1 KP:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 231 employees who were residents of this state at the time that they were paid. The total amount of the credits that may be claimed by a taxpayer may not exceed an amount that is equal to the first $250,000 of salary or wages paid to each of the taxpayer[s employees in the taxable year, not including the salary or wages paid to the taxpayer[s two highest-paid employees in the taxable year, for a production with budgeted expenditures of $1,000,000 or more. If the total amount of the credits claimed by a taxpayer exceeds the taxpayer[s tax liability, the state will not issue a refund, but the taxpayer may carry forward any remaining credit to subsequent taxable years. Under the bill, a film production company may claim an income and franchise tax credit in an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the production expenditures paid by the company in the taxable year to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production. If the total amount of the credits claimed by the company exceeds the company[s tax liability, the state will issue a refund. The bill also allows a film production company to claim an income and franchise tax credit, for the first three taxable years that the company is doing business in this state, in an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the amount that the claimant paid in the taxable year to purchase depreciable tangible personal property or to acquire, construct, rehabilitate, remodel, or repair real property. Under the bill, a film production company may claim an income and franchise tax credit in an amount that is equal to the amount of sales and use taxes that the claimant paid for tangible personal property and taxable services that are used to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production in this state. The bill provides that the State Film Office may not allocate more than $10,000,000 in film production and investment tax credits in each fiscal year. The bill also requires the State Film Office to annually submit a report to the legislature that specifies the number of persons who submitted credit applications in the previous year and the amount of the credits allocated to each such applicant and to make recommendations on improving the efficiency of the program. Finally, the bill requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to biennially prepare a performance evaluation audit of the accreditation program implemented by the State Film Office. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB208 | An income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion. (FE) | This bill exempts from state income and franchise taxes income received in the form of a grant issued by this state; a city, village, town, or county of this state; a tribal government in this state; or the federal government for broadband expansion in this state. The bill also exempts from income and franchise taxes income received in the form of funding from the federal government for any high-cost universal service funding for broadband expansion. Current law provides an income and franchise tax exemption for income received in the form of allocations issued by this state with moneys received from the federal coronavirus relief fund to be used for broadband expansion. The bill prohibits claiming the exemptions under the bill and the exemption under current law for the same grant. 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 |
| SB176 | An income and franchise tax exemption for broadband expansion grants and for federal high-cost program funding for broadband expansion. (FE) | This bill exempts from state income and franchise taxes income received in the form of a grant issued by this state; a city, village, town, or county of this state; a tribal government in this state; or the federal government for broadband expansion in this state. The bill also exempts from income and franchise taxes income received in the form of funding from the federal government for any high-cost universal service funding for broadband expansion. Current law provides an income and franchise tax exemption for income received in the form of allocations issued by this state with moneys received from the federal coronavirus relief fund to be used for broadband expansion. The bill prohibits claiming the exemptions under the bill and the exemption under current law for the same grant. 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. LRB-2503/1 KP:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 176 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB40 | School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill requires the Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice to establish a competitive grant program that is open to public and private schools for grants to improve the safety of school buildings and to provide security training to school personnel. In administering the program, the Office of School Safety must give preference to applicants that have not yet received a school safety grant from DOJ. The bill provides $30,000,000 for these grants and specifies that the maximum amount DOJ may award to an applicant is $20,000. The bill also requires the Office of School Safety to submit an annual report related to these grants to the Joint Committee on Finance. Finally, the grant program sunsets on July 1, 2027. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB284 | A sustainable aviation fuel production tax credit. (FE) | This bill creates an income and franchise tax credit for the production of sustainable aviation. XSustainable aviation fuelY is aviation fuel of which at least 90 percent of the aviation fuel is derived from synthetic, renewable, and nonpetroleum sources. Beginning in tax year 2028, the credit is equal to $1.50 for each gallon of sustainable aviation fuel produced by a claimant in this state during a taxable year. For a sustainable aviation fuel derived from energy crops to be eligible for the credit, the energy crops used to produce the sustainable aviation fuel must be grown within the United States. For further information see the state 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 |
| 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 |
| SB213 | A tax credit for rail infrastructure modernization. (FE) | This bill creates an income and franchise tax credit for railroads that make rail infrastructure and railroad maintenance expenditures. Under the bill, a claimant that is classified by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board as a class II or class III railroad may claim a rail infrastructure modernization credit that is equal to the sum of the following amounts: 1. Fifty percent of the qualified short line railroad maintenance expenditures made by the railroad. This portion of the credit is limited to an amount equal to $5,000 multiplied by the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased by the railroad. The bill defines Xqualified short line railroad maintenance expendituresY as gross expenditures for railroad infrastructure rehabilitation or maintenance improvements located in this state. 2. Fifty percent of the railroad[s qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures. This portion of the credit is limited to $2,000,000 per project. The bill defines Xqualified new rail infrastructure expendituresY as expenditures for rail LRB-1305/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 213 infrastructure and improvements in this state placed in service after December 31, 2024. A claimant that owns or leases a rail siding, industrial spur, or industry track may claim the portion of the credit described above for the claimant[s qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures. Before claiming a credit under the bill, a claimant must first apply to and receive approval from the Department of Revenue to claim the credit. DOR may approve up to $10,000,000 in total credits for qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures for each tax year, and DOR must approve applications for credits on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB219 | Limitations on ownership of real property in this state by foreign persons. (FE) | This bill modifies current law that limits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding large amounts of agricultural and forestry land in this state. The bill also prohibits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state within 10 miles of a military installation and prohibits foreign adversaries from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. LIMITING FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND Under current law, certain foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of agricultural or forestry land in this state. The bill makes several changes to the limitation under current law. LRB-1662/1 KRP:skw/emw/cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 219 Type of land subject to acreage limit Current law generally prohibits a covered foreign person (as defined below) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that limitation does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be Xextremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.Y See Wis. Op. Att[y Gen. OAG 11-14, ?5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, foreign persons may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but covered foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill eliminates the current scheme under which the limitation applies to all land with extremely broad exceptions and replaces the scheme with a limitation that applies only to land that is classified, for property tax purposes, as agricultural (agricultural land). Under the bill, the limitation does not apply to forestry land. Amount of land foreign persons may own The bill reduces the maximum amount of agricultural land that a covered foreign person may acquire, own, or hold from 640 acres to 50 acres (acreage limit). Covered foreign persons Under current law, the following persons generally are subject to the acreage limit (covered foreign person): 1. An alien not a resident of a state of the United States (nonresident alien). 2. A corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign entity). 3. A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or association having more than 20 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership held or owned by nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign-owned entity). 4. A trust having more than 20 percent of the value of its assets held for the benefit of nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign beneficiary trust). The bill does all of the following: 1. Specifies that the acreage limit also applies to a foreign government. 2. Increases the percentage of an entity[s ownership held by nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the entity to be considered a foreign- owned entity from 20 percent to 25 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership. 3. Increases the percentage of a trust[s assets held for the benefit of LRB-1662/1 KRP:skw/emw/cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 219 nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the trust to be considered a foreign beneficiary trust from 20 percent to 25 percent of the value of its assets. 4. Specifies that, for purposes of determining whether an entity is a foreign- owned entity or whether a trust is a foreign beneficiary trust, foreign government interests are included in calculating the relevant percentage amounts. Exception for agricultural research leases Current law includes exceptions from the acreage limit for railroad and pipeline corporations and treaty rights, among other things. The bill provides that the acreage limit also does not apply to a lease that is exclusively for agricultural research purposes and encumbers no more than 50 acres of agricultural land. Divestiture period Under current law, if a covered foreign person acquires an interest in land that causes the covered foreign person to exceed the acreage limit, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest. Specifically, the covered foreign person must divest itself within four years after: 1. Acquiring the interest, if the covered foreign person is a nonresident alien or foreign entity and the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. 2. Acquiring the interest or becoming a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust, whichever is later, if the covered foreign person is a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust. The bill reduces the divestiture period from four years to three years and specifies that the divestiture requirement described under item 1 applies to a foreign government. PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY NEAR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS The bill generally prohibits a covered foreign person from acquiring, owning, or holding any real property in this state that is located on or within 10 miles of a military installation, as defined in the bill (military property). Under the bill, the prohibition does not apply to 1) an interest used to secure repayment of a debt, 2) a person whose right to hold military property is secured by treaty, or 3) a railroad or pipeline corporation. The bill allows a covered foreign person to acquire an interest in military property that the covered foreign person would otherwise be prohibited from acquiring if the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. However, if such an interest is acquired, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest within 18 months after acquiring the interest. The bill specifies that, if a person becomes a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust after the bill[s effective date, the person has 18 months to divest itself of any interest in military property the person is prohibited from owning or holding. Finally, the bill provides that any interest in military property acquired, owned, or held in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. LRB-1662/1 KRP:skw/emw/cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 219 PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY BY FOREIGN ADVERSARIES The bill prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. Under the bill, Xforeign adversaryY means a person determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce to be a foreign adversary of the United States. Those countries currently include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro. The bill provides that any interest acquired, owned, or held by a foreign adversary in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB207 | Information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE) | Current law requires that each proposed constitutional amendment, contingent referendum, advisory referendum, or other proposal requiring a statewide referendum that is passed by the legislature include a complete statement of the ballot question to be voted on at the referendum. The ballot question may not be worded in such a manner as to require a negative vote to approve a proposition or an affirmative vote to disapprove a proposition. Also under current law, the attorney general must prepare an explanatory statement for each proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum describing the effect of either a XyesY or XnoY vote on each ballot question. This bill eliminates the requirement that the attorney general prepare such an explanatory statement. Instead, the bill requires that each proposal for a constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum that passes both houses of the legislature contain a complete state referendum disclosure notice that includes all of the following: 1. The date of the referendum. 2. The entire text of the ballot question and proposed constitutional amendment or enactment, if any. 3. To the extent applicable, a plain language summary of current law. 4. An explanation in plain language of the effect of the proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum. 5. An explanation in plain language of the effect of a XyesY vote and the effect of a XnoY vote. Under the bill, the content under items 3 to 5 combined may not exceed one page on paper not less than 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches and printed in at least 12- point font. Under the bill, the complete state referendum disclosure notice agreed to by both houses of the legislature must be included in the type C notice entitled XNotice of ReferendumY that each county clerk must provide prior to any referendum. Current law requires that the text of the type C notice be posted at polling places on election day in such a manner as to be readily observed by voters entering the polling place or waiting in line to vote. As such, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be so posted at the polls on election day. Additionally, for at least 30 days prior to the date of a statewide referendum, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be published by the Elections Commission on the website used for voter registration, currently titled MyVote Wisconsin, or other voter public access website maintained by the commission and must be posted by each county clerk at the county clerk[s office and published by the county clerk on the county clerk[s website. Finally, the notice must be included with absentee ballots provided to voters for voting in a statewide referendum. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB268 | The right of appeal for complainants aggrieved by decisions of the Elections Commission concerning the conduct of election officials. | Under current law, any person eligible to vote in Wisconsin may file a complaint with the Elections Commission alleging that an election official serving the voter[s jurisdiction has failed to comply with certain election laws or has abused his or her discretion with respect to the administration of such election laws. After investigation of a complaint, current law authorizes the commission to issue an order requiring an election official to conform his or her conduct to the law, restraining an election official from taking any action inconsistent with the law, or requiring an election official to correct any action or decision inconsistent with the law. Additionally, current law authorizes any complainant who is aggrieved by an order of the commission on the complaint to appeal the commission[s decision in court. The law does not specifically define the term XaggrievedY for purposes of this right of appeal. However, in Brown v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2025 WI 5, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that a complainant not receiving a favorable decision from the Elections Commission on a complaint is aggrieved, and therefore has a right to appeal that decision in court, only if the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest as a result of the decision. This bill provides that a complainant must be considered aggrieved for purposes of that right of appeal regardless of whether the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest and that a complainant may appeal any commission order that dismisses the complaint or otherwise does not grant the relief requested in the complaint. | In Committee |
| SB244 | Modifying the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. (FE) | This bill makes various changes to the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. Under current law, there is a sales and use tax exemption for certain property and items used to construct, operate, or renovate a qualified data center, as certified by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Under current law, WEDC may certify a qualified data center if it meets all of the following criteria: 1. The qualified data center is one or more buildings or an array of connected buildings owned, leased, or operated by the same business entity or its affiliate. 2. The buildings are rehabilitated or constructed to house a group of networked server computers in one physical location or multiple locations in order to centralize the processing, storage, management, retrieval, communication, or dissemination of data and information. 3. The buildings create a minimum qualified investment in this state within five years from the certification date in the amount of $50 million, $100 million, or LRB-2933/1 KRP&KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 244 $150 million, depending on the population of the county in which the buildings are located. The bill modifies the definition of qualified data center to provide that the buildings may house a group of individual, as well as a group of networked, server computers. In addition, the bill provides that WEDC also may certify a qualified data center if, in addition to the criteria described in items 1 and 3, it meets the following criterion, rather than the criterion described under item 2: the buildings are rehabilitated or constructed to house a group of individual or networked server computers in one physical location or multiple locations in order to provide an owner, operator, or tenant the opportunity to rent or own space, utilities and other vital resources such as cooling capacity, enhanced security features, or the ability to procure infrastructure, platforms, software, and other managed services. The bill also provides that WEDC may not certify buildings that are used for or to facilitate the creation of cryptocurrencies and the process used to verify and secure cryptocurrency transactions and blockchains as qualified data centers eligible for the sales and use tax exemption. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB215 | Town clerk and treasurer appointments, publication requirements for proposed budget summary and notice of public hearing, and discontinuance of highways. (FE) | This bill makes changes to various town procedures. Current law provides that a town may combine certain positions, such as the town clerk and the town treasurer, and provides that the combination takes effect on the latest date that any current term of an office to be combined expires. The bill retains that deadline, but allows the town board to provide that the combination of offices takes effect immediately as both positions become vacant or, if the person appointed to the combined office holds one of the offices to be combined, immediately upon a vacancy in the other office to be combined. Current law also provides that a town with a population of 2,500 or more may move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined office of clerk and treasurer to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Under current law, a town with a population of under LRB-1061/1 SWB&EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 215 2,500 may only move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer to an appointed position through a referendum. The bill allows a town of any size to move from an elected position to an appointed one by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Current law also prohibits a town[s change from an elected to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer from taking effect until the end of the current elected term. Under the bill, a town may move to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer position during an elected term when there is a vacancy in the position. Under current law, a town treasurer is permitted to appoint a deputy treasurer, while a town clerk may appoint one or more deputies. The bill provides that a town treasurer may appoint one or more deputies. The bill also provides that deputy town clerks and deputy town treasurers need not be residents of the town. The bill also changes the publication and notice requirements for towns with respect to the public hearing regarding the town[s proposed budget. Current law requires that towns, cities, and villages conduct a public hearing on a proposed budget. Under current law, cities and villages must provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing and may do so by publishing the summary and notice in a newspaper, posting it in three locations, or posting it in one location and on a website maintained by the municipality. Current law also requires towns to provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing, but towns must post the summary and notice in three locations. This bill eliminates the limitation on how towns must provide the summary and notice, instead allowing towns the same options as cities and villages. Finally, under current law, every highway ceases to be a public highway four years from the date on which it was laid out, except the parts of the highway that have been opened, traveled, or worked within that time. The bill eliminates the travel exception from consideration by a town board in determining whether a highway has ceased to be a public highway. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB214 | Town clerk and treasurer appointments, publication requirements for proposed budget summary and notice of public hearing, and discontinuance of highways. (FE) | This bill makes changes to various town procedures. Current law provides that a town may combine certain positions, such as the town clerk and the town treasurer, and provides that the combination takes effect on the latest date that any current term of an office to be combined expires. The bill retains that deadline, but allows the town board to provide that the combination of offices takes effect immediately as both positions become vacant or, if the person appointed to the combined office holds one of the offices to be combined, immediately upon a vacancy in the other office to be combined. Current law also provides that a town with a population of 2,500 or more may move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined office of clerk and treasurer to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Under current law, a town with a population of under 2,500 may only move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer to an appointed position through a referendum. The bill allows a town of any size to move from an elected position to an appointed one by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Current law also prohibits a town[s change from an elected to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer from taking effect until the end of the current elected term. Under the bill, a town may move to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer position during an elected term when there is a vacancy in the position. Under current law, a town treasurer is permitted to appoint a deputy treasurer, while a town clerk may appoint one or more deputies. The bill provides that a town treasurer may appoint one or more deputies. The bill also provides that deputy town clerks and deputy town treasurers need not be residents of the town. The bill also changes the publication and notice requirements for towns with respect to the public hearing regarding the town[s proposed budget. Current law requires that towns, cities, and villages conduct a public hearing on a proposed budget. Under current law, cities and villages must provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing and may do so by publishing the summary and notice in a newspaper, posting it in three locations, or posting it in one location and on a website maintained by the municipality. Current law also requires towns to provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing, but towns must post the summary and notice in three locations. This bill eliminates the limitation on how towns must provide the summary and notice, instead allowing towns the same options as cities and villages. Finally, under current law, every highway ceases to be a public highway four years from the date on which it was laid out, except the parts of the highway that have been opened, traveled, or worked within that time. The bill eliminates the travel exception from consideration by a town board in determining whether a highway has ceased to be a public highway. For further information see the local 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 |
| SB295 | The use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE) | Under this bill, a court may allow the use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in civil or criminal proceedings, certain municipal proceedings, and administrative contested case proceedings. Under current law, on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in any criminal proceeding, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. The bill allows an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means in a criminal trial in addition to other types of proceedings. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB277 | Requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs. | Under current law, if a proposed administrative rule is reasonably expected to pass along $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, the agency proposing the rule must stop working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to reduce the expected costs or 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule. These requirements do not apply to emergency rules or to certain rules proposed by the Department of Natural Resources that relate to air quality and that are required under federal law. This bill changes those requirements so that the requirements apply when a proposed rule is reasonably expected to pass along any amount of implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period. Under the bill, the agency proposing such a rule must stop working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to eliminate the expected costs; 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule; or 3) the agency promulgates or has promulgated a different rule, in the same calendar year as proposing the rule at issue, that is reasonably expected to reduce implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, in an amount that will offset the amount of costs resulting from the proposed rule at issue. The bill also requires an agency, in the economic impact analysis of a proposed rule that the agency is required to prepare, to include an estimate of the total implementation and compliance cost savings that are reasonably expected to be realized by businesses, local governmental units, and individuals as a result of the proposed rule, expressed as a single dollar figure. | In Committee |
| AB292 | The use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE) | Under this bill, a court may allow the use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in civil or criminal proceedings, certain municipal proceedings, and administrative contested case proceedings. Under current law, on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in any criminal proceeding, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. The bill allows an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means in a criminal trial in addition to other types of proceedings. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB289 | Requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs. | Under current law, if a proposed administrative rule is reasonably expected to pass along $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, the agency proposing the rule must stop working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to reduce the expected costs or 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule. These requirements do not apply to emergency rules or to certain rules proposed by the Department of Natural Resources that relate to air quality and that are required under federal law. This bill changes those requirements so that the requirements apply when a proposed rule is reasonably expected to pass along any amount of implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period. Under the bill, the agency proposing such a rule must stop LRB-2514/1 MED:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 289 working on the proposed rule until 1) the agency modifies the proposed rule to eliminate the expected costs; 2) a bill is enacted that allows the agency to promulgate the proposed rule; or 3) the agency promulgates or has promulgated a different rule, in the same calendar year as proposing the rule at issue, that is reasonably expected to reduce implementation and compliance costs to businesses, local governmental units, and individuals over any two-year period, in an amount that will offset the amount of costs resulting from the proposed rule at issue. The bill also requires an agency, in the economic impact analysis of a proposed rule that the agency is required to prepare, to include an estimate of the total implementation and compliance cost savings that are reasonably expected to be realized by businesses, local governmental units, and individuals as a result of the proposed rule, expressed as a single dollar figure. | In Committee |
| AB146 | Requests for information from employers about unemployment insurance claims. | Under current rules of the Department of Workforce Development, in order to determine unemployment insurance (UI) benefit claims, DWD may require employers to provide information about claimants[ employment separations, dates of work, wages and other payments, and other issues that may be disqualifying. This bill requires DWD to allow an employer no less than 12 business days to respond to an initial request for information about a UI benefit claim. | In Committee |
| AB191 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address. | Under current law, a subpoena may generally be served by any person by exhibiting and reading it to the witness, by giving the witness a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the witness[s home. This bill modifies the procedure with respect to law enforcement officers and tribal law enforcement officers served in an official capacity, requiring that a subpoena may be served upon a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer in the officer[s official capacity as a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer only at the officer[s work address by exhibiting and reading it to the officer, by giving the officer a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the officer[s work address. | In Committee |
| AB217 | Local government competitive bidding thresholds. (FE) | Under current law, in general, if the estimated cost of a local government public works project is between $5,000 and $25,000, the local governmental unit must provide a notice before it contracts. If the estimated cost exceeds $25,000, the local governmental unit must solicit bids and award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. This bill increases the notice threshold to $10,000 and the bidding threshold to $50,000 and adjusts these amounts quinquennially for inflation. The bill also provides exceptions to these bidding requirements for 1) public work by a county for the purpose of providing housing for persons placed on supervised release as sexually violent persons and 2) improvements that are constructed by a private person and donated to a town or county after the completion of construction. With regard to the latter, a similar exception for donated improvements currently exists for improvements donated to a city or village. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB34 | Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths. | Under current law, a district attorney has the discretion as to whether or not to issue a complaint to charge a person with a crime. Current law also provides that, if a district attorney refuses to issue a complaint against a person, a judge may conduct a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the person committed a crime and, if so, issue a complaint. Under this bill, when there is an officer-involved death, which is a death that results directly from an action or an omission of a law enforcement officer, and the district attorney determined there was no basis to prosecute the officer, a court may not issue a complaint against the involved officer unless there is new or unused evidence presented. | In Committee |
| AJR10 | The freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | relating to: the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau EXPLANATION OF PROPOSAL This proposed constitutional amendment, to be given second consideration by the 2025 legislature for submittal to the voters in November 2026, was first considered by the 2023 legislature in 2023 Senate Joint Resolution 54, which became 2023 Enrolled Joint Resolution 11. This constitutional amendment provides that the state or a political subdivision of the state may not order the closure of or forbid gatherings in places of worship in response to a state of emergency at the national, state, or local level, including an emergency related to public health. PROCEDURE FOR SECOND CONSIDERATION When a proposed constitutional amendment is before the legislature on second consideration, any change in the text approved by the preceding legislature causes the proposed constitutional amendment to revert to first consideration status so that second consideration approval would have to be given by the next legislature before the proposal may be submitted to the people for ratification [see joint rule 57 (2)]. If the legislature approves a proposed constitutional amendment on second LRB-0654/1 MPG:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature consideration, it must also set the date for submitting the proposed constitutional amendment to the people for ratification and must determine the question or questions to appear on the ballot. | In Committee |
| SB84 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) | This bill exempts conveyances of real estate interests between grandparent and grandchild for nominal consideration from the real estate transfer fee. Subject to various exemptions, current law generally requires a person who conveys an interest in real estate to file a real estate transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay a real estate transfer fee equal to 30 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB222 | A sustainable aviation fuel production tax credit. (FE) | This bill creates an income and franchise tax credit for the production of sustainable aviation. XSustainable aviation fuelY is aviation fuel of which at least 90 percent of the aviation fuel is derived from synthetic, renewable, and nonpetroleum sources. Beginning in tax year 2028, the credit is equal to $1.50 for each gallon of sustainable aviation fuel produced by a claimant in this state during a taxable year. For a sustainable aviation fuel derived from energy crops to be eligible for the credit, the energy crops used to produce the sustainable aviation fuel must be grown within the United States. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB173 | Creating a rural creative economy development grant program. (FE) | This bill creates a grant program administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The bill requires WEDC to award rural creative economy development grants on a competitive basis to cities, villages, towns, counties, American Indian tribes and bands in this state, economic development organizations in this state, and nonprofit organizations in this state. A grant recipient must use grant moneys for any of the following purposes: 1. To develop or implement a plan to increase tourism, enhance visitor experiences, or bolster community development in rural areas in this state through the development or promotion of creative enterprises, including by supporting or expanding public arts performances and exhibitions, renovating or improving public spaces and vacant or underutilized buildings, supporting community-based arts education, supporting business accelerator programs, and providing technical assistance for creative businesses. 2. To market, brand, and promote local creative enterprises, public arts performances and exhibitions, or public spaces in rural areas in this state. Under the bill, such a grant may not exceed $50,000 and must be expended solely for the benefit of rural areas. Additionally, the bill prohibits WEDC from awarding a grant unless the grant recipient matches the amount of the grant with LRB-2300/2 KRP:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 173 moneys raised from nonstate sources and limits the amount of in-kind match to no more than 25 percent of the match amount. The bill requires WEDC to submit a report on the effectiveness of the grants to the Joint Committee on Finance no later than May 1, 2027. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB82 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) | This bill exempts conveyances of real estate interests between grandparent and grandchild for nominal consideration from the real estate transfer fee. Subject to various exemptions, current law generally requires a person who conveys an interest in real estate to file a real estate transfer return with the county register of deeds and pay a real estate transfer fee equal to 30 cents for each $100 of the value of the conveyance. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB159 | Creating a rural creative economy development grant program. (FE) | This bill creates a grant program administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The bill requires WEDC to award rural creative economy development grants on a competitive basis to cities, villages, towns, counties, American Indian tribes and bands in this state, economic development organizations in this state, and nonprofit organizations in this state. A grant recipient must use grant moneys for any of the following purposes: 1. To develop or implement a plan to increase tourism, enhance visitor experiences, or bolster community development in rural areas in this state through the development or promotion of creative enterprises, including by supporting or expanding public arts performances and exhibitions, renovating or improving public spaces and vacant or underutilized buildings, supporting community-based arts education, supporting business accelerator programs, and providing technical assistance for creative businesses. 2. To market, brand, and promote local creative enterprises, public arts performances and exhibitions, or public spaces in rural areas in this state. Under the bill, such a grant may not exceed $50,000 and must be expended solely for the benefit of rural areas. Additionally, the bill prohibits WEDC from awarding a grant unless the grant recipient matches the amount of the grant with moneys raised from nonstate sources and limits the amount of in-kind match to no more than 25 percent of the match amount. The bill requires WEDC to submit a report on the effectiveness of the grants to the Joint Committee on Finance no later than May 1, 2027. 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 |
| SB158 | County forest administration grant eligibility. | This bill makes a change, retroactive to January 1, 2025, to eligibility for a county forest administration grant. Current law authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to make grants to counties that have lands designated as county forest to fund 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits of a professional forester in the position of county forest administrator or assistant county forest administrator (county forest administration grant program). Under the bill, the grants may be used to fund 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits of a county forest administrator. The bill defines Xcounty forest administratorY as a person, excluding a person employed by the department, who is employed to manage a county forest program and who has any of the following qualifications: 1. A bachelor[s or higher degree in forestry from a school of forestry with a curriculum accredited by the Society of American Foresters or an equivalent degree, as determined by the chief state forester. 2. A bachelor[s or higher degree in natural resources, conservation, or wildlife and three or more years of experience managing a county forest program. LRB-2139/1 EHS:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 158 3. An associate degree in forestry and three or more years of experience managing a county forest program. | Crossed Over |
| SB194 | Obtaining attorney fees and costs under the state’s public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court. | Currently, if a person requests access to a public record and the agency or officer in state or local government having custody of the record, known as an XauthorityY under the public records law, withholds or delays granting access to the record or a part of the record, the requester may bring a mandamus action asking a court to order release of the record or part of the record. Current law requires the court to award reasonable attorney fees, damages of not less than $100, and other actual costs to the requester if the requester prevails in whole or in substantial part in any such action. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided in 2022 that a requester prevails in whole or in substantial part only if the requester obtains a judicially sanctioned change in the parties[ legal relationship, for example, a court order requiring disclosure of a record. See, Friends of Frame Park, U.A. v. City of Waukesha, 2022 WI 57. Under the supreme court[s decision, a requester generally is not entitled to LRB-2242/1 MPG:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 194 attorney fees and costs if the authority voluntarily or unilaterally without a court order provides contested records after the requester files an action in court. This bill supersedes the supreme court[s decision in Friends of Frame Park. Under the bill, a requester has prevailed in whole or in substantial part if the requester has obtained relief through any of the following means: 1. A judicial order or an enforceable written agreement or consent decree. 2. The authority[s voluntary or unilateral release of a record if the court determines that the filing of the mandamus action was a substantial factor contributing to that voluntary or unilateral release. This standard is substantially the same as the standard that applies for a requester to obtain attorney fees and costs under the federal Freedom of Information Act. | Crossed Over |
| SB191 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address. | Under current law, a subpoena may generally be served by any person by exhibiting and reading it to the witness, by giving the witness a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the witness[s home. This bill modifies the procedure with respect to law enforcement officers and tribal law enforcement officers served in an official capacity, requiring that a subpoena may be served upon a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer in the officer[s official capacity as a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer only at the officer[s work address by exhibiting and reading it to the officer, by giving the officer a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the officer[s work address. | Crossed Over |
| SB216 | Local government competitive bidding thresholds. (FE) | Under current law, in general, if the estimated cost of a local government public works project is between $5,000 and $25,000, the local governmental unit must provide a notice before it contracts. If the estimated cost exceeds $25,000, the local governmental unit must solicit bids and award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. This bill increases the notice threshold to $10,000 and the bidding threshold to $50,000 and adjusts these amounts quinquennially for inflation. The bill also provides exceptions to these bidding requirements for 1) public work by a county for the purpose of providing housing for persons placed on supervised release as sexually violent persons and 2) improvements that are constructed by a private person and donated to a town or county after the completion of construction. With LRB-2701/1 EVM:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 216 regard to the latter, a similar exception for donated improvements currently exists for improvements donated to a city or village. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB25 | Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths. | Under current law, a district attorney has the discretion as to whether or not to issue a complaint to charge a person with a crime. Current law also provides that, if a district attorney refuses to issue a complaint against a person, a judge may conduct a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the person committed a crime and, if so, issue a complaint. Under this bill, when there is an officer-involved death, which is a death that results directly from an action or an omission of a law enforcement officer, and the district attorney determined there was no basis to prosecute the officer, a court may not issue a complaint against the involved officer unless there is new or unused evidence presented. | Crossed Over |
| SB267 | The fee for filing limited liability company articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions. (FE) | This bill expands the filing fee exception for a student entrepreneur who forms a limited liability company (LLC). Current law establishes a fee of $130 for filing LLC articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions. However, DFI may not collect this fee if the LLC members or organizers are all student entrepreneurs. A Xstudent entrepreneurY is defined as a student who is at least 18 years of age, enrolled in a postsecondary institution in this state, and an organizer or member of an LLC formed as a business start-up. This bill expands the definition of Xstudent entrepreneurY to include a student who is enrolled in a public, private, or tribal high school in this state or is homeschooled. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-0755/1 ARG:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 267 | In Committee |
| SB270 | The right of appeal for complainants aggrieved by decisions of the Elections Commission concerning the conduct of election officials. | Under current law, any person eligible to vote in Wisconsin may file a complaint with the Elections Commission alleging that an election official serving the voter[s jurisdiction has failed to comply with certain election laws or has abused his or her discretion with respect to the administration of such election laws. After investigation of a complaint, current law authorizes the commission to issue an order requiring an election official to conform his or her conduct to the law, restraining an election official from taking any action inconsistent with the law, or requiring an election official to correct any action or decision inconsistent with the law. Additionally, current law authorizes any complainant who is aggrieved by an order of the commission on the complaint to appeal the commission[s decision in court. The law does not specifically define the term XaggrievedY for purposes of this right of appeal. However, in Brown v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2025 WI 5, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that a complainant not receiving a favorable decision from the Elections Commission on a complaint is aggrieved, and therefore has a right to appeal that decision in court, only if the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest as a result of the decision. LRB-2416/1 MPG:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 270 This bill provides that a complainant must be considered aggrieved for purposes of that right of appeal regardless of whether the complainant has suffered an injury to a legally recognized interest and that a complainant may appeal any commission order that dismisses the complaint or otherwise does not grant the relief requested in the complaint. | In Committee |
| AB266 | The fee for filing limited liability company articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions. (FE) | This bill expands the filing fee exception for a student entrepreneur who forms a limited liability company (LLC). Current law establishes a fee of $130 for filing LLC articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions. However, DFI may not collect this fee if the LLC members or organizers are all student entrepreneurs. A Xstudent entrepreneurY is defined as a student who is at least 18 years of age, enrolled in a postsecondary institution in this state, and an organizer or member of an LLC formed as a business start-up. This bill expands the definition of Xstudent entrepreneurY to include a student who is enrolled in a public, private, or tribal high school in this state or is homeschooled. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR29 | Celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB218 | Limitations on ownership of real property in this state by foreign persons. (FE) | This bill modifies current law that limits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding large amounts of agricultural and forestry land in this state. The bill also prohibits certain foreign persons from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state within 10 miles of a military installation and prohibits foreign adversaries from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. LIMITING FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND Under current law, certain foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of agricultural or forestry land in this state. The bill makes several changes to the limitation under current law. Type of land subject to acreage limit Current law generally prohibits a covered foreign person (as defined below) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that limitation does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be Xextremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.Y See Wis. Op. Att[y Gen. OAG 11-14, ?5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, foreign persons may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but covered foreign persons may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill eliminates the current scheme under which the limitation applies to all land with extremely broad exceptions and replaces the scheme with a limitation that applies only to land that is classified, for property tax purposes, as agricultural (agricultural land). Under the bill, the limitation does not apply to forestry land. Amount of land foreign persons may own The bill reduces the maximum amount of agricultural land that a covered foreign person may acquire, own, or hold from 640 acres to 50 acres (acreage limit). Covered foreign persons Under current law, the following persons generally are subject to the acreage limit (covered foreign person): 1. An alien not a resident of a state of the United States (nonresident alien). 2. A corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign entity). 3. A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or association having more than 20 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership held or owned by nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign-owned entity). 4. A trust having more than 20 percent of the value of its assets held for the benefit of nonresident aliens or foreign entities (foreign beneficiary trust). The bill does all of the following: 1. Specifies that the acreage limit also applies to a foreign government. 2. Increases the percentage of an entity[s ownership held by nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the entity to be considered a foreign- owned entity from 20 percent to 25 percent of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership. 3. Increases the percentage of a trust[s assets held for the benefit of nonresident aliens or foreign entities that is required for the trust to be considered a foreign beneficiary trust from 20 percent to 25 percent of the value of its assets. 4. Specifies that, for purposes of determining whether an entity is a foreign- owned entity or whether a trust is a foreign beneficiary trust, foreign government interests are included in calculating the relevant percentage amounts. Exception for agricultural research leases Current law includes exceptions from the acreage limit for railroad and pipeline corporations and treaty rights, among other things. The bill provides that the acreage limit also does not apply to a lease that is exclusively for agricultural research purposes and encumbers no more than 50 acres of agricultural land. Divestiture period Under current law, if a covered foreign person acquires an interest in land that causes the covered foreign person to exceed the acreage limit, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest. Specifically, the covered foreign person must divest itself within four years after: 1. Acquiring the interest, if the covered foreign person is a nonresident alien or foreign entity and the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. 2. Acquiring the interest or becoming a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust, whichever is later, if the covered foreign person is a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust. The bill reduces the divestiture period from four years to three years and specifies that the divestiture requirement described under item 1 applies to a foreign government. PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY NEAR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS The bill generally prohibits a covered foreign person from acquiring, owning, or holding any real property in this state that is located on or within 10 miles of a military installation, as defined in the bill (military property). Under the bill, the prohibition does not apply to 1) an interest used to secure repayment of a debt, 2) a person whose right to hold military property is secured by treaty, or 3) a railroad or pipeline corporation. The bill allows a covered foreign person to acquire an interest in military property that the covered foreign person would otherwise be prohibited from acquiring if the interest is acquired by devise or inheritance or in the good faith collection of debts by due process of law. However, if such an interest is acquired, the covered foreign person must divest itself of that interest within 18 months after acquiring the interest. The bill specifies that, if a person becomes a foreign-owned entity or foreign beneficiary trust after the bill[s effective date, the person has 18 months to divest itself of any interest in military property the person is prohibited from owning or holding. Finally, the bill provides that any interest in military property acquired, owned, or held in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. PROHIBITING OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY BY FOREIGN ADVERSARIES The bill prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property in this state. Under the bill, Xforeign adversaryY means a person determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce to be a foreign adversary of the United States. Those countries currently include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro. The bill provides that any interest acquired, owned, or held by a foreign adversary in violation of the bill is forfeited to the state and that the attorney general is responsible for enforcement. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR2 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | To create section 1m of article III of the constitution; Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AJR4 | Honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB245 | Modifying the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. (FE) | This bill makes various changes to the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. Under current law, there is a sales and use tax exemption for certain property and items used to construct, operate, or renovate a qualified data center, as certified by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Under current law, WEDC may certify a qualified data center if it meets all of the following criteria: 1. The qualified data center is one or more buildings or an array of connected buildings owned, leased, or operated by the same business entity or its affiliate. 2. The buildings are rehabilitated or constructed to house a group of networked server computers in one physical location or multiple locations in order to centralize the processing, storage, management, retrieval, communication, or dissemination of data and information. 3. The buildings create a minimum qualified investment in this state within five years from the certification date in the amount of $50 million, $100 million, or $150 million, depending on the population of the county in which the buildings are located. The bill modifies the definition of qualified data center to provide that the buildings may house a group of individual, as well as a group of networked, server computers. In addition, the bill provides that WEDC also may certify a qualified data center if, in addition to the criteria described in items 1 and 3, it meets the following criterion, rather than the criterion described under item 2: the buildings are rehabilitated or constructed to house a group of individual or networked server computers in one physical location or multiple locations in order to provide an owner, operator, or tenant the opportunity to rent or own space, utilities and other vital resources such as cooling capacity, enhanced security features, or the ability to procure infrastructure, platforms, software, and other managed services. The bill also provides that WEDC may not certify buildings that are used for or to facilitate the creation of cryptocurrencies and the process used to verify and secure cryptocurrency transactions and blockchains as qualified data centers eligible for the sales and use tax exemption. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB194 | Modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE) | This bill makes modifications to three housing programs administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority: the residential housing infrastructure revolving loan program, also known as the Infrastructure Access Program; the main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan program, also known as the Restore Main Street Program; and the commercial-to-housing conversion revolving loan program, also known as the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program. For the Infrastructure Access Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to a developer to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit to provide up to 25 percent of total project costs. Under current law, a loan to a developer may provide up to 20 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit may provide up to 10 percent of total project costs. 2. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For the Restore Main Street Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to $50,000 per dwelling unit or 33 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $20,000 per dwelling unit or 25 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 3. Allows loans to be awarded to projects under the jurisdiction of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band. For the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs related to constructing residential housing and eliminates the dollar amount cap on loans. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $1,000,000 per project or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Permits housing developments with four or more dwelling units to be eligible for a loan if the housing development is located in a governmental unit with a population of 10,000 or less. Under current law, an eligible housing development must have 16 or more dwelling units. 3. Allows a project converting a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development that contains residential housing to be eligible for a loan under the program. Under current law, to be eligible for a loan, a construction project must convert a vacant commercial building to residential housing. Under the bill, a loan awarded for the conversion of a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development must be for costs associated with constructing residential housing within the mixed-use development. 4. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 5. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For all three of the programs, the bill does all of the following: 1. Permits eligible projects to benefit from a tax incremental district and to use historic tax credits. Under current law, eligible projects may not benefit from a tax incremental district or use historic tax credits. 2. Allows a loan to be awarded for projects on tribal reservation or trust lands not subject to property taxes in this state if the land is designated as tribal reservation or trust lands on the effective date of the bill. 3. In applying for a loan, requires that, in addition to the current law requirement that a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing in connection with the eligible project, a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing within the governmental unit, generally. 4. Allows a governmental unit to satisfy the loan eligibility condition that it update the housing element of the statutorily required local government comprehensive plan if, within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the loan application, the governmental unit adopts an ordinance or resolution certifying that the housing element of the governmental unit[s current comprehensive plan provides an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the governmental unit. 5. Allows a loan to be secured by a corporate guarantee. Under current law, a loan under any of the three programs must be secured by a personal guarantee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB163 | Income change notifications for child support or maintenance orders. | This bill makes changes to the requirements for notice of a change of employer, address, and ability to pay for parties in child support and maintenance agreements. Under current law, the requirements for a notice of a change of employer, address, or ability to pay in child support and maintenance agreements apply only to payers of child support or maintenance. The bill extends these requirements to payees. The bill also specifies that the type of income for which a party must notify the other party of a change is defined by rule by the Department of Children and Families. DCF currently defines Xgross incomeY for child support purposes to include a number of income sources, including wages and salaries, investment income, and certain benefits. The bill establishes that in an order for child support, but not maintenance, neither party is required to disclose income that is not considered gross income under DCF rules and the payee is not required to disclose a change in employer or income if the payer is not a Xshared-placement parent,Y as defined by DCF. LRB-2388/1 MDE:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 163 The bill also removes references to Xfamily support,Y an alternative form of support that combined child support and maintenance into a single obligation. Orders for family support in this state were eliminated by 2021 Wisconsin Act 35. Finally, the bill allows a party to redact certain personally identifying information from an income change notice to another party, establishes the confidentiality of any information disclosed as part of an income change notice, and establishes that an individual who fails to provide an income change notice required under law may be proceeded against for contempt of court and may be required to provide damages, including reasonable attorney fees. | In Committee |
| 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) | Under current law, the equalized value of taxable property of a new or amended tax incremental district (TID) plus the value increment of all existing TIDs in a city or village may not exceed 12 percent of the total equalized value of taxable property in the city or village. Under this bill, the 12 percent rule does not apply to TID Number 6 created by the city of Middleton if the district is created before June 1, 2025. Also under current law, a city or village may extend the life of a TID for up to one year for housing stock improvement if all of the following occur: 1. The city or village pays off all of the TID[s project costs. 2. The city or village adopts a resolution stating that it intends to extend the life of the TID, the number of months it intends to do so, and how it intends to improve housing stock. 3. The city or village notifies DOR. LRB-1194/1 EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 24 Under the bill, a housing stock improvement extension may not be exercised with regard to TID Number 6 in the city of Middleton. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR26 | Celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: celebrating May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB181 | County forest administration grant eligibility. | This bill makes a change, retroactive to January 1, 2025, to eligibility for a county forest administration grant. Current law authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to make grants to counties that have lands designated as county forest to fund 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits of a professional forester in the position of county forest administrator or assistant county forest administrator (county forest administration grant program). Under the bill, the grants may be used to fund 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits of a county forest administrator. The bill defines Xcounty forest administratorY as a person, excluding a person employed by the department, who is employed to manage a county forest program and who has any of the following qualifications: 1. A bachelor[s or higher degree in forestry from a school of forestry with a curriculum accredited by the Society of American Foresters or an equivalent degree, as determined by the chief state forester. 2. A bachelor[s or higher degree in natural resources, conservation, or wildlife and three or more years of experience managing a county forest program. 3. An associate degree in forestry and three or more years of experience managing a county forest program. | In Committee |
| AJR37 | Declaring May 2025 as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month. | Relating to: declaring May 2025 as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month. | Crossed Over |
| SB31 | State agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who provide services without compensation for local health departments or school districts. (FE) | This bill provides that physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers who are not employed by a local health department but who provide services without compensation for the programs and services provided by a local health department are, for the provision of those services, state agents of the Department of Health Services in certain circumstances for certain legal purposes and protections. For example, under the bill, if a physician assistant or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber who is considered a state agent of DHS is a defendant in any action or special proceeding because of acts they committed within the scope of their agency, any judgment as to damages and costs entered against them shall be paid by DHS. Further, this bill provides that physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers may be selected by a school district or a local health department to supervise an immunization program and issue orders for the administration of LRB-1923/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 31 immunizations that are in accordance with written protocols issued by DHS. If the physician assistant or advanced practice nurse prescriber is not an employee of the school district or local health department, receives no compensation for his or her services as supervisor of the immunization program, and acts in accordance with written protocols issued by DHS, he or she is a state agent of DHS for the same legal purposes and protections as described above. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| SB4 | Agreements for direct primary care. | This bill exempts valid direct primary care agreements from the application of insurance law. A “direct primary care agreement,” as defined in the bill, is a contract between a health care provider that provides primary care services under the provider’s scope of practice and an individual patient or the patient’s legal representative or employer in which the health care provider agrees to provide primary care services to the patient for an agreed-upon subscription fee and period of time. A valid direct primary care agreement is in writing and satisfies all of the following: 1. It is signed by the health care provider or an agent of the health care provider and the individual patient, the patient’s legal representative, or a representative of the patient’s employer. 2. It allows either party to terminate the agreement upon written notice. 3. It describes and quantifies the specific primary care services that are provided under the agreement. 4. It specifies the subscription fee for the agreement and specifies terms for termination of the agreement. 5. It specifies the duration of the agreement. LRB-0507/1 JPC:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 4 6. It prohibits the provider and patient from billing an insurer or any other third party on a fee-for-service basis for the primary care services included in the subscription fee under the agreement. 7. It prominently states, in writing, several provisions, including that the agreement is not health insurance and the agreement alone may not satisfy individual or employer insurance coverage requirements under federal law; that the patient is responsible for paying, or directing the patient’s employer to pay, the provider for all services that are not included in the subscription fee under the agreement; that the patient is encouraged to consult with a health insurance advisor, the patient’s health insurance carrier, or the patient’s employer-sponsored health plan, as applicable, before entering into the agreement; and that direct primary care fees might not be credited toward deductibles or out-of-pocket maximum amounts under any health insurance the patient has. Under the bill, a health care provider may not decline to enter into or terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient solely because of the patient’s health status. The bill allows a health care provider to decline to accept a patient for a direct primary care agreement only if the health care provider’s practice has reached its maximum patient capacity or if the patient’s medical condition is such that the health care provider is unable to provide the appropriate level and type of primary care services the patient requires. A health care provider may terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient only if the patient or the patient’s employer fails to pay the subscription fee, the patient fails repeatedly to adhere to the treatment plan, the patient has performed an act of fraud related to the direct primary care agreement, the patient is abusive in a manner described in the bill, the health care provider discontinues operation as a direct primary care provider, or the health care provider believes that the relationship is no longer therapeutic for the patient due to a dysfunctional relationship between the provider and the patient. | Passed |
| AB8 | Agreements for direct primary care. | This bill exempts valid direct primary care agreements from the application of insurance law. A Xdirect primary care agreement,Y as defined in the bill, is a contract between a health care provider that provides primary care services under the provider[s scope of practice and an individual patient or the patient[s legal representative or employer in which the health care provider agrees to provide primary care services to the patient for an agreed-upon subscription fee and period of time. A valid direct primary care agreement is in writing and satisfies all of the following: 1. It is signed by the health care provider or an agent of the health care provider and the individual patient, the patient[s legal representative, or a representative of the patient[s employer. 2. It allows either party to terminate the agreement upon written notice. 3. It describes and quantifies the specific primary care services that are provided under the agreement. 4. It specifies the subscription fee for the agreement and specifies terms for termination of the agreement. 5. It specifies the duration of the agreement. 6. It prohibits the provider and patient from billing an insurer or any other third party on a fee-for-service basis for the primary care services included in the subscription fee under the agreement. 7. It prominently states, in writing, several provisions, including that the agreement is not health insurance and the agreement alone may not satisfy individual or employer insurance coverage requirements under federal law; that the patient is responsible for paying, or directing the patient[s employer to pay, the provider for all services that are not included in the subscription fee under the agreement; that the patient is encouraged to consult with a health insurance advisor, the patient[s health insurance carrier, or the patient[s employer-sponsored health plan, as applicable, before entering into the agreement; and that direct primary care fees might not be credited toward deductibles or out-of-pocket maximum amounts under any health insurance the patient has. Under the bill, a health care provider may not decline to enter into or terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient solely because of the patient[s health status. The bill allows a health care provider to decline to accept a patient for a direct primary care agreement only if the health care provider[s practice has reached its maximum patient capacity or if the patient[s medical condition is such that the health care provider is unable to provide the appropriate level and type of primary care services the patient requires. The bill also provides that a health care provider may not decline to enter into a direct primary care agreement with a patient, terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient, or otherwise discriminate against a patient in the provision of health care services under a direct primary care agreement on the basis of race, color, national origin, religious belief or affiliation, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. A health care provider may terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient only if the patient or the patient[s employer fails to pay the subscription fee, the patient fails repeatedly to adhere to the treatment plan, the patient has performed an act of fraud related to the direct primary care agreement, the patient is abusive in a manner described in the bill, the health care provider discontinues operation as a direct primary care provider, or the health care provider believes that the relationship is no longer therapeutic for the patient due to a dysfunctional relationship between the provider and the patient. | In Committee |
| AB12 | State agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who provide services without compensation for local health departments or school districts. (FE) | This bill provides that physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers who are not employed by a local health department but who provide services without compensation for the programs and services provided by a local health department are, for the provision of those services, state agents of the Department of Health Services in certain circumstances for certain legal purposes and protections. For example, under the bill, if a physician assistant or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber who is considered a state agent of DHS is a defendant in any action or special proceeding because of acts they committed within the scope of their agency, any judgment as to damages and costs entered against them shall be paid by DHS. Further, this bill provides that physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers may be selected by a school district or a local health department to supervise an immunization program and issue orders for the administration of immunizations that are in accordance with written protocols issued by DHS. If the physician assistant or advanced practice nurse prescriber is not an employee of the school district or local health department, receives no compensation for his or her services as supervisor of the immunization program, and acts in accordance with written protocols issued by DHS, he or she is a state agent of DHS for the same legal purposes and protections as described above. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB22 | 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) | Under current law, the equalized value of taxable property of a new or amended tax incremental district (TID) plus the value increment of all existing TIDs in a city or village may not exceed 12 percent of the total equalized value of taxable property in the city or village. Under this bill, the 12 percent rule does not apply to TID Number 6 created by the city of Middleton if the district is created before June 1, 2025. Also under current law, a city or village may extend the life of a TID for up to one year for housing stock improvement if all of the following occur: 1. The city or village pays off all of the TID[s project costs. 2. The city or village adopts a resolution stating that it intends to extend the life of the TID, the number of months it intends to do so, and how it intends to improve housing stock. 3. The city or village notifies DOR. Under the bill, a housing stock improvement extension may not be exercised with regard to TID Number 6 in the city of Middleton. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB158 | Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) | This bill makes changes to the conditions of liability for worker[s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff members, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff members who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under current law, if a law enforcement officer or full-time firefighter is diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, and the mental injury that resulted in that diagnosis is not accompanied by a physical injury, that law enforcement officer or firefighter can bring a claim for worker[s compensation benefits if the conditions of liability are proven by the preponderance of the evidence and the mental injury is not the result of a good faith employment action by the person[s employer. Also under current law, liability for such treatment for a mental injury is limited to no more than 32 weeks after the injury is first reported. Under current law, an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member who does not have an accompanying physical injury must demonstrate a diagnosis based on unusual stress of greater dimensions than the day-to-day emotional strain and tension experienced by all employees as required under School District No. 1 v. DILHR, 62 Wis. 2d 370, 215 N.W.2d 373 (1974) in order to receive worker[s compensation benefits for PTSD. Under the bill, such an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is not required to demonstrate a diagnosis based on that standard, and instead must demonstrate a diagnosis based on the same standard as law enforcement officers and firefighters. Finally, under the bill, an emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is restricted to compensation for a mental injury that is not accompanied by a physical injury and that results in a diagnosis of PTSD three times in his or her lifetime irrespective of a change of employer or employment in the same manner as law enforcement officers and firefighters. Because this bill relates to public employee retirement or pensions, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB168 | Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) | This bill makes changes to the conditions of liability for worker[s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff members, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff members who are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Under current law, if a law enforcement officer or full-time firefighter is diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, and the mental injury that resulted in that diagnosis is not accompanied by a physical injury, that LRB-0062/1 MIM:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 168 law enforcement officer or firefighter can bring a claim for worker[s compensation benefits if the conditions of liability are proven by the preponderance of the evidence and the mental injury is not the result of a good faith employment action by the person[s employer. Also under current law, liability for such treatment for a mental injury is limited to no more than 32 weeks after the injury is first reported. Under current law, an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member who does not have an accompanying physical injury must demonstrate a diagnosis based on unusual stress of greater dimensions than the day-to-day emotional strain and tension experienced by all employees as required under School District No. 1 v. DILHR, 62 Wis. 2d 370, 215 N.W.2d 373 (1974) in order to receive worker[s compensation benefits for PTSD. Under the bill, such an injured emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is not required to demonstrate a diagnosis based on that standard, and instead must demonstrate a diagnosis based on the same standard as law enforcement officers and firefighters. Finally, under the bill, an emergency medical responder, emergency medical services practitioner, volunteer firefighter, correctional officer, emergency dispatcher, coroner, coroner staff member, medical examiner, or medical examiner staff member is restricted to compensation for a mental injury that is not accompanied by a physical injury and that results in a diagnosis of PTSD three times in his or her lifetime irrespective of a change of employer or employment in the same manner as law enforcement officers and firefighters. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB178 | Changes to the low-income housing tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority administers a low-income housing tax credit program. Under that program, a person may claim as a credit against the person[s income or franchise tax liability, or against the person[s liability for fees imposed on an insurer, the amount allocated by WHEDA in an Xallocation certificateY for a qualified low- income housing project. The bill also requires that WHEDA, if possible, ensure that at least 35 percent of the tax credits it allocates each year under the program are for qualified low- income housing projects in rural areas in Wisconsin and removes the requirement that a qualified low-income housing project be financed with tax-exempt bonds. Finally, the bill makes a technical change to the credit for insurers so that an LRB-2483/1 JK&MDE:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 178 insurer who is a shareholder of a tax-option corporation, a partner of a partnership, or a member of a limited liability company may claim the credit. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB180 | Modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE) | This bill makes modifications to three housing programs administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority: the residential housing infrastructure revolving loan program, also known as the Infrastructure Access Program; the main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan program, also known as the Restore Main Street Program; and the commercial-to-housing conversion revolving loan program, also known as the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program. For the Infrastructure Access Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to a developer to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit to provide up to 25 percent of total project costs. Under current law, a loan to a developer may provide up to 20 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit may provide up to 10 percent of total project costs. 2. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For the Restore Main Street Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to $50,000 per dwelling unit or 33 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $20,000 per dwelling unit or 25 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 3. Allows loans to be awarded to projects under the jurisdiction of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band. For the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs related to constructing residential housing and eliminates the dollar amount cap on loans. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $1,000,000 per project or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Permits housing developments with four or more dwelling units to be eligible for a loan if the housing development is located in a governmental unit with a population of 10,000 or less. Under current law, an eligible housing development must have 16 or more dwelling units. 3. Allows a project converting a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development that contains residential housing to be eligible for a loan under the LRB-1325/1 MDE:klm&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 180 program. Under current law, to be eligible for a loan, a construction project must convert a vacant commercial building to residential housing. Under the bill, a loan awarded for the conversion of a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development must be for costs associated with constructing residential housing within the mixed-use development. 4. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 5. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For all three of the programs, the bill does all of the following: 1. Permits eligible projects to benefit from a tax incremental district and to use historic tax credits. Under current law, eligible projects may not benefit from a tax incremental district or use historic tax credits. 2. Allows a loan to be awarded for projects on tribal reservation or trust lands not subject to property taxes in this state if the land is designated as tribal reservation or trust lands on the effective date of the bill. 3. In applying for a loan, requires that, in addition to the current law requirement that a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing in connection with the eligible project, a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing within the governmental unit, generally. 4. Allows a governmental unit to satisfy the loan eligibility condition that it update the housing element of the statutorily required local government comprehensive plan if, within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the loan application, the governmental unit adopts an ordinance or resolution certifying that the housing element of the governmental unit[s current comprehensive plan provides an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the governmental unit. 5. Allows a loan to be secured by a corporate guarantee. Under current law, a loan under any of the three programs must be secured by a personal guarantee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB64 | An income tax subtraction for certain expenses paid by a school teacher. (FE) | Currently, an elementary or secondary school teacher may claim a deduction on the individual[s federal income tax return for certain eligible expenses paid by the individual during the taxable year, not exceeding $300. Eligible expenses include amounts paid to participate in professional development courses and amounts paid for books and other classroom supplies. This bill allows an elementary or secondary school teacher to claim a similar deduction for state income tax purposes for eligible expenses, not exceeding $300, paid by the teacher during the taxable year. The eligible expenses are the same as those described under federal law. Finally, the taxpayer may claim the deduction for state income tax purposes regardless of whether the taxpayer claims the deduction for federal income tax purposes. 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 |
| AB162 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | This bill requires any state agency or authority that operates, coordinates, or oversees a workforce development program or activity, as defined in the bill, to track and report, at least annually, on the performance of that workforce development program or activity, using the primary indicators of performance under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These performance indicators are: 1) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 2) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; 3) the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 4) the percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in or within one year after exit from the program; 5) the percentage of program participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward such a credential or employment; and 6) the indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, defined currently as the percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program who were employed by the same employer in the second and fourth quarters after exit. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB167 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) | UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Misconduct Currently, if an employee is discharged for misconduct connected with his or her employment, the employee is ineligible to receive UI benefits until certain requalification criteria are satisfied. In addition, all wages earned with the employer that discharges the employee are excluded in determining the amount of any future benefits to which the employee is entitled. Current law provides a general definition of misconduct and also specifies a number of specific actions that constitute misconduct. The bill does all of the following with respect to what is considered misconduct: 1. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes theft of an employer[s property or services with intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently, theft of currency of any value, felonious conduct connected with an employee[s employment with his or her employer, or intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes substantial damage to his or her employer[s property. The bill does the following: a. Eliminates the requirement that the employee have intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently. b. Provides that intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes the destruction of an employer[s records is also considered misconduct. c. Adds unauthorized possession of an employer[s property, theft or unauthorized distribution of an employer[s confidential or proprietary information, and use of an employer[s credit card or other financial instrument for an unauthorized or nonbusiness purpose without prior approval from the employer to the list of what is considered misconduct. 2. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes absenteeism by an employee on more than two occasions within the 120-day period before the date of the employee[s termination, unless otherwise specified by his or her employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature, or excessive tardiness by an employee in violation of a policy of the employer that has been communicated to the employee, if the employee does not provide to his or her employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism or tardiness. The bill instead provides that misconduct includes both of the following: 1) a violation of an employer[s reasonable policy that covers employee absenteeism, tardiness, or both and that results in an employee[s termination, if that termination is in accordance with that policy and the policy is specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature; and 2) if an employer does not have a policy covering absenteeism that meets the criteria just described, absenteeism on more than two occasions within the 120-day period preceding an employee[s termination, if the employee does not provide to the employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism. 3. The bill specifically provides that misconduct includes a violation by an employee of an employer[s reasonable employment policy that covers the use of social media specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires a claimant who resides outside this state and who is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week to register with his or her local job center website or labor market exchange and requires DWD to verify that each such claimant has complied with that requirement. 2. Requires DWD to conduct random audits for at least 50 percent of all work search actions reported to have been performed by claimants. Current law requires random audits of work search actions, but does not require a specific number or level of audits. OTHER CHANGES UI benefit augmentations subject to review by Joint Committee on Finance The bill provides that whenever any UI benefit augmentation is provided for through an act of Congress or by executive action of the president of the United States, the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance must be notified, in writing, of the proposed benefit augmentation. The bill defines Xbenefit augmentationY to mean any action whereby the governor or any other state official or agency would encumber or expend moneys received from, or accept reimbursement from, the federal government or whereby the governor or any other state agency or official would enter into any contract or agreement with the federal government or any federal agency to 1) increase the weekly UI benefit rate payable to claimants above what is provided under state law, or 2) increase the total amount of UI benefits to which a claimant is entitled above what is provided under state law. Under the bill, such a benefit augmentation is subject to a seven-day passive review by the Joint Committee on Finance. In addition, the bill provides that no benefit augmentation may be effectuated unless it is subject to termination or cancellation by the Joint Committee on Finance. Worker[s compensation; misconduct Currently, under the worker[s compensation law, an employer is not liable for temporary disability benefits during an employee[s healing period if the employee is suspended or terminated from employment due to misconduct, as defined under the UI law. Under the bill, the changes to the UI law[s definition of misconduct described above apply under the worker[s compensation law as well. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB201 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | This bill requires any state agency or authority that operates, coordinates, or oversees a workforce development program or activity, as defined in the bill, to track and report, at least annually, on the performance of that workforce development program or activity, using the primary indicators of performance under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These performance indicators are: 1) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 2) the percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; 3) the median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program; 4) the percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential, or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in or within one year after exit from the program; 5) the percentage of program participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward LRB-2742/1 MED:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 201 such a credential or employment; and 6) the indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, defined currently as the percentage of participants in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program who were employed by the same employer in the second and fourth quarters after exit. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB198 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) | UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE This bill makes various changes in the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Significant changes include all of the following: Misconduct Currently, if an employee is discharged for misconduct connected with his or her employment, the employee is ineligible to receive UI benefits until certain requalification criteria are satisfied. In addition, all wages earned with the employer that discharges the employee are excluded in determining the amount of any future benefits to which the employee is entitled. Current law provides a LRB-2741/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 198 general definition of misconduct and also specifies a number of specific actions that constitute misconduct. The bill does all of the following with respect to what is considered misconduct: 1. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes theft of an employer[s property or services with intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently, theft of currency of any value, felonious conduct connected with an employee[s employment with his or her employer, or intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes substantial damage to his or her employer[s property. The bill does the following: a. Eliminates the requirement that the employee have intent to deprive the employer of the property or services permanently. b. Provides that intentional or negligent conduct by an employee that causes the destruction of an employer[s records is also considered misconduct. c. Adds unauthorized possession of an employer[s property, theft or unauthorized distribution of an employer[s confidential or proprietary information, and use of an employer[s credit card or other financial instrument for an unauthorized or nonbusiness purpose without prior approval from the employer to the list of what is considered misconduct. 2. Current law specifically provides that misconduct includes absenteeism by an employee on more than two occasions within the 120-day period before the date of the employee[s termination, unless otherwise specified by his or her employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature, or excessive tardiness by an employee in violation of a policy of the employer that has been communicated to the employee, if the employee does not provide to his or her employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism or tardiness. The bill instead provides that misconduct includes both of the following: 1) a violation of an employer[s reasonable policy that covers employee absenteeism, tardiness, or both and that results in an employee[s termination, if that termination is in accordance with that policy and the policy is specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature; and 2) if an employer does not have a policy covering absenteeism that meets the criteria just described, absenteeism on more than two occasions within the 120-day period preceding an employee[s termination, if the employee does not provide to the employer both notice and one or more valid reasons for the absenteeism. 3. The bill specifically provides that misconduct includes a violation by an employee of an employer[s reasonable employment policy that covers the use of social media specified by the employer in an employment manual of which the employee has acknowledged receipt with his or her signature. General qualifying requirements Under current law, a claimant for UI benefits is generally required to 1) register for work, 2) be able to work and available for work, and 3) conduct a work LRB-2741/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 198 search for each week in order to remain eligible. A claimant is required to conduct at least four work search actions each week, and DWD may require, by rule, that an individual conduct more than four work search actions per week. Finally, if a claimant is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week, the claimant must provide information or job application materials that are requested by DWD and participate in a public employment office workshop or training program or in similar reemployment services required by DWD. The bill does the following: 1. Requires a claimant who resides outside this state and who is claiming benefits for a week other than an initial week to register with his or her local job center website or labor market exchange and requires DWD to verify that each such claimant has complied with that requirement. 2. Requires DWD to conduct random audits for at least 50 percent of all work search actions reported to have been performed by claimants. Current law requires random audits of work search actions, but does not require a specific number or level of audits. OTHER CHANGES UI benefit augmentations subject to review by Joint Committee on Finance The bill provides that whenever any UI benefit augmentation is provided for through an act of Congress or by executive action of the president of the United States, the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance must be notified, in writing, of the proposed benefit augmentation. The bill defines Xbenefit augmentationY to mean any action whereby the governor or any other state official or agency would encumber or expend moneys received from, or accept reimbursement from, the federal government or whereby the governor or any other state agency or official would enter into any contract or agreement with the federal government or any federal agency to 1) increase the weekly UI benefit rate payable to claimants above what is provided under state law, or 2) increase the total amount of UI benefits to which a claimant is entitled above what is provided under state law. Under the bill, such a benefit augmentation is subject to a seven-day passive review by the Joint Committee on Finance. In addition, the bill provides that no benefit augmentation may be effectuated unless it is subject to termination or cancellation by the Joint Committee on Finance. Worker[s compensation; misconduct Currently, under the worker[s compensation law, an employer is not liable for temporary disability benefits during an employee[s healing period if the employee is suspended or terminated from employment due to misconduct, as defined under the UI law. Under the bill, the changes to the UI law[s definition of misconduct described above apply under the worker[s compensation law as well. LRB-2741/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 198 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB182 | Changes to the low-income housing tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority administers a low-income housing tax credit program. Under that program, a person may claim as a credit against the person[s income or franchise tax liability, or against the person[s liability for fees imposed on an insurer, the amount allocated by WHEDA in an Xallocation certificateY for a qualified low- income housing project. The bill also requires that WHEDA, if possible, ensure that at least 35 percent of the tax credits it allocates each year under the program are for qualified low- income housing projects in rural areas in Wisconsin and removes the requirement that a qualified low-income housing project be financed with tax-exempt bonds. Finally, the bill makes a technical change to the credit for insurers so that an insurer who is a shareholder of a tax-option corporation, a partner of a partnership, or a member of a limited liability company may claim the credit. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB151 | Requests for information from employers about unemployment insurance claims. | Under current rules of the Department of Workforce Development, in order to determine unemployment insurance (UI) benefit claims, DWD may require employers to provide information about claimants[ employment separations, dates of work, wages and other payments, and other issues that may be disqualifying. This bill requires DWD to allow an employer no less than 12 business days to respond to an initial request for information about a UI benefit claim. | In Committee |
| SB205 | Information provided to voters concerning proposed constitutional amendments and other statewide referenda. (FE) | Current law requires that each proposed constitutional amendment, contingent referendum, advisory referendum, or other proposal requiring a statewide referendum that is passed by the legislature include a complete statement of the ballot question to be voted on at the referendum. The ballot question may not be worded in such a manner as to require a negative vote to approve a proposition or an affirmative vote to disapprove a proposition. Also under current law, the attorney general must prepare an explanatory statement for each proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum describing the effect of either a XyesY or XnoY vote on each ballot question. This bill eliminates the requirement that the attorney general prepare such an explanatory statement. Instead, the bill requires that each proposal for a constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum that passes both houses of the legislature contain a complete state referendum disclosure notice that includes all of the following: 1. The date of the referendum. LRB-2640/1 MPG:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 205 2. The entire text of the ballot question and proposed constitutional amendment or enactment, if any. 3. To the extent applicable, a plain language summary of current law. 4. An explanation in plain language of the effect of the proposed constitutional amendment or other statewide referendum. 5. An explanation in plain language of the effect of a XyesY vote and the effect of a XnoY vote. Under the bill, the content under items 3 to 5 combined may not exceed one page on paper not less than 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches and printed in at least 12- point font. Under the bill, the complete state referendum disclosure notice agreed to by both houses of the legislature must be included in the type C notice entitled XNotice of ReferendumY that each county clerk must provide prior to any referendum. Current law requires that the text of the type C notice be posted at polling places on election day in such a manner as to be readily observed by voters entering the polling place or waiting in line to vote. As such, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be so posted at the polls on election day. Additionally, for at least 30 days prior to the date of a statewide referendum, the complete state referendum disclosure notice must be published by the Elections Commission on the website used for voter registration, currently titled MyVote Wisconsin, or other voter public access website maintained by the commission and must be posted by each county clerk at the county clerk[s office and published by the county clerk on the county clerk[s website. Finally, the notice must be included with absentee ballots provided to voters for voting in a statewide referendum. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB229 | The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights. | Current law contains a law enforcement officers[ bill of rights that protects certain law enforcement officers[ rights relating to their engagement or lack of engagement in political activity, the manner in which they may be subject to interrogation, and their candidacy for public office and provides that a law enforcement officer may not be discharged; disciplined; demoted or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment; or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment for exercising such rights. Under current law, this bill of rights applies only to law enforcement officers employed by a city, village, town, or county. This bill applies the law enforcement officers[ bill of rights to any person employed by the state or by a city, village, town, or county for the purpose of detecting and preventing crime and enforcing laws or ordinances, who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws or ordinances that he or she is employed to enforce. | In Committee |
| SB69 | An income tax subtraction for certain expenses paid by a school teacher. (FE) | Currently, an elementary or secondary school teacher may claim a deduction on the individual[s federal income tax return for certain eligible expenses paid by the individual during the taxable year, not exceeding $300. Eligible expenses include amounts paid to participate in professional development courses and amounts paid for books and other classroom supplies. This bill allows an elementary or secondary school teacher to claim a similar deduction for state income tax purposes for eligible expenses, not exceeding $300, paid by the teacher during the taxable year. The eligible expenses are the same as those described under federal law. Finally, the taxpayer may claim the deduction for state income tax purposes regardless of whether the taxpayer claims the deduction for federal income tax purposes. 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. LRB-1216/1 JK:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 69 | In Committee |
| AR3 | Observing February 28, 2025, as Rare Disease Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: observing February 28, 2025, as Rare Disease Day in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB227 | The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights. | Current law contains a law enforcement officers[ bill of rights that protects certain law enforcement officers[ rights relating to their engagement or lack of engagement in political activity, the manner in which they may be subject to interrogation, and their candidacy for public office and provides that a law enforcement officer may not be discharged; disciplined; demoted or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment; or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment for exercising such rights. Under current law, this bill of rights applies only to law enforcement officers employed by a city, village, town, or county. This bill applies the law enforcement officers[ bill of rights to any person employed by the state or by a city, village, town, or county for the purpose of detecting and preventing crime and enforcing laws or ordinances, who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws or ordinances that he or she is employed to enforce. | In Committee |
| SJR39 | Declaring May 2025 as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month. | Relating to: declaring May 2025 as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month. | In Committee |
| AB200 | Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Administrative allowance of the motor vehicle fuel tax Current law allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain as an administrative allowance 1.35 percent of the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of gasoline in this state. This bill allows a motor vehicle fuel supplier to retain the same administrative allowance for the motor vehicle fuel tax the supplier collects on the first sale of diesel fuel in this state. Retailer refund for motor vehicle fuel evaporation The bill allows a retailer who sells gasoline, diesel fuel, or both (motor vehicle fuel) in this state to claim a refund equal to 0.5 percent of the state motor vehicle fuel tax paid on the retailer[s purchase of the motor vehicle fuel to compensate for motor vehicle fuel stored on site that is lost by shrinkage or evaporation. A claim for a refund under the bill must be made to the Department of Revenue no later than 12 months after the date on which the retailer purchased the motor vehicle fuel and must be accompanied with invoices prepared by the motor vehicle fuel supplier or a list of purchases prepared by the retailer. Prior to 2019, the state provided such refunds to compensate gasoline retailers for shrinkage and evaporation losses. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR24 | Proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SJR28 | Reaffirming Wisconsin’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin’s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan’s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan’s international profile. | Relating to: reaffirming Wisconsin[s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin[s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan[s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan[s international profile. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| SB122 | 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) | Under current law, the equalized value of taxable property of a new or amended tax incremental district (TID) plus the value increment of all existing TIDs in a city or village may not exceed 12 percent of the total equalized value of taxable property in the city or village. Under this bill, the 12 percent rule does not apply to TID Number 5 created by the city of Port Washington. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB58 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, any flag other than the U.S. flag and the flag of the state of Wisconsin from being flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of any state office building or facility, including the state capitol, or from any local government building or school building. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes a similar requirement but authorizes the governor to direct otherwise. | In Committee |
| SB211 | Exempting tobacco bars from the public smoking ban. | This bill exempts tobacco bars from the general prohibition under current law against smoking in indoor locations if the tobacco bar satisfies all of the following: 1) the tobacco bar came into existence on or after June 4, 2009; 2) only the smoking of cigars and pipes is allowed in the tobacco bar; and 3) the tobacco bar is not a retail food establishment. Current law defines a Xtobacco barY as a tavern that generates 15 percent or more of its annual gross income from the sale on the tavern premises, other than from a vending machine, of cigars and pipe tobacco. Also, under current law, tobacco bars that existed on June 3, 2009, are exempt from the general prohibition against smoking in indoor locations. | In Committee |
| AJR24 | Reaffirming Wisconsin’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin’s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan’s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan’s international profile. | Relating to: reaffirming Wisconsin[s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin[s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan[s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan[s international profile. | In Committee |
| AJR22 | Proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming April 26, 2025, as Shared Parenting Day in Wisconsin. | 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 |
| 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 |
| SB59 | Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) | This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and 17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of LRB-1653/1 ARG:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 59 this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability, the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or 2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for tuition and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in a UW System school or technical college. This bill eliminates the five-year durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service. Under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse and children are still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the veteran or the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of whether the veteran or veteran[s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a resident student for tuition or fee purposes. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB151 | A presumption that equalizing physical placement to the highest degree is in the child’s best interest. | Under current law, a court must set a physical placement schedule in an action affecting the family that allows a child to have regularly occurring, meaningful periods of physical placement and that maximizes the amount of time for a child with each parent and that is based on the best interest of the child. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in Landwehr v. Landwehr, 2006 WI 64, 291 Wis. 2d 49, 715 N.W.2d 180, has stated that this standard does not require equal placement for a child with both parents. This bill removes the current standard for determining a physical placement schedule and instead creates a presumption that equal placement of a child with both parents is in the child[s best interest. The presumption is rebutted if a court finds by a preponderance of the evidence, after considering all of the statutory best- interest factors, that equalizing physical placement time between parents would not be in a child[s best interest. | In Committee |
| SB161 | A presumption that equalizing physical placement to the highest degree is in the child’s best interest. | Under current law, a court must set a physical placement schedule in an action affecting the family that allows a child to have regularly occurring, meaningful periods of physical placement and that maximizes the amount of time for a child with each parent and that is based on the best interest of the child. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in Landwehr v. Landwehr, 2006 WI 64, 291 Wis. 2d 49, 715 N.W.2d 180, has stated that this standard does not require equal placement for a child with both parents. This bill removes the current standard for determining a physical placement schedule and instead creates a presumption that equal placement of a child with both parents is in the child[s best interest. The presumption is rebutted if a court finds by a preponderance of the evidence, after considering all of the statutory best- interest factors, that equalizing physical placement time between parents would not be in a child[s best interest. LRB-2146/1 SWB:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 161 | In Committee |
| SB26 | Technical colleges’ lease of their facilities to others. (FE) | This bill allows a technical college to lease its facilities to others for the operation of a child care center. Current law allows a technical college to rent to others property not needed for school purposes. Before July 1, 1999, a technical college, with the approval of the Technical College System Board, could also lease its facilities to others for school purposes, but this is prohibited after June 30, 1999. The bill creates an exception to this prohibition, allowing a technical college, with the approval of the TCS Board, to lease its facilities to others for the operation of a child care center. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB21 | Technical colleges’ lease of their facilities to others. (FE) | This bill allows a technical college to lease its facilities to others for the operation of a child care center. Current law allows a technical college to rent to others property not needed for school purposes. Before July 1, 1999, a technical college, with the approval of the Technical College System Board, could also lease its facilities to others for school purposes, but this is prohibited after June 30, 1999. The bill creates an exception to this prohibition, allowing a technical college, with the approval of the TCS Board, to lease its facilities to others for the operation of a child care center. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR6 | Honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Relating to: honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AJR9 | Honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Relating to: honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB130 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) | Under current law provisions known as the Xspills law,Y a person that possesses or controls a hazardous substance or that causes the discharge of a hazardous substance must notify the Department of Natural Resources immediately, restore the environment to the extent practicable, and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. If action is not being adequately taken, or the identity of the person responsible for the discharge is unknown, DNR may take emergency action to contain or remove the hazardous substance; the person that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance that was discharged or that caused the discharge of the hazardous substance must then reimburse DNR for expenses DNR incurred in taking such emergency actions. The spills law allows DNR to enter property to take emergency action if entry is necessary to prevent increased environmental damages, and to inspect any record relating to a hazardous substance for the purpose of determining compliance with the spills law. DNR may also require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges. The bill exempts the following persons from all of these provisions under the spills law, if the person grants DNR permission to remediate the land at DNR[s expense: 1. A person that spread biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 2. A person that owns land upon which biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS were spread in compliance with any applicable license or permit. 3. A fire department, public-use airport, or municipality that responded to emergencies that required the use of PFAS or that conducted training for such emergencies in compliance with applicable federal regulations. 4. A solid waste disposal facility that accepted PFAS. 5. A person that owns, leases, manages, or contracts for property on which the PFAS contamination did not originate, unless the person also owns, leases, manages, or contracts for the property on which the PFAS discharge originated. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB123 | Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code. | This bill makes changes to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), as adopted in this state, related to jurisdiction and creditor claims involving assets held in a customer[s brokerage account that are not held directly in the customer[s name, commonly referred to as securities held in Xstreet nameY in the customer[s account. Under current law, the UCC provides guiding rules for both creditor-debtor relationships involving a security interest in collateral and transactions that involve investment securities. These latter rules govern such matters as proper endorsement of securities being transferred, persons who have authority to make such transfers, and rights of creditors in these securities. These rules frequently distinguish between a security held directly by the owner and represented by a security certificate (certificated security), a security held directly by the owner and represented only by a book entry instead of a security certificate (uncertificated security), and a security not held directly by the owner but instead held directly by LRB-0061/1 ARG:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 123 a broker or bank in an aggregated account in which the owner[s interest is represented by a book entry (security entitlement). Under current law, a person generally acquires a security entitlement if 1) a securities broker-dealer, bank, or securities clearing corporation (securities intermediary) credits a financial asset (security), by book entry, to the person[s securities account; 2) the securities intermediary holds the security for the person; and 3) the security is not held in the person[s name or directly by the person. The person who acquires the security entitlement, as identified in the securities intermediary[s records, is the Xentitlement holder,Y and the security entitlement constitutes the rights and property interest in the security. In addition to holding securities for its customers, certain securities intermediaries, such as broker- dealers, may hold securities for their own account. Generally, under current law, the interests in a security held by a securities intermediary for entitlement holders are not property of the securities intermediary and are not subject to the claims of the securities intermediary[s creditors. The entitlement holders of the security have a prorated property interest in the aggregate holdings of the security. The securities intermediary has a duty to maintain the security in a quantity corresponding to the aggregate of all security entitlements it established for its entitlement holders and may not grant to any creditor a security interest in the security unless agreed to by an entitlement holder. With an exception (discussed below), if a securities intermediary does not have sufficient interests in a security to satisfy its obligations to entitlement holders and to its own creditors, the claims of the entitlement holders have priority over the claims of the creditors. Current law allows an entitlement holder and a securities intermediary to modify their relative rights and obligations. A securities intermediary and an entitlement holder may enter into a creditor-debtor relationship in which the securities intermediary takes a security interest in the security entitlement when the entitlement holder buys the security on credit through the securities intermediary. The security interest secures the obligation to pay for the security, and the entitlement holder may grant its interest in the securities entitlement to the securities intermediary, giving the securities intermediary control. Also, the rights and obligations of a clearing corporation and its participants may be governed by the clearing corporation[s rules, and a security interest may arise automatically during settlement of a transaction involving a certificated security. Current law specifies rules governing priority among conflicting security interests in a security, including that a secured party having control of a security has priority over a secured party that does not have control of the security. A security interest held by a securities intermediary in a security entitlement has priority over a conflicting security interest held by another secured party. If a securities intermediary[s creditor has control over a security held by the securities intermediary and the creditor has a security interest in the security, the creditor[s claim has priority over claims of the securities intermediary[s entitlement holders, LRB-0061/1 ARG:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 123 except that, if the securities intermediary is a clearing corporation, it need not have control over the security. This is an exception to the general rule that a securities intermediary[s entitlement holders have priority in claims to a security over the security intermediary[s creditors. The bill eliminates this exception, providing an entitlement holder with priority in claims to a security even if the entitlement holder has purchased the security on margin and provided the securities intermediary with a security interest in the security. Current law also specifies that the law of the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction (as described below) governs all of the following: 1) acquisition of a security entitlement from the securities intermediary; 2) the rights and duties of the securities intermediary and entitlement holder arising out of a security entitlement; 3) whether the securities intermediary owes any duty to an adverse claimant to a security entitlement; 4) whether an adverse claim can be asserted against a person who acquires a security entitlement from the securities intermediary or a person who purchases a security entitlement from an entitlement holder; and 5) perfection and priority of a security interest in a security entitlement. Specific principles dictate in which state a securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies, including that an agreement between the securities intermediary and the entitlement holder on the subject will control or, in the absence of an agreement, the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies in the state of the office identified on the entitlement holder[s account statement. The bill eliminates all of these jurisdictional provisions and instead provides that the law of the entitlement holder[s jurisdiction governs. | In Committee |
| AB131 | Programs and requirements to address PFAS. | This bill creates several new programs and requirements relating to PFAS, which is defined in the bill to mean any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance. Municipal PFAS grant program The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to create a municipal PFAS grant program, which applies only to types of PFAS for which there is a state or federal standard, a public health recommendation from the Department of Health Services, or a health advisory issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Under the bill, the municipal PFAS grant program provides all of the following grants: 1. Grants to municipalities (defined under current law as a city, town, village, county, county utility district, town sanitary district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, or metropolitan sewage district) for PFAS testing at municipal water systems and municipal wastewater treatment facilities, or for reimbursement for such testing if performed at properties owned, leased, managed, or contracted for by municipalities and if there are promulgated standards for those types of PFAS. 2. Grants to nonmunicipal entities regulated as public or community water systems, distributed in equal shares up to $1,800, to test their drinking water supply for PFAS, if required to do so by DNR, or for reimbursement for such testing. 3. Grants to privately owned landfills, in equal shares up to $15,000, to test for the presence of PFAS in leachate. 4. Grants to municipalities to test for PFAS levels at municipally owned, leased, managed, or contracted locations where PFAS may be present, including testing for PFAS levels in leachate at landfills. If the property to be tested is not owned by the municipality, DNR may not issue a grant unless the property owner gives the municipality written consent to enter the property and conduct testing. These grants are not available to municipalities that receive a grant under this program to test for PFAS at municipal water systems and municipal wastewater treatment facilities. For these grants, DNR may require matching funds of up to 20 percent from the applicant. 5. Grants to municipalities and privately owned landfills to dispose of PFAS- containing biosolids or leachate at facilities that accept such biosolids or leachate or to purchase and install on-site treatment systems to address PFAS contained in biosolids or leachate. For these grants, DNR may require matching funds of up to 20 percent from the applicant and the grants may not be used for costs associated with landspreading. 6. Grants for capital costs or debt service, including for facility upgrades or new infrastructure, to municipalities that are small or disadvantaged or in which rates for water or wastewater utilities will increase by more than 20 percent as a direct result of steps taken to address PFAS contamination. When issuing these grants, DNR must give priority to projects that are necessary to address an exceedence of an applicable state or federal standard. 7. Grants to municipalities for capital costs or other costs related to PFAS that are not otherwise paid from the segregated environmental improvement fund, including costs for addressing landfills or other contaminated lands owned, leased, managed, or contracted for by municipalities or costs incurred by fire departments; grants to municipalities for the preparation and implementation of pollutant minimization plans; and grants to municipalities for costs incurred by public utilities or metropolitan sewerage districts for pretreatment or other PFAS reduction measures in certain circumstances. For these grants, DNR may require matching funds of up to 20 percent from the applicant. For all of the grants provided under the municipal PFAS grant program, DNR may not require a grant recipient to take any action to address PFAS unless PFAS levels exceed any applicable standard under state or federal law. The bill also prohibits DNR from publicly disclosing the results of any PFAS testing conducted under this grant program unless DNR notifies the grant recipient at least 72 hours before publicly disclosing any test result, with certain exceptions. Current law provides that whenever a state agency is authorized to provide state funds to any county, city, village, or town for any purpose, funds may also be granted by that agency to any federally recognized tribal governing body for the same purpose. Innocent landowner grant program The bill also requires DNR to create an innocent landowner grant program, which applies only to types of PFAS for which there is a state or federal standard, a public health recommendation from the Department of Health Services, or a health advisory issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Under the program, DNR may provide grants to an eligible person or to a person who is applying on behalf of multiple eligible persons that are located in the same geographic region, if the applicant will be the entity performing any authorized activities. Under the program, an Xeligible personY is 1) a person that spread biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS in compliance with any applicable license or permit, 2) a person that owns land upon which biosolids or wastewater residuals contaminated by PFAS were spread in compliance with any applicable license or permit, 3) a fire department, public-use airport, or municipality that responded to emergencies that required the use of PFAS or that conducted training for such emergencies in compliance with applicable federal regulations, 4) a solid waste disposal facility that accepted PFAS, and 5) a person that owns, leases, manages, or contracts for property on which the PFAS contamination did not originate, unless the person also owns, leases, manages, or contracts for the property on which the PFAS discharge originated. The total amount of grants awarded to each eligible person may not exceed $250,000 and DNR may require grant recipients to provide matching funds of not more than 5 percent of the grant amount. Under current law provisions known as the Xspills law,Y a person that possesses or controls a hazardous substance or that causes the discharge of a hazardous substance must notify DNR immediately, restore the environment to the extent practicable, and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge. If action is not being adequately taken, or the identity of the person responsible for the discharge is unknown, DNR may take emergency action to contain or remove the hazardous substance; the person that possessed or controlled the hazardous substance that was discharged or that caused the discharge of the hazardous substance must then reimburse DNR for expenses DNR incurred in taking such emergency actions. The spills law allows DNR to enter property to take emergency action if entry is necessary to prevent increased environmental damages, and to inspect any record relating to a hazardous substance for the purpose of determining compliance with the spills law. DNR may also require that preventive measures be taken by any person possessing or having control over a hazardous substance if existing control measures are inadequate to prevent discharges. Spills law exemptions Under the bill, if a person is eligible for a grant under the innocent landowner grant program, the person is exempt from all of the provisions under the spills law described above with respect to PFAS contamination, if the person grants DNR permission to remediate the land at DNR[s expense. If a person is not eligible for a grant under the innocent landowner grant program, the person is exempt from all of the provisions under the spills law described above, based on the results of any PFAS testing conducted on samples taken from lands not owned by the state, unless PFAS levels violate any applicable state or federal law, including any standard promulgated under state or federal law. Limitations on DNR actions relating to PFAS Under the bill, DNR may not prevent, delay, or otherwise impede any construction project or project of public works based on a presence of PFAS contamination unless DNR determines that 1) the project poses a substantial risk to public health or welfare, 2) there is a substantial risk that the project will create worsening environmental conditions, 3) the entity proposing to complete the project is responsible for the original contamination, as a result of conduct that was reckless or was done with the intent to discharge PFAS into the environment, or 4) DNR is specifically required under the federal Clean Water Act to prevent, delay, or otherwise impede the project. XPublic worksY is defined to mean the physical structures and facilities developed or acquired by a local unit of government or a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state to provide services and functions for the benefit and use of the public, including water, sewerage, waste disposal, utilities, and transportation, and privately owned landfills that accept residential waste. In addition, under the bill, if DNR seeks to collect samples from lands not owned by the state based on permission from the landowner, such permission must be in writing, and DNR must notify the landowner that such permission includes the authority to collect samples, to test those samples, and to publicly disclose the results of that testing. The landowner may revoke such permission at any time prior to the collection of samples. Under the bill, DNR also may not publicly disclose such PFAS testing results unless it notifies the landowner of the test results at least 72 hours before publicly disclosing them. The bill also requires DNR, or a third-party contract by DNR, to respond in a timely manner to requests from any person to conduct PFAS testing on samples taken from the person[s property if practicable and if funds are available to do so, if there is a reasonable belief that PFAS contamination may be present on the property, and if existing information such as public water supply testing data is not available. The bill also requires DNR, in the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, to increase its voluntary PFAS testing activities. Firefighting foam The bill requires DNR to survey or resurvey local fire departments about their use and possession of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, send communications and information regarding PFAS-containing firefighting foam, and contract with a third party to voluntarily collect PFAS-containing firefighting foam. Well compensation grant program Under current law, an individual owner or renter of a contaminated private well, subject to eligibility requirements, may apply for a grant from DNR to cover a portion of the costs to treat the water, reconstruct the well, construct a new well, connect to a public water supply, or fill and seal the well. The bill provides that a grant for costs to treat the water may be used to cover the cost of a filtration device and up to two replacement filters. In addition, under the bill, if DNR determines that a claimant who is applying for a grant under the well compensation grant program on the basis of PFAS contamination would be eligible for a grant under the innocent landowner grant program created under the bill, and funding under that program is available, DNR must refer the claimant[s application to that program instead of processing it under the well compensation grant program. If the claimant is denied under the innocent landowner grant program, DNR must refer the claim back to the well compensation grant program. Portable water treatment system pilot project The bill requires DNR to contract with an entity to conduct a pilot project in which PFAS-contaminated surface water is partially or fully diverted to a portable treatment system and treated water is returned to the surface water. DNR and the entity must conduct tests to evaluate the success of the pilot project. Remedial action at sites contaminated by PFAS The bill allows DNR, or a contracted third party, to begin response and remedial actions, including site investigations, at any PFAS-contaminated site where a responsible party has not been identified or where the responsible party qualifies for a grant under the innocent landowner grant program. The bill directs DNR to prioritize response and remedial actions at sites that have the highest levels of PFAS contamination and sites with the greatest threats to public health or the environment because of PFAS. Assistance for testing laboratories The bill requires DNR and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to enter into a memorandum of understanding to ensure that the state laboratory of hygiene provides guidance and other materials, conducts training, and provides assistance to laboratories in this state that are certified to test for contaminants other than PFAS in order for them to become certified to test for PFAS, and to assist laboratories certified to test for PFAS in this state to reduce their testing costs and shorten the timeline for receiving test results. Under the bill, the Board of Regents, in coordination with DNR, may provide grants to laboratories in this state that are certified to test for PFAS, or that are seeking such certification, to assist with up to 40 percent of the costs of purchasing equipment necessary for testing for PFAS. The bill requires the state laboratory of hygiene to prepare a report on these efforts and provide the report to the legislature. PFAS studies and reporting The bill requires DNR and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to enter into a memorandum of understanding to 1) study and analyze the cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of different methods of treating PFAS before they are released into a water system or water body; 2) conduct a cost-benefit analysis of different options for disposing of biosolids or sludge that contains or may contain PFAS; 3) study and analyze the cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of different destruction and disposal methods for PFAS; 4) study and analyze the cost, feasibility, and effectiveness of different methods for remediating PFAS that leave the contaminated medium in place and methods that remove the contaminated medium; 5) study and analyze the migration of PFAS into the bay of Green Bay; 6) study and analyze the migration of PFAS into the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries; 7) conduct any additional studies related to PFAS, as approved by the Joint Committee on Finance; and 8) create a comprehensive, interactive map showing all available PFAS testing data and, for each data point, whether it exceeds any applicable state or federal standard for PFAS. Such data may not contain any personally identifiable information unless the entity to which the data applies is a municipal entity that is required to test and disclose its results under state law. DNR reporting requirements The bill requires DNR to report to the legislature once every six months for a period of three years to provide a detailed description of DNR[s expenditures under the bill and a detailed description of DNR[s progress in implementing the provisions of the bill. Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Under current law, the Department of Administration and DNR administer the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP), which provides financial assistance to municipalities, and to the private owners of community water systems that serve municipalities, for projects that will help the municipalities comply with federal drinking water standards. DNR establishes a funding priority list for SDWLP projects, and DOA allocates funding for those projects. Also under current law, DNR administers the Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP), which provides financial assistance to municipalities for projects to control water pollution, such as sewage treatment plants. Under the bill, if DNR, when ranking SDWLP or CWFP projects or determining an applicant[s eligibility for assistance under those programs, considers whether an applicant that intends to extend service outside municipal boundaries because of water contamination is XsmallY or Xdisadvantaged,Y DNR must determine the applicant to be small or disadvantaged if the area receiving the extended service would normally be determined to be small or disadvantaged, regardless of whether the existing service area would normally be determined to be small or disadvantaged. Public water utility projects Under current law, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. Under the bill, if a water public utility or a combined water and sewer public utility (water utility) fails to obtain a CA before commencing a project for which one is required, PSC may not investigate, impose a penalty against, or bring an action to enjoin the water utility if 1) the water utility undertook the project in response to a public health concern caused by PFAS, the presence of which was unknown to the water utility until shortly before it commenced the project, and the water utility provides evidence showing that the utility has exceeded or is likely to exceed the applicable state or federal standard for that type of PFAS; 2) the water utility promptly notifies PSC of the work and, within 30 days after commencing the work, submits the appropriate application and supporting documentation to PSC; and 3) the total cost of the project is not greater than $2,000,000. In the PSC administrative code, the bill adds an emergency resulting from water supply contamination to the circumstances under which PSC authorization is not necessary prior to a utility beginning necessary repair work. The current administrative code limits this to an emergency resulting from the failure of power supply or from fire, storm, or similar events. Use of revenue for PFAS source reduction measures The bill authorizes a municipal public utility or metropolitan sewerage district to use revenues from its water or sewerage services for up to half of the cost of pretreatment or other PFAS source reduction measures for an interconnected customer or other regular customer if the costs incurred are less than the costs of the upgrades otherwise required at the endpoint treatment facility and if the costs are approved by the governing body of the municipality or the metropolitan sewerage district. Test wells for community water systems Under rules promulgated by DNR relating to community water systems (a system for providing piped water for human consumption to the public and that serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents), DNR must preapprove any test wells that will be converted into permanent wells and any test wells that will pump at least 70 gallons per minute for more than 72 hours. DNR rules require test wells to be drilled for permanent wells for community water systems to determine geologic formation information and water quality and quantity data. DNR rules also allow DNR to designate special well casing depth areas within which wells must be drilled to a greater depth and meet other requirements to avoid contamination. This bill provides that test wells for community water systems must also be approved by DNR if they are located in special well casing depth areas that have been designated based in whole or in part on the presence of PFAS. | In Committee |
| AB133 | Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code. | This bill makes changes to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), as adopted in this state, related to jurisdiction and creditor claims involving assets held in a customer[s brokerage account that are not held directly in the customer[s name, commonly referred to as securities held in Xstreet nameY in the customer[s account. Under current law, the UCC provides guiding rules for both creditor-debtor relationships involving a security interest in collateral and transactions that involve investment securities. These latter rules govern such matters as proper endorsement of securities being transferred, persons who have authority to make such transfers, and rights of creditors in these securities. These rules frequently distinguish between a security held directly by the owner and represented by a security certificate (certificated security), a security held directly by the owner and represented only by a book entry instead of a security certificate (uncertificated security), and a security not held directly by the owner but instead held directly by a broker or bank in an aggregated account in which the owner[s interest is represented by a book entry (security entitlement). Under current law, a person generally acquires a security entitlement if 1) a securities broker-dealer, bank, or securities clearing corporation (securities intermediary) credits a financial asset (security), by book entry, to the person[s securities account; 2) the securities intermediary holds the security for the person; and 3) the security is not held in the person[s name or directly by the person. The person who acquires the security entitlement, as identified in the securities intermediary[s records, is the Xentitlement holder,Y and the security entitlement constitutes the rights and property interest in the security. In addition to holding securities for its customers, certain securities intermediaries, such as broker- dealers, may hold securities for their own account. Generally, under current law, the interests in a security held by a securities intermediary for entitlement holders are not property of the securities intermediary and are not subject to the claims of the securities intermediary[s creditors. The entitlement holders of the security have a prorated property interest in the aggregate holdings of the security. The securities intermediary has a duty to maintain the security in a quantity corresponding to the aggregate of all security entitlements it established for its entitlement holders and may not grant to any creditor a security interest in the security unless agreed to by an entitlement holder. With an exception (discussed below), if a securities intermediary does not have sufficient interests in a security to satisfy its obligations to entitlement holders and to its own creditors, the claims of the entitlement holders have priority over the claims of the creditors. Current law allows an entitlement holder and a securities intermediary to modify their relative rights and obligations. A securities intermediary and an entitlement holder may enter into a creditor-debtor relationship in which the securities intermediary takes a security interest in the security entitlement when the entitlement holder buys the security on credit through the securities intermediary. The security interest secures the obligation to pay for the security, and the entitlement holder may grant its interest in the securities entitlement to the securities intermediary, giving the securities intermediary control. Also, the rights and obligations of a clearing corporation and its participants may be governed by the clearing corporation[s rules, and a security interest may arise automatically during settlement of a transaction involving a certificated security. Current law specifies rules governing priority among conflicting security interests in a security, including that a secured party having control of a security has priority over a secured party that does not have control of the security. A security interest held by a securities intermediary in a security entitlement has priority over a conflicting security interest held by another secured party. If a securities intermediary[s creditor has control over a security held by the securities intermediary and the creditor has a security interest in the security, the creditor[s claim has priority over claims of the securities intermediary[s entitlement holders, except that, if the securities intermediary is a clearing corporation, it need not have control over the security. This is an exception to the general rule that a securities intermediary[s entitlement holders have priority in claims to a security over the security intermediary[s creditors. The bill eliminates this exception, providing an entitlement holder with priority in claims to a security even if the entitlement holder has purchased the security on margin and provided the securities intermediary with a security interest in the security. Current law also specifies that the law of the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction (as described below) governs all of the following: 1) acquisition of a security entitlement from the securities intermediary; 2) the rights and duties of the securities intermediary and entitlement holder arising out of a security entitlement; 3) whether the securities intermediary owes any duty to an adverse claimant to a security entitlement; 4) whether an adverse claim can be asserted against a person who acquires a security entitlement from the securities intermediary or a person who purchases a security entitlement from an entitlement holder; and 5) perfection and priority of a security interest in a security entitlement. Specific principles dictate in which state a securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies, including that an agreement between the securities intermediary and the entitlement holder on the subject will control or, in the absence of an agreement, the securities intermediary[s jurisdiction lies in the state of the office identified on the entitlement holder[s account statement. The bill eliminates all of these jurisdictional provisions and instead provides that the law of the entitlement holder[s jurisdiction governs. | In Committee |
| AR5 | Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17, 2025. | Relating to: celebrating Saint Patrick[s Day on March 17, 2025. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| AB47 | Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) | This bill modifies the residency requirement for the tuition and fee remission program for certain veterans and their spouses and children enrolled in University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Under current law, if certain criteria are met, veterans and their spouses and 17- to 25-year-old children are eligible for full remission of tuition and fees at UW System schools and technical colleges for up to eight semesters or 128 credits, whichever is longer. Under the veterans fee remission program, the veteran must be a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or be a resident of this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Under the fee remission program for the spouse or child of a veteran who suffered service-connected death or disability, the veteran must have been a resident of this state when he or she entered military service or one of the following must apply: 1) if the veteran, while a resident of this state, died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years while an adult, or 2) if the veteran received at least a 30 percent service-connected disability rating, the veteran must have resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. In addition, if a veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for tuition and fee remission only if the spouse or child has resided in this state for at least five consecutive years immediately before the spouse[s or child[s enrollment in a UW System school or technical college. This bill eliminates the five-year durational residency requirement for veterans and their spouses and children under the tuition and fee remission program under circumstances in which the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service. Under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran is still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the veteran is a resident of this state immediately before the veteran registers at a UW System school or technical college. Also under the bill, if the veteran was not a resident of this state when he or she entered military service, the veteran[s spouse and children are still eligible for the tuition and fee remission program if the spouse or child resided in this state immediately before the spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college and if the veteran, as described in 1), above, resided in this state at any time while an adult or the veteran, as described in 2), above, resided in this state immediately before the veteran[s spouse or child registers at a UW System school or technical college. If the applicable requirements for fee remission are met, the veteran or the veteran[s spouse or child is eligible for fee remission regardless of whether the veteran or veteran[s spouse or child would otherwise qualify as a resident student for tuition or fee purposes. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SB79 | A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption. | This bill provides a method by which a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father may disclaim his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one who is not an Indian child in writing as an alternative to appearing in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. The bill also allows payments to be made to a licensed out-of-state private child placing agency for services provided in connection with an adoption. Disclaimer of parental rights Subject to certain exceptions, current law generally requires a birth parent to appear in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. This bill adds an exception that allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to avoid appearing in court if he or she files with the court an affidavit disclaiming his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one and if no participant in the court proceeding knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child. A minor may use such an affidavit of disclaimer only after the TPR LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 petition has been filed, he or she has been offered legal counseling, and he or she has been appointed a guardian ad litem and only if the guardian ad litem approves the disclaimer. The affidavit must comply with certain requirements, including that it must be witnessed and notarized and must include a statement that the parent understands the effect of an order to terminate parental rights and that he or she voluntarily disclaims any rights that he or she may have to the child. The bill requires the court to review the affidavit and make findings on whether it meets all of the requirements. Under the bill, the affidavit containing a disclaimer of parental rights may be executed before the birth of the child by the father or alleged or presumed father but not the mother and may be executed by either parent 120 hours or more after the birth until the child[s first birthday; however, the affidavit may not be executed by either parent from birth until 120 hours after the birth or on or after the child[s first birthday. Under the bill, if executed by the father or alleged or presumed father before the child[s birth, the disclaimer is revokable for any reason until 72 hours after execution or 120 hours after the birth, whichever is later. If executed by the mother, the disclaimer is revocable for any reason until 72 hours after execution. If not revoked by the applicable time limit, the disclaimer is irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. Under the bill, no action to invalidate a disclaimer, including an action based on fraud or duress, may be commenced more than three months after the affidavit was executed. If parental rights to a child are terminated based upon such a disclaimer of parental rights, the bill prohibits a court from entering an order granting adoption of the child until three months have passed since the affidavit was executed. The bill requires the agency making the placement of the child for adoption, whether the agency is the Department of Children and Families, the county department of human services or social services, or a licensed child welfare agency, to offer both counseling and legal counseling to the person disclaiming his or her parental rights, at the agency[s expense, prior to execution of the affidavit. The person must acknowledge in the affidavit that he or she has been offered these counseling and legal counseling sessions and whether or not he or she accepted them. Payments relating to adoption This bill allows payments to be made to an out-of-state private child placing agency that is licensed in the state in which it operates for services provided in connection with an adoption and, where applicable, in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, as certified to DCF. Under the bill, a private child placing agency means a private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney, that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another state. Current law LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 allows payments for such services only to a child welfare agency licensed in this state. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB70 | A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption. | This bill provides a method by which a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father may disclaim his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one who is not an Indian child in writing as an alternative to appearing in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. The bill also allows payments to be made to a licensed out-of-state private child placing agency for services provided in connection with an adoption. Disclaimer of parental rights Subject to certain exceptions, current law generally requires a birth parent to appear in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. This bill adds an exception that allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to avoid appearing in court if he or she files with the court an affidavit disclaiming his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one and if no participant in the court proceeding knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child. A minor may use such an affidavit of disclaimer only after the TPR petition has been filed, he or she has been offered legal counseling, and he or she has been appointed a guardian ad litem and only if the guardian ad litem approves the disclaimer. The affidavit must comply with certain requirements, including that it must be witnessed and notarized and must include a statement that the parent understands the effect of an order to terminate parental rights and that he or she voluntarily disclaims any rights that he or she may have to the child. The bill requires the court to review the affidavit and make findings on whether it meets all of the requirements. Under the bill, the affidavit containing a disclaimer of parental rights may be executed before the birth of the child by the father or alleged or presumed father but not the mother and may be executed by either parent 120 hours or more after the birth until the child[s first birthday; however, the affidavit may not be executed by either parent from birth until 120 hours after the birth or on or after the child[s first birthday. Under the bill, if executed by the father or alleged or presumed father before the child[s birth, the disclaimer is revokable for any reason until 72 hours after execution or 120 hours after the birth, whichever is later. If executed by the mother, the disclaimer is revocable for any reason until 72 hours after execution. If not revoked by the applicable time limit, the disclaimer is irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. Under the bill, no action to invalidate a disclaimer, including an action based on fraud or duress, may be commenced more than three months after the affidavit was executed. If parental rights to a child are terminated based upon such a disclaimer of parental rights, the bill prohibits a court from entering an order granting adoption of the child until three months have passed since the affidavit was executed. The bill requires the agency making the placement of the child for adoption, whether the agency is the Department of Children and Families, the county department of human services or social services, or a licensed child welfare agency, to offer both counseling and legal counseling to the person disclaiming his or her parental rights, at the agency[s expense, prior to execution of the affidavit. The person must acknowledge in the affidavit that he or she has been offered these counseling and legal counseling sessions and whether or not he or she accepted them. Payments relating to adoption This bill allows payments to be made to an out-of-state private child placing agency that is licensed in the state in which it operates for services provided in connection with an adoption and, where applicable, in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, as certified to DCF. Under the bill, a private child placing agency means a private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney, that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another state. Current law allows payments for such services only to a child welfare agency licensed in this state. | In Committee |
| AB67 | Venue for actions in which there is a governmental party. | This bill provides that when certain governmental parties are parties to or intervene in an action filed in a county in which there is a first or second class city, any party to the action may seek to have the clerk of the circuit court in which the case has been filed assign venue at random. Under the bill, a governmental party means 1) the legislature, either house of the legislature, or a committee of the legislature or of either house of the legislature, or any member of the legislature acting in his or her official capacity; 2) the elections commission or the ethics commission, or any commissioner thereof, acting in his or her official capacity; or 3) if acting in his or her official capacity, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, or superintendent of public instruction, a secretary or deputy secretary of a department, a commissioner or deputy commissioner of an independent agency, the president or vice president of the United States, or any U.S. senator or representative in Congress from this state. The bill provides that if an action is filed in a county in which there is a first or second class city and a governmental party is a party to the action, including as an intervenor, any party to the action has the option to elect random venue assignment. A plaintiff seeking to exercise the option for random venue assignment must file a notice not later than five days after the summons and complaint are filed. If the party seeking to exercise the option for random venue assignment is not the plaintiff, that party must file notice not later than five days after the service of a summons and complaint upon that party. In an action in which a governmental party files a motion to intervene, the notice must be filed not later than five days after that governmental party[s motion to intervene is granted. Under the bill, upon receipt of a notice from a party seeking random venue assignment, the clerk of the circuit court in which the case is filed must select a circuit at random, excluding the circuit in which the case was originally filed, and then assign the selected circuit as the venue for the case. The clerk of courts for the county where the action was initially filed must notify the clerk of courts for the county where the action is assigned of the venue assignment. The court to which the action is assigned must then issue an order to notify the parties of the venue assignment. If a case is assigned under the provisions of the bill, no party may seek to exercise the random venue assignment option again in the case, and neither a court, acting on its own, nor any party or intervenor may move for any subsequent change of venue. | In Committee |
| SB20 | Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) | Under current law, the Wisconsin earned income tax credit is equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit, and subject to certain exceptions, a married claimant must file a joint return to claim both the Wisconsin EITC and the federal EITC. This bill allows a married claimant to file a separate return to claim the Wisconsin EITC if the claimant lives apart from the claimant[s spouse when filing the return and is unable to file a joint return because of domestic abuse. The bill defines Xdomestic abuseY as 1) intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or illness; 2) intentional impairment of physical condition; 3) first-, second-, or third-degree sexual assault; or 4) a physical act that may cause reasonable fear of imminent engagement in any of the conduct listed above. Under the bill, the amount of the Wisconsin EITC is equal to the amount that the claimant would be eligible to claim if the claimant were considered unmarried. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-0088/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 20 | In Committee |
| AB20 | Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) | Under current law, the Wisconsin earned income tax credit is equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit, and subject to certain exceptions, a married claimant must file a joint return to claim both the Wisconsin EITC and the federal EITC. This bill allows a married claimant to file a separate return to claim the Wisconsin EITC if the claimant lives apart from the claimant[s spouse when filing the return and is unable to file a joint return because of domestic abuse. The bill defines Xdomestic abuseY as 1) intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or illness; 2) intentional impairment of physical condition; 3) first-, second-, or third-degree sexual assault; or 4) a physical act that may cause reasonable fear of imminent engagement in any of the conduct listed above. Under the bill, the amount of the Wisconsin EITC is equal to the amount that the claimant would be eligible to claim if the claimant were considered unmarried. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB40 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, any flag other than the U.S. flag and the flag of the state of Wisconsin from being flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of any state office building or facility, including the state capitol, or from any local government building or school building. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes a similar requirement but authorizes the governor to direct otherwise. | In Committee |
| SJR9 | Honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | In Committee |
| SJR4 | The freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | To amend section 18 of article I of the constitution; Relating to: the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | In Committee |
| AJR1 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | To create section 1m of article III of the constitution; Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 24 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 23 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 22 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 21 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 20 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 19 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 18 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 17 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 16 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 15 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 14 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 13 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 12 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 11 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 10 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 9 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 8 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 7 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 6 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 5 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 4 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| SB45 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB17 | Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB63 | Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB108 | Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB108 | Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB106 | Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB106 | Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AJR50 | Recognizing the United States Army’s 250th birthday. | Assembly: Adopted | 06/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB269 | Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/18/2025 | Yea |
| SB24 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB23 | Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB43 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB137 | Maximum life and allocation period for Tax Incremental District Number 9 in the village of DeForest and the total value of taxable property that may be included in tax incremental financing districts created in the village of DeForest. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB140 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Port Washington. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB73 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB164 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB165 | Local guaranteed income programs. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB166 | Academic and career planning services provided to pupils and requiring the reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB162 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB168 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB169 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB167 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB102 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB100 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB103 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB104 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB105 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB24 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB96 | Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB94 | Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB95 | Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB14 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB15 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB16 | Repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Natural Resources related to the possession of firearms. | Assembly: Referred to Environment | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB13 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB75 | Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB85 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB85 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB89 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB91 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB91 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB87 | Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB1 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB5 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB3 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB2 | Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB6 | Requiring a school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and annual pay increases for school administrators. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| AB6 | Requiring a school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and annual pay increases for school administrators. (FE) | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 02/19/2025 | Yea |
| SJR2 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 01/14/2025 | Yea |
| AR1 | Notifying the senate and the governor that the 2025-2026 assembly is organized. | Assembly: Adopted | 01/06/2025 | Yea |
| SJR1 | The session schedule for the 2025-2026 biennial session period. | Assembly: Concurred in | 01/06/2025 | Yea |
| AR2 | Establishing the assembly committee structure and names for the 2025-2026 legislative session. | Assembly: Adopted | 01/06/2025 | Yea |
| Committee | Position | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Jobs and Economy | 3 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Housing and Real Estate Committee | 4 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Rural Development Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Ways and Means Committee | 3 | |
| Detail | Wisconsin Assembly Workforce Development, Labor and Integrated Employment Committee | 3 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WI | Wisconsin Assembly District 67 | Assembly | Republican | In Office | 01/06/2025 | |
| WI | Wisconsin Assembly District 75 | Assembly | Republican | Out of Office | 01/04/2021 | 01/07/2025 |