Legislator
Legislator > Elijah Behnke
State Representative
Elijah Behnke
(R) - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Assembly District 06
Out of Office
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| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB371 | Explaining pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth as part of a human growth and development instructional program. (FE) | Under current law, a school board may offer a human growth and development instructional program to pupils in kindergarten to grade 12. If a school board elects to offer the instructional program, current law recommends, but does not require, that the school board include certain topics in the instructional program. If the school board provides instruction on a recommended topic, current law requires the school board to provide certain instruction in the program, when age appropriate, including presenting abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior for unmarried pupils, providing instruction in parental responsibility and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and their children, and explaining pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth. This bill requires that a school board include all of the following in the explanation of pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth, when age appropriate: 1) a high-definition ultrasound video that shows the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development; 2) a high-quality, computer-generated rendering LRB-3038/1 FFK:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 371 or animation that shows the process of fertilization and every stage of fetal development inside the uterus and that notes significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every week of pregnancy until birth; and 3) a presentation on each trimester of pregnancy as it relates to the physical and emotional health of the mother. The bill also requires that a school board include in the instruction in parental responsibility an explanation of 1) the importance of secure interpersonal relationships for infant mental health and 2) the value of reading to young children for mental development. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB365 | Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE) | Under current law, an owner of a fleet of 10 or more automobiles or motor trucks with a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds may register the vehicles as a fleet. This bill allows 10 or more of any combination of the following, with some exceptions, to be registered as a fleet: 1. Motor trucks with a gross weight of between 8,001 and 54,000 pounds. 2. Truck tractors or road tractors with a gross weight of between 4,500 and 54,000 pounds. 3. Trailers with a gross weight of not more than 80,000 pounds. Vehicles registered as a fleet are subject to the same annual registration fee as regularly applies to the type of vehicle, plus a onetime initial issuance fee of $8.50 for each vehicle. The Department of Transportation must provide, to the extent feasible, all vehicles registered as part of a particular fleet with the same registration expiration date. Under current law, for fleet vehicles DOT must issue registration plates of a LRB-3534/1 EVM:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 365 distinctive design with the word XFleetY embossed on the plate. The bill eliminates the requirement that the word be embossed. The bill also eliminates a provision in current law allowing for fleet registration of a fleet of 100 or more trailers. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB348 | The minimum age of assistant child care teachers. | Under current law, the Department of Children and Families regulates child care providers and is required to promulgate rules to carry out that function. Under rules promulgated by DCF, a person hired by a licensed child care center to be an assistant child care teacher must be at least 18 or 17 years old, depending on the qualifications the person meets. An assistant child care teacher or school-age group leader who is at least 18 years old and has completed the training required for the position may provide sole supervision to a group of school-age children for up to 45 minutes if there is a qualified school-age program leader or child care teacher on the premises, and an assistant child care teacher may provide sole supervision to a group of children in full-day centers for up to two hours during opening and closing hours and during the center[s designated naptime. This bill provides in the statutes that a licensed child care center may hire an individual to be an assistant child care teacher if the individual is at least 16 years old and has completed early childhood education training. The bill maintains the current law requirements for assistant child care teachers providing sole supervision to a group of children and adds that an assistant child care teacher may only provide sole supervision to a group of children in a full-day center if there is a child care teacher on the premises. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB349 | Allowing certified child care operators to provide care to up to six children. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to, for compensation including payments under Wisconsin Shares, provide care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. A person who provides care for fewer than four children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day may receive Wisconsin Shares payments if the person is certified by DCF. Under current DCF rules, a person certified by DCF, called a certified child care operator, may care for up to three children who are unrelated to the operator and up to six children in total. Under this bill, certified child care operators may care for up to six children under the age of seven in total, regardless of whether the children are related to the operator. | In Committee |
| AB353 | Price transparency in hospitals, restricting certain debt collection actions against patients, and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill creates several requirements for a hospital to provide cost information for certain items and services provided by the hospital and restricts certain legal actions against a patient that seek judgment for debts owed on hospital items and services provided to the patient if the hospital that provided the item or service is not in compliance with applicable price transparency requirements. The bill provides that the Department of Health Services must enforce federal hospital price transparency requirements for hospitals. If the secretary of health services determines that the federal hospital price transparency requirements are no longer substantially enforceable in this state, the bill directs the secretary of health services to submit a notice to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that the federal hospital price transparency requirements are no longer substantially enforceable in this state. If the secretary of health services submits such a notice, the bill provides that DHS must instead enforce the other hospital price transparency requirements established in the bill, beginning on the first day of the fourth month beginning after the notice is published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register. The hospital price transparency requirements established in the bill would require each hospital to make publicly available a digital file in a machine-readable format that contains a list of standard charges for certain items and services provided by the hospital and a consumer-friendly list of standard charges for certain shoppable services. XStandard chargeY is defined to mean the regular rate established by the hospital for an item or service provided to a specific group of paying patients and includes certain price information, including the gross charge, the payer-specific negotiated charge, and the discounted cash price. XShoppable serviceY is defined to mean a service that may be scheduled by a health care consumer in advance. Every time a hospital updates the list of standard charges or the consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services, the hospital must submit the updated list to DHS. The list of standard charges must be available at all times to the public in a machine-readable format, must be displayed in a prominent location on the home page of the hospital[s website, and must include certain information, including a description of each hospital item or service provided and any code used by the hospital for purposes of accounting or billing. Further, the list of standard charges must meet certain criteria, including that the list must be available free of charge and without having to establish a user account or password, that the list is available without having to submit personal identifying information, that the list is digitally searchable, and that the list is accessible to a commercial operator of an Internet search engine as necessary for the search engine to index the list and display the list as a result in response to a search query of a user of the search engine. The list of standard charges must be updated at least once each year. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must be publicly available and must contain standard charge information for each of at least 300 shoppable services provided by the hospital. The bill allows a hospital to select the shoppable services to be included in the list, except that the list must include either the 70 services specified as shoppable services by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or, if the hospital does not provide all of the shoppable services specified by CMS, as many of the 70 services specified as shoppable services by CMS as the hospital provides. If a hospital does not provide at least 300 shoppable services, the bill requires the hospital to maintain a list of all shoppable services that the hospital provides. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must include certain information, including certain price information and a plain-language description of each shoppable service included on the list, whether each hospital location provides the shoppable service and whether the standard charges included in the list apply at that location, and whether one or more of the shoppable services specified by CMS is not provided by the hospital. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must meet certain criteria, including that the list is available free of charge without having to establish a user account or password, that the list is searchable by service description, billing code, and payer, and that the list is accessible to a common commercial operator of an Internet search engine as necessary for the search engine to index the list and display the list as a result in response to a search query of a user of the search engine. The consumer-friendly list of standard charges for shoppable services must be updated at least once each year. Under the bill, regardless of whether the federal hospital price transparency requirements or the requirements established in the bill apply, DHS must monitor each hospital[s compliance with the applicable price transparency requirements specified in the bill by evaluating complaints, reviewing any analysis prepared regarding noncompliance, auditing the websites of hospitals, or confirming that each hospital submitted the required lists. If DHS determines that a hospital is not in compliance with any of the price transparency requirements specified in the bill, the bill requires DHS to take certain actions, including providing a written notice to the hospital, requesting a corrective action plan from the hospital, or imposing a penalty. The bill requires DHS to maintain a publicly available list of any hospital that has been found to have violated any of the price transparency requirements specified in the bill, including the dates that the hospital was not in compliance. Finally, the bill provides that any party seeking judgment against a patient for a debt owed for hospital items or services that are purchased for or provided to the patient by a hospital shall file a certification under oath to the court stating that the hospital that provided the hospital items or services to the patient is not, according to the publicly available list maintained by DHS, out of compliance with the applicable price transparency requirements as of the date of the certification before judgment may be entered in favor of the party seeking judgment. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB322 | Designating the monarch butterfly as the state butterfly. | Current law designates a variety of state symbols and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information about them. This bill designates the monarch as the Wisconsin state butterfly and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include that information. | In Committee |
| AB358 | Requiring reports on disturbed burial sites. (FE) | Under current law, with certain exceptions, no person may disturb a burial site or catalogued land contiguous to a catalogued burial site. Any person who knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that a burial site or the catalogued land contiguous to a catalogued burial site is being disturbed or may be disturbed must immediately notify the director of the State Historical Society. A burial site is any place where human remains are buried. Under current law, the director of SHS must identify burial sites and sufficient contiguous land necessary to protect burial sites from disturbance. After collecting sufficient evidence, and holding a hearing if requested by a person who owns or leases land on which a burial site is located, the director of SHS must record a burial site and contiguous land necessary to protect the burial site in the catalog of burial sites. This bill clarifies that lawful maintenance is not a prohibited disturbance and requires any person who knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that a burial site within a cemetery or the catalogued land contiguous to a catalogued burial site within a cemetery is disturbed or may be disturbed in violation of law to report the disturbance or potential disturbance as soon as reasonably possible to the local police department or county sheriff[s office. Each sheriff and police department must then prepare a report for each disturbance or potential disturbance reported and send a copy of the report to the Burial Sites Preservation Board and the Cemetery Board. The bill requires the Department of Safety and Professional Services to prescribe a form to be used by each sheriff and police department to report each disturbance or potential disturbance. Further, the bill requires the Cemetery Board to receive reports from each sheriff and police department, review each report received during the previous calendar year at the board[s first annual meeting, and annually submit a report to DSPS listing each report received by the board during the previous calendar year and the address, municipality, and county in which the disturbance or potential disturbance described in each report allegedly occurred. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB318 | A requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid. | Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides state aid to counties, agricultural societies, associations, and boards that hold local fairs in order to cover the cost of prizes paid out to exhibitors, up to $20,000 per fair. No later than 30 days after the close of the fair, an entity that seeks to claim this state aid must file with DATCP an itemized statement showing the net premiums actually paid at the preceding fair, and that statement must include a statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. This bill removes the requirement for the statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. | In Committee |
| AB330 | Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act. | Current law allows any person who believes that a violation of the federal Help America Vote Act is occurring or is proposed to occur with respect to an election for national office in this state to file a written verified complaint with the Elections Commission. The person filing the complaint may request a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the commission must make a final determination regarding the merits of the complaint and issue a decision no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint. The Elections Commission has taken a position that it cannot decide a complaint brought against itself. In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with that position. See, Teigen v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2022 WI 64, 33, 403 Wis. 2d 607, 976 N.W.2d 519. The commission recently received a letter from the federal Department of Justice asserting that such a position violates the administrative complaint requirements under the Help America Vote Act. Under this bill, if the Elections Commission receives a complaint that alleges that the commission itself is violating HAVA, the commission must make a final determination on the merits of the complaint and issue a decision. The bill prohibits the commission from dismissing the complaint simply because the complaint alleges a commission violation. The bill also provides that if a hearing is requested it must be held in open session and the oral proceedings of the hearing must be recorded by stenographic or electronic means. In addition, the Elections Commission must make a transcript of oral proceedings available for public inspection. Under current law, all records that are distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission in open session are available for public inspection. Under the bill, the commission must transmit to the complainant and all known interested parties an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within five business days from the date of its receipt. In addition, if the complainant requests a hearing, a hearing must be held no later than 30 days after the commission receives the complaint. The commission must also make a final determination of all complaints alleging a HAVA violation no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint, regardless of whether the complainant requests a hearing. Finally, the bill makes changes to the complaint procedures to ensure compliance with HAVA. The bill requires the Elections Commission to examine and investigate all complaints in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, as required under HAVA. In addition, if the commission finds that a complaint has merit, the commission must take corrective action to remedy the violation alleged in the complaint. If the commission dismisses the complaint or does not grant the relief requested in the complaint, the person filing the complaint may appeal the commission[s decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. Finally, the bill requires the commission to publish the results of all dismissed complaints on its website and provide such results to the legislature and the standing committees with jurisdiction over elections. | In Committee |
| AB346 | Fleet registration of certain motor vehicles. (FE) | Under current law, an owner of a fleet of 10 or more automobiles or motor trucks with a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds may register the vehicles as a fleet. This bill allows 10 or more of any combination of the following, with some exceptions, to be registered as a fleet: 1. Motor trucks with a gross weight of between 8,001 and 54,000 pounds. 2. Truck tractors or road tractors with a gross weight of between 4,500 and 54,000 pounds. 3. Trailers with a gross weight of not more than 80,000 pounds. Vehicles registered as a fleet are subject to the same annual registration fee as regularly applies to the type of vehicle, plus a onetime initial issuance fee of $8.50 for each vehicle. The Department of Transportation must provide, to the extent feasible, all vehicles registered as part of a particular fleet with the same registration expiration date. Under current law, for fleet vehicles DOT must issue registration plates of a distinctive design with the word XFleetY embossed on the plate. The bill eliminates the requirement that the word be embossed. The bill also eliminates a provision in current law allowing for fleet registration of a fleet of 100 or more trailers. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB350 | The regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to provide, for compensation, care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. Under current DCF rules, DCF regulates a child care center that provides care and supervision for four to eight children as a Xfamily child care centerY and one that provides care and supervision for nine or more children as a Xgroup child care center.Y The rules specify, among other things, the required ratio of providers to children in each type of child care center. This bill requires DCF to authorize licensed child care centers that have sufficient staff and space to provide care and supervision for four to 12 children or for 13 or more children. The bill requires DCF to update its rules so that a family child care center provides care and supervision for four to 12 children and a group child care center provides care and supervision for 13 or more children. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB328 | Providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE) | Under current law, when a child is the subject of a child or juvenile in need of protection or services (CHIPS or JIPS) proceeding, the county social or human services department, a child welfare agency, or, if the child or juvenile is located in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families is required to prepare a permanency plan for the child. The permanency plan is reviewed every six months either by a review panel or at a court hearing. Before the review or hearing, the agency is required to provide a copy of the plan, and any written comments that the agency receives about the plan, to the following people: the members of the review panel; the child[s parent, guardian, or legal custodian; the person representing the interests of the public; the child[s counsel, guardian ad litem, or court-appointed special advocate; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the child[s Indian custodian and tribe. This bill allows an agency to provide a copy of a child[s permanency plan and comments on the plan to a child[s out-of-home care provider in the context of a permanency review and a permanency hearing. An out-of-home care provider includes a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, nonrelative in whose home a child or juvenile is placed, and operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a child or juvenile is placed. Under this bill, any information that is required to remain confidential under federal or state law must be redacted from the permanency plan before it is provided to the out-of-home care provider. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB354 | The timing of equalization aid payments to school districts. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction pays equalization aid to school districts for each school year in the following four installments: 15 percent in September, 25 percent in December, 25 percent in March, and 35 percent in June. This bill increases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in September by 2 points each school year, and decreases the percentage of equalization aid distributed in June by 2 points each school year, until the 2029-30 school year, at which time the amount of equalization aid distributed in both September and June will be 25 percent. The result is that equalization aid will be paid to school districts in four equal installments beginning in the 2029-30 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB235 | Criminal trespass at a campground and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill prohibits persons from entering or remaining at a campground without the consent of the campground[s operator. A campground operator may provide a written request to a person who has entered or remained on the premises of a campground without the consent of the campground operator to immediately depart from the campground. A person who fails to immediately depart from a campground upon receipt of the request to depart shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the person may be fined not more than $100 dollars or imprisoned in county jail for not more than 30 days, or both. The bill requires a law enforcement officer to arrest and take a person into custody if the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the person has not departed from the campground after receiving the request to depart. The bill also provides that the landlord tenant laws in chapter 704, Wis. Stats. do not apply to an occupant, guest, or guest of an occupant or guest of a campground. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. LRB-1166/1 JAM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 235 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| AB197 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) | Generally, under current law, local levy limits are applied to the property tax levies that are imposed by political subdivisions. A political subdivision may not increase its levy by a percentage that exceeds its Xvaluation factor,Y which is the greater of 0 percent or the percentage change in the political subdivision[s equalized value due to new construction, less improvements removed. Current law also contains a number of exceptions to the levy limit, such as amounts a county levies for a countywide emergency medical system, for a county children with disabilities education board, and for certain bridge and culvert construction and repair. This bill creates an additional exception to local levy limits. Under the bill, the amounts a city, village, town, or county levies for costs associated with regional emergency medical services, either through participation in a joint emergency services district or through one or more intergovernmental agreements to provide emergency medical services, or both, are exempt. Under the bill, XregionalY means consisting of a service area that is at least 232 square miles or includes at least eight municipalities. The bill also excludes expenditures of amounts levied for a regional emergency medical system that are exempt from local levy limits under the bill from being considered in determining eligibility for an expenditure restraint incentive program payment. Under current law, a municipality is eligible to receive an expenditure restraint incentive program payment if its property tax levy is greater than 5 mills and if the annual increase in its municipal budget, subject to certain exceptions, is less than the sum of factors based on inflation and the increased value of property in the municipality as a result of new construction. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB181 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) | Generally, under current law, local levy limits are applied to the property tax levies that are imposed by political subdivisions. A political subdivision may not increase its levy by a percentage that exceeds its Xvaluation factor,Y which is the greater of 0 percent or the percentage change in the political subdivision[s equalized value due to new construction, less improvements removed. Current law also contains a number of exceptions to the levy limit, such as amounts a county levies for a countywide emergency medical system, for a county children with disabilities education board, and for certain bridge and culvert construction and repair. This bill creates an additional exception to local levy limits. Under the bill, the amounts a city, village, town, or county levies for costs associated with regional emergency medical services, either through participation in a joint emergency services district or through one or more intergovernmental agreements to provide emergency medical services, or both, are exempt. Under the bill, XregionalY means consisting of a service area that is at least 232 square miles or includes at least eight municipalities. The bill also excludes expenditures of amounts levied for a regional emergency medical system that are exempt from local levy limits under the bill from being LRB-2497/1 KP:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 181 considered in determining eligibility for an expenditure restraint incentive program payment. Under current law, a municipality is eligible to receive an expenditure restraint incentive program payment if its property tax levy is greater than 5 mills and if the annual increase in its municipal budget, subject to certain exceptions, is less than the sum of factors based on inflation and the increased value of property in the municipality as a result of new construction. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB323 | Establishing a dairy cattle innovation program. (FE) | This bill creates a dairy cattle innovation program, under which the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation provides no-interest loans to eligible milk producers for certain activities. A Xmilk producerY is defined under current law to mean a person who owns or operates a dairy farm and who sells or distributes milk produced on that farm. Under the bill, to be eligible for a no-interest loan under the program, an applicant[s dairy operation must include between 50 and 714 producing dairy cows. In addition, the applicant must be located in this state; may not have been the subject of any regulatory enforcement actions in the past five years for a violation of environmental, worker safety, food processing, or food safety laws; must employ only individuals who are legally authorized to work in this state; and may not be the subject of an open bankruptcy proceeding. A no-interest loan received under the dairy cattle innovation program may be used only to improve farm efficiencies, animal care and health, or milk quality; to reduce environmental effects associated with manure management or other dairy activities; or to rent or build buildings or technology necessary to expand the dairy operation[s capacity or its manure management systems. The bill requires WEDC, in awarding a loan under this program, to give priority to applicants that propose to create new skilled jobs; to improve practices LRB-3400/2 MDE:klm&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 323 related to milk production and manure management; to reduce the dairy operation[s environmental effects per fluid gallon of milk produced; or to improve labor efficiency associated with milk production and manure management. Under the bill, WEDC may consult with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to administer the requirements in the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB263 | Coverage of breast cancer screenings by the Medical Assistance program and health insurance policies and plans. (FE) | This bill requires health insurance policies to provide coverage for diagnostic breast examinations and for supplemental breast screening examinations for an individual who is at increased risk of breast cancer, as determined in accordance with the most recent applicable guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or has heterogeneously or extremely dense breast tissue, as defined by the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology. Health insurance policies are referred to in the statutes as disability insurance policies. Self-insured governmental health plans are also required to provide the coverage specified in the bill. The bill also requires coverage of those breast screenings by the Medical Assistance program, which is the state- administered Medicaid program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and that provides health services to individuals with limited financial resources. Under the bill, health insurance policies may not charge a cost-sharing amount for a supplemental breast screening examination or diagnostic breast examination. The limitation on cost-sharing does not apply to the extent that the limitation would result in ineligibility for a health savings account under the federal Internal Revenue Code. Health insurance policies are required under current law to cover two mammographic breast examinations to screen for breast cancer for a woman from ages 45 to 49 if certain criteria are satisfied. Health insurance policies must currently cover annual mammograms for a woman once she attains the age of 50. The coverage required under current law is required whether or not the woman shows any symptoms of breast cancer and may be subject to only the same exclusions and limitations, including cost sharing, that apply to other radiological examinations under the policy. The bill does not change or eliminate the current coverage requirements for mammograms, except that preferred provider plans are explicitly included in the current law and the bill[s requirements. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB264 | Coverage of breast cancer screenings by the Medical Assistance program and health insurance policies and plans. (FE) | This bill requires health insurance policies to provide coverage for diagnostic breast examinations and for supplemental breast screening examinations for an individual who is at increased risk of breast cancer, as determined in accordance with the most recent applicable guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or has heterogeneously or extremely dense breast tissue, as defined by the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology. Health insurance policies are referred to in the statutes as disability insurance policies. Self-insured governmental health plans are also required to LRB-3021/1 JPC&SWB:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 264 provide the coverage specified in the bill. The bill also requires coverage of those breast screenings by the Medical Assistance program, which is the state- administered Medicaid program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and that provides health services to individuals with limited financial resources. Under the bill, health insurance policies may not charge a cost-sharing amount for a supplemental breast screening examination or diagnostic breast examination. The limitation on cost-sharing does not apply to the extent that the limitation would result in ineligibility for a health savings account under the federal Internal Revenue Code. Health insurance policies are required under current law to cover two mammographic breast examinations to screen for breast cancer for a woman from ages 45 to 49 if certain criteria are satisfied. Health insurance policies must currently cover annual mammograms for a woman once she attains the age of 50. The coverage required under current law is required whether or not the woman shows any symptoms of breast cancer and may be subject to only the same exclusions and limitations, including cost sharing, that apply to other radiological examinations under the policy. The bill does not change or eliminate the current coverage requirements for mammograms, except that preferred provider plans are explicitly included in the current law and the bill[s requirements. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB36 | An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) | This bill creates an income tax exemption for cash tips received by an employee from the customers of the employee[s employer. 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-0181/1 KP:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 36 | In Committee |
| AB38 | An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) | This bill creates an income tax exemption for cash tips received by an employee from the customers of the employee[s employer. 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 |
| 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 |
| SB259 | The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE) | Under current law, if a county department of human services or social services or, in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DCF (collectively XagencyY) determines that a caregiver is suspected of committing or threatening abuse or neglect of a child or that a person who is not a caregiver has committed or threatened abuse of a child related to sex trafficking; cannot identify an individual who is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child; or suspects abuse of an unborn child, the agency must, within 24 hours after receiving the report, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child or unborn child is in need of protection or services. Under this bill, if an agency knows or has reason to know that a parent of a child or unborn child with respect to whom the agency has initiated such an investigation is a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the Wisconsin national guard, the agency must provide notice of that investigation to the appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense CORRECTED COPY LRB-1859/2 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 259 within 24 hours. The bill requires the notice to consist only of the name and address of the child or expectant mother and the fact that an investigation has been initiated about that child or unborn child. The bill imposes the same confidentiality requirements on such a notice as current law imposes on all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB312 | Hours for voting by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site. (FE) | Under current law, a voter may vote by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or at an alternate site as near as practicable to the clerk[s office, as designated by the municipality. The period for voting absentee in person begins 14 days preceding the election and ends on the Sunday preceding the election, and the municipality must state the hours in the type E election notice, which, with one exception, is required to be published on the fourth Tuesday preceding each primary or election. Under this bill, the office of the municipal clerk or alternate site must be open for at least 20 hours during the period for voting absentee in person, and the type E notice must state the specific office hours during which a voter may cast an in- person absentee ballot without prior appointment. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB337 | Local grant writing and compliance assistance. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Revenue, in each year from 2026 through 2029, to provide grants of up to $5,000 to political subdivisions with populations of less than 7,500 to be used to obtain grant writing and compliance assistance services. These grants may be used to obtain services only for grants related to public works, transportation infrastructure, public safety, utility service, or cybersecurity. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SB304 | Hours for voting by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or an alternate site. (FE) | Under current law, a voter may vote by absentee ballot in person at the office of the municipal clerk or at an alternate site as near as practicable to the clerk[s office, as designated by the municipality. The period for voting absentee in person begins 14 days preceding the election and ends on the Sunday preceding the election, and the municipality must state the hours in the type E election notice, which, with one exception, is required to be published on the fourth Tuesday preceding each primary or election. Under this bill, the office of the municipal clerk or alternate site must be open for at least 20 hours during the period for voting absentee in person, and the type E notice must state the specific office hours during which a voter may cast an in- person absentee ballot without prior appointment. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2018/1 MPG:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 304 | In Committee |
| SB305 | Grants to mental health clubhouses and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to award grants to clubhouses. A Xclubhouse,Y as defined in the bill, is a nonresidential rehabilitation program that provides support and services to individuals who have or are awaiting diagnosis for a mental illness but does not directly provide treatment or medical care for mental illnesses. To receive a grant, a clubhouse must include members who have been diagnosed with or are awaiting diagnosis for a mental illness and are under treatment for the condition, raise an amount of money itself to receive a matching grant, provide activities and services to members on a voluntary basis, have its own distinct physical space, and allow members to have the opportunity to participate in the administration and other operational functions of the clubhouse. The grant program sunsets at the end of the 2029-30 fiscal year. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB301 | Grants to mental health clubhouses and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to award grants to clubhouses. A Xclubhouse,Y as defined in the bill, is a nonresidential rehabilitation program that provides support and services to individuals who have or are awaiting diagnosis for a mental illness but does not directly provide treatment or medical care for mental illnesses. To receive a grant, a clubhouse must include members who have been diagnosed with or are awaiting diagnosis for a mental illness and are under treatment for the condition, raise an amount of money itself to receive a matching grant, provide activities and services to members on a voluntary basis, have its own distinct physical space, and allow members to have the opportunity to participate in the administration and other operational functions of the clubhouse. The grant program sunsets at the end of the 2029-30 fiscal year. For further information see the state 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 |
| SB5 | Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty. | Under current law, the crime of battery is defined as intentionally causing another person bodily harm and is a Class A misdemeanor. Under current law, if the battery is a special circumstance battery—for example, the battery is committed against an individual because of the individual’s status as a law enforcement officer, witness in a trial, or juror—the penalty is increased to a Class H felony. Under this bill, a threat or battery against a juror or a threat or battery against a family member of a juror is a Class H felony. Current law also allows a judge, upon sentencing a person for a crime, to LRB-1322/1 MJW:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 5 prohibit the person from contacting a victim of or witness to the person’s crime during any part of the person’s sentence or probation. The bill allows a judge to prohibit a person who is convicted of a crime from contacting, for any part of the person’s sentence or probation, a juror who served at any proceeding related to the person’s crime. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Passed |
| 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 |
| AB187 | Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a service award program to provide length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. This bill expands the program to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire companies to make training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Under the bill, in order to receive a grant, the municipality in which a department or company is organized must have a municipal ordinance that provides a 100 percent match. The completion award for a volunteer firefighter who completes 60 hours of training is $500. The bill also requires that any money a volunteer fire department or fire company receives beyond what it expends on awards each calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. Finally, under the bill, DOA is required to provide a report to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the start of the program that includes the number of people who received the grant through the preceding year and the number of those people who are still firefighters in Wisconsin. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB149 | The nomination of presidential electors. | Under current law, at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October of each year in which there is a presidential election, the following members of a political party must convene in the state capitol to nominate the party[s presidential electors: candidates for state senate or assembly, state officers, and holdover state senators. A vote for a party[s candidates for president and vice president in the presidential election is a vote for the party[s presidential electors so nominated. After the election, the presidential electors of the winning candidates for president and vice president then convene and transmit their votes for president and vice president to Congress. Under this bill, if, in a presidential election year, a political party does not have a candidate for state senate or assembly, state officer, or holdover state senator, in lieu of a convention described above, no later than 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October preceding the presidential election, the chairperson of the state committee of the political party must nominate the party[s presidential electors. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| SB364 | The regulation of family and group child care centers. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to provide, for compensation, care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. Under current DCF rules, DCF regulates a child care center that provides care and supervision for four to eight children as a Xfamily child care centerY and one that provides care and supervision for nine or more children as a Xgroup child care center.Y The rules specify, among other things, the required ratio of providers to children in each type of child care center. This bill requires DCF to authorize licensed child care centers that have sufficient staff and space to provide care and supervision for four to 12 children or for 13 or more children. The bill requires DCF to update its rules so that a family child care center provides care and supervision for four to 12 children and a group child care center provides care and supervision for 13 or more children. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-3780/1 MDE&EHS:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 364 | In Committee |
| SB363 | Allowing certified child care operators to provide care to up to six children. (FE) | Under current law, a person must obtain a license from the Department of Children and Families in order to, for compensation including payments under Wisconsin Shares, provide care and supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day. A person who provides care for fewer than four children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours a day may receive Wisconsin Shares payments if the person is certified by DCF. Under current DCF rules, a person certified by DCF, called a certified child care operator, may care for up to three children who are unrelated to the operator and up to six children in total. Under this bill, certified child care operators may care for up to six children under the age of seven in total, regardless of whether the children are related to the operator. | In Committee |
| SB359 | The minimum age of assistant child care teachers. | Under current law, the Department of Children and Families regulates child care providers and is required to promulgate rules to carry out that function. Under rules promulgated by DCF, a person hired by a licensed child care center to be an assistant child care teacher must be at least 18 or 17 years old, depending on the qualifications the person meets. An assistant child care teacher or school-age group leader who is at least 18 years old and has completed the training required for the position may provide sole supervision to a group of school-age children for up to 45 minutes if there is a qualified school-age program leader or child care teacher on the premises, and an assistant child care teacher may provide sole supervision to a group of children in full-day centers for up to two hours during opening and closing hours and during the center[s designated naptime. This bill provides in the statutes that a licensed child care center may hire an individual to be an assistant child care teacher if the individual is at least 16 years old and has completed early childhood education training. The bill maintains the current law requirements for assistant child care teachers providing sole supervision to a group of children and adds that an assistant child care teacher may LRB-3778/1 MDE:skw&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 359 only provide sole supervision to a group of children in a full-day center if there is a child care teacher on the premises. | In Committee |
| SB357 | Establishing English as the official state language, use of artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing English language interpreters, and use of English for governmental oral and written communication and for nongovernmental purposes. (FE) | Currently, Wisconsin has no official language. This bill provides that the official language of this state is English. The bill also allows any state or local governmental entity to provide a person with access to artificial intelligence or other machine-assisted translation tools in lieu of appointing an English language interpreter if the entity is authorized or required by law to appoint an interpreter for the person. Additionally, the bill provides that, unless otherwise specifically required by law, all oral and written communication by all state and local governmental entities must be in the English language, except that such communication may be in another language when appropriate to the circumstances of an individual case, the LRB-3756/1 MPG&KRP:ajk&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 357 implementation of a program in a specific instance, or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation. The bill also permits state and local government officers and employees to use a language other than English in oral or written communication whenever necessary for one or more of eight specified purposes. Finally, the bill precludes any state or local governmental entity from prohibiting any person from becoming proficient in any language or restricting the oral or written use of any language for a nongovernmental purpose. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB172 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill provides that, with certain, specified exceptions, no person may file or record with, or present for filing or recording to, a register of deeds a non- improvement contract or a notice, memorandum, or other instrument related to a non-improvement contract (document) and authorizes the register of deeds to reject such a document and return it unrecorded. The bill defines Xnon-improvement contractY as a contract 1) under which a person agrees to perform, furnish, or procure any work, labor, service, materials, plans, or specifications that are not used or consumed for the improvement of real estate, and 2) that purports to create a lien, encumbrance, or other security interest on real estate. A person that violates the recording or filing prohibition in the bill may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than nine months, or both. In addition, under the bill, an owner of real estate affected by such a filing or recording may bring a civil action against the person that files or records the document. If the owner prevails in the action, the court must order the real estate LRB-2472/1 KRP:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 172 released from the effect of the document and may award actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| SB152 | Financial eligibility for the Alzheimer’s family and caregiver support program. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Health Services allocates funds to local agencies to assist eligible families with obtaining goods and services related to the care of a person with Alzheimer[s disease or another irreversible dementia. Currently, a person is financially eligible for the program if the joint income of the person with irreversible dementia and that person[s spouse, if any, is $48,000 per year or less. This bill repeals the financial eligibility requirement. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| SB202 | Local guaranteed income programs. | This bill prohibits a political subdivision from expending moneys of the political subdivision for the purpose of making payments to individuals under a guaranteed income program. XGuaranteed income programY is defined under the bill to mean a program under which individuals are provided with regular periodic cash payments that are unearned and that may be used for any purpose. Programs under which an individual is required to perform work or attend training are not Xguaranteed income programsY under the bill. | In Committee |
| AB165 | Local guaranteed income programs. | This bill prohibits a political subdivision from expending moneys of the political subdivision for the purpose of making payments to individuals under a guaranteed income program. XGuaranteed income programY is defined under the bill to mean a program under which individuals are provided with regular periodic cash payments that are unearned and that may be used for any purpose. Programs under which an individual is required to perform work or attend training are not Xguaranteed income programsY under the bill. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| AB259 | Criminal trespass at a campground and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill prohibits persons from entering or remaining at a campground without the consent of the campground[s operator. A campground operator may provide a written request to a person who has entered or remained on the premises of a campground without the consent of the campground operator to immediately depart from the campground. A person who fails to immediately depart from a campground upon receipt of the request to depart shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and the person may be fined not more than $100 dollars or imprisoned in county jail for not more than 30 days, or both. The bill requires a law enforcement officer to arrest and take a person into custody if the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the person has not departed from the campground after receiving the request to depart. The bill also provides that the landlord tenant laws in chapter 704, Wis. Stats. do not apply to an occupant, guest, or guest of an occupant or guest of a campground. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB253 | Independence accounts. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual[s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period. Further, the bill prohibits DHS from including assets acquired by an individual by inheritance when determining the individual[s financial eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. Under current law, an independence account is an account approved by DHS that consists solely of savings, dividends, other gains derived from those savings, and income earned from paid employment after the date on which the individual began receiving Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. The Medical Assistance purchase plan is a subprogram of the Medical Assistance program that allows individuals who have a qualifying disability and who are working or who want to work to remain eligible for Medical Assistance benefits. To be eligible for benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan, among other things, an individual[s assets must not exceed $15,000, but assets accumulated in an independence account are excluded from the calculation. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB77 | Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty. | Under current law, any motor vehicle for which the Department of Transportation has issued registration plates must display those plates, along with any decals issued for the plates. This bill prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, installation, and use of a registration plate concealment device, which is a manual, electronic, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle to 1) switch between two or more registration plates; 2) move, obstruct, or conceal a registration plate; or 3) alter the appearance of a registration plate so that the registration number cannot be seen and read. The bill also prohibits the equipment of any motor vehicle with a registration plate concealment device. A person who violates these prohibitions may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both. Any vehicle equipped in violation of these prohibitions may be impounded, and reasonable costs for towing and impounding the vehicle may be assessed against the owner. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AB37 | Personalized registration plate fees for gold star family special registration plates. (FE) | This bill exempts special group plates for gold star families from personalized registration plate fees. Current law enumerates special groups whose members may obtain from the Department of Transportation special motor vehicle registration plates. Among the special groups is a group for persons who qualify under federal law for a gold star lapel button (commonly known as gold star family), which signifies that the recipient is the immediate family member of a member of the U.S. armed forces who died while serving during a time of conflict. Special group plates may be personalized by the person to whom the plates are issued. Under current law, DOT collects a registration fee for initial and renewal registrations of most motor vehicles. In addition to the regular registration fee, DOT charges an annual fee of $15 for the issuance or reissuance of most special registration plates and an additional annual fee of maintenance, or reissuance of most personalized plates. Under current law, gold star special registration plate holders must pay the general registration fee, but are not assessed the special registration fee. If the plate holder personalizes the plate, he or she is assessed the $15 personalization fee. The bill exempts special group plates for gold star families from the personalization fee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB308 | Prohibiting funding for health services for unlawfully present individuals. (FE) | This bill prohibits any funds of this state, any county, village, town, long-term care district, any subdivision of this state, or any subdivision or agency of any county, city, village, or town and any federal funds passing through the state treasury from being authorized for or paid to any person to subsidize, reimburse, or otherwise provide compensation for any health care services for an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States. The prohibitions described under the bill do not apply to the extent that a payment of funds described under the bill is required under federal law or to the extent that the application of the prohibitions described under the bill would result in the loss of any federal funds. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB311 | Prohibiting funding for health services for unlawfully present individuals. (FE) | This bill prohibits any funds of this state, any county, village, town, long-term care district, any subdivision of this state, or any subdivision or agency of any county, city, village, or town and any federal funds passing through the state treasury from being authorized for or paid to any person to subsidize, reimburse, or otherwise provide compensation for any health care services for an individual who is not lawfully present in the United States. The prohibitions described under the bill do not apply to the extent that a payment of funds described under the bill is required under federal law or to the extent that the application of the prohibitions described under the bill would result in the loss of any federal funds. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB310 | Time limits on local unit of government chief executive officer emergency power proclamations. | Under current law, a local unit of government[s chief executive officer may exercise by proclamation the emergency power conferred to the local unit of government if the local unit of government[s governing body is unable to meet promptly. This bill limits the length of such proclamation to 60 days, unless extended by the local unit of government[s governing body. The bill also defines Xchief executive officerY as any of the following: 1) the county executive of a county, the county administrator of a county, or, in a county with an administrative coordinator, the county board chair of a county; 2) the mayor or city manager of a city; 3) the village president of a village; 4) the town board chairperson of a town; or 5) a person acting as one of the above stated persons. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB38 | Personalized registration plate fees for gold star family special registration plates. (FE) | This bill exempts special group plates for gold star families from personalized registration plate fees. Current law enumerates special groups whose members may obtain from the Department of Transportation special motor vehicle registration plates. Among the special groups is a group for persons who qualify under federal law for a gold star lapel button (commonly known as gold star family), which signifies that the recipient is the immediate family member of a member of the U.S. armed forces who died while serving during a time of conflict. Special group plates may be personalized by the person to whom the plates are issued. Under current law, DOT collects a registration fee for initial and renewal registrations of most motor vehicles. In addition to the regular registration fee, DOT charges an annual fee of $15 for the issuance or reissuance of most special registration plates and an additional annual fee of maintenance, or reissuance of most personalized plates. Under current law, gold star special registration plate holders must pay the general registration fee, but are not assessed the special registration fee. If the plate holder personalizes the plate, he or she is assessed the $15 personalization LRB-1446/1 ZDW:cdc $15 for the issuance, 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 38 fee. The bill exempts special group plates for gold star families from the personalization fee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB26 | Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty. | Under current law, the crime of battery is defined as intentionally causing another person bodily harm and is a Class A misdemeanor. Under current law, if the battery is a special circumstance battery—for example, the battery is committed against an individual because of the individual[s status as a law enforcement officer, witness in a trial, or juror—the penalty is increased to a Class H felony. Under this bill, a threat or battery against a juror or a threat or battery against a family member of a juror is a Class H felony. Current law also allows a judge, upon sentencing a person for a crime, to prohibit the person from contacting a victim of or witness to the person[s crime during any part of the person[s sentence or probation. The bill allows a judge to prohibit a person who is convicted of a crime from contacting, for any part of the person[s sentence or probation, a juror who served at any proceeding related to the person[s crime. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB240 | A sales and use tax exemption for equipment associated with the use of a search and rescue dog. (FE) | This bill provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of tangible personal property used to train, manage, or control a search and rescue dog. The bill requires a purchaser to provide an exemption certificate to the seller in order to claim the 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 |
| SB252 | Independence accounts. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to allow an individual to deposit up to $15,000 of the individual[s gross earnings in an independence account over a 12-month period. Further, the bill prohibits DHS from including assets acquired by an individual by inheritance when determining the individual[s financial eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. Under current law, an independence account is an account approved by DHS that consists solely of savings, dividends, other gains derived from those savings, and income earned from paid employment after the date on which the individual began receiving Medical Assistance benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. The Medical Assistance purchase plan is a subprogram of the Medical Assistance program that allows individuals who have a qualifying disability and who are working or who want to work to remain eligible for Medical Assistance benefits. To be eligible for benefits under the Medical Assistance purchase plan, among other things, an individual[s assets must not exceed $15,000, but assets accumulated in an independence account are excluded from the calculation. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. LRB-0174/1 JPC:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 252 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB237 | A sales and use tax exemption for equipment associated with the use of a search and rescue dog. (FE) | This bill provides a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of tangible personal property used to train, manage, or control a search and rescue dog. The bill requires a purchaser to provide an exemption certificate to the seller in order to claim the 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 |
| 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 |
| AB172 | Consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill establishes requirements for controllers and processors of the personal data of consumers. The bill defines a XcontrollerY as a person that, alone or jointly with others, determines the purpose and means of processing personal data, and the bill applies to controllers that control or process the personal data of at least 100,000 consumers or that control or process the personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and derive over 50 percent of their gross revenue from the sale of personal data. Under the bill, Xpersonal dataY means any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual except for publicly available information. The bill provides consumers with the following rights regarding their personal data: 1) to confirm whether a controller is processing the consumer[s personal data and to access the personal data; 2) to correct inaccuracies in the consumer[s personal data; 3) to require a controller to delete personal data provided by or about the consumer; 4) to obtain a copy of the personal data that the consumer previously provided to the controller; and 5) to opt out of the processing of the consumer[s personal data for targeted advertising; the sale of the consumer[s personal data; and certain forms of automated processing of the consumer[s personal data. These rights are subject to certain exceptions specified in the bill. Controllers may not discriminate against a consumer for exercising rights under the bill, including by charging different prices for goods or providing a different level of quality of goods or services. A controller must establish one or more secure and reliable means for consumers to submit a request to exercise their consumer rights under the bill. Such means must include a clear and conspicuous link on the controller[s website to a webpage that enables a consumer or an agent of a consumer to opt out of the targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data and, on or after July 1, 2028, an opt-out preference signal sent, with a consumer[s intent, by a platform, technology, or mechanism to the controller indicating the consumer[s intent to opt out of any processing of the consumer[s personal data for the purpose of targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data. The bill requires controllers to respond to consumers[ requests to invoke rights under the bill without undue delay. If a controller declines to take action regarding a consumer[s request, the controller must inform the consumer of its justification without undue delay. The bill also requires that information provided in response to a consumer[s request be provided free of charge once annually per consumer. Controllers must also establish processes for consumers to appeal a refusal to take action on a consumer[s request. Within 60 days of receiving an appeal, a controller must inform the consumer in writing of any action taken or not taken in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for its decisions. If the appeal is denied, the controller must provide the consumer with a method through which the consumer can contact the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to submit a complaint. Under the bill, a controller must provide consumers with a privacy notice that discloses the categories of personal data processed by the controller; the purpose of processing the personal data; the categories of third parties, if any, with whom the controller shares personal data; the categories of personal data that the controller shares with third parties; and information about how consumers may exercise their rights under the bill. Controllers may not collect or process personal data for purposes that are not relevant to or reasonably necessary for the purposes disclosed in the privacy notice. The bill[s requirements do not restrict a controller[s ability to collect, use, or retain data for conducting internal research, effectuating a product recall, identifying and repairing technical errors, or performing internal operations that are reasonably aligned with consumer expectations or reasonably anticipated on the basis of a consumer[s relationship with the controller. Persons that process personal data on behalf of a controller must adhere to a contract between the controller and the processor, and such contracts must satisfy certain requirements specified in the bill. The bill also requires controllers to conduct data protection assessments related to certain activities, including processing personal data for targeted advertising, selling personal data, processing personal data for profiling purposes, and processing sensitive data, as defined in the bill. DATCP may request that a controller disclose a data protection assessment that is relevant to an investigation being conducted by DATCP. DATCP and the Department of Justice have exclusive authority to enforce violations of the bill[s requirements. A controller or processor that violates the bill[s requirements is subject to a forfeiture of up to $10,000 per violation, and DATCP or DOJ may recover reasonable investigation and litigation expenses incurred. During the time between the bill[s effective date and July 1, 2031, before bringing an action to enforce the bill[s requirements, DATCP or DOJ must first provide a controller or processor with a written notice identifying the violations. If within 30 days of receiving the notice the controller or processor cures the violation and provides DATCP or DOJ with an express written statement that the violation is cured and that no such further violations will occur, then DATCP or DOJ may not bring an action against the controller or processor. The bill also prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties from enacting or enforcing ordinances that regulate the collection, processing, or sale of personal data. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB184 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | Crossed Over |
| AB161 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | In Committee |
| SB186 | Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Administration administers a service award program to provide length-of-service awards to volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical responders, and volunteer emergency medical services practitioners. This bill expands the program to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire companies to make training completion awards to volunteer firefighters. Under the bill, in order to receive a grant, the municipality in which a department or company is organized must have a municipal ordinance that provides a 100 percent match. The completion award for a volunteer firefighter who completes 60 hours of training is $500. The bill also requires that any money a volunteer fire department or fire company receives beyond what it expends on awards each calendar year must be returned to DOA for deposit in the general fund. Finally, under the bill, DOA is required to provide a report to the legislature in the sixth, seventh, and eighth years after the start of the program that includes the LRB-2625/1 MIM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 186 number of people who received the grant through the preceding year and the number of those people who are still firefighters in Wisconsin. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB176 | Financial eligibility for the Alzheimer’s family and caregiver support program. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Health Services allocates funds to local agencies to assist eligible families with obtaining goods and services related to the care of a person with Alzheimer[s disease or another irreversible dementia. Currently, a person is financially eligible for the program if the joint income of the person with irreversible dementia and that person[s spouse, if any, is $48,000 per year or less. This bill repeals the financial eligibility requirement. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB143 | The nomination of presidential electors. | Under current law, at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October of each year in which there is a presidential election, the following members of a political party must convene in the state capitol to nominate the party[s presidential electors: candidates for state senate or assembly, state officers, and holdover state senators. A vote for a party[s candidates for president and vice president in the presidential election is a vote for the party[s presidential electors so nominated. After the election, the presidential electors of the winning candidates for president and vice president then convene and transmit their votes for president and vice president to Congress. Under this bill, if, in a presidential election year, a political party does not have a candidate for state senate or assembly, state officer, or holdover state senator, in lieu of a convention described above, no later than 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday in October preceding the presidential election, the chairperson of the state committee of the political party must nominate the party[s presidential electors. | In Committee |
| SB166 | Consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill establishes requirements for controllers and processors of the personal data of consumers. The bill defines a XcontrollerY as a person that, alone or jointly with others, determines the purpose and means of processing personal data, and the bill applies to controllers that control or process the personal data of at least 100,000 consumers or that control or process the personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and derive over 50 percent of their gross revenue from the sale of personal data. Under the bill, Xpersonal dataY means any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual except for publicly available information. The bill provides consumers with the following rights regarding their personal data: 1) to confirm whether a controller is processing the consumer[s personal data and to access the personal data; 2) to correct inaccuracies in the consumer[s personal data; 3) to require a controller to delete personal data provided by or about the consumer; 4) to obtain a copy of the personal data that the consumer previously provided to the controller; and 5) to opt out of the processing of the consumer[s personal data for targeted advertising; the sale of the consumer[s personal data; and certain forms of automated processing of the consumer[s personal data. These LRB-2468/1 MDE:cdc&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 166 rights are subject to certain exceptions specified in the bill. Controllers may not discriminate against a consumer for exercising rights under the bill, including by charging different prices for goods or providing a different level of quality of goods or services. A controller must establish one or more secure and reliable means for consumers to submit a request to exercise their consumer rights under the bill. Such means must include a clear and conspicuous link on the controller[s website to a webpage that enables a consumer or an agent of a consumer to opt out of the targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data and, on or after July 1, 2028, an opt-out preference signal sent, with a consumer[s intent, by a platform, technology, or mechanism to the controller indicating the consumer[s intent to opt out of any processing of the consumer[s personal data for the purpose of targeted advertising or sale of the consumer[s personal data. The bill requires controllers to respond to consumers[ requests to invoke rights under the bill without undue delay. If a controller declines to take action regarding a consumer[s request, the controller must inform the consumer of its justification without undue delay. The bill also requires that information provided in response to a consumer[s request be provided free of charge once annually per consumer. Controllers must also establish processes for consumers to appeal a refusal to take action on a consumer[s request. Within 60 days of receiving an appeal, a controller must inform the consumer in writing of any action taken or not taken in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for its decisions. If the appeal is denied, the controller must provide the consumer with a method through which the consumer can contact the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to submit a complaint. Under the bill, a controller must provide consumers with a privacy notice that discloses the categories of personal data processed by the controller; the purpose of processing the personal data; the categories of third parties, if any, with whom the controller shares personal data; the categories of personal data that the controller shares with third parties; and information about how consumers may exercise their rights under the bill. Controllers may not collect or process personal data for purposes that are not relevant to or reasonably necessary for the purposes disclosed in the privacy notice. The bill[s requirements do not restrict a controller[s ability to collect, use, or retain data for conducting internal research, effectuating a product recall, identifying and repairing technical errors, or performing internal operations that are reasonably aligned with consumer expectations or reasonably anticipated on the basis of a consumer[s relationship with the controller. Persons that process personal data on behalf of a controller must adhere to a contract between the controller and the processor, and such contracts must satisfy certain requirements specified in the bill. The bill also requires controllers to conduct data protection assessments related to certain activities, including processing personal data for targeted advertising, selling personal data, processing personal data for profiling purposes, and processing sensitive data, as defined in LRB-2468/1 MDE:cdc&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 166 the bill. DATCP may request that a controller disclose a data protection assessment that is relevant to an investigation being conducted by DATCP. DATCP and the Department of Justice have exclusive authority to enforce violations of the bill[s requirements. A controller or processor that violates the bill[s requirements is subject to a forfeiture of up to $10,000 per violation, and DATCP or DOJ may recover reasonable investigation and litigation expenses incurred. During the time between the bill[s effective date and July 1, 2031, before bringing an action to enforce the bill[s requirements, DATCP or DOJ must first provide a controller or processor with a written notice identifying the violations. If within 30 days of receiving the notice the controller or processor cures the violation and provides DATCP or DOJ with an express written statement that the violation is cured and that no such further violations will occur, then DATCP or DOJ may not bring an action against the controller or processor. The bill also prohibits cities, villages, towns, and counties from enacting or enforcing ordinances that regulate the collection, processing, or sale of personal data. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB157 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill provides that, with certain, specified exceptions, no person may file or record with, or present for filing or recording to, a register of deeds a non- improvement contract or a notice, memorandum, or other instrument related to a non-improvement contract (document) and authorizes the register of deeds to reject such a document and return it unrecorded. The bill defines Xnon-improvement contractY as a contract 1) under which a person agrees to perform, furnish, or procure any work, labor, service, materials, plans, or specifications that are not used or consumed for the improvement of real estate, and 2) that purports to create a lien, encumbrance, or other security interest on real estate. A person that violates the recording or filing prohibition in the bill may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than nine months, or both. In addition, under the bill, an owner of real estate affected by such a filing or recording may bring a civil action against the person that files or records the document. If the owner prevails in the action, the court must order the real estate released from the effect of the document and may award actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB257 | Advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | NURSING PRACTICE AND LICENSURE This bill makes various changes to practice, licensure, and certification requirements for nurses, which are administered by the Board of Nursing. Licensure of advanced practice registered nurses Under current law, a person who wishes to practice professional nursing must be licensed by the Board of Nursing as a registered nurse (RN). This bill creates an additional system of licensure for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), to be administered by the board. Under the bill, in order to apply for an APRN license, a person must 1) hold, or concurrently apply for, an RN license; 2) have completed an accredited graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program preparing the person to practice as an APRN in one of four recognized roles and hold a current national certification approved by the board; 3) possess malpractice liability insurance as provided in the bill; 4) pay a fee determined by the Department of Safety and Professional Services; and 5) satisfy certain other criteria specified in the bill. The bill also allows a person who has not completed an accredited education program described above to receive an APRN license if the person 1) on January 1, 2026, is both licensed as an RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized roles and 2) satisfies additional practice or education criteria established by the board. The bill also, however, automatically grants licenses to certain RNs, as further described below. The four recognized roles, as defined in the bill, are 1) certified nurse-midwife; 2) certified registered nurse anesthetist; 3) clinical nurse specialist; and 4) nurse practitioner. The bill requires the board, upon granting a person an APRN license, to also grant the person one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized role or roles for which the person qualifies. Under the bill, all APRNs, except APRNs with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation, must practice in collaboration with a physician or dentist. However, under the bill, an APRN may practice without being supervised by a physician or dentist if the board verifies that the APRN has completed 3,840 hours of professional nursing in a clinical setting and has completed 3,840 clinical hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice in their recognized role while working with a physician or dentist during those 3,840 hours of practice. APRNs may count additional hours practiced as an APRN in collaboration with a physician or dentist towards the 3,840 required hours of professional nursing. APRNs with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation are instead required, if they offer to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting, to file and keep current with the board a proactive plan for involving a hospital or a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital in the treatment of patients with higher acuity or emergency care needs, as further described below. Regardless of whether an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the bill provides that an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques only while working in a collaborative relationship with any physician who, through education, training, and experience, specializes in pain management. Alternatively, if an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques in a hospital or clinic associated with a hospital. Further, an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques if the APRN has qualified to practice independently and has privileges in a hospital to provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques without a collaborative relationship with a physician. The holder of an APRN license may append the title XA.P.R.N.Y to his or her name, as well as a title corresponding to whichever specialty designations that the person possesses. The bill prohibits any person from using the title XA.P.R.N.,Y and from otherwise indicating that he or she is an APRN, unless the person is licensed by the board as an APRN. The bill also prohibits the use of titles and abbreviations corresponding to a recognized role unless the person has a specialty designation for that role. The bill further prohibits any person licensed by the board from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any title that is not granted under the nursing statutes unless the person holds another credential that entitles the person to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title or the person is permitted to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title under any other law of the state. However, the bill provides that a person who is licensed by the board and holds a doctorate degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name the title XdoctorY or any other words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that doctorate degree or the field in which the degree was received. If a person who is licensed by the board uses, assumes, or appends to his or her name the title Xdoctor,Y the bill requires that person to also use, assume, or append to his or her name words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree. Further, the bill provides that a person who holds a bachelor[s degree or master[s degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that degree or the field in which the degree was received. The bill allows an APRN to delegate a task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the task or order is within the scope of the APRN[s practice, the APRN is competent to perform the task or issue the order, and the APRN has reasonable evidence that the health care worker is minimally competent to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances. The bill requires an APRN to adhere to professional standards when managing situations that are beyond the APRN[s expertise. Under the bill, when an APRN renews his or her APRN license, the board must grant the person the renewal of both the person[s RN license and the person[s APRN license. The bill requires all APRNs to complete continuing education requirements each biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the APRN[s area of practice and to satisfy certain other requirements when renewing a license. Practice of nurse-midwifery This bill repeals licensure and practice requirements specific to nurse- midwives and the practice of nurse-midwifery, including specific requirements to practice with an obstetrician. Under the bill, Xcertified nurse-midwifeY is one of the four recognized roles for APRNs, and a person who is licensed as a nurse-midwife under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with a certified nurse- midwife specialty designation. The bill otherwise allows nurse-midwives to be licensed as APRNs if they satisfy the licensure requirements, except that the bill also requires that a person applying for a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation be certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. The bill also requires an APRN with a specialty designation as a certified nurse-midwife to file with the Board of Nursing, and obtain the board[s approval of, a plan for ensuring appropriate care or care transitions in treating certain patients if the APRN offers to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting. Prescribing authority Under current law, a person licensed as an RN may apply to the Board of Nursing for a certificate to issue prescription orders if the person meets certain requirements established by the board. An RN holding a certificate is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board and must possess malpractice liability insurance in an amount determined by the board. The bill eliminates certificates to issue prescription orders and generally authorizes APRNs to issue prescription orders. A person who is certified to issue prescription orders under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with his or her appropriate specialty designation. RNs who are practicing in a recognized role on January 1, 2026, but who do not hold a certificate to issue prescription orders on that date and who are granted an APRN license under the bill may not issue prescription orders. As under current law, an APRN issuing prescription orders is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board. The bill repeals a provision concerning the ability of advanced practice nurses who are certified to issue prescription orders and who are required to work in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician to obtain and practice under a federal waiver to dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for addiction treatment. Malpractice liability insurance The bill requires all APRNs to maintain malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by personal liability coverage in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists or coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the APRN in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists. Additionally, the bill requires APRNs who have qualified to practice independently and who practice outside a collaborative or employment relationship to participate in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund provides excess medical malpractice coverage for health care providers who participate in the fund and meet all other participation requirements, which includes maintaining malpractice liability insurance in coverage amounts specified under current law. OTHER CHANGES The bill makes numerous other changes throughout the statutes relating to APRNs, including various terminology changes. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Passed |
| AB242 | Tampering with telecommunication or electric wires and providing a penalty. | Under current law, misdemeanor penalties apply to a person who interferes with the wires, poles, or other property of any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power company under a variety of circumstances. This bill applies the same prohibitions to video service and broadband service lines and property and increases certain misdemeanor penalties to be Class I felonies. Under current law, it is a Class B misdemeanor for a person who has the right to alter certain property to which any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power lines or wires are attached to do so without first giving the relevant company at least 24 hours[ notice. This bill applies this prohibition to video service and broadband service provider property. Under current law, it is a Class B misdemeanor for a person, without the permission of the relevant company, to intentionally break down, interrupt, remove, destroy, disturb, interfere with, or injure any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power line, wire, pole, or other property. This bill applies this prohibition to video service and broadband service provider property and increases the penalty from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class I felony. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a person, without the permission of the relevant company, to intentionally make a physical electrical connection with any wire, cable, conductor, ground, equipment, facility, or other property of any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power company. This bill applies this prohibition to video service and broadband service provider property and increases the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class I felony. Under current law, a Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to 90 days or both, a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to nine months or both, and 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. 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 |
| SB113 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates a Xtransition to grazing pilot programY in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to provide support and grants to farmers who are implementing livestock forage-based managed grazing systems and farmers and agribusinesses in the grazing-fed livestock business. Under the bill the department may award up to $40,000 to each grantee, and may disperse up to 75 percent of the grant in the first year following the department[s decision to grant the award and may disperse up to 12.5 percent of the award in each of the second and third years following the department[s decision to grant the award. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB118 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates a Xtransition to grazing pilot programY in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to provide support and grants to farmers who are implementing livestock forage-based managed grazing systems and farmers and agribusinesses in the grazing-fed livestock business. Under the bill the department may award up to $40,000 to each grantee, and may disperse up to 75 percent of the grant in the first year following the department[s decision to grant the award and may disperse up to 12.5 percent of the award in each of the second and third years following the department[s decision to grant the award. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR59 | Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| SB317 | Requiring cardiac emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property or at school-sponsored athletic events. (FE) | Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires each school board and operator of a charter school to have in effect a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property and a CERP for cardiac emergencies that occur at school-sponsored athletic practices and competitions. Under the bill, a CERP is a written document that contains specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in a specific setting. The bill also defines the core elements of a CERP, which include 1) a cardiac emergency response team, 2) a plan for activating the team in the event of a cardiac arrest, 3) distribution of the plan, 4) the incorporation of local emergency medical services into the plan, and 5) annual requirements to practice, review, and evaluate the plan. Under the bill, a CERP for a cardiac emergency that occurs on school property must address the use of school personnel to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest event that occurs on school property. This type of CERP must 1) include the core elements, 2) provide requirements for automated external defibrillator (AED) placement and maintenance, and 3) require training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and AED usage for certain school personnel. Under the bill, a CERP for athletic events is required only if the school board LRB-3419/1 FFK:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 317 or operator of a charter school operates the high school grades. A CERP for athletic events must address the use of coaches, athletic trainers, and other school personnel to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest event that occurs while an individual is attending or participating in a school-sponsored athletic practice or competition. This type of CERP must 1) include the core elements, 2) require that an AED is clearly marked and accessible in an unlocked location at each athletic venue during practices and competitions, and 3) require that each athletic coach employed by the school be certified in CPR and how to use an AED. The bill also requires a school board or operator of a charter school, when developing a CERP, to consider recommendations by the American Heart Association, Project ADAM, or another nationally recognized organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care. Finally, in the 2026-27 school year, the Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice may award grants for the purpose of assisting school boards and operators of charter schools to implement the CERPs required under the bill. The amount of a grant is based on the grade levels offered by the schools served by the CERPs. Under the bill, a school board or charter school is not required to comply with requirements in a CERP to place AEDs unless the OSS awards these grants. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB338 | Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act. | Current law allows any person who believes that a violation of the federal Help America Vote Act is occurring or is proposed to occur with respect to an election for national office in this state to file a written verified complaint with the Elections Commission. The person filing the complaint may request a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the commission must make a final determination regarding the merits of the complaint and issue a decision no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint. The Elections Commission has taken a position that it cannot decide a complaint brought against itself. In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with that position. See, Teigen v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, 2022 WI 64, 33, 403 Wis. 2d 607, 976 N.W.2d 519. The commission recently received a letter from the federal Department of Justice asserting that such a position violates the administrative complaint requirements under the Help America Vote Act. Under this bill, if the Elections Commission receives a complaint that alleges that the commission itself is violating HAVA, the commission must make a final determination on the merits of the complaint and issue a decision. The bill prohibits the commission from dismissing the complaint simply because the complaint alleges a commission violation. The bill also provides that if a hearing is requested it must be held in open LRB-3682/1 JK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 338 session and the oral proceedings of the hearing must be recorded by stenographic or electronic means. In addition, the Elections Commission must make a transcript of oral proceedings available for public inspection. Under current law, all records that are distributed or discussed in the course of a meeting or hearing by the commission in open session are available for public inspection. Under the bill, the commission must transmit to the complainant and all known interested parties an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within five business days from the date of its receipt. In addition, if the complainant requests a hearing, a hearing must be held no later than 30 days after the commission receives the complaint. The commission must also make a final determination of all complaints alleging a HAVA violation no later than 89 days after receiving the complaint, regardless of whether the complainant requests a hearing. Finally, the bill makes changes to the complaint procedures to ensure compliance with HAVA. The bill requires the Elections Commission to examine and investigate all complaints in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, as required under HAVA. In addition, if the commission finds that a complaint has merit, the commission must take corrective action to remedy the violation alleged in the complaint. If the commission dismisses the complaint or does not grant the relief requested in the complaint, the person filing the complaint may appeal the commission[s decision to a court of competent jurisdiction. Finally, the bill requires the commission to publish the results of all dismissed complaints on its website and provide such results to the legislature and the standing committees with jurisdiction over elections. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB239 | Harassment of search and rescue dogs 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 does any of those actions is subject to a Class B forfeiture, or, if the person knows the animal is a police or fire dog, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. 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 expands this prohibition to include search and rescue dogs in addition to animals that are used by a law enforcement agency or fire department to perform agency or department functions or duties. Under the bill, Xsearch and rescue dogY means a dog that has been trained or is being trained by a state or nationally recognized search and rescue agency to locate lost or missing individuals and victims of disasters in search and rescue activities. 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 |
| AB235 | Workforce literacy grant program. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a program to award a grant annually to provide workforce literacy services in this state. To be eligible to receive the grant, an organization must be a nonprofit entity located in this state that provides or supports adult literacy services or community- based literacy programs in over half of Wisconsin[s counties. An organization that receives a grant may use the money to teach workforce readiness skills, basic literacy skills, and digital literacy, to provide GED and HSED preparation and testing, to provide other literacy programs related to building and strengthening the state[s workforce, or to provide training, programming, supplies, materials, or other professional support to an organization that provides direct adult literacy services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB261 | Certain limitations on claiming the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, a person who claims the farmland preservation tax credit is prohibited from claiming the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit in the same tax year. This bill allows a person to claim both the farmland preservation tax credit and the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit in the same tax year. Current law allows a person to claim a farmland preservation income tax credit for the person[s land engaged in an agricultural use, if the land is covered by a farmland preservation agreement, located in a farmland preservation zoning district, or covered by an agricultural conservation easement. Also, under current law, an eligible veteran or surviving spouse may claim a refundable income tax credit that equals the amount of property taxes paid during the year on the claimant[s principal dwelling in Wisconsin. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2781/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 261 | In Committee |
| SB238 | Harassment of search and rescue dogs 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 does any of those actions is subject to a Class B forfeiture, or, if the person knows the animal is a police or fire dog, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. 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 expands this prohibition to include search and rescue dogs in addition to animals that are used by a law enforcement agency or fire department to perform agency or department functions or duties. Under the bill, Xsearch and rescue dogY means a dog that has been trained or is being trained by a state or LRB-2887/1 MJW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 238 nationally recognized search and rescue agency to locate lost or missing individuals and victims of disasters in search and rescue activities. 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 |
| SB258 | Advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | NURSING PRACTICE AND LICENSURE This bill makes various changes to practice, licensure, and certification requirements for nurses, which are administered by the Board of Nursing. Licensure of advanced practice registered nurses Under current law, a person who wishes to practice professional nursing must be licensed by the Board of Nursing as a registered nurse (RN). This bill creates an additional system of licensure for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), to be administered by the board. Under the bill, in order to apply for an APRN license, a person must 1) hold, or concurrently apply for, an RN license; 2) have completed an accredited graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program preparing the person to practice as an APRN in one of four recognized roles and hold a current national certification approved by the board; 3) possess malpractice liability insurance as provided in the bill; 4) pay a fee determined by the Department of Safety and Professional Services; and 5) satisfy certain other criteria specified in the bill. The bill also allows a person who has not completed an accredited education program described above to receive an APRN license if the person 1) on January 1, 2026, is both licensed as an RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized roles and 2) satisfies additional practice or education criteria established by the board. The bill also, however, automatically grants licenses to certain RNs, as further described below. The four recognized roles, as defined in the bill, are 1) certified nurse-midwife; 2) certified registered nurse anesthetist; 3) clinical nurse specialist; and 4) nurse practitioner. The bill requires the board, upon granting a person an APRN license, to also grant the person one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized role or roles for which the person qualifies. Under the bill, all APRNs, except APRNs with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation, must practice in collaboration with a physician or dentist. However, under the bill, an APRN may practice without being supervised by a physician or dentist if the board verifies that the APRN has completed 3,840 hours of professional nursing in a clinical setting and has completed 3,840 clinical hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice in their recognized role while working with a physician or dentist during those 3,840 hours of practice. APRNs may count additional hours practiced as an APRN in collaboration with a physician or dentist towards the 3,840 required hours of professional nursing. APRNs with a LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 certified nurse-midwife specialty designation are instead required, if they offer to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting, to file and keep current with the board a proactive plan for involving a hospital or a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital in the treatment of patients with higher acuity or emergency care needs, as further described below. Regardless of whether an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the bill provides that an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques only while working in a collaborative relationship with any physician who, through education, training, and experience, specializes in pain management. Alternatively, if an APRN has qualified to practice independently, the APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques in a hospital or clinic associated with a hospital. Further, an APRN may provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques if the APRN has qualified to practice independently and has privileges in a hospital to provide treatment of pain syndromes through the use of invasive techniques without a collaborative relationship with a physician. The holder of an APRN license may append the title XA.P.R.N.Y to his or her name, as well as a title corresponding to whichever specialty designations that the person possesses. The bill prohibits any person from using the title XA.P.R.N.,Y and from otherwise indicating that he or she is an APRN, unless the person is licensed by the board as an APRN. The bill also prohibits the use of titles and abbreviations corresponding to a recognized role unless the person has a specialty designation for that role. The bill further prohibits any person licensed by the board from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any title that is not granted under the nursing statutes unless the person holds another credential that entitles the person to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title or the person is permitted to use, assume, or append to his or her name the title under any other law of the state. However, the bill provides that a person who is licensed by the board and holds a doctorate degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name the title XdoctorY or any other words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that doctorate degree or the field in which the degree was received. If a person who is licensed by the board uses, assumes, or appends to his or her name the title Xdoctor,Y the bill requires that person to also use, assume, or append to his or her name words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree. Further, the bill provides that a person who holds a bachelor[s degree or master[s degree is not prohibited from using, assuming, or appending to his or her name any words, letters, or abbreviations that represent that the person holds that degree or the field in which the degree was received. The bill allows an APRN to delegate a task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the task or order is within the scope of the APRN[s practice, the APRN is competent to perform the task or issue the order, and the APRN has reasonable evidence that the health care worker is minimally competent LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances. The bill requires an APRN to adhere to professional standards when managing situations that are beyond the APRN[s expertise. Under the bill, when an APRN renews his or her APRN license, the board must grant the person the renewal of both the person[s RN license and the person[s APRN license. The bill requires all APRNs to complete continuing education requirements each biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the APRN[s area of practice and to satisfy certain other requirements when renewing a license. Practice of nurse-midwifery This bill repeals licensure and practice requirements specific to nurse- midwives and the practice of nurse-midwifery, including specific requirements to practice with an obstetrician. Under the bill, Xcertified nurse-midwifeY is one of the four recognized roles for APRNs, and a person who is licensed as a nurse-midwife under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with a certified nurse- midwife specialty designation. The bill otherwise allows nurse-midwives to be licensed as APRNs if they satisfy the licensure requirements, except that the bill also requires that a person applying for a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation be certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. The bill also requires an APRN with a specialty designation as a certified nurse-midwife to file with the Board of Nursing, and obtain the board[s approval of, a plan for ensuring appropriate care or care transitions in treating certain patients if the APRN offers to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting. Prescribing authority Under current law, a person licensed as an RN may apply to the Board of Nursing for a certificate to issue prescription orders if the person meets certain requirements established by the board. An RN holding a certificate is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board and must possess malpractice liability insurance in an amount determined by the board. The bill eliminates certificates to issue prescription orders and generally authorizes APRNs to issue prescription orders. A person who is certified to issue prescription orders under current law is automatically granted an APRN license with his or her appropriate specialty designation. RNs who are practicing in a recognized role on January 1, 2026, but who do not hold a certificate to issue prescription orders on that date and who are granted an APRN license under the bill may not issue prescription orders. As under current law, an APRN issuing prescription orders is subject to various practice requirements and limitations established by the board. The bill repeals a provision concerning the ability of advanced practice nurses who are certified to issue prescription orders and who are required to work in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician to obtain and practice LRB-1565/1 JPC:emw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 258 under a federal waiver to dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for addiction treatment. Malpractice liability insurance The bill requires all APRNs to maintain malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by personal liability coverage in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists or coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the APRN in the amounts specified under current law for physicians and nurse anesthetists. Additionally, the bill requires APRNs who have qualified to practice independently and who practice outside a collaborative or employment relationship to participate in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund provides excess medical malpractice coverage for health care providers who participate in the fund and meet all other participation requirements, which includes maintaining malpractice liability insurance in coverage amounts specified under current law. OTHER CHANGES The bill makes numerous other changes throughout the statutes relating to APRNs, including various terminology changes. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB264 | Certain limitations on claiming the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, a person who claims the farmland preservation tax credit is prohibited from claiming the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit in the same tax year. This bill allows a person to claim both the farmland preservation tax credit and the veterans and surviving spouses property tax credit in the same tax year. Current law allows a person to claim a farmland preservation income tax credit for the person[s land engaged in an agricultural use, if the land is covered by a farmland preservation agreement, located in a farmland preservation zoning district, or covered by an agricultural conservation easement. Also, under current law, an eligible veteran or surviving spouse may claim a refundable income tax credit that equals the amount of property taxes paid during the year on the claimant[s principal dwelling in Wisconsin. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
| SB94 | Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty. | This bill makes it a Class I felony to urge, promote, organize, encourage, or instigate others to commit a riot and a Class H felony to intentionally commit an act of violence while participating in a riot. The bill defines a XriotY as a public disturbance that involves an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons, that constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury or a threat of an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons having the ability of immediate execution of the threat, if the threatened action constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury. The bill establishes a civil cause of action for any person who suffers injury or loss to person or property as a result of conduct that violates the criminal prohibitions on vandalism or participation in a riot. The bill allows a person to bring a civil action against a person who committed the violation and against any person or organization that provided material support or resources with the intent LRB-2144/1 SWB:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 94 that such support or resources would be used to perpetrate the offense. The person bringing the action may obtain an order requiring the offender to fix or repair the damage caused to the person[s property if certain requirements set forth in the bill are met. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency or law enforcement officers from limiting or restricting the authority of the agency to have its officers, or certain officers, arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency from limiting or restricting the authority of law enforcement officers, or certain designated law enforcement officers, to arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or to take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. Finally, the bill provides that no government official, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement officer may discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against any employee because the employee made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing regarding a violation of the prohibitions on government officials set forth in the bill. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| SB328 | A requirement for fair organizations that seek state aid. | Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides state aid to counties, agricultural societies, associations, and boards that hold local fairs in order to cover the cost of prizes paid out to exhibitors, up to $20,000 per fair. No later than 30 days after the close of the fair, an entity that seeks to claim this state aid must file with DATCP an itemized statement showing the net premiums actually paid at the preceding fair, and that statement must include a statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. This bill removes the requirement for the statement that gambling devices, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the exhibitions of immoral character were prohibited and excluded from the fairgrounds. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB306 | Time limits on local unit of government chief executive officer emergency power proclamations. | Under current law, a local unit of government[s chief executive officer may exercise by proclamation the emergency power conferred to the local unit of government if the local unit of government[s governing body is unable to meet promptly. This bill limits the length of such proclamation to 60 days, unless extended by the local unit of government[s governing body. The bill also defines Xchief executive officerY as any of the following: 1) the county executive of a county, the county administrator of a county, or, in a county with an administrative coordinator, the county board chair of a county; 2) the mayor or city manager of a city; 3) the village president of a village; 4) the town board chairperson of a town; or 5) a person acting as one of the above stated persons. | In Committee |
| SB334 | Designating the monarch butterfly as the state butterfly. | Current law designates a variety of state symbols and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information about them. This bill designates the monarch as the Wisconsin state butterfly and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include that information. | 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 |
| AB309 | Immunity for 911 call centers and dispatchers that transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. | This bill provides that any public safety answering point, more commonly known as a 911 call center, or dispatcher that transfers a caller to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is generally immune from civil liability for any outcomes resulting from the transfer. | In Committee |
| SB309 | Immunity for 911 call centers and dispatchers that transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. | This bill provides that any public safety answering point, more commonly known as a 911 call center, or dispatcher that transfers a caller to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is generally immune from civil liability for any outcomes resulting from the transfer. | In Committee |
| SJR63 | Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB236 | Tampering with telecommunication or electric wires and providing a penalty. | Under current law, misdemeanor penalties apply to a person who interferes with the wires, poles, or other property of any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power company under a variety of circumstances. This bill applies the same prohibitions to video service and broadband service lines and property and increases certain misdemeanor penalties to be Class I felonies. Under current law, it is a Class B misdemeanor for a person who has the right to alter certain property to which any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power lines or wires are attached to do so without first giving the relevant company at least 24 hours[ notice. This bill applies this prohibition to video service and broadband service provider property. Under current law, it is a Class B misdemeanor for a person, without the permission of the relevant company, to intentionally break down, interrupt, remove, destroy, disturb, interfere with, or injure any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power line, wire, pole, or other property. This bill applies this prohibition to video service and broadband service provider property and increases the penalty from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class I felony. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a person, without the LRB-2807/1 MJW:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 236 permission of the relevant company, to intentionally make a physical electrical connection with any wire, cable, conductor, ground, equipment, facility, or other property of any telegraph, telecommunications, electric light, or electric power company. This bill applies this prohibition to video service and broadband service provider property and increases the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class I felony. Under current law, a Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to 90 days or both, a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to nine months or both, and 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. 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 |
| 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 |
| AB213 | Prohibiting hedge funds from acquiring single-family homes in this state. (FE) | This bill prohibits a hedge fund from acquiring a single-family home in this state. The bill provides that an ownership interest in a single-family home acquired or owned by a hedge fund 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 |
| SB137 | The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE) | Under current law, a pharmacy has a duty to dispense lawfully prescribed contraceptive drugs and devices without delay unless certain factors apply, including that the prescription contains an obvious or known error or contains inadequate instructions, the prescription is contraindicated for the patient, the prescription is incompatible with another drug or device prescribed for the patient, or the prescription is potentially fraudulent. This bill expands that duty to require pharmacies to dispense any lawfully prescribed drug or device without delay. However, if any pharmacist at a pharmacy refuses to dispense a drug or device for reasons of conscience such that the pharmacy cannot fulfill the prescription order without delay, then the bill requires the pharmacy to transfer the prescription order to a different pharmacy, at the direction of the patient, that will dispense the prescribed drug or device without delay. The bill also specifies that a pharmacy LRB-0508/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 137 may not dispense a lawfully prescribed drug or device if there is an absolute contraindication for the prescribed drug or device, rather than just a contraindication. Under the bill, Xabsolute contraindicationY is defined to mean any condition present in a patient that makes a particular drug or device inadvisable under any circumstances. Further, the bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from penalizing in any way a pharmacy or pharmacist from dispensing a prescribed drug or device that is prescribed for a use other than a use approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration if the prescribed drug or device is dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription order. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB127 | The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE) | Under current law, a pharmacy has a duty to dispense lawfully prescribed contraceptive drugs and devices without delay unless certain factors apply, including that the prescription contains an obvious or known error or contains inadequate instructions, the prescription is contraindicated for the patient, the prescription is incompatible with another drug or device prescribed for the patient, or the prescription is potentially fraudulent. This bill expands that duty to require pharmacies to dispense any lawfully prescribed drug or device without delay. However, if any pharmacist at a pharmacy refuses to dispense a drug or device for reasons of conscience such that the pharmacy cannot fulfill the prescription order without delay, then the bill requires the pharmacy to transfer the prescription order to a different pharmacy, at the direction of the patient, that will dispense the prescribed drug or device without delay. The bill also specifies that a pharmacy may not dispense a lawfully prescribed drug or device if there is an absolute contraindication for the prescribed drug or device, rather than just a contraindication. Under the bill, Xabsolute contraindicationY is defined to mean any condition present in a patient that makes a particular drug or device inadvisable under any circumstances. Further, the bill prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from penalizing in any way a pharmacy or pharmacist from dispensing a prescribed drug or device that is prescribed for a use other than a use approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration if the prescribed drug or device is dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription order. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB288 | Labeling plants as beneficial to pollinators. (FE) | This bill prohibits a person that provides plants or that sells plants at retail from labeling or advertising the plant as being beneficial to pollinators if the plant has been treated with an insecticide that contains warnings about pollinator hazards on its label. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AJR62 | Designating June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AB305 | Designating the rusty patched bumble bee as the state native insect. | Current law designates a variety of state symbols and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information about them. This bill designates the rusty patched bumble bee as the state native insect and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information concerning that designation. | In Committee |
| AB287 | Local regulation of pesticides to protect pollinators. | This bill allows a political subdivision to regulate pesticides for the purpose of protecting pollinators and pollinator habitats. Current law prohibits a political subdivision (a city, village, town, or county) from prohibiting the use of or otherwise regulating pesticides but provides numerous exemptions. For example, a political subdivision may enact an ordinance that regulates pesticides pursuant to a storm water management program or that relates to the storage, treatment, or disposal of solid waste that contains pesticides. The bill adds an additional exemption that allows a political subdivision to regulate pesticides in order to protect pollinators and pollinator habitats. XPollinatorY is defined in the bill as an insect that pollinates flowers. | In Committee |
| AB291 | Native prairie and forage plants. | This bill requires state agencies and other state governmental entities to give preference, where appropriate, to using native prairie and forage plants to benefit native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide information upon request to support this initiative. | In Committee |
| SB298 | Ban on the use of certain insecticides by the Department of Natural Resources. | This bill prohibits, with limited exceptions, the Department of Natural Resources from using any insecticide from the neonicotinoid class on land maintained by DNR. Under the bill, this prohibition does not apply to uses of this insecticide that are 1) pursuant to existing cooperative farming agreements or contracts or 2) for forest insect control on forested lands, state forest nurseries, or seed orchards or in designated zones of infestation. | In Committee |
| SB293 | Native prairie and forage plants. | This bill requires state agencies and other state governmental entities to give preference, where appropriate, to using native prairie and forage plants to benefit native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide information upon request to support this initiative. | In Committee |
| SB292 | Local regulation of pesticides to protect pollinators. | This bill allows a political subdivision to regulate pesticides for the purpose of protecting pollinators and pollinator habitats. Current law prohibits a political subdivision (a city, village, town, or county) from prohibiting the use of or otherwise regulating pesticides but provides numerous exemptions. For example, a political subdivision may enact an ordinance that regulates pesticides pursuant to a storm water management program or that relates to the storage, treatment, or disposal of solid waste that contains pesticides. The bill adds an additional exemption that allows a political subdivision to regulate pesticides in order to protect pollinators and pollinator habitats. XPollinatorY is defined in the bill as an insect that pollinates flowers. | In Committee |
| SB297 | Special registration plates to support protecting pollinators and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, members of certain designated special groups may obtain from the Department of Transportation special registration plates for certain vehicles that are owned or leased by special group members. A fee, in addition to the regular registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, is charged for the issuance or reissuance of most special plates. This bill establishes a special group for persons to express support for protecting pollinators. The bill requires that plates issued to members of the special group have a design that covers the entire plate and includes the words XProtect Pollinators.Y The bill provides that, in addition to the required fees, special group members are required to make a voluntary payment of $25 to be issued the special plates. Under the bill, DOT retains $23,700, or the actual initial costs of production, whichever is less, from the voluntary payment moneys for the initial costs of production of the special plates. The remainder of the voluntary payment amounts LRB-3157/1 ZDW:amn&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 297 are deposited in the conservation fund to be used by the Department of Natural Resources for the purposes of the endangered resources program. In addition, the bill appropriates $23,700 from the general fund to DOT for the initial costs of production of the special group plates. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB290 | Special registration plates to support protecting pollinators and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, members of certain designated special groups may obtain from the Department of Transportation special registration plates for certain vehicles that are owned or leased by special group members. A fee, in addition to the regular registration fee for the particular kind of vehicle, is charged for the issuance or reissuance of most special plates. This bill establishes a special group for persons to express support for protecting pollinators. The bill requires that plates issued to members of the special group have a design that covers the entire plate and includes the words XProtect Pollinators.Y The bill provides that, in addition to the required fees, special group members are required to make a voluntary payment of $25 to be issued the special plates. Under the bill, DOT retains $23,700, or the actual initial costs of production, whichever is less, from the voluntary payment moneys for the initial costs of production of the special plates. The remainder of the voluntary payment amounts are deposited in the conservation fund to be used by the Department of Natural Resources for the purposes of the endangered resources program. In addition, the bill appropriates $23,700 from the general fund to DOT for the initial costs of production of the special group plates. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB289 | Ban on the use of certain insecticides by the Department of Natural Resources. | This bill prohibits, with limited exceptions, the Department of Natural Resources from using any insecticide from the neonicotinoid class on land maintained by DNR. Under the bill, this prohibition does not apply to uses of this insecticide that are 1) pursuant to existing cooperative farming agreements or contracts or 2) for forest insect control on forested lands, state forest nurseries, or seed orchards or in designated zones of infestation. | In Committee |
| SB319 | Designating the rusty patched bumble bee as the state native insect. | Current law designates a variety of state symbols and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information about them. This bill designates the rusty patched bumble bee as the state native insect and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to include information concerning that designation. | In Committee |
| SB327 | Emotional support animals in housing; falsely claiming that an animal is a service animal; and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill makes changes relating to emotional support animals and service animals in the laws addressing discrimination in housing and public places of accommodation or amusement. Current law defines an emotional support animal as an animal that provides emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship to an individual, but that is not trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability. A service animal is generally defined as a dog or other animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. This bill changes the definition of Xservice animalY for purposes of the laws addressing discrimination in public places of accommodation or amusement. The bill limits service animals for those purposes to a dog or miniature horse that meets the standards set forth under federal regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act or a dog or miniature horse that is being trained to be a service animal. LRB-0196/1 MIM:ads&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 327 Under current law, it is discrimination to do any of the following with respect to an individual who has a disability and a disability-related need for an emotional support animal: refuse to rent or sell housing to the individual, charge the individual more for housing, evict the individual from housing, or harass the individual. An owner or lessor, an agent of an owner or lessor, or a representative of a condominium association (collectively, Xhousing representativeY) may request from an individual who wishes to keep an emotional support animal in housing reliable documentation of the individual[s disability-related need for an emotional support animal from a licensed health professional and may deny the individual the ability to keep the emotional support animal in the housing if the individual fails to provide the documentation. The bill allows the housing representative to require that this documentation include a prescription from a licensed health professional for the emotional support animal. An individual who provides false documentation of a prescription for an emotional support animal and a health care provider who provides a prescription for an emotional support animal without having at least a 30-day relationship with the individual before providing the prescription must each forfeit at least $500. The bill prohibits a person from intentionally misrepresenting that he or she is in possession of a service animal while at any public place of accommodation or amusement. A person who violates this prohibition is subject to a forfeiture of up to $200 for a first violation and up to $500 for a second or subsequent violation. The bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to prepare and make available to businesses upon request: 1) signage suitable for posting on a front window or door stating Xtask-trained service animals are welcomeY and that misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is a violation of state law; and 2) an informational brochure detailing the rights of businesses relating to service animals in their place of business. In preparing these materials, DWD must consult with members of organizations that represent business owners, restaurant owners, and groups that train and place service animals and guide dogs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB71 | School district operating referenda. | This bill eliminates recurring operating referenda and limits a nonrecurring operating referendum to no more than four years. Current law generally limits the total amount of revenue a school district may receive from general school aids and property taxes in a school year. However, there are several exceptions to the revenue limit. One exception is for excess revenue approved by referendum for recurring and nonrecurring purposes. This type of referendum is often referred to as an operating referendum. If the operating referendum is for a nonrecurring purpose, a school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is approved only for specific school years. If the operating referendum is for a recurring purpose, the school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is permanent. Under the bill, an operating referendum to exceed a school district[s revenue limit may be only for nonrecurring purposes and the referendum may not apply to more than four years. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SB57 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1735/1 EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 57 | In Committee |
| AB24 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | This bill requires sheriffs to request proof of legal presence status from individuals held in a county jail for an offense punishable as a felony. The bill also requires sheriffs to comply with detainers and administrative warrants received from the federal department of homeland security regarding individuals held in the county jail for a criminal offense. Under the bill, sheriffs must annually certify to the Department of Revenue that they have complied with each of these requirements. If a sheriff fails to provide such a certification, DOR must reduce the county[s shared revenue payments for the next year by 15 percent. The bill also requires sheriffs to maintain a record of the number of individuals from whom proof of legal presence is requested who are verified as unlawfully present in this state and a list of the types of crimes for which those individuals were confined in the jail. The information must be provided to the Department of Justice upon request, and DOJ must compile the information and submit a report to the legislature. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB226 | Prohibiting school boards and independent charter schools from providing food containing certain ingredients in free or reduced-price meals. | This bill prohibits school boards and independent charter schools from providing food that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, or red dye 3 to pupils as part of free or reduced- price meals provided under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program. The bill does not prohibit school boards and independent charter schools from allowing private vendors to serve food containing any of those ingredients on school premises or at school-sponsored activities. | 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 |
| SB294 | Labeling plants as beneficial to pollinators. (FE) | This bill prohibits a person that provides plants or that sells plants at retail from labeling or advertising the plant as being beneficial to pollinators if the plant has been treated with an insecticide that contains warnings about pollinator hazards on its label. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR61 | Designating June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating June 2025 as Pollinator Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AB205 | Serving maple syrup in a public eating place. | Under this bill, a public eating place may not serve a food product identified as maple syrup unless the product is made entirely of maple syrup, as the term is defined in federal regulations. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SB204 | Creating a video game production tax credit and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates a refundable video game production income and franchise tax credit. The credit is equal to the sum of the following: 1) 30 percent of the eligible wages paid by the claimant directly relating to developing, producing, or creating a video game product; and 2) 30 percent of the claimant[s eligible expenditures directly relating to developing, producing, or creating a video game product. Under the bill, Xvideo game productY means, subject to certain exceptions, an electronic game developed for commercial distribution and entertainment that involves interaction with a used interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. XVideo game productY does not include social media, gambling products, or products with obscene content. The bill also defines Xeligible expendituresY as expenditures directly relating to developing, producing, or creating a video game product but excludes various specified expenditures, such as payments for royalties, capital expenditures, management and administrative expenses, marketing expenses, and LRB-2552/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 204 interest. To claim the credit for a tax year, a person must file an application with the Department of Revenue and receive a certificate of eligibility for the credit. To receive a certificate, an applicant must submit an audit of its eligible expenditures to DOR. The credit under the bill is refundable, which means that if the credit exceeds the claimant[s tax liability, the claimant will receive the difference as a refund check. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB195 | Serving maple syrup in a public eating place. | Under this bill, a public eating place may not serve a food product identified as maple syrup unless the product is made entirely of maple syrup, as the term is defined in federal regulations. | In Committee |
| AJR8 | Restricting the governor’s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | relating to: restricting the governor[s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | In Committee |
| AB286 | Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) | Under this bill, $172,000,000 is lapsed to the general fund from a federal program revenue appropriation to the Department of Administration on the date the bill becomes law. On May 9, 2025, the secretary of administration reported to the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee that, as of the end of April, the total interest earned on advanced coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds and credited to the federal program revenue appropriation was $171,487,101.82. Under current law, unless specifically provided by law, miscellaneous receipts collected by a state agency, such as interest earnings, must be credited to general purpose revenues of the general fund. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB230 | Requiring retail sellers to accept cash and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill requires a retailer who sells goods or services from a physical location to accept cash as payment during a face-to-face sale with a consumer at one or more points of sale at the physical location, unless the person is otherwise prohibited by law from accepting cash. A retailer who violates this requirement is subject to a civil forfeiture of $200 to $5,000. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB280 | Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE) | Under this bill, $172,000,000 is lapsed to the general fund from a federal program revenue appropriation to the Department of Administration on the date the bill becomes law. On May 9, 2025, the secretary of administration reported to the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee that, as of the end of April, the total interest earned on advanced coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds and credited to the federal program revenue appropriation was $171,487,101.82. Under current law, unless specifically provided by law, miscellaneous receipts collected by a state agency, such as interest earnings, must be credited to general purpose revenues of the general fund. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB33 | Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty. | Under current law, it is generally a Class I felony to capture or distribute representations depicting nudity without the consent of the person depicted. This bill expands the prohibition to include what are known as Xdeep fakes.Y The bill provides that it is a Class I felony to post, publish, distribute, or exhibit a synthetic intimate representation (commonly known as a Xdeep fakeY) of an identifiable person with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate that person. Under the bill, a synthetic intimate representation is defined as a representation generated using technological means that uses an identifiable person[s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic to depict an intimate representation of that person, regardless of whether the representation includes components that are artificial, legally generated, or generally accessible. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to publish or post a private representation, which is a sexually explicit representation that is intended by the person depicted in the representation to be possessed or viewed only by the persons with whom it was directly shared, without consent of the person depicted. This bill provides that it is also a Class A misdemeanor to reproduce such representations without that person[s consent. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB228 | Prohibiting school boards and independent charter schools from providing food containing certain ingredients in free or reduced-price meals. | This bill prohibits school boards and independent charter schools from providing food that contains brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, or red dye 3 to pupils as part of free or reduced- price meals provided under the National School Lunch Program or the federal School Breakfast Program. The bill does not prohibit school boards and independent charter schools from allowing private vendors to serve food containing any of those ingredients on school premises or at school-sponsored activities. | In Committee |
| AB204 | Creating a video game production tax credit and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill creates a refundable video game production income and franchise tax credit. The credit is equal to the sum of the following: 1) 30 percent of the eligible wages paid by the claimant directly relating to developing, producing, or creating a video game product; and 2) 30 percent of the claimant[s eligible expenditures directly relating to developing, producing, or creating a video game product. Under the bill, Xvideo game productY means, subject to certain exceptions, an electronic game developed for commercial distribution and entertainment that involves interaction with a used interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. XVideo game productY does not include social media, gambling products, or products with obscene content. The bill also defines Xeligible expendituresY as expenditures directly relating to developing, producing, or creating a video game product but excludes various specified expenditures, such as payments for royalties, capital expenditures, management and administrative expenses, marketing expenses, and interest. To claim the credit for a tax year, a person must file an application with the Department of Revenue and receive a certificate of eligibility for the credit. To receive a certificate, an applicant must submit an audit of its eligible expenditures to DOR. The credit under the bill is refundable, which means that if the credit exceeds the claimant[s tax liability, the claimant will receive the difference as a refund check. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB208 | Prohibiting hedge funds from acquiring single-family homes in this state. (FE) | This bill prohibits a hedge fund from acquiring a single-family home in this state. The bill provides that an ownership interest in a single-family home acquired or owned by a hedge fund 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 |
| AR8 | Commemorating the victims of the Abundant Life Christian School tragedy, supporting the students, staff, families, and community of Abundant Life Christian School, and condemning violence. | Relating to: commemorating the victims of the Abundant Life Christian School tragedy, supporting the students, staff, families, and community of Abundant Life Christian School, and condemning violence. | In Committee |
| AB311 | Changing an individual’s sex on a birth certificate. | Current law allows for changes to an individual[s sex on a birth record due to a surgical sex-change procedure or to correct an error on a birth record, subject to certain requirements. Under this bill, an individual[s sex on a birth record may not be changed due to a surgical sex-change procedure. Moreover, the bill prohibits any person from changing an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. The bill also prohibits a court from ordering a change to an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. Under the bill, Xbiological sexY means the biological state of being male or female based on sex chromosomes. | In Committee |
| SB230 | Requiring retail sellers to accept cash and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill requires a retailer who sells goods or services from a physical location to accept cash as payment during a face-to-face sale with a consumer at one or more points of sale at the physical location, unless the person is otherwise prohibited by law from accepting cash. A retailer who violates this requirement is subject to a civil forfeiture of $200 to $5,000. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB243 | The age at which an infant is covered under the safe haven law. | Under current law, commonly referred to as the Xsafe haven law,Y a child whom a law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, or hospital staff member reasonably believes to be 72 hours old or younger (newborn infant) may be taken into custody under circumstances in which a parent of the newborn infant relinquishes custody of the newborn infant to the law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, or hospital staff member and does not express an intent to return for the newborn infant or in which a parent of the newborn infant leaves the child in a newborn infant safety device installed in a supporting wall of a hospital, fire station, or law enforcement agency. Under current law, a parent who relinquishes custody of a child under the safe haven law and any person who assists the parent in that relinquishment are immune from any civil or criminal liability for any good faith act or omission in connection with the relinquishment. This bill changes the maximum age at which a newborn infant falls under the safe haven law from 72 hours old to 30 days old. LRB-2839/1 EHS:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 243 | In Committee |
| AB237 | The age at which an infant is covered under the safe haven law. | Under current law, commonly referred to as the Xsafe haven law,Y a child whom a law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, or hospital staff member reasonably believes to be 72 hours old or younger (newborn infant) may be taken into custody under circumstances in which a parent of the newborn infant relinquishes custody of the newborn infant to the law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, or hospital staff member and does not express an intent to return for the newborn infant or in which a parent of the newborn infant leaves the child in a newborn infant safety device installed in a supporting wall of a hospital, fire station, or law enforcement agency. Under current law, a parent who relinquishes custody of a child under the safe haven law and any person who assists the parent in that relinquishment are immune from any civil or criminal liability for any good faith act or omission in connection with the relinquishment. This bill changes the maximum age at which a newborn infant falls under the safe haven law from 72 hours old to 30 days old. | In Committee |
| SB37 | Local regulation of vegetable gardens. | This bill prohibits a political subdivision from requiring a permit for or prohibiting the cultivation of a vegetable or flower garden on residential property not owned by the political subdivision. | In Committee |
| SB44 | Local regulation of fowl. | This bill prohibits political subdivisions and sewerage districts from prohibiting the keeping of up to four chickens or quail (fowl) by property owners or certain lessors on properties zoned for residential use. The bill specifically allows political subdivisions and sewerage districts to do any of the following with regard to the keeping of fowl: 1. Require a keeper of fowl to obtain a permit. 2. Require notification of adjoining land owners. 3. Impose reasonable regulations related to the location of fowl housing on a property. 4. Prohibit the keeping of roosters. 5. Impose reasonable cleanliness standards. | In Committee |
| SB7 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. | This bill generally prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. In the bill, “foreign adversary” means a foreign government or nongovernment person determined by the federal secretary of commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of U.S. persons. Current law generally prohibits a nonresident alien or a corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign person) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that prohibition does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. LRB-0067/1 KRP:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 7 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be “extremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.” See Opinion of Wis. Att’y Gen., OAG 11-14, ¶5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, a foreign person may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but a foreign person may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill retains the current law restriction on foreign person ownership of agricultural and forestry land and adds a provision that prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring any land for agricultural or forestry purposes. | In Committee |
| SB312 | Changing an individual’s sex on a birth certificate. | Current law allows for changes to an individual[s sex on a birth record due to a surgical sex-change procedure or to correct an error on a birth record, subject to certain requirements. Under this bill, an individual[s sex on a birth record may not be changed due to a surgical sex-change procedure. Moreover, the bill prohibits any person from changing an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. The bill also prohibits a court from ordering a change to an individual[s sex on a birth record to a sex other than the individual[s biological sex. Under the bill, Xbiological sexY means the biological state of being male or female based on sex chromosomes. | In Committee |
| SB313 | Providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE) | Under current law, when a child is the subject of a child or juvenile in need of protection or services (CHIPS or JIPS) proceeding, the county social or human services department, a child welfare agency, or, if the child or juvenile is located in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families is required to prepare a permanency plan for the child. The permanency plan is reviewed every six months either by a review panel or at a court hearing. Before the review or hearing, the agency is required to provide a copy of the plan, and any written comments that the agency receives about the plan, to the following people: the members of the review panel; the child[s parent, guardian, or legal custodian; the person representing the interests of the public; the child[s counsel, guardian ad litem, or court-appointed special advocate; and, if the child is an Indian child who is placed outside the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian, the child[s Indian custodian and tribe. This bill allows an agency to provide a copy of a child[s permanency plan and LRB-3305/1 MDE:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 313 comments on the plan to a child[s out-of-home care provider in the context of a permanency review and a permanency hearing. An out-of-home care provider includes a foster parent, guardian, relative other than a parent, nonrelative in whose home a child or juvenile is placed, and operator of a group home, residential care center for children and youth, or shelter care facility in which a child or juvenile is placed. Under this bill, any information that is required to remain confidential under federal or state law must be redacted from the permanency plan before it is provided to the out-of-home care provider. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB177 | Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE) | This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of diapers and feminine hygiene products. 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 |
| SB19 | Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE) | Under current law, no person may operate a vehicle in any state park or in certain other recreational areas on state land unless the vehicle displays a vehicle admission receipt. This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to waive the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt issued to the parent or guardian of a child who possesses a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass issued by the U.S. National Park Service. Under current federal law, such a pass authorizes free admission to national parks for any 4th grader and his or her family. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB18 | Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE) | Under current law, no person may operate a vehicle in any state park or in certain other recreational areas on state land unless the vehicle displays a vehicle admission receipt. This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to waive the fee for an annual vehicle admission receipt issued to the parent or guardian of a child who possesses a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass issued by the U.S. National Park Service. Under current federal law, such a pass authorizes free admission to national parks for any 4th grader and his or her family. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB295 | The use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE) | Under this bill, a court may allow the use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in civil or criminal proceedings, certain municipal proceedings, and administrative contested case proceedings. Under current law, on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in any criminal proceeding, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. The bill allows an interpreter to act by telephone or live audiovisual means in a criminal trial in addition to other types of proceedings. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB191 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address. | Under current law, a subpoena may generally be served by any person by exhibiting and reading it to the witness, by giving the witness a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the witness[s home. This bill modifies the procedure with respect to law enforcement officers and tribal law enforcement officers served in an official capacity, requiring that a subpoena may be served upon a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer in the officer[s official capacity as a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer only at the officer[s work address by exhibiting and reading it to the officer, by giving the officer a copy of the subpoena, or by leaving a copy of the subpoena at the officer[s work address. | In Committee |
| AB180 | Requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to request any necessary waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. Under current law, the federal food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and called FoodShare in this state, provides benefits to eligible low-income households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is administered by DHS. The federal government pays the benefits for FoodShare while the state and federal government share the cost of administration. Current federal law defines the foods eligible for purchase under FoodShare. The bill requires DHS to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits for the purchase of candy or soft drinks. If the waiver is granted, DHS must prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits to purchase candy or soft drinks. If any necessary waiver is not granted, the bill requires DHS to resubmit the waiver request annually until it is granted. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB156 | Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE) | Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires each school board to provide a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to pupils in grades four-year-old kindergarten to 12. Under the bill, each school board must include various topics in its child sexual abuse prevention instructional program, including 1) age-appropriated facts about sexual abuse; 2) how to communicate incidents of sexual abuse to trustworthy adults; 3) how to set and respect personal boundaries; and 4) information about giving and receiving consent. Annually before offering the child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to a pupil, the bill requires that each school board provide a pupil[s parent or guardian with information related to the instructional program, including approximately when it will be provided to the pupil, an explanation of how to opt out of the instructional program, an outline of the instructional program for the pupil[s specific grade, and facts and clear explanations related to specific child sexual abuse topics. Lastly, under the bill, a pupil[s parent or guardian may opt the pupil out of the instructional program by filing a written request with the pupil[s teacher or principal. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB138 | Jailers and protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) | Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; 2) the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement; and 3) either the annuitant retired as a protective occupation participant or the annuitant retired as a county jailer who was not a protective occupation participant under the WRS. Under current law, a county jailer has the opportunity to opt out of becoming a protective occupation participant under the WRS. The bill treats county jailers who opt out of becoming a protective occupation participant in the same manner as county jailers who are protective occupation participants. 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 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 |
| AB36 | Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) | Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) the annuitant is a retired law enforcement officer or firefighter; 2) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and 3) the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows an annuitant who was a law enforcement officer or firefighter to return to work with an employer that participates in the WRS and elect to not become a participating employee for purposes of the WRS but instead continue to receive an annuity from the WRS. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB124 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. | Current law prohibits a person who is registered as a sex offender with the Department of Corrections from changing their name during the period they are required to register. With certain exceptions, a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of a violent crime, which is defined in the bill and includes homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault, from changing their name. A person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB269 | A school psychologist loan program. (FE) | This bill creates a school psychologist loan program to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, including enrollment at an institution of higher education in a program of study leading to a school psychologist career. Under the program, HEAB may award to an eligible graduate student a loan of up to $10,000 annually for up to three years. HEAB must forgive 25 percent of the loan for each school year that the recipient is employed as a school psychologist in a rural county or urbanized area, as defined in the bill. XSchool psychologistY is defined in the bill as a licensed psychologist who practices in a school-based setting or an individual who is licensed as a school psychologist under rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB270 | A school psychologist loan program. (FE) | This bill creates a school psychologist loan program to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, including enrollment at an institution of higher education in a program of study leading to a school psychologist career. Under the program, HEAB may award to an eligible graduate student a loan of up to $10,000 annually for up to three years. HEAB must forgive 25 percent of the loan for each school year that the recipient is employed as a school psychologist in a rural county or urbanized area, as defined in the bill. XSchool psychologistY is defined in the bill as a licensed psychologist who practices in a school-based setting or an individual who is licensed as a school psychologist under rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR36 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse women’s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]La Crosse women[s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| SB146 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. | Current law prohibits a person who is registered as a sex offender with the Department of Corrections from changing their name during the period they are required to register. With certain exceptions, a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill prohibits a person who has been convicted of a violent crime, which is defined in the bill and includes homicide, battery, kidnapping, stalking, human trafficking, and sexual assault, from changing their name. A person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| SJR30 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey National Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]Madison women[s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women[s Hockey National Championship. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB78 | The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) | This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives: 1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a LRB-0065/1 JAM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 78 permit authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special- use fertilizer. 2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or other scientifically validated analytical method. 3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled experimental studies using the soil or plant additive. 4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it contains. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB134 | Alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders. | Under the full-time open enrollment program (OEP), a pupil may attend a public school in a school district other than the pupil[s resident school district (nonresident school district). Under current law, the standard OEP application procedure requires a pupil[s parent to apply to a nonresident school district during the spring semester immediately preceding the school year in which the pupil wishes to attend the nonresident school district. Current law also provides an alternative application procedure that allows a pupil[s parent to apply to a nonresident school district at any time during the school year, if certain circumstances apply. One of those circumstances is that the place of residence of the pupil and the pupil[s parent or guardian has changed as the result of military orders. Under current law, an alternative application based on this circumstance must be received by no later than 30 days after the date on which the applicable military orders were issued. This bill extends this deadline to 90 days after the applicable military orders were issued and expressly states that military orders include orders from a reserve component of the U.S armed force and the national guard of any state. LRB-1852/2 FFK:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 134 | Crossed Over |
| SB66 | Registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty. | Under current law, any motor vehicle for which the Department of Transportation has issued registration plates must display those plates, along with any decals issued for the plates. This bill prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, installation, and use of a registration plate concealment device, which is a manual, electronic, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle to 1) switch between two or more registration plates; 2) move, obstruct, or conceal a registration plate; or 3) alter the appearance of a registration plate so that the registration number cannot be seen and read. The bill also prohibits the equipment of any motor vehicle with a registration plate concealment device. A person who violates these prohibitions may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both. Any vehicle equipped in violation of these prohibitions may be impounded, and reasonable costs for towing and impounding the vehicle may be assessed against the owner. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. LRB-0665/1 ZDW:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 66 | Crossed Over |
| SB33 | Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty. | Under current law, it is generally a Class I felony to capture or distribute representations depicting nudity without the consent of the person depicted. This bill expands the prohibition to include what are known as Xdeep fakes.Y The bill provides that it is a Class I felony to post, publish, distribute, or exhibit a synthetic intimate representation (commonly known as a Xdeep fakeY) of an identifiable person with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate that person. Under the bill, a synthetic intimate representation is defined as a representation generated using technological means that uses an identifiable person[s face, likeness, or other distinguishing characteristic to depict an intimate representation of that person, regardless of whether the representation includes components that are artificial, legally generated, or generally accessible. Under current law, it is a Class A misdemeanor to publish or post a private representation, which is a sexually explicit representation that is intended by the person depicted in the representation to be possessed or viewed only by the persons with whom it was directly shared, without consent of the person depicted. This bill LRB-0058/1 MJW:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 33 provides that it is also a Class A misdemeanor to reproduce such representations without that person[s consent. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | Crossed Over |
| SB23 | Extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to seek approval from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to extend until the last day of the month in which the 365th day after the last day of the pregnancy falls Medical Assistance benefits to women who are eligible for those benefits when pregnant. Currently, postpartum women are eligible for Medical Assistance benefits until the last day of the month in which the 60th day after the last day of the pregnancy falls. 2021 Wisconsin Act 58 required DHS to seek approval from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to extend these postpartum Medical Assistance benefits until the last day of the month in which the 90th day after the last day of the pregnancy falls. On June 3, 2022, DHS filed a Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver application with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to extend postpartum coverage for eligible Medical Assistance recipients, as required by 2021 Wisconsin Act 58. The Medical Assistance program is a joint federal and state program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. LRB-0926/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 23 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB25 | Court-issued criminal complaints in officer-involved deaths. | Under current law, a district attorney has the discretion as to whether or not to issue a complaint to charge a person with a crime. Current law also provides that, if a district attorney refuses to issue a complaint against a person, a judge may conduct a hearing to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the person committed a crime and, if so, issue a complaint. Under this bill, when there is an officer-involved death, which is a death that results directly from an action or an omission of a law enforcement officer, and the district attorney determined there was no basis to prosecute the officer, a court may not issue a complaint against the involved officer unless there is new or unused evidence presented. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB73 | Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution. | Under current law, a person who is under the age of 18 may be prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for committing an act of prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor. Under this bill, a person who is under the age of 18 may not be prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for committing an act of prostitution. This bill also eliminates the option under current law in cases where a person under the age of 18 has committed an act of prostitution for a court to enter a consent decree under the Juvenile Justice Code, or a deferred prosecution agreement under the Juvenile Justice Code or adult criminal statutes, if the court determines that a consent decree or deferred prosecution agreement will serve the best interests of the person being prosecuted and will not harm society. | 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 |
| SB266 | Human trafficking and trafficking of a child and providing a penalty. | This bill increases the penalty for human trafficking from a Class D felony to a Class C felony, increases the penalty for trafficking a child from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, and creates a mandatory minimum term of confinement in prison of 10 years for human trafficking and 15 years for trafficking a child. Under current law, a Class D felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 15 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 10 years; a Class C felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 25 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 15 years; and a Class B felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 60 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 40 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 20 years. Under LRB-3006/1 MJW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 266 current law, there is no mandatory minimum term of confinement for human trafficking or trafficking of a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB265 | Waiver of fees for admission to state parks on Earth Day. (FE) | Under current law, vehicles entering state parks are required to display an annual or daily admission receipt, for which the Department of Natural Resources charges a fee. Under current law, DNR may waive these admission fees under certain circumstances. This bill requires DNR to waive any daily fee for admission to a state park on April 22 of each year in commemoration of Earth Day and its founder, Gaylord Nelson. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB267 | Waiver of fees for admission to state parks on Earth Day. (FE) | Under current law, vehicles entering state parks are required to display an annual or daily admission receipt, for which the Department of Natural Resources charges a fee. Under current law, DNR may waive these admission fees under certain circumstances. This bill requires DNR to waive any daily fee for admission to a state park on April 22 of each year in commemoration of Earth Day and its founder, Gaylord Nelson. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB265 | Human trafficking and trafficking of a child and providing a penalty. | This bill increases the penalty for human trafficking from a Class D felony to a Class C felony, increases the penalty for trafficking a child from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, and creates a mandatory minimum term of confinement in prison of 10 years for human trafficking and 15 years for trafficking a child. Under current law, a Class D felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 15 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 10 years; a Class C felony is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and a term of imprisonment not to exceed 40 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 25 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 15 years; and a Class B felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 60 years, which, under a bifurcated sentence, is a maximum term of confinement in prison of 40 years followed by a maximum term of extended supervision of 20 years. Under current law, there is no mandatory minimum term of confinement for human trafficking or trafficking of a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| AJR55 | Designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB178 | Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations. Under this bill, a program funded by a TAD grant need not focus solely on alcohol and other drug treatment but may provide treatment programs for a person who has any mental illness. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SB22 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents. | This bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident[s written request to inspect a textbook, curriculum, or instructional material within 14 days. Under the bill, a school board must comply with a school district resident[s written request to inspect curricula or instructional materials used in a school in the school district by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. The bill also requires each school board to adopt procedures under which the school board is able to produce for inspection any curriculum or instructional material used in a school in the school district in fewer than 14 days. The bill defines XcurriculumY as a curriculum plan adopted by a school board to comply with state law and defines Xinstructional materialY as any course content or resource included in a curriculum. Similarly, the bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident[s written request to inspect a textbook on the school board[s list of adopted LRB-1620/1 FFK:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 22 textbooks by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. Under the bill, a school board must also adopt procedures under which the school board is capable of producing for inspection any textbook included on the school board[s list of adopted textbooks in no more than 14 days. Current law requires each school board to adopt all textbooks necessary for use in schools in the school district and file a list of adopted textbooks with the school district clerk. Under the bill, each school board must also post the list of adopted textbooks on the school board[s website. Finally, the bill specifies that nothing in the bill may be construed to require a school board to take an action that would violate federal copyright law and that the bill does not limit any rights a school district resident has to inspect or copy records under open records law. | In Committee |
| AB5 | Requiring school boards to make textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by school district residents. | This bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident’s written request to inspect a textbook, curriculum, or instructional material within 14 days. Under the bill, a school board must comply with a school district resident’s written request to inspect curricula or instructional materials used in a school in the school district by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. The bill also requires each school board to adopt procedures under which the school board is able to produce for inspection any curriculum or instructional material used in a school in the school district in fewer than 14 days. The bill defines “curriculum” as a curriculum plan adopted by a school board to comply with state law and defines “instructional material” as any course content or resource included in a curriculum. Similarly, the bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident’s written request to inspect a textbook on the school board’s list of adopted textbooks by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request. Under the bill, a school board must also adopt procedures under which the school board is capable of producing for inspection any textbook included on the school board’s list of adopted textbooks in no more than 14 days. Current law requires each school board to adopt all textbooks necessary for use in schools in the school district and file a list of adopted textbooks with the school district clerk. Under the bill, each school board must also post the list of adopted textbooks on the school board’s website. Finally, the bill specifies that nothing in the bill may be construed to require a school board to take an action that would violate federal copyright law and that the bill does not limit any rights a school district resident has to inspect or copy records under open records law. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AB244 | Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program to post in a conspicuous location in a public area of each school building a sign that contains the telephone number for the local county or state agency that is responsible for receiving reports of, and conducting investigations regarding, child abuse or neglect. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB240 | Workforce literacy grant program. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a program to award a grant annually to provide workforce literacy services in this state. To be eligible to receive the grant, an organization must be a nonprofit entity located in this state that provides or supports adult literacy services or community- based literacy programs in over half of Wisconsin[s counties. An organization that receives a grant may use the money to teach workforce readiness skills, basic literacy skills, and digital literacy, to provide GED and HSED preparation and testing, to provide other literacy programs related to building and strengthening the state[s workforce, or to provide training, programming, supplies, materials, or other professional support to an organization that provides direct adult literacy services. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR53 | Designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| SB14 | Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients. | This bill requires hospitals to ensure written informed consent is obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. The bill also creates a Department of Health Services rule providing that hospitals must maintain written policies and procedures requiring written informed consent to be obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. | Passed |
| SB35 | Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) | Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) the annuitant is a retired law enforcement officer or firefighter; 2) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an LRB-0063/1 MIM:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 35 agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; and 3) the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement. In other words, the bill allows an annuitant who was a law enforcement officer or firefighter to return to work with an employer that participates in the WRS and elect to not become a participating employee for purposes of the WRS but instead continue to receive an annuity from the WRS. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB11 | Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients. | This bill requires hospitals to ensure written informed consent is obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. The bill also creates a Department of Health Services rule providing that hospitals must maintain written policies and procedures requiring written informed consent to be obtained from a patient before a pelvic exam is performed solely for educational purposes on the patient while the patient is under general anesthesia or otherwise unconscious. | In Committee |
| AB166 | Academic and career planning services provided to pupils and requiring the reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes. (FE) | This bill requires University of Wisconsin System institutions, technical colleges, and private nonprofit colleges in this state (higher education institutions) to report cost and student outcome data that are ultimately made available as part of the academic and career planning services provided to high school juniors and seniors. The bill requires higher education institutions to collect and annually report to the Higher Educational Aids Board all of the following information relating to their undergraduate degree programs: graduates six months and, every fifth year, five years after graduation, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 2) the average debt of the institution[s students upon graduation or discontinuation of studies, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 3) the institution[s graduation rate, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 4) the institution[s annual total cost of attendance and average net cost; 5) the financial aid available to students; and 6) the 10 most popular degree programs offered by the institution. HEAB must incorporate the data from these reports into an electronic document formatted in a manner that facilitates comparison of information among higher education institutions. HEAB must annually provide this electronic document to the Department of Public Instruction with a list, prepared in cooperation with the Department of Workforce Development, of the 50 most in-demand jobs in this state, including the average starting salary and required education level for each job. Under current law, the state superintendent of public instruction must ensure that each school board provides academic and career planning services to pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 12. Beginning in the 2027]28 school year, the bill requires the superintendent to provide the electronic document described above to school boards and requires school boards to provide the electronic document to high school juniors and seniors as part of the academic and career planning services provided to the pupils. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| SB153 | Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health Services, awards grants to counties and tribes that have established qualifying treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs that offer alcohol or drug treatment services as alternatives to prosecution or incarceration in order to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and reduce prison and jail populations. Under this bill, a program funded by a TAD grant need not focus solely on alcohol and other drug treatment but may provide treatment programs for a person who has any mental illness. LRB-2349/1 MJW:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 153 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB247 | Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) | This bill requires a political subdivision to reduce the fee it charges for a building permit by 75 percent or $500, whichever reduction is less, if the permit is for improvements to the primary residence of a disabled veteran, the improvements are necessary to accommodate a disability of the disabled veteran, and the residence is owned by the disabled veteran or a caretaker of the disabled veteran. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB249 | Vacancies in appointive state offices. | Under current law, vacancies in public office may occur in a number of ways, including when the incumbent resigns, dies, or is removed from office, or, in the case of elected office, when the incumbent[s term expires. However, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court held in State ex rel. Kaul v. Prehn, 2022 WI 50, expiration of an incumbent[s term of office does not create a vacancy if the office is filled by appointment for a fixed term. Absent a vacancy or removal for cause, these incumbents may remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. Under this bill, a vacancy in public office is created if the office is an appointive state office for a fixed term and the incumbent[s term expires. | In Committee |
| AB248 | Vacancies in appointive state offices. | Under current law, vacancies in public office may occur in a number of ways, including when the incumbent resigns, dies, or is removed from office, or, in the case of elected office, when the incumbent[s term expires. However, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court held in State ex rel. Kaul v. Prehn, 2022 WI 50, expiration of an incumbent[s term of office does not create a vacancy if the office is filled by appointment for a fixed term. Absent a vacancy or removal for cause, these incumbents may remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. Under this bill, a vacancy in public office is created if the office is an appointive state office for a fixed term and the incumbent[s term expires. | In Committee |
| AB252 | The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE) | Under current law, if a county department of human services or social services or, in Milwaukee County, the Department of Children and Families or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with DCF (collectively XagencyY) determines that a caregiver is suspected of committing or threatening abuse or neglect of a child or that a person who is not a caregiver has committed or threatened abuse of a child related to sex trafficking; cannot identify an individual who is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child; or suspects abuse of an unborn child, the agency must, within 24 hours after receiving the report, initiate a diligent investigation to determine if the child or unborn child is in need of protection or services. Under this bill, if an agency knows or has reason to know that a parent of a child or unborn child with respect to whom the agency has initiated such an investigation is a member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the Wisconsin national guard, the agency must provide notice of that investigation to the appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense CORRECTED COPY within 24 hours. The bill requires the notice to consist only of the name and address of the child or expectant mother and the fact that an investigation has been initiated about that child or unborn child. The bill imposes the same confidentiality requirements on such a notice as current law imposes on all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB159 | Requirements for lighting on police vehicles. | Current law provides that a police vehicle may be equipped with flashing, oscillating, or rotating blue and red lights. On a marked police vehicle, the blue light must be mounted on the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light must be mounted on the driver side of the vehicle. This bill provides that, on a marked police vehicle with an exterior light bar, the blue light must be mounted on the roof of the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light must be mounted on the roof of the driver side of the vehicle. For lights mounted inside the vehicle, blue lights must be displayed on the interior of the passenger side of the vehicle and red lights must be displayed on the interior of the driver side of the vehicle. The bill also authorizes the use of a combination of blue and red lights mounted on the front, sides, or rear of a police vehicle if the vehicle is already equipped with roof or interior lights as required by the bill. | In Committee |
| SB175 | Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE) | This bill requires a political subdivision to reduce the fee it charges for a building permit by 75 percent or $500, whichever reduction is less, if the permit is for improvements to the primary residence of a disabled veteran, the improvements are necessary to accommodate a disability of the disabled veteran, and the residence is owned by the disabled veteran or a caretaker of the disabled veteran. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB188 | Reduction of penalty surcharge when certain fines or forfeitures reduced. (FE) | Under current law, when a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for certain violations of state law or municipal or county ordinances, a penalty surcharge in the amount of 26 percent of the amount of the fine or forfeiture is also imposed. Current law provides that when a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the penalty surcharge must be reduced in proportion to the suspension. This bill requires the same rule to be applied for reduction of a fine or forfeiture. Under the bill, when a fine or forfeiture to which the penalty surcharge applies is reduced, the penalty surcharge must also be reduced in proportion to the reduction. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB115 | Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Justice to collect from the director of state courts all of the following information for each criminal case: 1) the county in which the case was filed; 2) the name of the prosecuting attorney assigned to the case; 3) the name of the court official assigned to the case; 4) the criminal charge filed; 5) the charging recommendation from the referring law enforcement agency, if applicable; 6) for each case, whether the court released the defendant without bail, upon the execution of an unsecured appearance bond, upon the execution of an appearance bond with sufficient solvent sureties, or upon the deposit of cash in lieu of sureties, or denied release, and the name of the court official who made the decision; 7) for each case for which a court required the execution of an appearance bond with sufficient solvent sureties, the monetary amount of the bond and the name of the court official who made the decision; 8) for each case for which a court required the deposit of cash in lieu of sureties, the monetary amount of cash required and the name of the court official who made the decision; 9) any other conditions of release imposed on the defendant and the name of the court official who made the decision; 10) whether any plea bargain was offered in the case; 11) LRB-2244/1 MJW:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 115 whether a deferred prosecution agreement was offered in the case; 12) whether any charge relating to the case was dismissed; and 13) whether the case resulted in a conviction. Under the bill, DOJ must annually report the information collected to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees, and must maintain a database on its website that contains the information in a searchable format, for a period of 10 years after a criminal charge is filed. Under the bill, DOJ must ensure that the information provided in the database does not contain a criminal defendant[s personally identifying information. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB105 | Jailers and protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) | Under current law, certain persons who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the Wisconsin Retirement System and who are hired by an employer that participates in the WRS must suspend that annuity and may not receive a WRS annuity payment until the employee is no longer in a WRS-covered position. This suspension applies to a person who 1) has reached his or her normal retirement date; 2) is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer; and 3) is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This bill creates an exception to this suspension for an annuitant who retired from employment with a participating employer and who is subsequently rehired or provides employee services after retirement if 1) at the time the annuitant initially retires from covered employment with a participating employer, the annuitant does not have an agreement with any participating employer to return to employment; 2) LRB-2167/1 MIM:klm&emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 105 the annuitant elects to not become a participating employee at the time the annuitant is rehired or enters into a contract after retirement; and 3) either the annuitant retired as a protective occupation participant or the annuitant retired as a county jailer who was not a protective occupation participant under the WRS. Under current law, a county jailer has the opportunity to opt out of becoming a protective occupation participant under the WRS. The bill treats county jailers who opt out of becoming a protective occupation participant in the same manner as county jailers who are protective occupation participants. 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 local 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 |
| AB88 | Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty. | This bill makes it a Class I felony to urge, promote, organize, encourage, or instigate others to commit a riot and a Class H felony to intentionally commit an act of violence while participating in a riot. The bill defines a XriotY as a public disturbance that involves an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons, that constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury or a threat of an act of violence, as part of an assembly of at least three persons having the ability of immediate execution of the threat, if the threatened action constitutes a clear and present danger of property damage or personal injury. The bill establishes a civil cause of action for any person who suffers injury or loss to person or property as a result of conduct that violates the criminal prohibitions on vandalism or participation in a riot. The bill allows a person to bring a civil action against a person who committed the violation and against any person or organization that provided material support or resources with the intent that such support or resources would be used to perpetrate the offense. The person bringing the action may obtain an order requiring the offender to fix or repair the damage caused to the person[s property if certain requirements set forth in the bill are met. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency or law enforcement officers from limiting or restricting the authority of the agency to have its officers, or certain officers, arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. The bill also prohibits any government official with authority over any law enforcement agency from limiting or restricting the authority of law enforcement officers, or certain designated law enforcement officers, to arrest or detain individuals involved in a riot or vandalism activity or to take action to quell a riot or vandalism activity. Finally, the bill provides that no government official, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement officer may discharge, demote, reassign, or take any punitive action against any employee because the employee made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing regarding a violation of the prohibitions on government officials set forth in the bill. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB199 | Academic and career planning services provided to pupils and requiring the reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes. (FE) | This bill requires University of Wisconsin System institutions, technical colleges, and private nonprofit colleges in this state (higher education institutions) to report cost and student outcome data that are ultimately made available as part of the academic and career planning services provided to high school juniors and seniors. The bill requires higher education institutions to collect and annually report to the Higher Educational Aids Board all of the following information relating to their undergraduate degree programs: graduates six months and, every fifth year, five years after graduation, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 2) the average debt of the institution[s students upon graduation or discontinuation of studies, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 3) the institution[s graduation rate, in the aggregate and broken down by major; 4) the institution[s annual total cost of attendance and average net cost; 5) the financial aid available to students; and 6) the 10 most popular degree programs offered by the institution. HEAB must incorporate the data from these reports into an electronic document formatted in a manner that LRB-2709/1 FFK&ARG:ajk&emw 1) the average salary of the institution[s 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 199 facilitates comparison of information among higher education institutions. HEAB must annually provide this electronic document to the Department of Public Instruction with a list, prepared in cooperation with the Department of Workforce Development, of the 50 most in-demand jobs in this state, including the average starting salary and required education level for each job. Under current law, the state superintendent of public instruction must ensure that each school board provides academic and career planning services to pupils enrolled in grades 6 to 12. Beginning in the 2027]28 school year, the bill requires the superintendent to provide the electronic document described above to school boards and requires school boards to provide the electronic document to high school juniors and seniors as part of the academic and career planning services provided to the pupils. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB188 | Reduction of penalty surcharge when certain fines or forfeitures reduced. (FE) | Under current law, when a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for certain violations of state law or municipal or county ordinances, a penalty surcharge in the amount of 26 percent of the amount of the fine or forfeiture is also imposed. Current law provides that when a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the penalty surcharge must be reduced in proportion to the suspension. This bill requires the same rule to be applied for reduction of a fine or forfeiture. Under the bill, when a fine or forfeiture to which the penalty surcharge applies is reduced, the penalty surcharge must also be reduced in proportion to the reduction. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB171 | Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE) | Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires each school board to provide a child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to pupils in grades four-year-old kindergarten to 12. Under the bill, each school board must include various topics in its child sexual abuse prevention instructional program, including 1) age-appropriated facts about sexual abuse; 2) how to communicate incidents of sexual abuse to trustworthy adults; 3) how to set and respect personal boundaries; and 4) information about giving and receiving consent. Annually before offering the child sexual abuse prevention instructional program to a pupil, the bill requires that each school board provide a pupil[s parent or guardian with information related to the instructional program, including approximately when it will be provided to the pupil, an explanation of how to opt out of the instructional program, an outline of the instructional program for the pupil[s specific grade, and facts and clear explanations related to specific child sexual abuse topics. Lastly, under the bill, a pupil[s parent or guardian may opt the pupil out of the instructional program by filing a written request with the pupil[s teacher or principal. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2531/1 FFK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 171 | In Committee |
| AB169 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | This bill makes various changes regarding the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Suitable work; work search Current law requires that, as a condition of being eligible for UI benefits for a given week, a claimant must 1) be able to work and available for work; 2) register for work in the manner prescribed by DWD; and 3) conduct a reasonable search for suitable work. Separately, current law also makes a claimant ineligible for UI benefits if a claimant fails, without good cause, to accept suitable work when offered. The bill provides that an employer may report to DWD whenever 1) an individual declines a job interview or job offer; 2) an individual fails to respond to a job interview offer or job offer; 3) an individual cancels or fails to attend a scheduled job interview without attempting to reschedule the job interview; 4) a UI claimant is unavailable for, or unable to perform, work actually available within a given week; or 5) under certain circumstances, the employer recalls a former employee receiving UI benefits who fails to return to work. The bill requires DWD to consider these reports in determining claimants[ attachment to the labor market. The bill also provides that a UI claimant is not considered to have conducted a reasonable search for suitable work in a given week, and is therefore ineligible for benefits for that week, if the claimant declined a job interview, failed to respond to a job interview offer, or canceled or failed to attend a job interview in that week. The bill, however, provides that a report of a canceled or missed interview is to be disregarded if the claimant demonstrates that he or she promptly attempted to reschedule the interview and allows reports to be disregarded upon certain showings by a claimant. The bill requires a claimant to provide weekly verification of all job offers, job interview offers, recalls to return to work, and any other offers of work received or responded to by the claimant since the prior week[s verification, as further prescribed by DWD, and requires DWD to investigate reports from employers as needed to determine their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. A disqualification of a claimant from receiving benefits for a given week based upon the claimant[s failure to conduct a reasonable search for suitable work does not reduce the claimant[s total UI benefit entitlement and does not preclude the claimant from receiving UI benefits in subsequent weeks, if the claimant is otherwise eligible for those weeks. The bill requires DWD to include information on reports submitted by employers under the bill in its annual UI fraud report made to the Council on Unemployment Insurance, including actions taken by DWD in response to the reports and their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. In addition, the bill requires that this annual fraud report be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. The bill requires DWD to have in effect methods to address any circumstances in which a claimant for UI benefits fails to return to work or to accept suitable work without good cause or is unavailable for work or unable to work, including reporting methods for employers and a notice from DWD to claimants about the laws governing such circumstances. Recovery of overpayments Current law allows DWD to act to recover overpayments in certain circumstances and allows overpayments to be required to be repaid in cases where an individual makes misrepresentations to obtain benefits in the name of another person. This bill makes such recoveries mandatory, instead of permissive. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB196 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | This bill makes various changes regarding the unemployment insurance (UI) law, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development. Suitable work; work search Current law requires that, as a condition of being eligible for UI benefits for a given week, a claimant must 1) be able to work and available for work; 2) register for work in the manner prescribed by DWD; and 3) conduct a reasonable search for suitable work. Separately, current law also makes a claimant ineligible for UI benefits if a claimant fails, without good cause, to accept suitable work when offered. The bill provides that an employer may report to DWD whenever 1) an individual declines a job interview or job offer; 2) an individual fails to respond to a job interview offer or job offer; 3) an individual cancels or fails to attend a scheduled LRB-2743/1 MED:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 196 job interview without attempting to reschedule the job interview; 4) a UI claimant is unavailable for, or unable to perform, work actually available within a given week; or 5) under certain circumstances, the employer recalls a former employee receiving UI benefits who fails to return to work. The bill requires DWD to consider these reports in determining claimants[ attachment to the labor market. The bill also provides that a UI claimant is not considered to have conducted a reasonable search for suitable work in a given week, and is therefore ineligible for benefits for that week, if the claimant declined a job interview, failed to respond to a job interview offer, or canceled or failed to attend a job interview in that week. The bill, however, provides that a report of a canceled or missed interview is to be disregarded if the claimant demonstrates that he or she promptly attempted to reschedule the interview and allows reports to be disregarded upon certain showings by a claimant. The bill requires a claimant to provide weekly verification of all job offers, job interview offers, recalls to return to work, and any other offers of work received or responded to by the claimant since the prior week[s verification, as further prescribed by DWD, and requires DWD to investigate reports from employers as needed to determine their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. A disqualification of a claimant from receiving benefits for a given week based upon the claimant[s failure to conduct a reasonable search for suitable work does not reduce the claimant[s total UI benefit entitlement and does not preclude the claimant from receiving UI benefits in subsequent weeks, if the claimant is otherwise eligible for those weeks. The bill requires DWD to include information on reports submitted by employers under the bill in its annual UI fraud report made to the Council on Unemployment Insurance, including actions taken by DWD in response to the reports and their effect on claimants[ eligibility for benefits. In addition, the bill requires that this annual fraud report be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. The bill requires DWD to have in effect methods to address any circumstances in which a claimant for UI benefits fails to return to work or to accept suitable work without good cause or is unavailable for work or unable to work, including reporting methods for employers and a notice from DWD to claimants about the laws governing such circumstances. Recovery of overpayments Current law allows DWD to act to recover overpayments in certain circumstances and allows overpayments to be required to be repaid in cases where an individual makes misrepresentations to obtain benefits in the name of another person. This bill makes such recoveries mandatory, instead of permissive. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2743/1 MED:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 196 | In Committee |
| SB81 | School district operating referenda. | This bill eliminates recurring operating referenda and limits a nonrecurring operating referendum to no more than four years. Current law generally limits the total amount of revenue a school district may receive from general school aids and property taxes in a school year. However, there are several exceptions to the revenue limit. One exception is for excess revenue approved by referendum for recurring and nonrecurring purposes. This type of referendum is often referred to as an operating referendum. If the operating referendum is for a nonrecurring purpose, a school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is approved only for specific school years. If the operating referendum is for a recurring purpose, the school district[s authority to raise excess revenue is permanent. Under the bill, an operating referendum to exceed a school district[s revenue limit may be only for nonrecurring purposes and the referendum may not apply to more than four years. | In Committee |
| SB8 | Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty. | This bill creates requirements, commonly known as a “lemon law,” for the repair and replacement of an implement of husbandry that has a condition or defect (nonconformity) that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the implement of husbandry and that is covered by an express warranty. Under the bill, if an implement of husbandry does not conform to an applicable express warranty, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the lessor, or any of the manufacturer’s authorized dealers and makes the implement of husbandry available for repair, the manufacturer, lessor, or authorized dealer must repair the nonconformity. If the same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least four times and the nonconformity continues, or if the implement of husbandry is out of service for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of warranty nonconformities, the consumer is entitled to a replacement implement of husbandry or a full refund. LRB-0046/1 ZDW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 8 | In Committee |
| SB58 | Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) | Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the referendum. Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which LRB-1978/1 EVM:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 58 bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under the bill, the question must also provide all of the following: 1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the bonds. 2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased. 3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that would result from passage of the referendum. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB236 | The rights of sexual assault crime victims. | Under current law, crime victims are provided certain rights under Wisconsin[s Bill of Rights for Victims and Witnesses, which generally relates to ensuring that all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity throughout the criminal justice process. This bill adds to the bill of rights for crime victims to provide that if a victim of sexual assault has provided a sexual assault kit as evidence of the crime, he or she has all of the following rights: 1. To have his or her kit tested in accordance with statutory timelines. 2. Upon request, to be informed of the location, testing date, and testing results of the sexual assault kit. 3. Upon request, to be informed whether a deoxyribonucleic acid analysis has been performed on the kit and, if an analysis has, whether or not a deoxyribonucleic acid profile has been developed and whether a comparison of the profile to profiles of known persons has identified a person. 4. Upon request, to be informed of the estimated destruction date of the sexual assault kit. 5. To be informed of any change in the status of his or her case, including if the case has been closed or reopened. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AJR43 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse women’s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]La Crosse women[s gymnastics team on winning the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship. | In Committee |
| SB234 | Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program or the Special Needs Scholarship Program to post in a conspicuous location in a public area of each school building a sign that contains the telephone number for the local county or state agency that is responsible for receiving reports of, and conducting investigations regarding, child abuse or neglect. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB154 | Requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to request any necessary waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. Under current law, the federal food stamp program, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and called FoodShare in this state, provides benefits to eligible low-income households for the purchase of food. FoodShare is administered by DHS. The federal government pays the benefits for FoodShare while the state and federal government share the cost of administration. Current federal law defines the foods eligible for purchase under FoodShare. The bill requires DHS to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits for the purchase of candy or soft drinks. If the waiver is granted, DHS must prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits to purchase candy or soft drinks. If any necessary waiver is not granted, the bill requires DHS to resubmit the waiver request annually until it is granted. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2415/1 SWB:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 154 | In Committee |
| SB144 | Eliminating a judgeship from district IV of the court of appeals and establishing an additional judgeship for district III of the court of appeals. | This bill reduces the number of judgeships in district IV of the court of appeals upon the expiration of the term of the judge whose current judicial term ends July 31, 2026. The bill also establishes an additional judgeship in district III of the court of appeals, effective beginning August 1, 2026. Under the bill, as of August 1, 2026, each of the districts of the court of appeals would have four judges. The bill provides that the initial election for the fourth judge for district III of the court of appeals will be held at the spring election of 2026 for a term beginning on August 1, 2026, and ending on July 31, 2032. | In Committee |
| SB138 | Prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the court must impose certain surcharges on a defendant who has been found guilty of a criminal offense. The surcharges are in addition to any applicable fines, costs, and fees. For instance, the court must impose a crime victim and witness assistance surcharge in an amount of $67 for each conviction of a misdemeanor count and in an amount of $92 for each conviction of a felony count. The surcharge amounts collected reimburse counties for services provided to victims and witnesses of crimes. This bill creates a $5,000 surcharge to be imposed on persons who are convicted of patronizing or soliciting prostitutes, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, soliciting a child for prostitution, or patronizing a child. Under the bill, the surcharge amounts collected are used for treatment and services for sex- trafficking victims and for criminal investigative operations and law enforcement relating to Internet crimes against children. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2013/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 138 | In Committee |
| SB63 | Ratification of the Driver License Compact. (FE) | This bill enters Wisconsin into the Driver License Compact, which establishes standards for the treatment and exchange of driver licensing and conviction information and other data pertinent to the licensing process. The DLC requires all participating states to recognize certain kinds of violations relating mostly to operating motor vehicles and the administrative actions taken in response to those violations, such as suspension or revocation of a person[s operating privilege by the appropriate state agency (DLC code violations). Under the DLC, when a person who is licensed in one state that is a party to the DLC commits a DLC code violation in another party state, the licensing state takes administrative action in response to the violation, based on information provided by the state in which the violation occurred. Any administrative action by a party state is recognized by all other party states. The DLC also generally provides that records concerning a licensed driver are maintained only by the licensing state. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1854/1 EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 63 | 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 |
| AB93 | The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) | This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives: 1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a permit authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special- use fertilizer. 2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or other scientifically validated analytical method. 3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled experimental studies using the soil or plant additive. 4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it contains. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB84 | Prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the court must impose certain surcharges on a defendant who has been found guilty of a criminal offense. The surcharges are in addition to any applicable fines, costs, and fees. For instance, the court must impose a crime victim and witness assistance surcharge in an amount of $67 for each conviction of a misdemeanor count and in an amount of $92 for each conviction of a felony count. The surcharge amounts collected reimburse counties for services provided to victims and witnesses of crimes. This bill creates a $5,000 surcharge to be imposed on persons who are convicted of patronizing or soliciting prostitutes, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, soliciting a child for prostitution, or patronizing a child. Under the bill, the surcharge amounts collected are used for treatment and services for sex- trafficking victims and for criminal investigative operations and law enforcement relating to Internet crimes against children. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB120 | Positions for the Office of School Safety. (FE) | Under current law, there is an Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice. The office has 14.2 project positions that will expire on October 1, 2025; the purpose of these positions is to support and enhance school safety initiatives. Under current law, the positions are funded by fees that DOJ receives for performing background checks for handgun sales and for issuing licenses to carry a concealed weapon. This bill creates the positions as permanent positions and funds them with general purpose revenue beginning on October 1, 2025, when the project positions expire. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB119 | Positions for the Office of School Safety. (FE) | Under current law, there is an Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice. The office has 14.2 project positions that will expire on October 1, 2025; the purpose of these positions is to support and enhance school safety initiatives. Under current law, the positions are funded by fees that DOJ receives for performing background checks for handgun sales and for issuing licenses to carry a concealed weapon. This bill creates the positions as permanent positions and funds them with general purpose revenue beginning on October 1, 2025, when the project positions expire. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB114 | Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE) | This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for the sale of diapers and feminine hygiene products. 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 |
| AB128 | Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE) | This bill requires first responders to be trained in how to recognize signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions, standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an epinephrine delivery system, and emergency follow-up procedures after an epinephrine delivery system is administered and requires first responders to have an epinephrine delivery system available to the first responder for use at all times while on duty. First responders include conservation wardens, correctional officers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. The Department of Health Services is required to identify organizations that conduct trainings that cover all the subjects that first responders are required to be trained in under the bill. Finally, the bill allows DHS to distribute epinephrine delivery systems to first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill or to employers of first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill to be used by those first responders. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB156 | Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE) | This bill requires first responders to be trained in how to recognize signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions, standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an epinephrine delivery system, and emergency follow-up procedures after an epinephrine delivery system is administered and requires first responders to have an epinephrine delivery system available to the first responder for use at all times while on duty. First responders include conservation wardens, correctional officers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. The Department of Health Services is required to identify organizations that conduct trainings that cover all the subjects that first responders are required to be trained in under the bill. Finally, the bill allows DHS to distribute epinephrine delivery systems to first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill or to employers of first responders who are trained in all subjects described under the bill to be used by those first responders. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1317/1 JPC:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 156 | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SB224 | The rights of sexual assault crime victims. | Under current law, crime victims are provided certain rights under Wisconsin[s Bill of Rights for Victims and Witnesses, which generally relates to ensuring that all crime victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity throughout the criminal justice process. This bill adds to the bill of rights for crime victims to provide that if a victim of sexual assault has provided a sexual assault kit as evidence of the crime, he or she has all of the following rights: 1. To have his or her kit tested in accordance with statutory timelines. 2. Upon request, to be informed of the location, testing date, and testing results of the sexual assault kit. 3. Upon request, to be informed whether a deoxyribonucleic acid analysis has been performed on the kit and, if an analysis has, whether or not a deoxyribonucleic acid profile has been developed and whether a comparison of the profile to profiles of known persons has identified a person. 4. Upon request, to be informed of the estimated destruction date of the sexual assault kit. 5. To be informed of any change in the status of his or her case, including if the case has been closed or reopened. LRB-0060/1 MJW:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 224 | In Committee |
| SB165 | Eliminating daylight saving time in Wisconsin. | This bill eliminates daylight saving time. Current law defines standard time and provides that daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November of each year. Federal law generally preempts states from deviating from standard time or eliminating daylight saving time, but federal law allows a state that lies entirely in one timezone, such as Wisconsin, to observe standard time instead of daylight saving time as long as the observation is throughout the entire state. | In Committee |
| SB174 | Coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits under health plans. | This bill generally sets certain requirements and limitations on health insurance coverage in the event the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act no longer preempts state law on the topic. Currently, the Affordable Care Act generally allows premium rates to be based only on individual or family coverage, rating area, age, and tobacco use; requires group and individual health insurance policies to accept every employer and individual that applies for coverage, known as guaranteed issue, and renew health insurance coverage at the option of the sponsor or individual; and prohibits health insurance policies from imposing preexisting condition exclusions. If those requirements and limitations of the Affordable Care Act become no longer enforceable or no longer preempt state law, all of the following apply under the bill: 1. Every individual health benefit plan must accept every individual in this state who applies for coverage and every group health benefit plan must accept every employer in this state that applies for coverage, regardless of whether any LRB-1868/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 174 individual or employee has a preexisting condition. A health benefit plan may restrict enrollment in coverage to open or special enrollment periods, and the commissioner of insurance must ensure a statewide 45-day open enrollment period allowing individuals, including individuals who do not have coverage, to enroll in coverage. Health benefit plans must provide special enrollment periods for certain qualifying events described in federal law. 2. A health benefit plan offered on the individual or small employer market or a self-insured governmental health plan may not vary premium rates for a specific plan on any basis except age, tobacco use, area in the state, and whether the plan covers an individual or a family. 3. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan may not impose a preexisting condition exclusion. A preexisting condition exclusion is defined in the bill as a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a condition based on the fact that the condition was present before the date of enrollment for the coverage, whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before the date of enrollment for coverage. 4. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan is prohibited from imposing an annual or lifetime limit on the dollar value of benefits under the plan. The Affordable Care Act exempts certain plans from complying with the act[s provisions. Similarly, any health benefit plan that is exempt from a provision of the Affordable Care Act is exempt from complying with the corresponding provision of this bill. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. | In Committee |
| AB160 | Eliminating daylight saving time in Wisconsin. | This bill eliminates daylight saving time. Current law defines standard time and provides that daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November of each year. Federal law generally preempts states from deviating from standard time or eliminating daylight saving time, but federal law allows a state that lies entirely in one timezone, such as Wisconsin, to observe standard time instead of daylight saving time as long as the observation is throughout the entire state. | In Committee |
| AB184 | Coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits under health plans. | This bill generally sets certain requirements and limitations on health insurance coverage in the event the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act no longer preempts state law on the topic. Currently, the Affordable Care Act generally allows premium rates to be based only on individual or family coverage, rating area, age, and tobacco use; requires group and individual health insurance policies to accept every employer and individual that applies for coverage, known as guaranteed issue, and renew health insurance coverage at the option of the sponsor or individual; and prohibits health insurance policies from imposing preexisting condition exclusions. If those requirements and limitations of the Affordable Care Act become no longer enforceable or no longer preempt state law, all of the following apply under the bill: 1. Every individual health benefit plan must accept every individual in this state who applies for coverage and every group health benefit plan must accept every employer in this state that applies for coverage, regardless of whether any individual or employee has a preexisting condition. A health benefit plan may restrict enrollment in coverage to open or special enrollment periods, and the commissioner of insurance must ensure a statewide 45-day open enrollment period allowing individuals, including individuals who do not have coverage, to enroll in coverage. Health benefit plans must provide special enrollment periods for certain qualifying events described in federal law. 2. A health benefit plan offered on the individual or small employer market or a self-insured governmental health plan may not vary premium rates for a specific plan on any basis except age, tobacco use, area in the state, and whether the plan covers an individual or a family. 3. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan may not impose a preexisting condition exclusion. A preexisting condition exclusion is defined in the bill as a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a condition based on the fact that the condition was present before the date of enrollment for the coverage, whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before the date of enrollment for coverage. 4. A health benefit plan or a self-insured governmental health plan is prohibited from imposing an annual or lifetime limit on the dollar value of benefits under the plan. The Affordable Care Act exempts certain plans from complying with the act[s provisions. Similarly, any health benefit plan that is exempt from a provision of the Affordable Care Act is exempt from complying with the corresponding provision of this bill. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SJR16 | Recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB135 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that impair the ability of the motor vehicle owners and the persons that repair motor vehicles from accessing motor vehicles[ vehicle-generated data, critical repair information, or tools in order to repair the motor vehicles; that affect motor vehicle owners[ ability to use a vehicle towing provider or service provider of their choice; or that affect motor vehicle owners[ abilities to diagnose, repair, and maintain their vehicle in the same manner as would the motor vehicle manufacturer. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that affect the ability of aftermarket parts manufacturers, aftermarket parts remanufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, motor vehicle repair facilities, distributors, or service providers to produce or offer compatible aftermarket parts. Additionally, the bill requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide to motor vehicle owners and certain other entities access to certain data and tools related to the repair of the motor vehicles it manufactures. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from making certain mandates in regards to what parts, tools, or equipment must be used on its vehicles. A manufacturer that violates a provision of the bill is subject to a forfeiture of $10,000 per violation. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB76 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Under current law, a prosecutor may dismiss or amend a criminal charge without approval from the court. Under this bill, a prosecutor must get the court[s approval to dismiss or amend a charge if the charge is for any of the following: 1) a crime of domestic abuse or a violation of a domestic violence temporary restraining order or injunction; 2) theft of an automobile; 3) a crime of abuse of an individual at risk or a violation of an individual-at-risk TRO or injunction; 4) first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree sexual assault; 5) a crime against a child; 6) illegal possession of a firearm if the person has been convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of, committing, soliciting, conspiring, or attempting to commit a violent felony, as defined under current law; or 7) reckless driving that results in great bodily harm. The court may approve the dismissal or amendment of such a charge only if the court finds the LRB-2036/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 76 action is consistent with the public[s interest in deterring the commission of these crimes and with the legislature[s intent, expressed in this bill, to vigorously prosecute individuals who commit these crimes. If the court approves any dismissal or amendment in a year, the court must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing each approval. Current law allows a prosecutor to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with a crime. Generally, under a deferred prosecution agreement, the prosecutor agrees to dismiss a charge or not file a charge if the defendant complies with specified conditions. In addition, current law provides specific criteria for a deferred prosecution agreement if the defendant is or may be charged with child sexual abuse if the defendant is the parent of, the guardian of, a close relative of, or residing with the child; with a crime of domestic violence; or with a violation of a domestic violence TRO or injunction. Current law also prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance, causing injury to another while operating a vehicle while under the influence, or homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The bill prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant if a complaint or information is filed that alleges the person committed any of the same crimes listed in items 1 to 7 above. | Crossed Over |
| AB30 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. | This bill generally prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state. In the bill, Xforeign adversaryY means a foreign government or nongovernment person determined by the federal secretary of commerce to have engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or security and safety of U.S. persons. Current law generally prohibits a nonresident alien or a corporation that is not created under federal law or the laws of any state (foreign person) from acquiring, owning, or holding more than 640 acres of land in this state. However, that prohibition does not apply to any of the following activities: 1. An exploration mining lease and land used for certain mining and associated activities. 2. Certain manufacturing activities. 3. Certain mercantile activities. 4. A lease for exploration or production of oil, gas, coal, shale, and related hydrocarbons, including by-products of the production, and land used in connection with the exploration or production. Those exceptions have been interpreted to be Xextremely broad, embracing almost every conceivable business activity [other than a]ctivities relating to agriculture and forestry.Y See Opinion of Wis. Att[y Gen., OAG 11-14, ?5, available at https://www.doj.state.wi.us. In other words, under current law, a foreign person may acquire, own, and hold unlimited amounts of land for most nonagricultural and nonforestry purposes, but a foreign person may not acquire, own, or hold more than 640 acres of land for agricultural or forestry purposes. The bill retains the current law restriction on foreign person ownership of agricultural and forestry land and adds a provision that prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring any land for agricultural or forestry purposes. | In Committee |
| AB58 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, any flag other than the U.S. flag and the flag of the state of Wisconsin from being flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of any state office building or facility, including the state capitol, or from any local government building or school building. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes a similar requirement but authorizes the governor to direct otherwise. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AJR30 | Congratulating the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey National Championship. | Relating to: congratulating the University of Wisconsin]Madison women[s hockey team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Women[s Hockey National Championship. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SJR11 | Restricting the governor’s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | relating to: restricting the governor[s partial veto authority to only rejecting entire bill sections of an appropriation bill that are capable of separate enactment and reducing appropriations in a bill (first consideration). | In Committee |
| SB129 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that impair the ability of the motor vehicle owners and the persons that repair motor vehicles from accessing motor vehicles[ vehicle-generated data, critical repair information, or tools in order to repair the motor vehicles; that affect motor vehicle owners[ ability to use a vehicle towing provider or service provider of their choice; or that affect motor vehicle owners[ abilities to diagnose, repair, and maintain their vehicle in the same manner as would the motor vehicle manufacturer. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from employing certain barriers that affect the ability of aftermarket parts manufacturers, aftermarket parts remanufacturers, motor vehicle equipment manufacturers, motor vehicle repair facilities, distributors, or service providers to produce or offer compatible aftermarket parts. Additionally, the bill requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide to motor vehicle owners and certain other entities access to certain data and tools related to the repair of the motor vehicles it manufactures. The bill also prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from making certain mandates in regards to what parts, tools, or equipment must be used on its vehicles. A manufacturer that violates a provision of the bill is subject to a forfeiture of $10,000 per violation. LRB-2114/1 JAM:skw&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 129 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB148 | The right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill requires agricultural equipment manufacturers to upon request make available to agricultural equipment owners and independent service providers any documentation, data, embedded software, firmware, parts, or tools that are intended for use with agricultural equipment, at certain fair costs and fair terms as articulated in the bill. XEquipmentY is defined in the bill to include equipment or parts that are designed primarily for use in the operation of a farm or in farm-related activities, including any combine, tractor, sprayer, implement, or attachment used in planting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, or ranching, but not including vehicles or self-propelled machines designed primarily for the transportation of persons or property on a street or highway, aircraft, snowmobiles, personal watercraft or motorboats, or equipment or parts used for irrigation purposes. XDataY is defined in the bill to mean information that a manufacturer gathered, transmitted, or compiled that arose from the operation of an owner[s equipment and for which the associated owner has provided consent and authorization for the manufacturer to share. The bill generally does not require manufacturers to provide documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools that would require a manufacturer to divulge a trade secret. The bill exempts manufacturers and equipment dealers LRB-0923/2 JAM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 148 from liability stemming from an owner[s or independent repair provider[s faulty or otherwise improper repair that causes damage or loss of use of equipment, and exempts manufacturers from liability for an action resulting from a person[s use or reliance upon data that the manufacturer provided to a person. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB147 | The right to repair agricultural equipment, and providing a penalty. (FE) | This bill requires agricultural equipment manufacturers to upon request make available to agricultural equipment owners and independent service providers any documentation, data, embedded software, firmware, parts, or tools that are intended for use with agricultural equipment, at certain fair costs and fair terms as articulated in the bill. XEquipmentY is defined in the bill to include equipment or parts that are designed primarily for use in the operation of a farm or in farm-related activities, including any combine, tractor, sprayer, implement, or attachment used in planting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, or ranching, but not including vehicles or self-propelled machines designed primarily for the transportation of persons or property on a street or highway, aircraft, snowmobiles, personal watercraft or motorboats, or equipment or parts used for irrigation purposes. XDataY is defined in the bill to mean information that a manufacturer gathered, transmitted, or compiled that arose from the operation of an owner[s equipment and for which the associated owner has provided consent and authorization for the manufacturer to share. The bill generally does not require manufacturers to provide documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools that would require a manufacturer to divulge a trade secret. The bill exempts manufacturers and equipment dealers from liability stemming from an owner[s or independent repair provider[s faulty or otherwise improper repair that causes damage or loss of use of equipment, and exempts manufacturers from liability for an action resulting from a person[s use or reliance upon data that the manufacturer provided to a person. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB179 | Requirements for lighting on police vehicles. | Current law provides that a police vehicle may be equipped with flashing, oscillating, or rotating blue and red lights. On a marked police vehicle, the blue light must be mounted on the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light must be mounted on the driver side of the vehicle. This bill provides that, on a marked police vehicle with an exterior light bar, the blue light must be mounted on the roof of the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light must be mounted on the roof of the driver side of the vehicle. For lights mounted inside the vehicle, blue lights must be displayed on the interior of the passenger side of the vehicle and red lights must be displayed on the interior of the driver side of the vehicle. The bill also authorizes the use of a combination of blue and red lights mounted on the front, sides, or rear of a police vehicle if the vehicle is already equipped with roof or interior lights as required by the bill. | In Committee |
| SB91 | Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of trafficking a child, or who knowingly benefits from the crime of trafficking a child, is guilty of a Class C felony. This bill increases the penalty to a Class A felony if the crime involved at least three victims who were children at the time the crime was committed. A Class A felony carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under current law, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence on a person who is being sentenced for a felony that was committed on or after December 31, 1999. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that comprises a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision in the community. Under current law, a court that sentences a person who has been convicted of a Class A felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, must determine one of the following: 1) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving a 20-year LRB-2201/1 CMH:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 91 term of confinement in prison; 2) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision on a certain date that is after the person serves a 20-year term of confinement in prison; or 3) the person is not eligible for release to extended supervision. Under this bill, a person is not eligible for release to extended supervision if the person is convicted of a Class A felony violation of trafficking a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB92 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, the penalty for the crime of property theft varies by the value of the property taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property is not more than $2,500 to a Class F felony if the value of the property exceeds $100,000. Similarly, the penalty for the crime of retail theft varies by the value of the merchandise or service that is taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value is not more than $500 to a Class G felony if the value exceeds $10,000. This bill specifies that, if, in a six-month period, a defendant commits more than one violation of property theft or more than one violation of retail theft, the value of items taken at each violation may be aggregated and the crimes may be prosecuted as one property theft crime or one retail theft crime. The penalty for the crime would be determined by the aggregated value of the items taken. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-2282/1 CMH:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 92 | In Committee |
| AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Under current law, a prosecutor may dismiss or amend a criminal charge without approval from the court. Under this bill, a prosecutor must get the court[s approval to dismiss or amend a charge if the charge is for any of the following: 1) a crime of domestic abuse or a violation of a domestic violence temporary restraining order or injunction; 2) theft of an automobile; 3) a crime of abuse of an individual at risk or a violation of an individual-at-risk TRO or injunction; 4) first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree sexual assault; 5) a crime against a child; 6) illegal possession of a firearm if the person has been convicted of, adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of, committing, soliciting, conspiring, or attempting to commit a violent felony, as defined under current law; or 7) reckless driving that results in great bodily harm. The court may approve the dismissal or amendment of such a charge only if the court finds the action is consistent with the public[s interest in deterring the commission of these crimes and with the legislature[s intent, expressed in this bill, to vigorously prosecute individuals who commit these crimes. If the court approves any dismissal or amendment in a year, the court must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing each approval. Current law allows a prosecutor to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with a crime. Generally, under a deferred prosecution agreement, the prosecutor agrees to dismiss a charge or not file a charge if the defendant complies with specified conditions. In addition, current law provides specific criteria for a deferred prosecution agreement if the defendant is or may be charged with child sexual abuse if the defendant is the parent of, the guardian of, a close relative of, or residing with the child; with a crime of domestic violence; or with a violation of a domestic violence TRO or injunction. Current law also prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant who is charged or may be charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant or a controlled substance, causing injury to another while operating a vehicle while under the influence, or homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The bill prohibits a prosecutor from entering into a deferred prosecution agreement with a defendant if a complaint or information is filed that alleges the person committed any of the same crimes listed in items 1 to 7 above. | Crossed Over |
| AB86 | Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of trafficking a child, or who knowingly benefits from the crime of trafficking a child, is guilty of a Class C felony. This bill increases the penalty to a Class A felony if the crime involved at least three victims who were children at the time the crime was committed. A Class A felony carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under current law, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence on a person who is being sentenced for a felony that was committed on or after December 31, 1999. A bifurcated sentence is a sentence that comprises a term of confinement in prison followed by a term of extended supervision in the community. Under current law, a court that sentences a person who has been convicted of a Class A felony committed on or after December 31, 1999, must determine one of the following: 1) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving a 20-year term of confinement in prison; 2) the person is eligible for release to extended supervision on a certain date that is after the person serves a 20-year term of confinement in prison; or 3) the person is not eligible for release to extended supervision. Under this bill, a person is not eligible for release to extended supervision if the person is convicted of a Class A felony violation of trafficking a child. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB89 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, the penalty for the crime of property theft varies by the value of the property taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property is not more than $2,500 to a Class F felony if the value of the property exceeds $100,000. Similarly, the penalty for the crime of retail theft varies by the value of the merchandise or service that is taken. The penalty ranges from a Class A misdemeanor if the value is not more than $500 to a Class G felony if the value exceeds $10,000. This bill specifies that, if, in a six-month period, a defendant commits more than one violation of property theft or more than one violation of retail theft, the value of items taken at each violation may be aggregated and the crimes may be prosecuted as one property theft crime or one retail theft crime. The penalty for the crime would be determined by the aggregated value of the items taken. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB39 | Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer. | Under this bill, state agencies must require employees to perform their work in person at state agency offices during the employee[s regularly scheduled work hours, beginning July 1, 2025. The bill exempts telehealth services and duties that were performed off site before March 1, 2020. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB170 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) | This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from using the legal services of any person who is not a state employee or federal employee or agent to assist in the investigation or prosecution of any civil or criminal cause or matter unless DOJ uses a specific process under current law for contracting for legal services on a contingent fee basis or that person is a legal intern who earns no more than $10,000 annually from their internship employer. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB97 | Extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to seek approval from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to extend until the last day of the month in which the 365th day after the last day of the pregnancy falls Medical Assistance benefits to women who are eligible for those benefits when pregnant. Currently, postpartum women are eligible for Medical Assistance benefits until the last day of the month in which the 60th day after the last day of the pregnancy falls. 2021 Wisconsin Act 58 required DHS to seek approval from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to extend these postpartum Medical Assistance benefits until the last day of the month in which the 90th day after the last day of the pregnancy falls. On June 3, 2022, DHS filed a Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver application with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to extend postpartum coverage for eligible Medical Assistance recipients, as required by 2021 Wisconsin Act 58. The Medical Assistance program is a joint federal and state program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB167 | Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE) | Both federal law and state law prohibit a person from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. Federal and state law provide several identical exceptions to the prohibition, such as for law enforcement and for persons in accordance with a contract between the person and the school. Federal law provides another exception for a person who is licensed to possess a firearm by the state if the state requires a background check to ensure the person is qualified for the license. Since the Department of Justice requires a background check before it issues a person a license to carry a concealed weapon, a licensee is allowed under federal law to LRB-1593/1 CMH:wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 167 possess a firearm on the grounds of a school. State law, however, does not provide an identical exception, so a licensee is prohibited under state law from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. This bill creates a state exception that is similar to the federal exception. Under the bill, a person who has a license issued by DOJ may possess a firearm on the grounds of a school if the person is employed by the school and the school board or governing entity has adopted a policy that allows employees who are licensees to possess a firearm. Under current law, a person who applies to DOJ for a license to carry a concealed weapon must pay an application fee and a person who is renewing a license must pay a renewal fee. DOJ must set the fee amount on the basis of the cost it incurs in licensing, but the fee can be no more than $37 for an initial license and $12 for a license renewal. In addition, the person must pay for a background check for each initial application and renewal application; that fee amount is currently $10. The bill waives the initial application fee, renewal fee, and background check fee for teachers who apply for a license. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB79 | Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution. | Under current law, a person who is under the age of 18 may be prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for committing an act of prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor. Under this bill, a person who is under the age of 18 may not be prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent for committing an act of prostitution. This bill also eliminates the option under current law in cases where a person under the age of 18 has committed an act of prostitution for a court to enter a consent decree under the Juvenile Justice Code, or a deferred prosecution agreement under the Juvenile Justice Code or adult criminal statutes, if the court determines that a consent decree or deferred prosecution agreement will serve the best interests of the person being prosecuted and will not harm society. | In Committee |
| AB1 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction is required to annually publish a school and school district accountability report, commonly known as school and school district report cards, for the previous school year. To measure school performance and school district improvement for purposes of the report cards, particularly measures related to pupil achievement in reading and math, DPI uses data derived from pupil performance on assessments administered in the previous school year, including assessments commonly referred to as the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, which includes the Wisconsin Forward Exam, PreACT, the ACT with Writing, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Under the bill, beginning with report cards published for the school year in which the bill becomes law, for the index system to identify school and school district performance and improvement, also known as the accountability rating categories, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and corresponding qualitative descriptions that DPI used for report cards published in the 2019-20 school year. In addition, beginning with the WSAS administered in the school year in which the bill becomes law, DPI must do the following: 1. For the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, align cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories to the cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. For the PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, use the same cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories that DPI used for the same assessments administered in the 2021-22 school year. The bill specifically requires DPI to use the terms “below basic,” “basic,” “proficient,” and “advanced” for pupil performance categories on these assessments. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Vetoed |
| AB104 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | This bill prohibits health care providers from engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making referrals for, certain medical intervention practices upon an individual under 18 years of age if done for the purpose of changing the minor[s body to correspond to a sex that is discordant with the minor[s biological sex. The prohibitions under the bill do not apply to any of the following: provider providing a service in accordance with a good faith medical decision of a parent or guardian of a minor born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development; 2) the treatment of any infection, injury, disease, or disorder that has been caused by or exacerbated by the performance of a gender transition medical procedure, whether or not that procedure was performed in accordance with state and federal law; or 3) any procedure undertaken because the minor suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the minor in imminent danger of death or impairment of a major bodily function unless surgery is performed. Under the bill, the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, and the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board are required to investigate any allegation that any person licensed or certified by the respective boards has violated any of the prohibitions on engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making certain referrals for the medical intervention practices described in the bill. Upon a finding by the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board that the holder of a license or certificate has violated any of these prohibitions, the bill requires the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Affiliated Credentialing Board to revoke that person[s license or certificate. | Crossed Over |
| 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 |
| SB157 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | This bill prohibits health care providers from engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making referrals for, certain medical intervention practices upon an individual under 18 years of age if done for the purpose of changing the minor[s body to correspond to a sex that is discordant with the minor[s biological sex. The prohibitions under the bill do not apply to any of the following: provider providing a service in accordance with a good faith medical decision of a parent or guardian of a minor born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development; 2) the treatment of any infection, injury, disease, or disorder that has been caused by or exacerbated by the performance of a gender transition medical procedure, whether or not that procedure was performed in accordance with state and federal law; or 3) any procedure undertaken because the minor suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the minor in imminent danger of death or impairment of a major bodily function unless surgery is performed. LRB-1359/1 SWB&JPC:cjs 1) a health care 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 157 Under the bill, the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, and the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board are required to investigate any allegation that any person licensed or certified by the respective boards has violated any of the prohibitions on engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making certain referrals for the medical intervention practices described in the bill. Upon a finding by the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board that the holder of a license or certificate has violated any of these prohibitions, the bill requires the Board of Nursing, the Medical Examining Board, or the Physician Affiliated Credentialing Board to revoke that person[s license or certificate. | In Committee |
| AB74 | Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, governing body of a private school, and operator of a charter school to notify a pupil[s parent or guardian if the school board, governing body, or operator receives a credible report alleging sexual misconduct by a school staff member and the pupil is identified as an alleged victim, target, or recipient of the misconduct. Under the bill, a school board, governing body, or operator must notify the pupil[s parent or guardian by no later than the end of the day on which the school board receives the report containing the alleged sexual misconduct. Under the bill, a report is considered to be received by a school board or operator of a charter school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, assistant school district superintendent, school district superintendent, or school district administrator, and is considered to be received by the governing body of a private school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, executive director, or other individual who acts as the administrative head of the private school. Under current law, it is a Class I felony for a school staff member to commit an act of sexual misconduct against a pupil. Under current law and the bill, Xsexual misconductY means 1) communications made intentionally to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator or 2) intentional touching by the perpetrator or, upon the perpetrator[s instruction, by the use of a body part or object, if the purpose of the intentional touching is to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator. The bill also requires school boards to annually provide information about how parents and guardians may access records related to school employee discipline under the state public records law. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB31 | Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty. | This bill creates requirements, commonly known as a Xlemon law,Y for the repair and replacement of an implement of husbandry that has a condition or defect (nonconformity) that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the implement of husbandry and that is covered by an express warranty. Under the bill, if an implement of husbandry does not conform to an applicable express warranty, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the lessor, or any of the manufacturer[s authorized dealers and makes the implement of husbandry available for repair, the manufacturer, lessor, or authorized dealer must repair the nonconformity. If the same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least four times and the nonconformity continues, or if the implement of husbandry is out of service for an aggregate of at least 30 days because of warranty nonconformities, the consumer is entitled to a replacement implement of husbandry or a full refund. | In Committee |
| SB27 | Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer. (FE) | Under this bill, state agencies must require employees to perform their work in person at state agency offices during the employee[s regularly scheduled work hours, beginning July 1, 2025. The bill exempts telehealth services and duties that were performed off site before March 1, 2020. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB72 | Creating an individual income tax deduction for certain income earned by an individual from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. (FE) | This bill creates an individual income tax subtract modification, or deduction, for up to $100,000 or $200,000 of income earned in this state by a psychiatrist or by a psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner, in the taxable year to which the claim relates, from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. The maximum $200,000 deduction may be claimed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner who practices or performs services in a medically underserved area, as defined under federal law, and the maximum $100,000 deduction may be claimed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner who does not practice or perform services in such an area. The deduction may not be claimed for more than five years, and must be claimed during the five-year period that begins once the claimant first claims the deduction. The deduction must be claimed initially within the first two years that a psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner begins to practice in this state, or within the first two years that a LRB-1643/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 72 psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner returns to this state after practicing in another state. If an individual begins to claim the deduction and is then ineligible to claim the deduction in any year that he or she is a full-year resident of this state, the individual may again claim the deduction in a future year if eligible to do so. If an individual begins to claim the deduction but is unable to claim it for five consecutive years because he or she leaves the state, the individual must add to his or her tax that is due for the year in which he or she leaves the state the total gross tax that would have been due if the subtraction was not claimed for any year minus the amount of gross tax actually due for those years. In addition, an individual who is eligible for and claims the deduction may not claim the homestead tax credit. 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 |
| SB104 | Providing safe drinking water in public and private schools. (FE) | By no later than approximately 15 months after the date this bill becomes law, the governing body of each public and private school in this state must develop a drinking water management plan for the private or public school. Under the bill, each drinking water management plan must 1) specify the locations of filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets maintained to deliver water for human consumption, of water outlets maintained for purposes other than for human consumption, and of water outlets that are shut off or permanently inoperable; 2) provide at least one filtered bottle-filling station for every 100 occupants of the school; 3) provide for the installation of a filtered faucet only when the installation of a filtered bottle-filling station is not feasible and a water outlet for human consumption is necessary; and 4) provide a schedule for water sampling and testing at each filtered bottle-filling station and filtered faucet in the school for lead, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and a schedule for replacing filter cartridges used in filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets. Under the bill, if water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration between one part per billion and five parts per billion, the governing body of a public or private school must take certain actions, LRB-1713/1 FFK:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 104 including checking water filters, ensuring that the filtered bottle-filling station or faucet is properly installed, and retesting the filtered water. If water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration that is more than five parts per billion or the presence of PFOA or PFOS at a level that exceeds a state or federal standard, the governing body of a public or private school must immediately shut off the water outlet, post a sign stating that the water outlet is shut off due to the high concentration of lead, PFOA, or PFOS, whichever applies, replace the water filters, and retest the water. If the subsequent water testing continues to indicate lead, PFOA, or PFOS that exceeds the relevant threshold, the governing body of the public or private school must 1) within 30 days, send a copy of the test results and information provided by the Department of Natural Resources about childhood exposure to lead or PFOA and PFOS, whichever is applicable, to parents and guardians of pupils who attend the school and to the Department of Public Instruction and 2) develop a remediation plan in consultation with DPI. Under the bill, all water testing must be conducted at a laboratory certified for lead and copper testing using the method approved by the federal environmental protection agency. By August 1, 2027, the bill requires the governing body of each public and private school to install filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets in accordance with the school[s drinking water management plan, and to shut off all water outlets that provide water for human consumption that are not filtered bottle- filling stations or filtered faucets. Beginning approximately 15 months after the bill becomes law, the bill prohibits the installation of a drinking fountain that is not a filtered bottle-filling station in a public or private school. The bill requires DPI to assist governing bodies of public and private schools to comply with the requirements created in the bill. Specifically, the bill requires DPI to develop a drinking water management plan template, to make annual training available related to water sampling and testing protocols and other activities relevant to complying with the requirements created in the bill, and to provide various information related to filtered bottle-filling stations, filtered faucets, and filter cartridges. Finally, the bill authorizes DPI to award grants to governing bodies of public and private schools to assist with the costs of complying with the requirements in the bill. The bill does not provide funding for these grants but does require DPI to submit a request for supplemental funding to the Joint Committee on Finance. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB100 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Current law requires, beginning January 1, 2024, the school board of a first class city school district (currently only Milwaukee Public Schools) to ensure that at least 25 school resource officers are present at schools within the school district (SRO requirement). Under current law, a Xschool resource officerY is a law enforcement officer who is deployed in community-oriented policing and assigned by the law enforcement agency that employs him or her to work in a full-time capacity in collaboration with a school district. Current law also requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to agree on how to apportion the costs of meeting the SRO requirement between the two entities. On October 8, 2024, a complaint was filed in Milwaukee County that alleged MPS is failing to comply with the SRO requirement and asked for a writ of mandamus to require compliance. On January 23, 2025, a Milwaukee County judge ordered MPS to comply with the SRO requirement on or before February 17, 2025. On February 17, 2025, the same Milwaukee County judge gave MPS an additional 10 days to comply with the January 23, 2025 order. LRB-1376/1 FFK&KP:emw&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 100 This bill requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to apportion 75 percent of the costs of complying with the SRO requirement to MPS and 25 percent to the City of Milwaukee. The bill further requires that by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law 1) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement and 2) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must jointly certify to the Joint Committee on Finance that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. Under the bill, a similar certification process is required if the initial agreement between MPS and the City of Milwaukee is terminated. First, MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement within 30 days of the termination of the agreement. Second, by no later than 30 days after entering into the agreement, the City of Milwaukee must certify to JCF that at least 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Lastly, by no later than 30 days after the certification is made to JCF, MPS must certify to JCF that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. The bill also creates financial consequences for both the City of Milwaukee and MPS if these requirements are not met. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Administration to withhold 10 percent of the supplemental county and municipal aid to the City of Milwaukee if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the city and MPS or if the City of Milwaukee fails to certify to JCF, by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools and, if a new agreement is entered into in the future, that 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Similarly, the bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to withhold 20 percent of the per pupil categorical aid payment owed to MPS if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the City of Milwaukee and MPS or if MPS fails to certify to JCF by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law and, if required in the future due to a new agreement, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB97 | Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE) | This bill requires each school board, governing body of a private school, and operator of a charter school to notify a pupil[s parent or guardian if the school board, governing body, or operator receives a credible report alleging sexual misconduct by a school staff member and the pupil is identified as an alleged victim, target, or recipient of the misconduct. Under the bill, a school board, governing body, or operator must notify the pupil[s parent or guardian by no later than the end of the day on which the school board receives the report containing the alleged sexual misconduct. Under the bill, a report is considered to be received by a school board or operator of a charter school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, assistant school district superintendent, school district superintendent, or school district administrator, and is considered to be received by the governing body of a private school when it is received by an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, executive director, or other individual who acts as the administrative head of the private school. Under current law, it is a Class I felony for a school staff member to commit an act of sexual misconduct against a pupil. Under current law and the bill, Xsexual misconductY means 1) communications made intentionally to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator or 2) intentional touching by the perpetrator or, upon the perpetrator[s instruction, LRB-2255/1 FFK:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 97 by the use of a body part or object, if the purpose of the intentional touching is to sexually degrade, sexually humiliate, sexually arouse, or sexually gratify the pupil or the perpetrator. The bill also requires school boards to annually provide information about how parents and guardians may access records related to school employee discipline under the state public records law. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB129 | Providing safe drinking water in public and private schools. (FE) | By no later than approximately 15 months after the date this bill becomes law, the governing body of each public and private school in this state must develop a drinking water management plan for the private or public school. Under the bill, each drinking water management plan must 1) specify the locations of filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets maintained to deliver water for human consumption, of water outlets maintained for purposes other than for human consumption, and of water outlets that are shut off or permanently inoperable; 2) provide at least one filtered bottle-filling station for every 100 occupants of the school; 3) provide for the installation of a filtered faucet only when the installation of a filtered bottle-filling station is not feasible and a water outlet for human consumption is necessary; and 4) provide a schedule for water sampling and testing at each filtered bottle-filling station and filtered faucet in the school for lead, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and a schedule for replacing filter cartridges used in filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets. Under the bill, if water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration between one part per billion and five parts per billion, the governing body of a public or private school must take certain actions, including checking water filters, ensuring that the filtered bottle-filling station or faucet is properly installed, and retesting the filtered water. If water testing under a drinking water management plan indicates lead at a concentration that is more than five parts per billion or the presence of PFOA or PFOS at a level that exceeds a state or federal standard, the governing body of a public or private school must immediately shut off the water outlet, post a sign stating that the water outlet is shut off due to the high concentration of lead, PFOA, or PFOS, whichever applies, replace the water filters, and retest the water. If the subsequent water testing continues to indicate lead, PFOA, or PFOS that exceeds the relevant threshold, the governing body of the public or private school must 1) within 30 days, send a copy of the test results and information provided by the Department of Natural Resources about childhood exposure to lead or PFOA and PFOS, whichever is applicable, to parents and guardians of pupils who attend the school and to the Department of Public Instruction and 2) develop a remediation plan in consultation with DPI. Under the bill, all water testing must be conducted at a laboratory certified for lead and copper testing using the method approved by the federal environmental protection agency. By August 1, 2027, the bill requires the governing body of each public and private school to install filtered bottle-filling stations and filtered faucets in accordance with the school[s drinking water management plan, and to shut off all water outlets that provide water for human consumption that are not filtered bottle- filling stations or filtered faucets. Beginning approximately 15 months after the bill becomes law, the bill prohibits the installation of a drinking fountain that is not a filtered bottle-filling station in a public or private school. The bill requires DPI to assist governing bodies of public and private schools to comply with the requirements created in the bill. Specifically, the bill requires DPI to develop a drinking water management plan template, to make annual training available related to water sampling and testing protocols and other activities relevant to complying with the requirements created in the bill, and to provide various information related to filtered bottle-filling stations, filtered faucets, and filter cartridges. Finally, the bill authorizes DPI to award grants to governing bodies of public and private schools to assist with the costs of complying with the requirements in the bill. The bill does not provide funding for these grants but does require DPI to submit a request for supplemental funding to the Joint Committee on Finance. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SJR6 | Honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Relating to: honoring the life and enduring legacy of Robert George Uecker. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| AB105 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet. | This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the Internet on a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs a reasonable age verification method to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. XMaterial harmful to minorsY is defined in the bill to include material 1) that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, 2) that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts including pubic areas, genitals, buttocks, and female nipples, and 3) that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. In the bill, a Xreasonable age verification methodY includes various methods whereby the business entity may verify that an individual seeking to access the material is not a minor. Under the bill, persons that perform reasonable age verification methods may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual[s access has been granted or denied. The bill also requires a business entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material to prevent persons from accessing the website from an internet protocol address or internet protocol address range that is linked to or known to be a virtual private network system or provider. In addition, this bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing obscene material or an obscene depiction of a purported child on the Internet. XObscene materialY is defined to mean a writing, picture, film, or other recording that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to the prurient interest if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. XObscene depiction of a purported childY is defined to mean a visual representation that appears to depict an actual child in the form of a photograph, film, motion picture, or digital or computer-generated image or picture, that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to prurient interests if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexually explicit conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. A person that violates the provisions of the bill may be subject to civil liability for damages and the payment of court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Sovereign immunity may not be raised as an affirmative defense to a civil action brought alleging a violation of a provision of the bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB76 | Creating an individual income tax deduction for certain income earned by an individual from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. (FE) | This bill creates an individual income tax subtract modification, or deduction, for up to $100,000 or $200,000 of income earned in this state by a psychiatrist or by a psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner, in the taxable year to which the claim relates, from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. The maximum $200,000 deduction may be claimed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner who practices or performs services in a medically underserved area, as defined under federal law, and the maximum $100,000 deduction may be claimed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner who does not practice or perform services in such an area. The deduction may not be claimed for more than five years, and must be claimed during the five-year period that begins once the claimant first claims the deduction. The deduction must be claimed initially within the first two years that a psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner begins to practice in this state, or within the first two years that a psychiatrist or psychiatric or mental health nurse practitioner returns to this state after practicing in another state. If an individual begins to claim the deduction and is then ineligible to claim the deduction in any year that he or she is a full-year resident of this state, the individual may again claim the deduction in a future year if eligible to do so. If an individual begins to claim the deduction but is unable to claim it for five consecutive years because he or she leaves the state, the individual must add to his or her tax that is due for the year in which he or she leaves the state the total gross tax that would have been due if the subtraction was not claimed for any year minus the amount of gross tax actually due for those years. In addition, an individual who is eligible for and claims the deduction may not claim the homestead tax credit. 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 |
| AB102 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each University of Wisconsin institution and technical college that operates or sponsors an intercollegiate or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport as one of the following based on the sex of the participating students: 1) males or men; or 2) females or women. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined by a physician at birth and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires a UW institution or technical college to prohibit 1) a male student from participating on an athletic team or in a sport designated for females, and 2) a male student from using locker rooms designated for females. | Crossed Over |
| AB100 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program (educational institution) that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport based on the sex of the participating pupils. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from 1) participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females and 2) using a locker room designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport. CORRECTED COPY | Crossed Over |
| AB103 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. | By July 1, 2026, this bill requires school boards to adopt 1) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will change a pupil[s legal name or legal name and pronouns in official school records (legal name and pronoun records policy) and 2) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will allow school staff to regularly use or refer to a minor pupil by a name other the pupil[s legal name or by pronouns other than the pronouns provided at the time the pupil first enrolled in the school district (name and pronoun usage policy). The bill requires that a school board include certain provisions in its legal name and pronoun records policy. Under the bill, a school board[s legal name and pronoun record policy must include 1) that the initial determination is made by the principal of the school the pupil attends, 2) that the principal may only approve the change if the documentation of a legal name change is provided or, if such documentation is not provided, an affidavit is provided stating, among other things, that the pupil legally changed the pupil[s name and that it was not for a fraudulent purpose or to interfere with the rights of others, 3) for a minor pupil, a requirement that the school board make a reasonable attempt to provide each of the minor pupil[s parents and legal guardians with an opportunity to provide information in favor of or against approving the requested change; and 4) a process to appeal a principal[s decision to deny a request to the school board. The bill also specifies provisions that a school board must include in its name and pronoun usage policy. Under the bill, a school board[s name and pronoun usage policy must 1) state that a minor pupil[s parent or legal guardian determines the names and pronouns school staff are allowed use to refer to the minor pupil during school hours and 2) prohibit school staff from referring to a minor pupil by a name or pronoun that does not align with the pupil[s biological sex without written authorization from the pupil[s parent or guardian. A name and pronoun usage policy does not need to require written authorization for school staff to use a shortened version of a minor pupil[s legal first or middle name to refer to the pupil. Finally, the bill explicitly states that nothing in the bill may be construed to limit the rights of pupils, parents, or guardians under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the federal law the protects pupil records. | Crossed Over |
| SB139 | Transfer of nursing home beds. | Under current law, the Department of Health Services licenses nursing home beds and beds in facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled and enforces a maximum limit on the number of these licensed beds in the state. A nursing home may transfer a licensed bed to another nursing home under certain circumstances, including that the receiving nursing home is within the same area for allocation of nursing home beds as is the transferring home, or is in a county adjoining that area, that the transferring nursing home and the receiving nursing home are owned by corporations that are owned by the same person, and that DHS reviews and approves the transfer. This bill repeals the transfer of nursing home beds. Instead, closed nursing home beds will be made available for distribution under procedures specified under current law. Under current law, DHS is required to redistribute nursing home beds within a county if the number of other nursing home beds for each 1,000 persons 65 years of age or over in the county is less than 80 percent of the statewide average and the total occupancy level for the other nursing homes in the county is equal to or more than the statewide average nursing home occupancy rate. Further, DHS must publish a notice at least once per year describing the number of beds that are available in each health planning area of the state. Nursing homes may then apply LRB-0506/1 JPC:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 139 for any available beds. DHS is responsible for reviewing each application it receives and making decisions on each application using criteria specified by statute and any further criteria that DHS develops by rule. | In Committee |
| AR7 | Recognizing the achievements of women athletes in Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing the achievements of women athletes in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| 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 |
| AB42 | Local regulation of fowl. | This bill prohibits political subdivisions and sewerage districts from prohibiting the keeping of up to four chickens or quail (fowl) by property owners or certain lessors on properties zoned for residential use. The bill specifically allows political subdivisions and sewerage districts to do any of the following with regard to the keeping of fowl: 1. Require a keeper of fowl to obtain a permit. 2. Require notification of adjoining land owners. 3. Impose reasonable regulations related to the location of fowl housing on a property. 4. Prohibit the keeping of roosters. 5. Impose reasonable cleanliness standards. | In Committee |
| SB90 | The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) | Under current law, electricity and natural gas sold during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April for residential use is exempt from the sales and use tax. This bill exempts from the sales and use tax electricity and natural gas sold for residential use regardless of when it is sold. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB130 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet. | This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the Internet on a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs a reasonable age verification method to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. XMaterial harmful to minorsY is defined in the bill to include material 1) that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, 2) that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts including pubic areas, genitals, buttocks, and female nipples, and 3) that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. In the bill, a Xreasonable age verification methodY includes various methods whereby the business entity may verify that an individual seeking to access the material is not a minor. Under the bill, persons that perform reasonable age verification methods may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual[s access has been granted or denied. The bill also requires a business entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material to prevent persons from accessing the LRB-2322/1 JAM:... 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 130 website from an internet protocol address or internet protocol address range that is linked to or known to be a virtual private network system or provider. In addition, this bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing obscene material or an obscene depiction of a purported child on the Internet. XObscene materialY is defined to mean a writing, picture, film, or other recording that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to the prurient interest if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. XObscene depiction of a purported childY is defined to mean a visual representation that appears to depict an actual child in the form of a photograph, film, motion picture, or digital or computer-generated image or picture, that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to prurient interests if taken as a whole, describes or shows sexually explicit conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, educational, or scientific value if taken as a whole. A person that violates the provisions of the bill may be subject to civil liability for damages and the payment of court costs and reasonable attorney fees. Sovereign immunity may not be raised as an affirmative defense to a civil action brought alleging a violation of a provision of the bill. | In Committee |
| AB91 | The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE) | Current law requires, beginning January 1, 2024, the school board of a first class city school district (currently only Milwaukee Public Schools) to ensure that at least 25 school resource officers are present at schools within the school district (SRO requirement). Under current law, a Xschool resource officerY is a law enforcement officer who is deployed in community-oriented policing and assigned by the law enforcement agency that employs him or her to work in a full-time capacity in collaboration with a school district. Current law also requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to agree on how to apportion the costs of meeting the SRO requirement between the two entities. On October 8, 2024, a complaint was filed in Milwaukee County that alleged MPS is failing to comply with the SRO requirement and asked for a writ of mandamus to require compliance. On January 23, 2025, a Milwaukee County judge ordered MPS to comply with the SRO requirement on or before February 17, 2025. On February 17, 2025, the same Milwaukee County judge gave MPS an additional 10 days to comply with the January 23, 2025 order. This bill requires MPS and the City of Milwaukee to apportion 75 percent of the costs of complying with the SRO requirement to MPS and 25 percent to the City of Milwaukee. The bill further requires that by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law 1) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement and 2) MPS and the City of Milwaukee must jointly certify to the Joint Committee on Finance that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. Under the bill, a similar certification process is required if the initial agreement between MPS and the City of Milwaukee is terminated. First, MPS and the City of Milwaukee must enter into an agreement on how they will implement compliance with the SRO requirement within 30 days of the termination of the agreement. Second, by no later than 30 days after entering into the agreement, the City of Milwaukee must certify to JCF that at least 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Lastly, by no later than 30 days after the certification is made to JCF, MPS must certify to JCF that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. The bill also creates financial consequences for both the City of Milwaukee and MPS if these requirements are not met. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Administration to withhold 10 percent of the supplemental county and municipal aid to the City of Milwaukee if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the city and MPS or if the City of Milwaukee fails to certify to JCF, by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools and, if a new agreement is entered into in the future, that 25 law enforcement officers are trained and available to be placed in MPS schools. Similarly, the bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to withhold 20 percent of the per pupil categorical aid payment owed to MPS if evidence is not provided of an agreement between the City of Milwaukee and MPS or if MPS fails to certify to JCF by no later than 30 days after the bill becomes law and, if required in the future due to a new agreement, that at least 25 school resource officers are present in MPS schools. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB144 | Eliminating a judgeship from district IV of the court of appeals and establishing an additional judgeship for district III of the court of appeals. | This bill reduces the number of judgeships in district IV of the court of appeals upon the expiration of the term of the judge whose current judicial term ends July 31, 2026. The bill also establishes an additional judgeship in district III of the court of appeals, effective beginning August 1, 2026. Under the bill, as of August 1, 2026, each of the districts of the court of appeals would have four judges. The bill provides that the initial election for the fourth judge for district III of the court of appeals will be held at the spring election of 2026 for a term beginning on August 1, 2026, and ending on July 31, 2032. | 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 |
| SB132 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person may not impersonate a peace officer, a fire fighter, an emergency services medical practitioner, or an emergency medical provider with the intent to mislead others into believing that the person is actually an officer, a fire fighter, or emergency personnel. Current law classifies the crime as a Class A misdemeanor. This bill changes the classification to a Class I felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| SB61 | Excluding expenditures funded by referenda from shared costs for the purpose of determining equalization aid for school districts. (FE) | Under current law, a school district[s shared cost is one of the factors used to calculate a school district[s equalization aid. Generally, under current law, a school district[s shared cost is the sum of the school district[s expenditures from its general fund and its debt service fund. Under this bill, expenditures from either a school district[s general fund or debt service fund that are authorized by 1) an operating referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to exceed the school district[s revenue limit by more than $50,000,000 or 2) a capital referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to borrow more than $50,000,000 are excluded from the school district[s shared cost, unless the school district was a negative tertiary school district in the previous school year. A school district is a negative tertiary school district if its equalized valuation exceeds the tertiary guaranteed valuation per member. LRB-1974/1 KMS:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 61 For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB18 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction is required to annually publish a school and school district accountability report, commonly known as school and school district report cards, for the previous school year. To measure school performance and school district improvement for purposes of the report cards, particularly measures related to pupil achievement in reading and math, DPI uses data derived from pupil performance on assessments administered in the previous school year, including assessments commonly referred to as the Wisconsin Student Assessment System, which includes the Wisconsin Forward Exam, PreACT, the ACT with Writing, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Under the bill, beginning with report cards published for the school year in which the bill becomes law, for the index system to identify school and school district performance and improvement, also known as the accountability rating categories, DPI must use the same cut scores, score ranges, and corresponding qualitative descriptions that DPI used for report cards published in the 2019-20 LRB-0976/4 FFK:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 18 school year. In addition, beginning with the WSAS administered in the school year in which the bill becomes law, DPI must do the following: 1. For the Wisconsin Forward exam in English Language Arts and Mathematics, align cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories to the cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 2. For the PreACT and ACT with Writing in English, Reading, and Mathematics, use the same cut scores, score ranges, and pupil performance categories that DPI used for the same assessments administered in the 2021-22 school year. The bill specifically requires DPI to use the terms Xbelow basic,Y Xbasic,Y Xproficient,Y and XadvancedY for pupil performance categories on these assessments. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB15 | Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty. | SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under this bill, any act of sexual misconduct that is currently a second degree sexual assault is a first degree sexual assault if the victim is an adult at risk. Under current law, if a person engages in any of the specified acts of sexual misconduct, he or she is guilty of a Class C felony. Under the bill, he or she is guilty of a Class B felony if the victim is an adult at risk, regardless of whether or not he or she knew the victim[s status as an adult at risk. FREEZING OF ASSETS Under current law, there is a procedure for a court to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged with a financial exploitation crime when the victim is an elder person. The procedure allows a court to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of the property involved in the defendant[s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of preserving the property for future payment of restitution to the crime victim. This bill allows the court to apply the same procedure to freeze or seize assets when the crime victim an adult at risk. PHYSICAL ABUSE OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, there is a set of penalties that apply to physical abuse of an elder person, which range from a Class I felony to a Class C felony depending on the severity of the conduct. This bill applies those same penalties to physical abuse of an adult at risk. INCREASED PENALTIES This bill allows a term of imprisonment that is imposed for a criminal conviction to be increased in length if the crime victim was an adult at risk. Under the bill, a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to two years; a maximum term of imprisonment of one to 10 years may be increased by up to four years; and a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by up to six years. Under the bill, the term of imprisonment may be lengthened irrespective of whether the defendant knew that the crime victim was an adult at risk. RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, a person seeking a domestic violence, individual-at-risk, or harassment restraining order must appear in person in the courtroom at a hearing to obtain a restraining order. This bill allows an adult at risk who is seeking a domestic violence, individual- at-risk, or harassment restraining order to appear in a court hearing by telephone or live audiovisual means. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, LRB-0059/1 MJW:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 15 the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SB55 | Prohibiting the Department of Justice from using the legal services of nongovernmental employees. (FE) | This bill prohibits the Department of Justice from using the legal services of any person who is not a state employee or federal employee or agent to assist in the investigation or prosecution of any civil or criminal cause or matter unless DOJ uses a specific process under current law for contracting for legal services on a contingent fee basis or that person is a legal intern who earns no more than $10,000 annually from their internship employer. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB136 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty. | Under current law, a person may not impersonate a peace officer, a fire fighter, an emergency services medical practitioner, or an emergency medical provider with the intent to mislead others into believing that the person is actually an officer, a fire fighter, or emergency personnel. Current law classifies the crime as a Class A misdemeanor. This bill changes the classification to a Class I felony. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| SB120 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. | By July 1, 2026, this bill requires school boards to adopt 1) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will change a pupil[s legal name or legal name and pronouns in official school records (legal name and pronoun records policy) and 2) a policy related to the conditions under which a school board will allow school staff to regularly use or refer to a minor pupil by a name other the pupil[s legal name or by pronouns other than the pronouns provided at the time the pupil first enrolled in the school district (name and pronoun usage policy). The bill requires that a school board include certain provisions in its legal name and pronoun records policy. Under the bill, a school board[s legal name and pronoun record policy must include 1) that the initial determination is made by the principal of the school the pupil attends, 2) that the principal may only approve the change if the documentation of a legal name change is provided or, if such documentation is not provided, an affidavit is provided stating, among other things, that the pupil legally changed the pupil[s name and that it was not for a fraudulent purpose or to interfere with the rights of others, 3) for a minor pupil, a requirement that the school board make a reasonable attempt to provide each of the minor pupil[s parents and legal guardians with an opportunity to provide information in LRB-2344/1 FFK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 120 favor of or against approving the requested change; and 4) a process to appeal a principal[s decision to deny a request to the school board. The bill also specifies provisions that a school board must include in its name and pronoun usage policy. Under the bill, a school board[s name and pronoun usage policy must 1) state that a minor pupil[s parent or legal guardian determines the names and pronouns school staff are allowed use to refer to the minor pupil during school hours and 2) prohibit school staff from referring to a minor pupil by a name or pronoun that does not align with the pupil[s biological sex without written authorization from the pupil[s parent or guardian. A name and pronoun usage policy does not need to require written authorization for school staff to use a shortened version of a minor pupil[s legal first or middle name to refer to the pupil. Finally, the bill explicitly states that nothing in the bill may be construed to limit the rights of pupils, parents, or guardians under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the federal law the protects pupil records. | In Committee |
| AB119 | Transfer of nursing home beds. | Under current law, the Department of Health Services licenses nursing home beds and beds in facilities primarily serving the developmentally disabled and enforces a maximum limit on the number of these licensed beds in the state. A nursing home may transfer a licensed bed to another nursing home under certain circumstances, including that the receiving nursing home is within the same area for allocation of nursing home beds as is the transferring home, or is in a county adjoining that area, that the transferring nursing home and the receiving nursing home are owned by corporations that are owned by the same person, and that DHS reviews and approves the transfer. This bill repeals the transfer of nursing home beds. Instead, closed nursing home beds will be made available for distribution under procedures specified under current law. Under current law, DHS is required to redistribute nursing home beds within a county if the number of other nursing home beds for each 1,000 persons 65 years of age or over in the county is less than 80 percent of the statewide average and the total occupancy level for the other nursing homes in the county is equal to or more than the statewide average nursing home occupancy rate. Further, DHS must publish a notice at least once per year describing the number of beds that are available in each health planning area of the state. Nursing homes may then apply for any available beds. DHS is responsible for reviewing each application it receives and making decisions on each application using criteria specified by statute and any further criteria that DHS develops by rule. | In Committee |
| AJR16 | Recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing May 1 of each year as St. Joseph the Worker Day in Wisconsin and recognizing and appreciating the dignity of all working men and women in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| SB117 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each school board, independent charter school, and private school participating in a parental choice program (educational institution) that operates or sponsors an interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport based on the sex of the participating pupils. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined at birth by a physician and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires an educational institution to prohibit a male pupil from 1) participating on an athletic team or in an athletic sport designated for females and 2) using a locker room designated for females. Finally, the bill requires the educational institution to notify pupils and parents if an educational institution intends to change a designation for an athletic team or sport. CORRECTED COPY LRB-1553/2 FFK:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 117 | In Committee |
| SB116 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. | This bill requires each University of Wisconsin institution and technical college that operates or sponsors an intercollegiate or club athletic team or sport to designate the athletic team or sport as one of the following based on the sex of the participating students: 1) males or men; or 2) females or women. The bill defines XsexY as the sex determined by a physician at birth and reflected on the birth certificate. The bill also requires a UW institution or technical college to prohibit 1) a male student from participating on an athletic team or in a sport designated for females, and 2) a male student from using locker rooms designated for females. | In Committee |
| AB60 | Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) | Under current law, a county, city, village, town, school district, or technical college district may exceed its property tax levy limit if the electors of that political subdivision or district approve the increase at a referendum. The ballot question must indicate the dollar amount of the increase in the levy limit. Under this bill, the ballot question must also provide a good faith estimate of the annual dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the political subdivision or district that would result from passage of the referendum. Also under current law, in certain cases when local governmental units authorize the issuance of bonds, the local governmental unit must adopt a resolution stating the purpose of the bonding and the maximum amounts of borrowing. The local governmental unit, in certain cases, is required or authorized to seek approval of the bonding authorization at a referendum. Among other things, the referendum question must contain a statement of the purpose for which bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued. Under the bill, the question must also provide all of the following: 1. The estimated interest rate and amount of the interest accruing on the bonds. 2. Any fees that will be incurred if the bonds are defeased. 3. A good faith estimate of the dollar amount difference in property taxes on a median-valued, single-family residence located in the local governmental unit that would result from passage of the referendum. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB56 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) | This bill requires, within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, that each public building in this state display the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y in a location that is visible to the public if the building is open to the public, and in a location where notices for employees are regularly posted if it is a building that is not open to the public. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the bill also requires that the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y be displayed in each public school classroom, including charter school classrooms. Under current law, each school board and governing body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day. Under the bill, the required displays in both public buildings and public schools must 1) be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, 2) be on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall, and 3) be presented in English in a legible font. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB81 | Excluding expenditures funded by referenda from shared costs for the purpose of determining equalization aid for school districts. (FE) | Under current law, a school district[s shared cost is one of the factors used to calculate a school district[s equalization aid. Generally, under current law, a school district[s shared cost is the sum of the school district[s expenditures from its general fund and its debt service fund. Under this bill, expenditures from either a school district[s general fund or debt service fund that are authorized by 1) an operating referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to exceed the school district[s revenue limit by more than $50,000,000 or 2) a capital referendum held after the date on which this bill becomes law to borrow more than $50,000,000 are excluded from the school district[s shared cost, unless the school district was a negative tertiary school district in the previous school year. A school district is a negative tertiary school district if its equalized valuation exceeds the tertiary guaranteed valuation per member. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB83 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | In Committee |
| AB69 | The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) | Under current law, electricity and natural gas sold during the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April for residential use is exempt from the sales and use tax. This bill exempts from the sales and use tax electricity and natural gas sold for residential use regardless of when it is sold. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB82 | Governmental restrictions based on the energy source of a motor vehicle or other device. | Under this bill, no state agency and no local governmental unit may restrict 1) the use or sale of a motor vehicle on the basis of the energy source used to power the motor vehicle, including use for propulsion or use for powering other functions of the motor vehicle, or 2) the use or sale of any other device on the basis of the energy source that is used to power the device or that is consumed by the device. | In Committee |
| SB79 | A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption. | This bill provides a method by which a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father may disclaim his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one who is not an Indian child in writing as an alternative to appearing in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. The bill also allows payments to be made to a licensed out-of-state private child placing agency for services provided in connection with an adoption. Disclaimer of parental rights Subject to certain exceptions, current law generally requires a birth parent to appear in court to consent to the termination of his or her parental rights. This bill adds an exception that allows a mother, father, or alleged or presumed father to avoid appearing in court if he or she files with the court an affidavit disclaiming his or her parental rights with respect to a child under the age of one and if no participant in the court proceeding knows or has reason to know that the child is an Indian child. A minor may use such an affidavit of disclaimer only after the TPR LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 petition has been filed, he or she has been offered legal counseling, and he or she has been appointed a guardian ad litem and only if the guardian ad litem approves the disclaimer. The affidavit must comply with certain requirements, including that it must be witnessed and notarized and must include a statement that the parent understands the effect of an order to terminate parental rights and that he or she voluntarily disclaims any rights that he or she may have to the child. The bill requires the court to review the affidavit and make findings on whether it meets all of the requirements. Under the bill, the affidavit containing a disclaimer of parental rights may be executed before the birth of the child by the father or alleged or presumed father but not the mother and may be executed by either parent 120 hours or more after the birth until the child[s first birthday; however, the affidavit may not be executed by either parent from birth until 120 hours after the birth or on or after the child[s first birthday. Under the bill, if executed by the father or alleged or presumed father before the child[s birth, the disclaimer is revokable for any reason until 72 hours after execution or 120 hours after the birth, whichever is later. If executed by the mother, the disclaimer is revocable for any reason until 72 hours after execution. If not revoked by the applicable time limit, the disclaimer is irrevocable unless obtained by fraud or duress. Under the bill, no action to invalidate a disclaimer, including an action based on fraud or duress, may be commenced more than three months after the affidavit was executed. If parental rights to a child are terminated based upon such a disclaimer of parental rights, the bill prohibits a court from entering an order granting adoption of the child until three months have passed since the affidavit was executed. The bill requires the agency making the placement of the child for adoption, whether the agency is the Department of Children and Families, the county department of human services or social services, or a licensed child welfare agency, to offer both counseling and legal counseling to the person disclaiming his or her parental rights, at the agency[s expense, prior to execution of the affidavit. The person must acknowledge in the affidavit that he or she has been offered these counseling and legal counseling sessions and whether or not he or she accepted them. Payments relating to adoption This bill allows payments to be made to an out-of-state private child placing agency that is licensed in the state in which it operates for services provided in connection with an adoption and, where applicable, in compliance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, as certified to DCF. Under the bill, a private child placing agency means a private corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable organization, or any private person or attorney, that facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child from one state to another state. Current law LRB-0053/1 EHS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 79 allows payments for such services only to a child welfare agency licensed in this state. | In Committee |
| SB53 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) | This bill requires, within 6 months of the effective date of the bill, that each public building in this state display the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y in a location that is visible to the public if the building is open to the public, and in a location where notices for employees are regularly posted if it is a building that is not open to the public. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the bill also requires that the national motto, XIn God We Trust,Y be displayed in each public school classroom, including charter school classrooms. Under current law, each school board and governing body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day. Under the bill, the required displays in both public buildings and public schools must 1) be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, 2) be on a poster, in a framed document, or inscribed on a wall, and 3) be presented in English in a legible font. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-1631/1 FFK & MIM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 53 | In Committee |
| SB30 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, this bill requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include in their respective curricula instruction in civics that includes the following topics and pupil development goals: 1. An understanding of pupils[ shared rights and responsibilities as residents of this state and the United States and of the founding principles of the United States. 2. A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at the local, state, and federal levels. 3. An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before governmental bodies and officials. 4. An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and LRB-1842/1 FFK:wlj&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 30 desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the benefits of liberty inherited from previous generations and secured by the U.S. Constitution. 5. Knowledge of other nations[ governing philosophies, including communism, socialism, and totalitarianism, and an understanding of how those philosophies compare with the philosophy and principles of freedom and representative democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States. The bill also requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to annually report to the Department of Public Instruction regarding how they are meeting the civics instruction requirement created under the bill. DPI must then compile the information and submit it to the legislature. Finally, under current law, a school board may grant a high school diploma to a pupil only if the pupil meets specific statutory requirements, including earning a certain number of credits in various subjects in the high school grades and passing a civics test comprised of questions that are identical to those that are asked as part of the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. Currently, a pupil must earn at least three credits of social studies, including state and local government. The bill specifies that the social studies credits also must include one-half credit of civics instruction. This graduation requirement first applies to pupils who graduate in the 2030-31 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| AB55 | Possession of a firearm on school grounds by school employees and fees for licenses to carry a concealed weapon. (FE) | Both federal law and state law prohibit a person from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. Federal and state law provide several identical exceptions to the prohibition, such as for law enforcement and for persons in accordance with a contract between the person and the school. Federal law provides another exception for a person who is licensed to possess a firearm by the state if the state requires a background check to ensure the person is qualified for the license. Since the Department of Justice requires a background check before it issues a person a license to carry a concealed weapon, a licensee is allowed under federal law to possess a firearm on the grounds of a school. State law, however, does not provide an identical exception, so a licensee is prohibited under state law from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a school. This bill creates a state exception that is similar to the federal exception. Under the bill, a person who has a license issued by DOJ may possess a firearm on the grounds of a school if the person is employed by the school and the school board or governing entity has adopted a policy that allows employees who are licensees to possess a firearm. Under current law, a person who applies to DOJ for a license to carry a concealed weapon must pay an application fee and a person who is renewing a license must pay a renewal fee. DOJ must set the fee amount on the basis of the cost it incurs in licensing, but the fee can be no more than $37 for an initial license and $12 for a license renewal. In addition, the person must pay for a background check for each initial application and renewal application; that fee amount is currently $10. The bill waives the initial application fee, renewal fee, and background check fee for teachers who apply for a license. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| 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 |
| AB3 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) | This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to incorporate cursive writing into the model academic standards for English language arts. The bill also requires all school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include cursive writing in its respective curriculum for the elementary grades. Specifically, each elementary school curriculum must include the objective that pupils be able to write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, this bill requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include in their respective curricula instruction in civics that includes the following topics and pupil development goals: 1. An understanding of pupils’ shared rights and responsibilities as residents of this state and the United States and of the founding principles of the United States. 2. A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at the local, state, and federal levels. 3. An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before governmental bodies and officials. 4. An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the benefits of liberty inherited from previous generations and secured by the U.S. Constitution. 5. Knowledge of other nations’ governing philosophies, including communism, socialism, and totalitarianism, and an understanding of how those philosophies compare with the philosophy and principles of freedom and representative democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States. The bill also requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to annually report to the Department of Public Instruction regarding how they are meeting the civics instruction requirement created under the bill. DPI must then compile the information and submit it to the legislature. Finally, under current law, a school board may grant a high school diploma to a pupil only if the pupil meets specific statutory requirements, including earning a certain number of credits in various subjects in the high school grades and passing a civics test comprised of questions that are identical to those that are asked as part of the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. Currently, a pupil must earn at least three credits of social studies, including state and local government. The bill specifies that the social studies credits also must include one-half credit of civics instruction. This graduation requirement first applies to pupils who graduate in the 2030-31 school year. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| 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) | This bill requires school boards to spend a minimum amount of operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and limits annual compensation increases for school administrators. REQUIREMENT TO SPEND 70 PERCENT OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES ON DIRECT CLASSROOM COSTS The bill requires each school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures in each school year on direct classroom expenditures. Under the bill, “direct classroom expenditures” are expenditures for salaries and benefits of teachers and teacher aides, instructional supplies, tuition, athletic programs, and cocurricular activities. Under the bill, if a school board fails to meet the 70 percent threshold in any school year, the school board must increase the amount spent on direct classroom expenditures by at least 2 percent in each succeeding school year until the 70 percent level is reached. In addition, in the school year following a school year in which a school board fails to meet the 70 percent threshold, the bill directs the Department of Public Instruction to reduce the school district’s state aid payments by the difference between what the school board spent on direct classroom expenditures and the minimum that it should have spent on direct classroom expenditures and prohibits the school board from levying additional property taxes to compensate for the reduction. Finally, if the total reduction in state aid and other state payments does not cover a school board’s excess expenditures, DPI must order the school board to reduce the property tax obligations of its taxpayers, including providing refunds to taxpayers who have already paid their annual taxes, by an amount that represents the amount of excess expenditures that have not been recovered through the state aid reductions. LIMITATION ON ANNUAL COMPENSATION INCREASES FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS The bill limits the amount a school board may increase the total compensation paid to a school district administrator, business manager, or school principal, or an assistant to any of those positions (collectively, school administrators), to the average annual percentage increase in total compensation that the school board provided to teachers in the school district. Under current law, the term of a school administrator contract is limited to no more than two years but may provide for additional one year extensions. The pay increase limitation created in the bill first applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or modified on the date the bill becomes law. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
| SB32 | 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) | This bill requires school boards to spend a minimum amount of operating expenditures on direct classroom expenditures and limits annual compensation increases for school administrators. REQUIREMENT TO SPEND 70 PERCENT OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES ON DIRECT CLASSROOM COSTS The bill requires each school board to spend at least 70 percent of its operating expenditures in each school year on direct classroom expenditures. Under the bill, Xdirect classroom expendituresY are expenditures for salaries and benefits of teachers and teacher aides, instructional supplies, tuition, athletic programs, and cocurricular activities. Under the bill, if a school board fails to meet the 70 percent threshold in any school year, the school board must increase the amount spent on direct classroom expenditures by at least 2 percent in each succeeding school year until the 70 percent level is reached. In addition, in the school year following a school year in which a school board fails to meet the 70 percent threshold, the bill directs the LRB-1850/1 FFK:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 32 Department of Public Instruction to reduce the school district[s state aid payments by the difference between what the school board spent on direct classroom expenditures and the minimum that it should have spent on direct classroom expenditures and prohibits the school board from levying additional property taxes to compensate for the reduction. Finally, if the total reduction in state aid and other state payments does not cover a school board[s excess expenditures, DPI must order the school board to reduce the property tax obligations of its taxpayers, including providing refunds to taxpayers who have already paid their annual taxes, by an amount that represents the amount of excess expenditures that have not been recovered through the state aid reductions. LIMITATION ON ANNUAL COMPENSATION INCREASES FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS The bill limits the amount a school board may increase the total compensation paid to a school district administrator, business manager, or school principal, or an assistant to any of those positions (collectively, school administrators), to the average annual percentage increase in total compensation that the school board provided to teachers in the school district. Under current law, the term of a school administrator contract is limited to no more than two years but may provide for additional one year extensions. The pay increase limitation created in the bill first applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or modified on the date the bill becomes law. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB13 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) | This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to incorporate cursive writing into the model academic standards for English language arts. The bill also requires all school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program to include cursive writing in its respective curriculum for the elementary grades. Specifically, each elementary school curriculum must include the objective that pupils be able to write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
| SB40 | Flags flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of state and local buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule. | This bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, any flag other than the U.S. flag and the flag of the state of Wisconsin from being flown, hung, or displayed from a flagpole or the exterior of any state office building or facility, including the state capitol, or from any local government building or school building. The bill also repeals an administrative rule that includes a similar requirement but authorizes the governor to direct otherwise. | In Committee |
| SJR9 | Honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Justice David T. Prosser Jr. | In Committee |
| SB3 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval. | Current law prohibits a person from beginning construction of a large electric generating facility (LEGF) unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed facility. An LEGF is defined as a facility with a nominal operating capacity of 100 megawatts or more. In addition, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless PSC grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. The bill defines a “solar project” and “wind project” as an area of land on which, respectively, solar photovoltaic panels or devices used for collecting wind energy, along with any associated equipment and facilities, are installed in order to generate electricity and which altogether is designed for nominal operation at a capacity of 15 megawatts or more. Under this bill, before PSC may approve a CA or a CPCN for the construction of a solar project or wind project, the person seeking the certificate must seek approval from each city, village, and town in which the solar project or wind project LRB-0775/1 SWB&EHS:emw&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 3 is to be located. The bill requires a city, village, or town to approve or disapprove a proposed solar project or wind project by adopting a resolution to that effect no later than 90 days after receiving a request for such approval. If the city, village, or town fails to act within that time period, the project is considered approved. The bill allows this deadline to be extended for certain reasons. Current law limits the authority of political subdivisions to regulate solar and wind energy systems, allowing political subdivisions to impose restrictions only if they meet certain conditions. The bill provides that those limitations do not apply to the approval or disapproval of a solar project or a wind project by a city, town, or village. Current law also imposes procedures for political subdivisions that receive applications for approval relating to wind energy systems. Those procedures do not apply to approval or disapproval of a wind project under the bill. Under the bill, PSC may not issue a CPCN or CA for a solar project or wind project unless each city, village, and town in which the project is proposed to be located has adopted a resolution approving the project. | In Committee |
| AB7 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval. | Current law prohibits a person from beginning construction of a large electric generating facility (LEGF) unless the Public Service Commission grants a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed facility. An LEGF is defined as a facility with a nominal operating capacity of 100 megawatts or more. In addition, a public utility may not engage in certain construction, expansion, or other projects unless PSC grants a certificate of authority (CA) for the proposed project. The bill defines a Xsolar projectY and Xwind projectY as an area of land on which, respectively, solar photovoltaic panels or devices used for collecting wind energy, along with any associated equipment and facilities, are installed in order to generate electricity and which altogether is designed for nominal operation at a capacity of 15 megawatts or more. Under this bill, before PSC may approve a CA or a CPCN for the construction of a solar project or wind project, the person seeking the certificate must seek approval from each city, village, and town in which the solar project or wind project is to be located. The bill requires a city, village, or town to approve or disapprove a proposed solar project or wind project by adopting a resolution to that effect no later than 90 days after receiving a request for such approval. If the city, village, or town fails to act within that time period, the project is considered approved. The bill allows this deadline to be extended for certain reasons. Current law limits the authority of political subdivisions to regulate solar and wind energy systems, allowing political subdivisions to impose restrictions only if they meet certain conditions. The bill provides that those limitations do not apply to the approval or disapproval of a solar project or a wind project by a city, town, or village. Current law also imposes procedures for political subdivisions that receive applications for approval relating to wind energy systems. Those procedures do not apply to approval or disapproval of a wind project under the bill. Under the bill, PSC may not issue a CPCN or CA for a solar project or wind project unless each city, village, and town in which the project is proposed to be located has adopted a resolution approving the project. | In Committee |
| AJR3 | Proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AB19 | Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty. | SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under this bill, any act of sexual misconduct that is currently a second degree sexual assault is a first degree sexual assault if the victim is an adult at risk. Under current law, if a person engages in any of the specified acts of sexual misconduct, he or she is guilty of a Class C felony. Under the bill, he or she is guilty of a Class B felony if the victim is an adult at risk, regardless of whether or not he or she knew the victim[s status as an adult at risk. FREEZING OF ASSETS Under current law, there is a procedure for a court to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged with a financial exploitation crime when the victim is an elder person. The procedure allows a court to freeze the funds, assets, or property of the defendant in an amount up to 100 percent of the alleged value of the property involved in the defendant[s pending criminal proceeding for purposes of preserving the property for future payment of restitution to the crime victim. This bill allows the court to apply the same procedure to freeze or seize assets when the crime victim an adult at risk. PHYSICAL ABUSE OF AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, there is a set of penalties that apply to physical abuse of an elder person, which range from a Class I felony to a Class C felony depending on the severity of the conduct. This bill applies those same penalties to physical abuse of an adult at risk. INCREASED PENALTIES This bill allows a term of imprisonment that is imposed for a criminal conviction to be increased in length if the crime victim was an adult at risk. Under the bill, a maximum term of imprisonment of one year or less may be increased to two years; a maximum term of imprisonment of one to 10 years may be increased by up to four years; and a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 10 years may be increased by up to six years. Under the bill, the term of imprisonment may be lengthened irrespective of whether the defendant knew that the crime victim was an adult at risk. RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR AN ADULT AT RISK Under current law, a person seeking a domestic violence, individual-at-risk, or harassment restraining order must appear in person in the courtroom at a hearing to obtain a restraining order. This bill allows an adult at risk who is seeking a domestic violence, individual- at-risk, or harassment restraining order to appear in a court hearing by telephone or live audiovisual means. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. | In Committee |
| SJR4 | The freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | To amend section 18 of article I of the constitution; Relating to: the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (second consideration). | In Committee |
| SJR3 | Proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin. | In Committee |
| AJR1 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | To create section 1m of article III of the constitution; Relating to: requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | In Committee |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 24 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 23 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 22 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 21 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 20 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 19 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 18 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 17 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 16 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 15 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 14 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 13 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 12 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 11 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 10 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 9 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 8 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 7 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 6 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 5 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 4 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 3 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 2 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB50 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 laid on table | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| SB45 | State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2025 legislature. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 07/02/2025 | Yea |
| AB17 | Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB63 | Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB108 | Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB108 | Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB106 | Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB106 | Psychiatric residential treatment facilities, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Yea |
| AJR50 | Recognizing the United States Army’s 250th birthday. | Assembly: Adopted | 06/18/2025 | Yea |
| AB269 | Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 06/18/2025 | Yea |
| SB24 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB23 | Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB43 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Nay |
| AB137 | Maximum life and allocation period for Tax Incremental District Number 9 in the village of DeForest and the total value of taxable property that may be included in tax incremental financing districts created in the village of DeForest. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB140 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Port Washington. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
| AB73 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB164 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and federal Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB165 | Local guaranteed income programs. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB166 | Academic and career planning services provided to pupils and requiring the reporting of certain data on college student costs and outcomes. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB162 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB168 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB169 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB167 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law and requiring approval by the Joint Committee on Finance of certain federally authorized unemployment benefits. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Yea |
| AB102 | Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB100 | Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB103 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| AB104 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Yea |
| 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 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WI | Wisconsin Assembly District 06 | Assembly | Republican | Out of Office | 01/06/2025 | 06/04/2025 |
| WI | Wisconsin Assembly District 89 | Assembly | Republican | Out of Office | 04/28/2021 | 12/30/2024 |