Legislator
Legislator > Clint Anderson

State Representative
Clint Anderson
(D) - Wisconsin
Wisconsin Assembly District 45
In Office - Started: 01/03/2023
contact info
Capitol Office
P.O. Box 8952
State Capitol, 2 E. Main St.
Madison, WI 53708
State Capitol, 2 E. Main St.
Madison, WI 53708
Phone: 608-237-9145
Phone 2: 888-534-0045
Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
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AB336 | Funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill provides funding to the University of Wisconsin System for additional or improved student health services related to mental and behavioral health. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB316 | Grants for LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and school social workers and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction must award grants to school boards to provide training in LGBTQIA+ rights, in a program developed or approved by DPI, to school counselors and school social workers employed by school boards. The bill defines XLGBTQIA+Y as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or any other nonheterosexual or noncisgender orientation, identity, or expression. 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 |
AB355 | Right to bodily autonomy, elimination of certain abortion-related regulations, and coverage of abortion under certain health care coverage plans. (FE) | This bill specifies that every individual has the fundamental right to bodily autonomy, which includes the right to access abortion. Under the bill, the state may not prohibit an individual from obtaining an abortion if an abortion is necessary in the professional judgment of the individual[s medical provider. Also under the bill, a law or rule of this state that restricts a individual[s access to abortion is unenforceable if the law or rule does not confer any legitimate health benefit. Any person that is or may be aggrieved by the enforcement of a law or rule passed or promulgated after the effective date of the bill that would be unenforceable under the bill may bring an action in state or federal court for injunctive relief or damages against a state or local official who enforces or attempts to enforce such a law or rule. The bill also expressly provides that all requirements applicable to health care providers are applicable to providers of abortion care. The bill does not change standard informed consent requirements applicable to all medical procedures, including abortion, but removes additional requirements specific to the performance of an abortion that exceed those standard informed consent requirements. Current law requires that these additional requirements must be met in order for a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed or induced to give voluntary and informed consent to an abortion. Except in a medical emergency, under current law, a woman[s consent to an abortion is considered informed only if, with certain exceptions, at least 24 hours before the abortion is performed or induced, the physician or an assistant has, in person, orally provided the woman with certain information and given to the woman certain written materials. The bill repeals these requirements. Under current law, the state is required to offer to all of its employees at least 2 insured or uninsured health care coverage plans. Further, under current law, certain employers including counties, villages, towns, school districts, and other governmental units or instrumentalities other than the state may offer to all of its employees a health care coverage plan through a program offered by the Group Insurance Board. Current law prohibits these plans from providing coverage for abortion or services the funding for which is ineligible under current law. The bill repeals these restrictions and instead requires coverage of abortion and any other medical services necessary to provide abortion under these health coverage plans if the health care coverage plan provides maternity coverage. The bill also repeals other various abortion-related laws, including all of the following: 1. The bill eliminates the prohibition on giving a woman an abortion-inducing drug unless the physician who provided the drug for the woman performs a physical exam on the woman and is physically present in the room when the drug is given to the woman. 2. The bill eliminates the prohibition on coverage of abortions by qualified health plans offered through an exchange in this state. 3. The bill eliminates the prohibition on performing abortions by a physician that does not have admitting privileges in a hospital within 30 miles of the location where the abortion is to be performed. This statute was previously held to be unenforceable by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Planned Parenthood of Wis., Inc. v. Schimel, 806 F.3d 908 (7th Cir. 2015), which affirmed a permanent injunction granted by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. 4. The bill repeals a statute that provides that any person, other than the mother, who intentionally destroys the life of an unborn child may be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than six years, or both. XUnborn childY is defined in the statute as a human being from the time of conception until born alive. The statute also provides that any person, other than the mother, who intentionally destroys the life of an unborn quick child or causes the mother[s death by an act done with intent to destroy the life of an unborn child may be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both. None of these penalties apply to a therapeutic abortion that is performed by a physician; is necessary, or advised by two other physicians as necessary, to save the life of the mother; and, unless an emergency prevents, is performed in a licensed maternity hospital. This statute was previously held to be unenforceable. It was cited in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), as similar to a Texas statute that was held to violate the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The unenforceability of the statute following the Roe v. Wade decision was noted in a subsequent decision by a federal district court, Larkin v. McCann, 368 F. Supp. 1352 (E.D. Wis. 1974). In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women[s Health Org., 142 S. Ct. 2228 (2022). Litigation concerning the status of the statute is currently pending in state court. In December 2023, the Dane County Circuit Court issued a decision and order declaring that the statute Xdoes not apply to abortions.Y Kaul v. Urmanski, No. 22- CV-1594, slip op. at 14 (Wis. Dane Cnty. Cir. Ct. Dec. 5, 2023). An appeal is pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. See Kaul v. Urmanski, No. 2023AP002362 (Wis. July 2, 2024) (order granting a petition to bypass the court of appeals). The Wisconsin Supreme Court has also granted a petition for leave to commence an original action regarding whether the state constitution protects a right to receive an abortion and a right for physicians to provide abortions. See Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Urmanski, No. 2024AP000330 (Wis. July 2, 2024) (order granting leave to commence an original action); see Petition to Wis. S. Ct. to Take Jurisdiction of an Original Action, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Urmanski, No. 2024AP000330 (Wis. filed Feb. 22, 2024). The bill also repeals the criminal penalty on a person who is not a physician and who intentionally performs an abortion. The bill does not affect any other criminal prohibition or limitation on abortion in current law, such as the general prohibition on performing an abortion after the fetus or unborn child has reached viability, or any other homicide prohibition. The bill also does not affect a separate provision in current law that prohibits prosecution of and imposing or enforcing a fine or imprisonment against a woman who obtains an abortion or otherwise violates any abortion law with respect to her unborn child or fetus. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. | In Committee |
SB369 | Prohibiting the state from sharing data with the federal government that contains personally identifiable information if the data is not first masked or otherwise anonymized and authorizing a civil cause of action for negligent violations of that prohibition. (FE) | Under this bill, except as specified below, no state agency or other body in Wisconsin state government, including the legislature and the courts, may share with the federal government data containing personally identifiable information unless the data is first masked or otherwise anonymized. Under the bill, any person who negligently violates that prohibition is liable to any person injured as a result of the violation for actual damages to that person, exemplary damages of not more than $1,000, and costs and reasonable actual attorney fees. Notwithstanding the bill[s prohibition, under the bill, a state agency may share unmasked data with federal officials or agencies to the extent necessary to comply with other state law or federal law or to carry out the administration of a state or federal program; a member of the legislature may share unmasked data with federal officials or agencies to the extent necessary to carry out constituent LRB-3575/1 MPG:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 369 relations or the member[s other official duties; and a court may share unmasked data with federal officials or agencies to the extent necessary to carry out the court[s official duties. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AJR76 | Eliminating constitutional restrictions on marriage (first consideration). | relating to: eliminating constitutional restrictions on marriage (first consideration). | In Committee |
AB359 | Prohibiting conversion therapy. | This bill prohibits certain mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with a minor. Conversion therapy is defined under the bill to mean any intervention or method that has the purpose of attempting to change a person[s sexual orientation or gender identity, including any intervention or method that attempts to change behaviors or expressions of self or to reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. However, under the bill, conversion therapy does not include counseling that assists an individual who is seeking to undergo a gender transition or who is in the process of undergoing a gender transition; counseling that provides a client with acceptance, support, or understanding; counseling that facilitates a client[s coping, social support, and identity exploration or development; or counseling in the form of sexual orientation-neutral or gender identity-neutral interventions provided for the purpose of preventing or addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, but only if the counseling is not provided for the purpose of attempting to change the client[s sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the bill, the Medical Examining Board, the Psychology Examining Board, and the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board are required to investigate any allegation that any person licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to practice by the respective boards has violated the prohibition on performing conversion therapy. Upon a finding that the holder of a license, certificate, or other authorization has violated the prohibition on performing conversion therapy, the bill requires the applicable examining board to limit, suspend, or revoke the person[s license, certificate, or other authorization, or any combination of the three. | In Committee |
AB378 | Prohibiting the state from sharing data with the federal government that contains personally identifiable information if the data is not first masked or otherwise anonymized and authorizing a civil cause of action for negligent violations of that prohibition. (FE) | Under this bill, except as specified below, no state agency or other body in Wisconsin state government, including the legislature and the courts, may share with the federal government data containing personally identifiable information unless the data is first masked or otherwise anonymized. Under the bill, any person who negligently violates that prohibition is liable to any person injured as a result of the violation for actual damages to that person, exemplary damages of not more than $1,000, and costs and reasonable actual attorney fees. Notwithstanding the bill[s prohibition, under the bill, a state agency may share unmasked data with federal officials or agencies to the extent necessary to comply with other state law or federal law or to carry out the administration of a state or federal program; a member of the legislature may share unmasked data with federal officials or agencies to the extent necessary to carry out constituent relations or the member[s other official duties; and a court may share unmasked data with federal officials or agencies to the extent necessary to carry out the court[s official duties. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB361 | Eliminating criminal defenses of adequate provocation, self-defense, or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect if the claim is based on the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation. | Current law provides specific defenses to criminal liability. For instance, a charge of first-degree intentional homicide may be mitigated to second-degree intentional homicide if, at the time of committing the crime, the defendant reasonably believes the victim has done something that adequately provokes the defendant to lack self-control completely. Another defense is the privilege of self- defense under which a person may threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with their person by the other person. Under this bill, a defendant may not assert adequate provocation or self-defense as a defense if the criminal action in question resulted from the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the victim[s gender identity or expression or sexual orientation, including under circumstances in which the victim made a romantic or sexual advance without use or threat of force or violence toward the defendant or in which the victim dated or had a romantic or sexual relationship with the defendant. Under current law, a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if, when the person committed the conduct, they were suffering from a mental disease or defect so that they lacked substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of the conduct or to conform their conduct to the requirements of law. To raise this defense, a defendant must plead not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Then, at the trial, if the defendant is found guilty of the crime, the court must determine if the person is not responsible for the crime due to mental disease or defect. If the person is found not responsible due to mental disease or defect, the person is committed to the Department of Heath Services for treatment for a period that varies depending on the severity of the crime. Under this bill, mental disease or defect does not include a state that is brought on by or results from the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of another[s gender identity or expression or sexual orientation, including under circumstances in which the other person made a romantic or sexual advance without use or threat of force or violence toward the defendant or in which the other person dated or had a romantic or sexual relationship with the defendant. | In Committee |
AB376 | Rehired annuitants. (FE) | Under current law, if a Wisconsin Retirement System annuitant, or a disability annuitant who has attained his or her normal retirement date, is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer in which he or she is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds, the annuity must be suspended and no annuity payment is payable until after the participant again terminates covered employment. This bill removes the requirement that an annuitant who returns to work for a participating employer have his or her annuity suspended and become a participating employee and instead allows an annuitant who returns to work to either 1) elect to suspend his or her annuity and become a participating employee; or 2) elect to continue receiving his or her annuity and not become a participating employee. Under current law, a WRS participant who has applied to receive a retirement annuity must wait at least 75 days between terminating covered employment with a WRS employer and returning to covered employment again as a participating employee. The bill reduces that period to 30 days. 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 fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
SJR70 | Proclaiming June 12, 2025, as Women Veterans Day. | Relating to: proclaiming June 12, 2025, as Women Veterans Day. | Crossed Over |
SB346 | Grants for prospective school social workers, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction must establish and administer a grant program to award grants for the costs of obtaining the education required for a school social worker license issued by DPI. The grants may be awarded only to an individual who is a member of a racial minority group and who is either an employee of a school board or enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program leading to licensure as a school social worker. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB340 | Stipend payments for school social worker interns and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction must provide stipends to individuals who are 1) enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program leading to licensure as a school social worker and 2) placed as a school social worker intern in a public school governed by a school board. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB349 | Payment for school medical services. (FE) | Under current law, if a school district or a cooperative educational service agency elects to provide school medical services and meets certain requirements, DHS is required to reimburse the school district or cooperative educational service agency for 60 percent of the federal share of allowable charges for the school medical services that they provide. If the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing elects to provide school medical services and meets certain other requirements, DHS is also required to reimburse DPI for 60 percent of the federal share of allowable charges for the school medical services that the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provide. Further, under current law, DHS is required to reimburse school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, and DPI, on behalf of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, for 90 percent of the federal share of allowable school medical services administrative costs. This bill increases the amount that DHS is required to reimburse a school district, cooperative educational service agency, and DPI, on behalf of the Wisconsin LRB-3581/1 JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 349 Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, for provided school medical services to 100 percent of the federal share of allowable charges for the school medical services. The bill also increases the amount that DHS is required to reimburse a school district, cooperative educational service agency, and DPI, on behalf of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, to 100 percent of the federal share of allowable school medical services administrative costs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB338 | Coverage of treatment for mental health or substance use disorders under health insurance policies and plans. | This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured governmental health plans that provide coverage of mental health or behavioral health items or services to cover in each policy year at least 28 appointments or visits with a mental health care provider to treat mental health or substance use disorders or as many appointments or visits with a mental health care provider as are necessary to meet the insured[s treatment goals. The bill prohibits health insurance policies and self- insured governmental health plans from requiring prior authorization for the coverage of appointments or visits under the bill. Health insurance policies are known as disability insurance policies in the bill. Further, this bill requires the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to prepare a preliminary actuarial estimate of the average cost for all qualified health plans, as defined under federal law, attributable to the coverage required under the bill. If the preliminary actuarial estimate of the average cost for all qualified health plans is an increase of greater than 10 percent, OCI may not enforce the coverage requirements under the bill. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. | In Committee |
SB347 | Aid for comprehensive school mental health services and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction awards grants to school districts and independent charter schools for the purpose of collaborating with community mental health agencies to provide mental health services to pupils. This bill replaces the current grant program with new categorical aid for comprehensive school mental health services to school districts and independent charter schools. Under the bill, beginning in the 2025]26 school year, DPI must annually reimburse a school board or the operator of an independent charter school for costs incurred for mental health services during in-school or out-of-school time, up to the greater of $100,000 or $100 per pupil who was enrolled in the school district or independent charter school in the previous school year. If the amount appropriated for this purpose is insufficient, DPI must prorate the reimbursements. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-3590/1 KMS:amn&wlj 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 347 | In Committee |
SB348 | Training to address student mental health and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction must provide trainings to school districts and independent charter schools on three specific evidence-based strategies to address student mental health: screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment; trauma sensitive schools; and youth mental health first aid. This bill adds social and emotional learning to the list of evidence- based strategies on which DPI must provide trainings to school districts and independent charter schools. The bill also provides an additional $500,000 to DPI for these trainings in each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB342 | Coverage of treatment for mental health or substance use disorders under health insurance policies and plans. | This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured governmental health plans that provide coverage of mental health or behavioral health items or services to cover in each policy year at least 28 appointments or visits with a mental health care provider to treat mental health or substance use disorders or as many appointments or visits with a mental health care provider as are necessary to meet the insured[s treatment goals. The bill prohibits health insurance policies and self- insured governmental health plans from requiring prior authorization for the coverage of appointments or visits under the bill. Health insurance policies are known as disability insurance policies in the bill. Further, this bill requires the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to prepare a preliminary actuarial estimate of the average cost for all qualified health plans, as defined under federal law, attributable to the coverage required under the bill. If the preliminary actuarial estimate of the average cost for all qualified health plans is an increase of greater than 10 percent, OCI may not enforce the coverage requirements under the bill. LRB-3579/1 JPC:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 342 This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. | 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 |
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 |
AJR70 | Proclaiming June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month. | Relating to: proclaiming June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month. | In Committee |
SB368 | Storage of a firearm in a residence if child is present and providing a penalty. | This bill prohibits a person from storing or leaving a firearm at his or her residence if the person resides with a child who is under the age of 18, or knows a child who is under the age of 18 will be present in the residence, unless the firearm is in a securely locked box or container or other secure locked location or has a trigger lock engaged. A person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class I felony for a subsequent offense. This prohibition replaces the current law that penalizes a person who recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm within reach of a child who is under 14 if the child obtains it and does one of the following: 1) discharges the firearm and causes bodily harm or death (Class A misdemeanor); or 2) possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or endangers public safety (Class C misdemeanor). 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-3494/1 CMH:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 368 | In Committee |
SB345 | Requiring vehicles to stop for pedestrians at certain intersections and crosswalks. | This bill requires a vehicle operator to stop his or her vehicle and remain stopped until a pedestrian crossing at a crosswalk has completed crossing the roadway. Under current law, the operator of a vehicle is required to yield the right-of- way to a pedestrian, personal delivery device, bicyclist, or rider of an electric scooter or electric personal assistive mobility device that is crossing a highway at an intersection or crosswalk controlled by a traffic signal on a green or XwalkY signal or that is crossing a highway at an intersection or crosswalk not controlled by a traffic signal within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. XYield the right-of-way to a pedestrianY is defined to mean that the operator of a vehicle must reduce speed, or stop if necessary, to avoid endangering, colliding with, or interfering with pedestrian travel. The bill requires that, under these circumstances, rather than yield, the vehicle operator must stop the vehicle and remain stopped until the pedestrian, LRB-3408/1 EVM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 345 personal delivery device, bicyclist, or rider of an electric scooter or electric personal assistive mobility device has completed crossing the roadway. | 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 |
AB337 | Training to address student mental health and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction must provide trainings to school districts and independent charter schools on three specific evidence-based strategies to address student mental health: screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment; trauma sensitive schools; and youth mental health first aid. This bill adds social and emotional learning to the list of evidence- based strategies on which DPI must provide trainings to school districts and independent charter schools. The bill also provides an additional $500,000 to DPI for these trainings in each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB325 | Sales and transfers of firearms and providing a penalty. (FE) | Current law provides that a federally licensed firearms dealer may not transfer a handgun after a sale until the dealer has performed a background check on the prospective transferee to determine if he or she is prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law. This bill generally prohibits any person from transferring any firearm, including the frame or receiver of a firearm, unless the transfer occurs through a federally licensed firearms dealer and involves a background check of the prospective transferee. Under the bill, the following are excepted from that prohibition: a transfer to a firearms dealer or to a law enforcement or armed services agency; a transfer of a firearm classified as antique; or a transfer that is by gift, bequest, or inheritance to a family member. A person who is convicted of violating the prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and must be fined not less than $500 nor more than $10,000, may be imprisoned for not more than nine months, and may not possess a firearm for a period of two years. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB319 | Extreme risk protection temporary restraining orders and injunctions, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm, and must surrender all firearms, if the person is subject to a domestic abuse injunction, a child abuse injunction, or, in certain cases, a harassment or an individuals-at-risk injunction. If a person surrenders a firearm because the person is subject to one of those injunctions, the firearm may not be returned to the person until a court determines that the injunction has been vacated or has expired and that the person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm. A person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under such an injunction is guilty of a Class G felony for violating the prohibition. This bill creates an extreme risk protection temporary restraining order and injunction to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm. Under the bill, either a law enforcement officer or a family or household member of the person may file a petition with a court to request an extreme risk protection injunction. The petition must allege facts that show that the person is substantially likely to injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm. Under the bill, the petitioner may request the court to consider first granting a temporary restraining order. If the petitioner requests a TRO, the petitioner must include evidence that there is an immediate and present danger that the person may injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm and that waiting for the injunction hearing increases the immediate and present danger. If the petitioner requests a TRO, the court must hear the petition in an expedited manner. The judge must issue a TRO if, after questioning the petitioner and witnesses or relying on affidavits, the judge determines that it is substantially likely that the petition for an injunction will be granted and the judge finds good cause to believe there is an immediate and present danger that the person will injure themself or another if the person has a firearm and that waiting for the injunction hearing may increase the immediate and present danger. If the judge issues a TRO, the TRO is in effect until the injunction hearing, which must occur within 14 days of the TRO issuance. The TRO must require a law enforcement officer to personally serve the person with the order and to require the person to immediately surrender all firearms in their possession. If a law enforcement officer is unable to personally serve the person, then the TRO requires the person to surrender within 24 hours all firearms to a law enforcement officer or a firearms dealer and to provide the court a receipt indicating the surrender occurred. At the injunction hearing, the court may grant an extreme risk protection injunction ordering the person to refrain from possessing a firearm and, if the person was not subject to a TRO, to surrender all firearms he or she possesses if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is substantially likely to injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm. An extreme risk protection injunction is effective for up to one year and may be renewed. A person who is subject to an extreme risk protection injunction may petition to vacate the injunction. If a person surrenders a firearm because the person is subject to an extreme risk protection TRO or injunction, the firearm may not be returned to the person until a court determines that the TRO has expired or the injunction has been vacated or has expired and that the person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm. A person who possesses a firearm while subject to an extreme risk protection TRO or injunction is guilty of a Class G felony. In addition, a person who files a petition for an extreme risk protection injunction, knowing the information in the petition to be false, is guilty of the crime of false swearing, a Class H felony. The bill also requires the Department of Administration to award grants to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of training officers how to identify persons who are substantially likely to injure themselves or another if the person possesses a firearm and how to file a petition for an extreme risk protection TRO or injunction. 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 |
AJR72 | Recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. | 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 |
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 |
AB334 | Requiring bicycle and pedestrian facilities in highway projects and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Transportation to ensure, with exceptions, that bikeways and pedestrian ways are established in all new highway construction and reconstruction projects funded from state or federal funds (a policy commonly known as Xcomplete streetsY). Under current law, DOT generally must give due consideration to establishing bikeways and pedestrian ways in all new highway construction and reconstruction projects funded from state or federal funds. However, DOT may not establish a bikeway or pedestrian way as part of a highway project if bicyclists or pedestrians are prohibited from using the highway. DOT is also prohibited from establishing a bikeway or pedestrian way as part of a state-funded project unless the governing body of each municipality in which a portion of the project is located authorizes the creation of the bikeway or pedestrian way. Under the bill, DOT must ensure that bikeways and pedestrian ways are established in all new highway construction and reconstruction projects funded from state or federal funds. DOT must promulgate rules identifying exceptions to this requirement, but the exceptions may be based only on one of several specified criteria. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB339 | Aid for comprehensive school mental health services and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction awards grants to school districts and independent charter schools for the purpose of collaborating with community mental health agencies to provide mental health services to pupils. This bill replaces the current grant program with new categorical aid for comprehensive school mental health services to school districts and independent charter schools. Under the bill, beginning in the 2025]26 school year, DPI must annually reimburse a school board or the operator of an independent charter school for costs incurred for mental health services during in-school or out-of-school time, up to the greater of $100,000 or $100 per pupil who was enrolled in the school district or independent charter school in the previous school year. If the amount appropriated for this purpose is insufficient, DPI must prorate the reimbursements. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB317 | A Department of Children and Families program to make payments to child care programs, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill authorizes the Department of Children and Families to establish a program for making monthly payments and monthly per-child payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and child care programs established or contracted for by a school board. This new payment program is in addition to the current law system for providing child care payments under Wisconsin Shares. The bill requires DCF to promulgate rules to implement the program, including establishing eligibility requirements and payment amounts and setting requirements for how recipients may use the payments, and authorizes DCF to promulgate these rules as emergency rules. The bill funds the program through a new appropriation and by allocating federal moneys, including child care development funds and moneys received under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program. The bill eliminates the current law method by which DCF may modify maximum payment rates for child care providers under Wisconsin Shares based on a child care provider[s rating under the quality rating system known as YoungStar. Wisconsin Shares is a part of the Wisconsin Works program under current law, which DCF administers and which provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old. Under current law, an individual who is the parent of a child under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, under the age of 19, who needs child care services to participate in various education or work activities, and who satisfies other eligibility criteria may receive a child care subsidy for child care services under Wisconsin Shares. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB341 | Grants for prospective school social workers, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction must establish and administer a grant program to award grants for the costs of obtaining the education required for a school social worker license issued by DPI. The grants may be awarded only to an individual who is a member of a racial minority group and who is either an employee of a school board or enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program leading to licensure as a school social worker. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB324 | Waiting period for purchase of handguns. | Current law provides that, before a federally licensed firearms dealer may transfer a handgun after a sale, the dealer must request that the Department of Justice perform a background check on the prospective purchaser to determine if the purchaser is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law. This bill prohibits the dealer from transferring the handgun to the purchaser until 48 hours have passed since the firearms dealer requested the background check on the purchaser. | In Committee |
AB356 | Storage of a firearm in a residence if child is present and providing a penalty. | This bill prohibits a person from storing or leaving a firearm at his or her residence if the person resides with a child who is under the age of 18, or knows a child who is under the age of 18 will be present in the residence, unless the firearm is in a securely locked box or container or other secure locked location or has a trigger lock engaged. A person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class I felony for a subsequent offense. This prohibition replaces the current law that penalizes a person who recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm within reach of a child who is under 14 if the child obtains it and does one of the following: 1) discharges the firearm and causes bodily harm or death (Class A misdemeanor); or 2) possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or endangers public safety (Class C misdemeanor). 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 |
AB343 | School mental health and pupil wellness aid and making an appropriation. | This bill changes the types of expenditures that are eligible for reimbursement under the state categorical aid program related to pupil mental health. Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction must make payments to school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in parental choice programs (local education agency) that increased the amount they spent to employ, hire, or retain social workers. Under current law, DPI first pays each eligible local education agency 50 percent of the amount by which the eligible local education agency increased its expenditures for social workers in the preceding school year over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year. If, after making those payments, there is money remaining in the appropriation account for that aid program, DPI makes additional payments to eligible local education agencies. The amount of those additional payments is determined based on the amount remaining in the appropriation account and the amount spent by eligible local education agencies to employ, hire, and retain social workers during the previous school year. The bill expands eligibility for the payments under the aid program to include spending on school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses (pupil services professionals). The bill also eliminates the two tier reimbursement structure of the aid program and eliminates the requirement that a local education agency is eligible for the aid only if the local education agency increased its spending. Under the bill, any local education agency that made expenditures to employ, hire, or retain pupil services professionals during the previous school year is eligible for reimbursement under the aid program. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB335 | Stipend payments for school social worker interns and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction must provide stipends to individuals who are 1) enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program leading to licensure as a school social worker and 2) placed as a school social worker intern in a public school governed by a school board. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB340 | Payment for school medical services. (FE) | Under current law, if a school district or a cooperative educational service agency elects to provide school medical services and meets certain requirements, DHS is required to reimburse the school district or cooperative educational service agency for 60 percent of the federal share of allowable charges for the school medical services that they provide. If the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing elects to provide school medical services and meets certain other requirements, DHS is also required to reimburse DPI for 60 percent of the federal share of allowable charges for the school medical services that the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provide. Further, under current law, DHS is required to reimburse school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, and DPI, on behalf of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, for 90 percent of the federal share of allowable school medical services administrative costs. This bill increases the amount that DHS is required to reimburse a school district, cooperative educational service agency, and DPI, on behalf of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, for provided school medical services to 100 percent of the federal share of allowable charges for the school medical services. The bill also increases the amount that DHS is required to reimburse a school district, cooperative educational service agency, and DPI, on behalf of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, to 100 percent of the federal share of allowable school medical services administrative costs. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB336 | Sales and transfers of firearms and providing a penalty. (FE) | Current law provides that a federally licensed firearms dealer may not LRB-1276/1 CMH:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 336 transfer a handgun after a sale until the dealer has performed a background check on the prospective transferee to determine if he or she is prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law. This bill generally prohibits any person from transferring any firearm, including the frame or receiver of a firearm, unless the transfer occurs through a federally licensed firearms dealer and involves a background check of the prospective transferee. Under the bill, the following are excepted from that prohibition: a transfer to a firearms dealer or to a law enforcement or armed services agency; a transfer of a firearm classified as antique; or a transfer that is by gift, bequest, or inheritance to a family member. A person who is convicted of violating the prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and must be fined not less than $500 nor more than $10,000, may be imprisoned for not more than nine months, and may not possess a firearm for a period of two years. Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB329 | Extreme risk protection temporary restraining orders and injunctions, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Under current law, a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm, and must surrender all firearms, if the person is subject to a domestic abuse injunction, a child abuse injunction, or, in certain cases, a harassment or an individuals-at-risk injunction. If a person surrenders a firearm because the person is subject to one of those injunctions, the firearm may not be returned to the person until a court determines that the injunction has been vacated or has expired and that the person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm. A person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under such an injunction is guilty of a Class G felony for violating the prohibition. This bill creates an extreme risk protection temporary restraining order and injunction to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm. Under the bill, either a law enforcement officer or a family or household member of the person may file a LRB-3517/1 CMH:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 329 petition with a court to request an extreme risk protection injunction. The petition must allege facts that show that the person is substantially likely to injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm. Under the bill, the petitioner may request the court to consider first granting a temporary restraining order. If the petitioner requests a TRO, the petitioner must include evidence that there is an immediate and present danger that the person may injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm and that waiting for the injunction hearing increases the immediate and present danger. If the petitioner requests a TRO, the court must hear the petition in an expedited manner. The judge must issue a TRO if, after questioning the petitioner and witnesses or relying on affidavits, the judge determines that it is substantially likely that the petition for an injunction will be granted and the judge finds good cause to believe there is an immediate and present danger that the person will injure themself or another if the person has a firearm and that waiting for the injunction hearing may increase the immediate and present danger. If the judge issues a TRO, the TRO is in effect until the injunction hearing, which must occur within 14 days of the TRO issuance. The TRO must require a law enforcement officer to personally serve the person with the order and to require the person to immediately surrender all firearms in their possession. If a law enforcement officer is unable to personally serve the person, then the TRO requires the person to surrender within 24 hours all firearms to a law enforcement officer or a firearms dealer and to provide the court a receipt indicating the surrender occurred. At the injunction hearing, the court may grant an extreme risk protection injunction ordering the person to refrain from possessing a firearm and, if the person was not subject to a TRO, to surrender all firearms he or she possesses if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is substantially likely to injure themself or another if the person possesses a firearm. An extreme risk protection injunction is effective for up to one year and may be renewed. A person who is subject to an extreme risk protection injunction may petition to vacate the injunction. If a person surrenders a firearm because the person is subject to an extreme risk protection TRO or injunction, the firearm may not be returned to the person until a court determines that the TRO has expired or the injunction has been vacated or has expired and that the person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm. A person who possesses a firearm while subject to an extreme risk protection TRO or injunction is guilty of a Class G felony. In addition, a person who files a petition for an extreme risk protection injunction, knowing the information in the petition to be false, is guilty of the crime of false swearing, a Class H felony. The bill also requires the Department of Administration to award grants to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of training officers how to identify persons who are substantially likely to injure themselves or another if the person possesses a firearm and how to file a petition for an extreme risk protection TRO or injunction. LRB-3517/1 CMH:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 329 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 |
SB321 | Adopting gender-neutral terminology and incorporating gender-neutral marriage and parentage rights. (FE) | Summary This bill recognizes same-sex marriage by making references in the statutes to spouses gender-neutral, with the intent of harmonizing the Wisconsin Statutes with the holding of the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 192 L. Ed. 2d 609 (2015), which recognizes that same-sex couples have a fundamental constitutional right to marriage. The bill also recognizes legal parentage for same-sex couples under certain circumstances and adopts gender- neutral parentage terminology. Same-sex marriage The bill provides that marriage may be contracted between persons of the same sex and confers the same rights and responsibilities on married persons of the same sex that married persons of different sexes have under current law. The bill LRB-0842/1 MDE:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 321 defines XspouseY as a person who is legally married to another person of the same sex or a different sex and replaces every reference to XhusbandY or XwifeY in current law with Xspouse.Y The bill makes applicable to married persons of the same sex all provisions under current law that apply to married persons of different sexes. These provisions relate to such diverse areas of the law as income tax, marital property, inheritance rights, divorce, child and spousal support, insurance coverage, family and spousal recreational licenses, consent to conduct an autopsy, domestic abuse, and eligibility for various types of benefits, such as retirement or death benefits and medical assistance. Parentage In addition to making statutory references to spouses gender-neutral, the bill specifies ways in which couples of the same sex may be the legal parents of a child, recognizes that a transgender person may become pregnant and give birth to a child, and makes current references in the statutes to XmotherY and Xfather,Y and related terms, gender-neutral. Under current law, all of the following may adopt a child: a husband and wife jointly, a husband or wife whose spouse is the parent of the child, and an unmarried adult. Because the bill makes references in the statutes to spouses gender-neutral, same-sex spouses jointly may adopt a child and become the legal parents of the child, and a same-sex spouse of a person who is the parent of a minor child may adopt the child and become the legal parent of his or her spouse[s child. Under current law, if a woman is artificially inseminated under the supervision of a physician with semen donated by a man who is not her husband and the husband consents in writing to the artificial insemination of his wife, the husband is the natural father of any child conceived. Under the bill, one spouse may also consent to the artificial insemination of his or her spouse and is the natural parent of the child conceived. The artificial insemination is not required to take place under the supervision of a physician, but, if it does not, the semen used for the insemination must have been obtained from a sperm bank. Under current law, a man is presumed to be the father of a child if he and the child[s natural mother 1) were married to each other when the child was conceived or born or 2) married each other after the child was born but had a relationship with each other when the child was conceived and no other man has been adjudicated to be the father or is presumed to be the father because the man was married to the mother when the child was conceived or born. The paternity presumption may be rebutted in a legal action or proceeding by the results of a genetic test showing that the statistical probability of another man[s parentage is 99.0 percent or higher. The bill expands this presumption into a parentage presumption, so that a person is presumed to be the natural parent of a child if he or she 1) was married to the person who gave birth to the child when the child was conceived or born or 2) married the person who gave birth to the child after the child was born but had a relationship with the person who gave birth to the child when the child was conceived and no person has been adjudicated to be the child[s LRB-0842/1 MDE:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 321 parent and no other person is presumed to be the child[s parent because he or she was married, at the time the child was born, to the person who gave birth to the child. The parentage presumption may still be rebutted by the results of a genetic test showing that the statistical probability of another person[s parentage is 99.0 percent or higher. Expanding on current law, the bill allows for a parentage action to be brought for the purpose of rebutting the parentage presumption, regardless of whether that presumption applies to a male or female spouse. Current law provides that a mother and a man may sign a statement acknowledging paternity and file it with the state registrar. If the state registrar has received such a statement, the man is presumed to be the father of the child. Under current law, either person who has signed a statement acknowledging paternity may rescind the statement before an order is filed in an action affecting the family concerning the child or within 60 days after the statement is filed, whichever occurs first. Under current law, a man who has filed a statement acknowledging paternity that is not rescinded within the time period is conclusively determined to be the father of the child. The bill provides that two people, one of whom gave birth to the child, may sign a statement acknowledging parentage and file it with the state registrar. If the state registrar has received such a statement, the people who have signed the statement are presumed to be the parents of the child. Under the bill, a statement acknowledging parentage that is not rescinded conclusively establishes parentage with regard to the person who did not give birth to the child and who signed the statement. Under current law, the paternity of a child may be established by genetic testing in an administrative determination of paternity or in a paternity action in court. The bill changes the term XpaternityY to XparentageY in the context of establishing the parent of a child by genetic testing. The bill defines Xnatural parentY as a parent of a child who is not an adoptive parent, whether the parent is biologically related to the child or not. Thus, a person who is a biological parent, a parent by consenting to the artificial insemination of his or her spouse, or a parent under the parentage presumption is a natural parent of a child. The definition applies throughout the statutes wherever the term Xnatural parentY is used. In addition, the bill expands some references in the statutes to Xbiological parentY by changing the reference to Xnatural parent.Y Birth certificates Generally, the bill substitutes the term XspouseY for XhusbandY in the birth certificate statutes and enters the spouse, instead of the husband, of the person who has given birth on the birth certificate at times when a husband would currently be entered on a birth certificate. The name of the person who has given birth is entered on a birth certificate when the person gives birth to a child, and current law specifies when another name should be entered on the birth certificate. Current law requires that if a birth mother is married at any time from the conception to the birth of a child, then her husband[s name is entered on the birth certificate as the legal father of the child. Under the bill, if a person who gives birth is married at any LRB-0842/1 MDE:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 321 time from the conception to the birth of the child, then that person[s spouse[s name is entered as a legal parent of the child. The bill also specifies that, in the instance that a second parent[s name is initially omitted from the birth certificate, if the state registrar receives a signed acknowledgement of parentage by people presumed to be parents because the two people married after the birth of the child, the two people had a relationship during the time the child was conceived, no person is adjudicated to be the father, and no other person is presumed to be the parent, then the state registrar must enter the name of the spouse of the person who gave birth as a parent on the birth certificate. 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 |
SB271 | Right to bodily autonomy, elimination of certain abortion-related regulations, and coverage of abortion under certain health care coverage plans. (FE) | This bill specifies that every individual has the fundamental right to bodily autonomy, which includes the right to access abortion. Under the bill, the state may not prohibit an individual from obtaining an abortion if an abortion is necessary in the professional judgment of the individual[s medical provider. Also under the bill, a law or rule of this state that restricts a individual[s access to abortion is unenforceable if the law or rule does not confer any legitimate health benefit. Any person that is or may be aggrieved by the enforcement of a law or rule passed or LRB-2921/1 SWB&JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 271 promulgated after the effective date of the bill that would be unenforceable under the bill may bring an action in state or federal court for injunctive relief or damages against a state or local official who enforces or attempts to enforce such a law or rule. The bill also expressly provides that all requirements applicable to health care providers are applicable to providers of abortion care. The bill does not change standard informed consent requirements applicable to all medical procedures, including abortion, but removes additional requirements specific to the performance of an abortion that exceed those standard informed consent requirements. Current law requires that these additional requirements must be met in order for a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed or induced to give voluntary and informed consent to an abortion. Except in a medical emergency, under current law, a woman[s consent to an abortion is considered informed only if, with certain exceptions, at least 24 hours before the abortion is performed or induced, the physician or an assistant has, in person, orally provided the woman with certain information and given to the woman certain written materials. The bill repeals these requirements. Under current law, the state is required to offer to all of its employees at least 2 insured or uninsured health care coverage plans. Further, under current law, certain employers including counties, villages, towns, school districts, and other governmental units or instrumentalities other than the state may offer to all of its employees a health care coverage plan through a program offered by the Group Insurance Board. Current law prohibits these plans from providing coverage for abortion or services the funding for which is ineligible under current law. The bill repeals these restrictions and instead requires coverage of abortion and any other medical services necessary to provide abortion under these health coverage plans if the health care coverage plan provides maternity coverage. The bill also repeals other various abortion-related laws, including all of the following: 1. The bill eliminates the prohibition on giving a woman an abortion-inducing drug unless the physician who provided the drug for the woman performs a physical exam on the woman and is physically present in the room when the drug is given to the woman. 2. The bill eliminates the prohibition on coverage of abortions by qualified health plans offered through an exchange in this state. 3. The bill eliminates the prohibition on performing abortions by a physician that does not have admitting privileges in a hospital within 30 miles of the location where the abortion is to be performed. This statute was previously held to be unenforceable by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Planned Parenthood of Wis., Inc. v. Schimel, 806 F.3d 908 (7th Cir. 2015), which affirmed a permanent injunction granted by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. 4. The bill repeals a statute that provides that any person, other than the mother, who intentionally destroys the life of an unborn child may be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than six years, or both. XUnborn childY is defined in the statute as a human being from the time of conception until born alive. LRB-2921/1 SWB&JPC:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 271 The statute also provides that any person, other than the mother, who intentionally destroys the life of an unborn quick child or causes the mother[s death by an act done with intent to destroy the life of an unborn child may be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both. None of these penalties apply to a therapeutic abortion that is performed by a physician; is necessary, or advised by two other physicians as necessary, to save the life of the mother; and, unless an emergency prevents, is performed in a licensed maternity hospital. This statute was previously held to be unenforceable. It was cited in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), as similar to a Texas statute that was held to violate the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The unenforceability of the statute following the Roe v. Wade decision was noted in a subsequent decision by a federal district court, Larkin v. McCann, 368 F. Supp. 1352 (E.D. Wis. 1974). In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women[s Health Org., 142 S. Ct. 2228 (2022). Litigation concerning the status of the statute is currently pending in state court. In December 2023, the Dane County Circuit Court issued a decision and order declaring that the statute Xdoes not apply to abortions.Y Kaul v. Urmanski, No. 22- CV-1594, slip op. at 14 (Wis. Dane Cnty. Cir. Ct. Dec. 5, 2023). An appeal is pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. See Kaul v. Urmanski, No. 2023AP002362 (Wis. July 2, 2024) (order granting a petition to bypass the court of appeals). The Wisconsin Supreme Court has also granted a petition for leave to commence an original action regarding whether the state constitution protects a right to receive an abortion and a right for physicians to provide abortions. See Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Urmanski, No. 2024AP000330 (Wis. July 2, 2024) (order granting leave to commence an original action); see Petition to Wis. S. Ct. to Take Jurisdiction of an Original Action, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin v. Urmanski, No. 2024AP000330 (Wis. filed Feb. 22, 2024). The bill also repeals the criminal penalty on a person who is not a physician and who intentionally performs an abortion. The bill does not affect any other criminal prohibition or limitation on abortion in current law, such as the general prohibition on performing an abortion after the fetus or unborn child has reached viability, or any other homicide prohibition. The bill also does not affect a separate provision in current law that prohibits prosecution of and imposing or enforcing a fine or imprisonment against a woman who obtains an abortion or otherwise violates any abortion law with respect to her unborn child or fetus. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. | 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 |
AB314 | Adopting gender-neutral terminology and incorporating gender-neutral marriage and parentage rights. (FE) | Summary This bill recognizes same-sex marriage by making references in the statutes to spouses gender-neutral, with the intent of harmonizing the Wisconsin Statutes with the holding of the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 192 L. Ed. 2d 609 (2015), which recognizes that same-sex couples have a fundamental constitutional right to marriage. The bill also recognizes legal parentage for same-sex couples under certain circumstances and adopts gender- neutral parentage terminology. Same-sex marriage The bill provides that marriage may be contracted between persons of the same sex and confers the same rights and responsibilities on married persons of the same sex that married persons of different sexes have under current law. The bill defines XspouseY as a person who is legally married to another person of the same sex or a different sex and replaces every reference to XhusbandY or XwifeY in current law with Xspouse.Y The bill makes applicable to married persons of the same sex all provisions under current law that apply to married persons of different sexes. These provisions relate to such diverse areas of the law as income tax, marital property, inheritance rights, divorce, child and spousal support, insurance coverage, family and spousal recreational licenses, consent to conduct an autopsy, domestic abuse, and eligibility for various types of benefits, such as retirement or death benefits and medical assistance. Parentage In addition to making statutory references to spouses gender-neutral, the bill specifies ways in which couples of the same sex may be the legal parents of a child, recognizes that a transgender person may become pregnant and give birth to a child, and makes current references in the statutes to XmotherY and Xfather,Y and related terms, gender-neutral. Under current law, all of the following may adopt a child: a husband and wife jointly, a husband or wife whose spouse is the parent of the child, and an unmarried adult. Because the bill makes references in the statutes to spouses gender-neutral, same-sex spouses jointly may adopt a child and become the legal parents of the child, and a same-sex spouse of a person who is the parent of a minor child may adopt the child and become the legal parent of his or her spouse[s child. Under current law, if a woman is artificially inseminated under the supervision of a physician with semen donated by a man who is not her husband and the husband consents in writing to the artificial insemination of his wife, the husband is the natural father of any child conceived. Under the bill, one spouse may also consent to the artificial insemination of his or her spouse and is the natural parent of the child conceived. The artificial insemination is not required to take place under the supervision of a physician, but, if it does not, the semen used for the insemination must have been obtained from a sperm bank. Under current law, a man is presumed to be the father of a child if he and the child[s natural mother 1) were married to each other when the child was conceived or born or 2) married each other after the child was born but had a relationship with each other when the child was conceived and no other man has been adjudicated to be the father or is presumed to be the father because the man was married to the mother when the child was conceived or born. The paternity presumption may be rebutted in a legal action or proceeding by the results of a genetic test showing that the statistical probability of another man[s parentage is 99.0 percent or higher. The bill expands this presumption into a parentage presumption, so that a person is presumed to be the natural parent of a child if he or she 1) was married to the person who gave birth to the child when the child was conceived or born or 2) married the person who gave birth to the child after the child was born but had a relationship with the person who gave birth to the child when the child was conceived and no person has been adjudicated to be the child[s parent and no other person is presumed to be the child[s parent because he or she was married, at the time the child was born, to the person who gave birth to the child. The parentage presumption may still be rebutted by the results of a genetic test showing that the statistical probability of another person[s parentage is 99.0 percent or higher. Expanding on current law, the bill allows for a parentage action to be brought for the purpose of rebutting the parentage presumption, regardless of whether that presumption applies to a male or female spouse. Current law provides that a mother and a man may sign a statement acknowledging paternity and file it with the state registrar. If the state registrar has received such a statement, the man is presumed to be the father of the child. Under current law, either person who has signed a statement acknowledging paternity may rescind the statement before an order is filed in an action affecting the family concerning the child or within 60 days after the statement is filed, whichever occurs first. Under current law, a man who has filed a statement acknowledging paternity that is not rescinded within the time period is conclusively determined to be the father of the child. The bill provides that two people, one of whom gave birth to the child, may sign a statement acknowledging parentage and file it with the state registrar. If the state registrar has received such a statement, the people who have signed the statement are presumed to be the parents of the child. Under the bill, a statement acknowledging parentage that is not rescinded conclusively establishes parentage with regard to the person who did not give birth to the child and who signed the statement. Under current law, the paternity of a child may be established by genetic testing in an administrative determination of paternity or in a paternity action in court. The bill changes the term XpaternityY to XparentageY in the context of establishing the parent of a child by genetic testing. The bill defines Xnatural parentY as a parent of a child who is not an adoptive parent, whether the parent is biologically related to the child or not. Thus, a person who is a biological parent, a parent by consenting to the artificial insemination of his or her spouse, or a parent under the parentage presumption is a natural parent of a child. The definition applies throughout the statutes wherever the term Xnatural parentY is used. In addition, the bill expands some references in the statutes to Xbiological parentY by changing the reference to Xnatural parent.Y Birth certificates Generally, the bill substitutes the term XspouseY for XhusbandY in the birth certificate statutes and enters the spouse, instead of the husband, of the person who has given birth on the birth certificate at times when a husband would currently be entered on a birth certificate. The name of the person who has given birth is entered on a birth certificate when the person gives birth to a child, and current law specifies when another name should be entered on the birth certificate. Current law requires that if a birth mother is married at any time from the conception to the birth of a child, then her husband[s name is entered on the birth certificate as the legal father of the child. Under the bill, if a person who gives birth is married at any time from the conception to the birth of the child, then that person[s spouse[s name is entered as a legal parent of the child. The bill also specifies that, in the instance that a second parent[s name is initially omitted from the birth certificate, if the state registrar receives a signed acknowledgement of parentage by people presumed to be parents because the two people married after the birth of the child, the two people had a relationship during the time the child was conceived, no person is adjudicated to be the father, and no other person is presumed to be the parent, then the state registrar must enter the name of the spouse of the person who gave birth as a parent on the birth certificate. 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 |
SJR74 | Recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
SB21 | Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE) | This bill creates tax incentives related to businesses in this state converting to an employee ownership business structure and requires the Department of Revenue to establish an outreach and education program to promote employee ownership business structures. Employee ownership conversion costs tax credit Under the bill, DOR may certify a business to claim a nonrefundable income tax credit for an amount equal to 70 percent of costs related to converting the business to a worker-owned cooperative or 50 percent of the costs related to LRB-1413/1 KP:cdc&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 21 converting the business to an employee stock ownership plan. The credit is limited to a maximum amount of $100,000. A business is qualified to receive the credit if the business is subject to income and franchise taxes in this state and, at the time the business receives the credit, does not have an employee stock ownership plan and is not, in whole or in part, a worker-owned cooperative. Capital gain deduction The bill also creates an individual income tax subtraction and a corporate income and franchise tax deduction for the amount of the capital gain realized from the transfer of ownership of a business in this state to an employee stock ownership plan or worker-owned cooperative. Employee ownership outreach and education Finally, the bill directs DOR to establish an economic development program for the purpose of promoting employee ownership business structures, including the business structures of employee stock ownership plans and worker-owned cooperatives, through education, outreach, technical assistance, and training related to converting existing businesses to an employee ownership business structure or starting new businesses with an employee ownership business structure. The bill directs DOR to submit an application to the U.S. secretary of labor for a grant under 29 USC 3228 for use in administering the program created in the bill. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB17 | Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE) | This bill creates tax incentives related to businesses in this state converting to an employee ownership business structure and requires the Department of Revenue to establish an outreach and education program to promote employee ownership business structures. Employee ownership conversion costs tax credit Under the bill, DOR may certify a business to claim a nonrefundable income tax credit for an amount equal to 70 percent of costs related to converting the business to a worker-owned cooperative or 50 percent of the costs related to converting the business to an employee stock ownership plan. The credit is limited to a maximum amount of $100,000. A business is qualified to receive the credit if the business is subject to income and franchise taxes in this state and, at the time the business receives the credit, does not have an employee stock ownership plan and is not, in whole or in part, a worker-owned cooperative. Capital gain deduction The bill also creates an individual income tax subtraction and a corporate income and franchise tax deduction for the amount of the capital gain realized from the transfer of ownership of a business in this state to an employee stock ownership plan or worker-owned cooperative. Employee ownership outreach and education Finally, the bill directs DOR to establish an economic development program for the purpose of promoting employee ownership business structures, including the business structures of employee stock ownership plans and worker-owned cooperatives, through education, outreach, technical assistance, and training related to converting existing businesses to an employee ownership business structure or starting new businesses with an employee ownership business structure. The bill directs DOR to submit an application to the U.S. secretary of labor for a grant under 29 USC 3228 for use in administering the program created in the bill. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
AB80 | Ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact. (FE) | This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Social Work Licensure Compact, which provides for the ability of a social worker to become eligible to practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Social Work Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one member or administrator of the licensure authorities of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including establishing bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, hiring officers, electing or appointing employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees of member states to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. The ability for a social worker who is licensed in a home state and satisfies certain other criteria to obtain a multistate license, which allows a social worker to practice social work in all other compact states (remote states) under a multistate authorization to practice. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for an individual to obtain a social worker multistate license, including holding or being eligible for a social worker license in a home state, paying any required fees, and satisfying a number of criteria that are specific to the category of social work license the individual is seeking—bachelor[s, master[s, or clinical. A regulated social worker[s services in a remote state are subject to that member state[s regulatory authority. A remote state may take actions against a social worker[s multistate authorization to practice within that remote state, and if any adverse action is taken by a home state against a licensee[s multistate license, the social worker[s multistate authorization to practice in all other member states is deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the multistate license. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated data system containing licensure and disciplinary action information on social workers. The compact requires all home state disciplinary orders that impose adverse actions against the license of a regulated social worker to include a statement that the regulated social worker[s multistate authorization to practice is deactivated in all member states until all conditions of the decision, order, or agreement are satisfied. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. Since the compact has already been enacted by the minimum number of states required for it to become active, the compact becomes effective in this state upon enactment of the bill. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the effective date of that repeal. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
SB350 | School mental health and pupil wellness aid and making an appropriation. | This bill changes the types of expenditures that are eligible for reimbursement under the state categorical aid program related to pupil mental health. Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction must make payments to school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in parental choice programs (local education agency) that increased the amount they spent to employ, hire, or retain social workers. Under current law, DPI first pays each eligible local education agency 50 percent of the amount by which the eligible local education agency increased its expenditures for social workers in the preceding school year over the amount it expended in the school year immediately preceding the preceding school year. If, after making those payments, LRB-3587/1 KMS:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 350 there is money remaining in the appropriation account for that aid program, DPI makes additional payments to eligible local education agencies. The amount of those additional payments is determined based on the amount remaining in the appropriation account and the amount spent by eligible local education agencies to employ, hire, and retain social workers during the previous school year. The bill expands eligibility for the payments under the aid program to include spending on school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses (pupil services professionals). The bill also eliminates the two tier reimbursement structure of the aid program and eliminates the requirement that a local education agency is eligible for the aid only if the local education agency increased its spending. Under the bill, any local education agency that made expenditures to employ, hire, or retain pupil services professionals during the previous school year is eligible for reimbursement under the aid program. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB343 | Requiring bicycle and pedestrian facilities in highway projects and granting rule-making authority. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Transportation to ensure, with exceptions, that bikeways and pedestrian ways are established in all new highway construction and reconstruction projects funded from state or federal funds (a policy commonly known as Xcomplete streetsY). Under current law, DOT generally must give due consideration to establishing bikeways and pedestrian ways in all new highway construction and reconstruction projects funded from state or federal funds. However, DOT may not establish a bikeway or pedestrian way as part of a highway project if bicyclists or pedestrians are prohibited from using the highway. DOT is also prohibited from establishing a bikeway or pedestrian way as part of a state-funded project unless the governing body of each municipality in which a portion of the project is located authorizes the creation of the bikeway or pedestrian way. Under the bill, DOT must ensure that bikeways and pedestrian ways are established in all new highway construction and reconstruction projects funded LRB-3411/1 ZDW:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 343 from state or federal funds. DOT must promulgate rules identifying exceptions to this requirement, but the exceptions may be based only on one of several specified criteria. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB351 | Funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill provides funding to the University of Wisconsin System for additional or improved student health services related to mental and behavioral health. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB74 | Ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact. (FE) | This bill ratifies and enters Wisconsin into the Social Work Licensure Compact, which provides for the ability of a social worker to become eligible to LRB-1310/1 MED:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 74 practice in other compact states. Significant provisions of the compact include the following: 1. The creation of a Social Work Licensure Compact Commission, which includes one member or administrator of the licensure authorities of each member state. The commission has various powers and duties granted in the compact, including establishing bylaws, promulgating binding rules for the compact, hiring officers, electing or appointing employees, and establishing and electing an executive committee. The commission may levy on and collect an annual assessment from each member state or impose fees on licensees of member states to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the commission and its staff. 2. The ability for a social worker who is licensed in a home state and satisfies certain other criteria to obtain a multistate license, which allows a social worker to practice social work in all other compact states (remote states) under a multistate authorization to practice. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for an individual to obtain a social worker multistate license, including holding or being eligible for a social worker license in a home state, paying any required fees, and satisfying a number of criteria that are specific to the category of social work license the individual is seeking—bachelor[s, master[s, or clinical. A regulated social worker[s services in a remote state are subject to that member state[s regulatory authority. A remote state may take actions against a social worker[s multistate authorization to practice within that remote state, and if any adverse action is taken by a home state against a licensee[s multistate license, the social worker[s multistate authorization to practice in all other member states is deactivated until all encumbrances have been removed from the multistate license. 3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states. 4. The creation of a coordinated data system containing licensure and disciplinary action information on social workers. The compact requires all home state disciplinary orders that impose adverse actions against the license of a regulated social worker to include a statement that the regulated social worker[s multistate authorization to practice is deactivated in all member states until all conditions of the decision, order, or agreement are satisfied. A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission. 5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state[s membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact. Since the compact has already been enacted by the minimum number of states required for it to become active, the compact becomes effective in this state upon enactment of the bill. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides LRB-1310/1 MED:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 74 that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the effective date of that repeal. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB246 | Cost-sharing caps on prescription drugs and medical supplies to treat asthma under health insurance policies and plans. (FE) | This bill requires health insurance policies and plans that provide coverage of prescription drugs to cover prescription drugs and related medical supplies for the treatment of asthma. This bill provides that Xrelated medical suppliesY includes asthma inhalers and other medical supply items necessary to effectively and appropriately administer a prescription drug prescribed to treat asthma. This bill requires policies and plans to limit the amount of any enrollee cost-sharing for the coverage provided in the bill to no more than $25 per one-month supply for each prescription drug prescribed to treat asthma and to no more than $50 per month for all related medical supplies. Cost-sharing may not increase with the number of conditions for which an enrollee is treated. Further, the coverage provided in the bill may not be subject to any deductible. However, the bill provides that the limitations on cost-sharing and deductibles do not apply to the extent that the limitations would result in ineligibility for a health savings account under the federal Internal Revenue Code. 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 |
SB251 | Cost-sharing caps on prescription drugs and medical supplies to treat asthma under health insurance policies and plans. (FE) | This bill requires health insurance policies and plans that provide coverage of prescription drugs to cover prescription drugs and related medical supplies for the treatment of asthma. This bill provides that Xrelated medical suppliesY includes asthma inhalers and other medical supply items necessary to effectively and appropriately administer a prescription drug prescribed to treat asthma. This bill requires policies and plans to limit the amount of any enrollee cost-sharing for the coverage provided in the bill to no more than $25 per one-month supply for each prescription drug prescribed to treat asthma and to no more than $50 per month for all related medical supplies. Cost-sharing may not increase with the number of conditions for which an enrollee is treated. Further, the coverage provided in the bill may not be subject to any deductible. However, the bill provides that the limitations on cost-sharing and deductibles do not apply to the extent that the limitations would result in ineligibility for a health savings account under the federal Internal Revenue Code. This proposal may contain a health insurance mandate requiring a social and financial impact report under s. 601.423, stats. LRB-2917/1 JPC:cjs&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 251 For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB227 | Inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall petitions, and certain other petitions. | Current law prohibits certain kinds of election bribery, including offering, giving, lending, or providing money or anything of value to an elector or other person to induce the elector to vote or refrain from voting. Under current law, Xanything of valueY includes an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, the value of which exceeds $1. Election bribery is a Class I felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months, or both. This bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing a petition supporting or opposing a candidate, referendum, or proposition about political or social issues, state law, or proposed or potential legislation, if the petition is related to an election or referendum or is circulated during an election period, as defined in the bill. Additionally, the bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers or a recall petition. Finally, the bill defines Xanything of valueY for purposes of a violation of the bill[s provisions to include an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, if the object[s value exceeds $5, rather than 1$. | In Committee |
SB233 | Inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall petitions, and certain other petitions. | Current law prohibits certain kinds of election bribery, including offering, giving, lending, or providing money or anything of value to an elector or other person to induce the elector to vote or refrain from voting. Under current law, Xanything of valueY includes an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, the value of which exceeds $1. Election bribery is a Class I felony, the penalty for which is a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years and six months, or both. This bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing a petition supporting or opposing a candidate, referendum, or proposition about political or social issues, state law, or proposed or potential legislation, if the petition is related to an election or referendum or is circulated during an election period, as defined in the bill. Additionally, the bill prohibits as election bribery such inducement of an elector to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers or a recall petition. Finally, the bill defines Xanything of valueY for purposes of a violation of the LRB-2797/1 MPG:emw&skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 233 bill[s provisions to include an object having utility independent of a political message it contains, if the object[s value exceeds $5, rather than 1$. | In Committee |
SB320 | Grants for LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and school social workers and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under this bill, the Department of Public Instruction must award grants to school boards to provide training in LGBTQIA+ rights, in a program developed or approved by DPI, to school counselors and school social workers employed by school boards. The bill defines XLGBTQIA+Y as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or any other nonheterosexual or noncisgender orientation, identity, or expression. For further information see the state and local 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 |
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 |
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 |
AB250 | Funding for the War Memorial Center and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, by agreement between the county board and any nonprofit private corporation, a county having a population of 750,000 or more may establish and maintain a memorial to commemorate the lives and deeds of persons who served the state or nation in war or other national service. Milwaukee County is the only county in the state with a population of 750,000 or more, and the county established and maintains a memorial called the War Memorial Center. This bill creates a continuing appropriation account for the Department of Veterans Affairs from which the War Memorial Center[s memorial board may request DVA to provide funds to it for support of the memorial. In making a request for the funds, the memorial board is required to describe its intended use of the funds, and to aver that it has secured equal matching funds that it will contribute to its intended project supporting the War Memorial Center. In addition, in each fiscal year in which the War Memorial Center[s memorial board receives funds from DVA as described under the bill, the War Memorial Center[s memorial board is required to submit a report to the Joint Committee on Finance that describes how the funds were used and that indicates how much money remains in the appropriation account. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB272 | Eligibility for Family Care for individuals who are deaf-blind. (FE) | This bill grants functional eligibility for Family Care—a program that provides community-based long-term care services—to people who are deaf-blind. Under current law, a person must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for Family Care, including that the person is at least 18 years of age; the person has a physical or developmental disability or is a frail elder; and the person is both functionally and financially eligible based on the standards described in the statute. The bill adds an express provision that a person is functionally eligible for the Family Care program if the person is deaf-blind, as defined in the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB307 | The pupil participation limit in the state parental choice program. | Current law limits the percentage of pupils in each school district who may attend a private school under the statewide parental choice program. The pupil participation limit started in the 2015-16 school year at 1 percent of a school district[s membership and increased gradually to 10 percent of a school district[s membership in the 2025-26 school year. Under current law, the pupil participation limit sunsets after the 2025-26 school year. This bill repeals the sunset and continues the pupil participation limit at membership. | 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 |
SJR72 | Proclaiming June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month. | Relating to: proclaiming June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month. | In Committee |
SB330 | Waiting period for purchase of handguns. | Current law provides that, before a federally licensed firearms dealer may transfer a handgun after a sale, the dealer must request that the Department of Justice perform a background check on the prospective purchaser to determine if the purchaser is prohibited from possessing a firearm. This bill prohibits the dealer from transferring the handgun to the purchaser until 48 hours have passed since the firearms dealer requested the background check on the purchaser. | In Committee |
SJR73 | Recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQ Pride Month. | Relating to: recognizing June 2025 as LGBTQ Pride Month. | In Committee |
SJR63 | Proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June as Dairy Month in Wisconsin. | 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 |
SB301 | Rehired annuitants. (FE) | Under current law, if a Wisconsin Retirement System annuitant, or a disability annuitant who has attained his or her normal retirement date, is appointed to a position with a WRS-participating employer or provides employee services to a WRS-participating employer in which he or she is expected to work at least two-thirds of what is considered full-time employment by the Department of Employee Trust Funds, the annuity must be suspended and no annuity payment is payable until after the participant again terminates covered employment. This bill removes the requirement that an annuitant who returns to work for a participating employer have his or her annuity suspended and become a participating employee and instead allows an annuitant who returns to work to either 1) elect to suspend his or her annuity and become a participating employee; or 2) elect to continue receiving his or her annuity and not become a participating employee. Under current law, a WRS participant who has applied to receive a retirement LRB-1617/1 MIM:cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 301 annuity must wait at least 75 days between terminating covered employment with a WRS employer and returning to covered employment again as a participating employee. The bill reduces that period to 30 days. 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 fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
SB322 | A Department of Children and Families program to make payments to child care programs, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill authorizes the Department of Children and Families to establish a program for making monthly payments and monthly per-child payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and child care programs established or contracted for by a school board. This new payment program is in addition to the current law system for providing child care payments under Wisconsin Shares. The bill requires DCF to promulgate rules to implement the program, including establishing eligibility requirements and payment amounts and setting requirements for how recipients may use the payments, and authorizes DCF to promulgate these rules as emergency rules. The bill funds the program through a new appropriation and by allocating federal moneys, including child care development funds and moneys received under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program. LRB-3324/1 EHS:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 322 The bill eliminates the current law method by which DCF may modify maximum payment rates for child care providers under Wisconsin Shares based on a child care provider[s rating under the quality rating system known as YoungStar. Wisconsin Shares is a part of the Wisconsin Works program under current law, which DCF administers and which provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old. Under current law, an individual who is the parent of a child under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, under the age of 19, who needs child care services to participate in various education or work activities, and who satisfies other eligibility criteria may receive a child care subsidy for child care services under Wisconsin Shares. 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 |
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 |
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 |
SJR68 | Eliminating constitutional restrictions on marriage (first consideration). | relating to: eliminating constitutional restrictions on marriage (first consideration). | In Committee |
SB324 | Prohibiting conversion therapy. | This bill prohibits certain mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with a minor. Conversion therapy is defined under the bill to mean any intervention or method that has the purpose of attempting to change a person[s sexual orientation or gender identity, including any intervention or method that attempts to change behaviors or expressions of self or to reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. However, under the bill, conversion therapy does not include counseling that assists an individual who is seeking to undergo a gender transition or who is in the process of undergoing a gender transition; counseling that provides a client with acceptance, support, or understanding; counseling that facilitates a client[s coping, social support, and identity exploration or development; or counseling in the form of sexual orientation-neutral or gender identity-neutral interventions provided for the purpose of preventing or addressing unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, but only if the counseling is not provided for the purpose of attempting to change the client[s sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the bill, the Medical Examining Board, the Psychology Examining Board, and the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board are required to investigate any allegation that any person LRB-3040/1 JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 324 licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to practice by the respective boards has violated the prohibition on performing conversion therapy. Upon a finding that the holder of a license, certificate, or other authorization has violated the prohibition on performing conversion therapy, the bill requires the applicable examining board to limit, suspend, or revoke the person[s license, certificate, or other authorization, or any combination of the three. | In Committee |
SB99 | Spinal cord injury research grants and symposia and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to establish a program to award grants to persons in this state for research into spinal cord injuries. The grants must support research into new and innovative treatments and rehabilitative efforts for the functional improvement of individuals with spinal cord injuries. Research topics may include pharmaceutical, medical device, brain stimulus, and rehabilitative approaches and techniques. DHS must make annual reports to the legislature about the grants. The bill specifies that no more than 8 percent of any grant award may be used for administrative or indirect costs and expenses. The bill also requires DHS to appoint a Spinal Cord Injury Council with one member representing the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord injuries, one member representing Marquette University who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord injuries, one member representing the Medical College of Wisconsin who is an expert in spinal cord injuries, and the following members: 1) a person with a spinal cord injury; 2) a family member of a person with a spinal cord injury; 3) a veteran LRB-2084/1 JPC:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 99 with a spinal cord injury; 4) a physician specializing in the treatment of spinal cord injuries; 5) a neurosurgery researcher; and 6) a researcher employed by the federal Veterans Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If DHS is unable to appoint any of the foregoing members, the bill allows DHS to appoint, in lieu of that member, a member representing the general public. Members of the council have two-year terms. The bill requires the council to develop criteria for DHS to evaluate and award grants, review and make recommendations on grant applications, and perform other duties specified by DHS. Council members must make written disclosures of financial interests in organizations that the council recommends for grants. Finally, the bill allows DHS, with the permission of the council, to hold symposia, not more than once every two years, for grant recipients to present findings of research supported by the grants. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB10 | A sales and use tax exemption for the sale of gun safes. (FE) | This bill creates a sales and use tax exemption for sales of gun safes. Because this bill relates to an exemption from state or local taxes, it may be referred to the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions for a report to be printed as an appendix to the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
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 |
SB318 | Small law enforcement agency grant pilot program. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Administration to establish and administer a pilot program to provide grants to small law enforcement agencies to pay training costs for new law enforcement and tribal law enforcement officers. The bill defines Xsmall law enforcement agencyY to mean a police department, tribal police department, combined protective services department, or sheriff[s office that employs no more than 25 full-time equivalent, nonsupervisory law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officers. Under the bill, an agency may apply for a grant if it receives notice that a currently employed officer will be leaving or retiring from the agency within six months or if the agency has at least a 20 percent vacancy rate in its authorized officer positions. The bill requires the grants be used only to pay for training a student who is enrolled in a program to become a law enforcement or tribal law enforcement officer and for the on-the-job training costs the agency incurs during the first six months of that individual[s employment. The bill requires any individual whose training is paid for under the pilot program to commit to work for the small law enforcement agency for one year following the training. If the individual does not fulfill the commitment because he or she voluntarily leaves employment or is terminated for cause, DOA may seek repayment from the individual of the training costs on a LRB-3510/1 EKL:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 318 prorated basis. Under the bill, the pilot program terminates 18 months after all grant funding has been disbursed. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | 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 |
SB272 | Eligibility for Family Care for individuals who are deaf-blind. (FE) | This bill grants functional eligibility for Family Care—a program that provides community-based long-term care services—to people who are deaf-blind. Under current law, a person must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for Family Care, including that the person is at least 18 years of age; the person has a physical or developmental disability or is a frail elder; and the person is both functionally and financially eligible based on the standards described in the statute. The bill adds an express provision that a person is functionally eligible for the Family Care program if the person is deaf-blind, as defined in the bill. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB284 | A sustainable aviation fuel production tax credit. (FE) | This bill creates an income and franchise tax credit for the production of sustainable aviation. XSustainable aviation fuelY is aviation fuel of which at least 90 percent of the aviation fuel is derived from synthetic, renewable, and nonpetroleum sources. Beginning in tax year 2028, the credit is equal to $1.50 for each gallon of sustainable aviation fuel produced by a claimant in this state during a taxable year. For a sustainable aviation fuel derived from energy crops to be eligible for the credit, the energy crops used to produce the sustainable aviation fuel must be grown within the United States. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
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 |
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 |
AB92 | Spinal cord injury research grants and symposia and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill requires the Department of Health Services to establish a program to award grants to persons in this state for research into spinal cord injuries. The grants must support research into new and innovative treatments and rehabilitative efforts for the functional improvement of individuals with spinal cord injuries. Research topics may include pharmaceutical, medical device, brain stimulus, and rehabilitative approaches and techniques. DHS must make annual reports to the legislature about the grants. The bill specifies that no more than 8 percent of any grant award may be used for administrative or indirect costs and expenses. The bill also requires DHS to appoint a Spinal Cord Injury Council with one member representing the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord injuries, one member representing Marquette University who is a researcher specializing in spinal cord injuries, one member representing the Medical College of Wisconsin who is an expert in spinal cord injuries, and the following members: 1) a person with a spinal cord injury; 2) a family member of a person with a spinal cord injury; 3) a veteran with a spinal cord injury; 4) a physician specializing in the treatment of spinal cord injuries; 5) a neurosurgery researcher; and 6) a researcher employed by the federal Veterans Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If DHS is unable to appoint any of the foregoing members, the bill allows DHS to appoint, in lieu of that member, a member representing the general public. Members of the council have two-year terms. The bill requires the council to develop criteria for DHS to evaluate and award grants, review and make recommendations on grant applications, and perform other duties specified by DHS. Council members must make written disclosures of financial interests in organizations that the council recommends for grants. Finally, the bill allows DHS, with the permission of the council, to hold symposia, not more than once every two years, for grant recipients to present findings of research supported by the grants. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB215 | Town clerk and treasurer appointments, publication requirements for proposed budget summary and notice of public hearing, and discontinuance of highways. (FE) | This bill makes changes to various town procedures. Current law provides that a town may combine certain positions, such as the town clerk and the town treasurer, and provides that the combination takes effect on the latest date that any current term of an office to be combined expires. The bill retains that deadline, but allows the town board to provide that the combination of offices takes effect immediately as both positions become vacant or, if the person appointed to the combined office holds one of the offices to be combined, immediately upon a vacancy in the other office to be combined. Current law also provides that a town with a population of 2,500 or more may move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined office of clerk and treasurer to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Under current law, a town with a population of under LRB-1061/1 SWB&EVM:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 215 2,500 may only move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer to an appointed position through a referendum. The bill allows a town of any size to move from an elected position to an appointed one by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Current law also prohibits a town[s change from an elected to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer from taking effect until the end of the current elected term. Under the bill, a town may move to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer position during an elected term when there is a vacancy in the position. Under current law, a town treasurer is permitted to appoint a deputy treasurer, while a town clerk may appoint one or more deputies. The bill provides that a town treasurer may appoint one or more deputies. The bill also provides that deputy town clerks and deputy town treasurers need not be residents of the town. The bill also changes the publication and notice requirements for towns with respect to the public hearing regarding the town[s proposed budget. Current law requires that towns, cities, and villages conduct a public hearing on a proposed budget. Under current law, cities and villages must provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing and may do so by publishing the summary and notice in a newspaper, posting it in three locations, or posting it in one location and on a website maintained by the municipality. Current law also requires towns to provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing, but towns must post the summary and notice in three locations. This bill eliminates the limitation on how towns must provide the summary and notice, instead allowing towns the same options as cities and villages. Finally, under current law, every highway ceases to be a public highway four years from the date on which it was laid out, except the parts of the highway that have been opened, traveled, or worked within that time. The bill eliminates the travel exception from consideration by a town board in determining whether a highway has ceased to be a public highway. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | Crossed Over |
AB214 | Town clerk and treasurer appointments, publication requirements for proposed budget summary and notice of public hearing, and discontinuance of highways. (FE) | This bill makes changes to various town procedures. Current law provides that a town may combine certain positions, such as the town clerk and the town treasurer, and provides that the combination takes effect on the latest date that any current term of an office to be combined expires. The bill retains that deadline, but allows the town board to provide that the combination of offices takes effect immediately as both positions become vacant or, if the person appointed to the combined office holds one of the offices to be combined, immediately upon a vacancy in the other office to be combined. Current law also provides that a town with a population of 2,500 or more may move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined office of clerk and treasurer to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Under current law, a town with a population of under 2,500 may only move from an elected clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer to an appointed position through a referendum. The bill allows a town of any size to move from an elected position to an appointed one by a vote of the electors at a town meeting. Current law also prohibits a town[s change from an elected to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer from taking effect until the end of the current elected term. Under the bill, a town may move to an appointed clerk, treasurer, or combined clerk and treasurer position during an elected term when there is a vacancy in the position. Under current law, a town treasurer is permitted to appoint a deputy treasurer, while a town clerk may appoint one or more deputies. The bill provides that a town treasurer may appoint one or more deputies. The bill also provides that deputy town clerks and deputy town treasurers need not be residents of the town. The bill also changes the publication and notice requirements for towns with respect to the public hearing regarding the town[s proposed budget. Current law requires that towns, cities, and villages conduct a public hearing on a proposed budget. Under current law, cities and villages must provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing and may do so by publishing the summary and notice in a newspaper, posting it in three locations, or posting it in one location and on a website maintained by the municipality. Current law also requires towns to provide a summary of the proposed budget and notice of the budget public hearing, but towns must post the summary and notice in three locations. This bill eliminates the limitation on how towns must provide the summary and notice, instead allowing towns the same options as cities and villages. Finally, under current law, every highway ceases to be a public highway four years from the date on which it was laid out, except the parts of the highway that have been opened, traveled, or worked within that time. The bill eliminates the travel exception from consideration by a town board in determining whether a highway has ceased to be a public highway. For further information see the local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AJR61 | Proclaiming June 6, 2025, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: proclaiming June 6, 2025, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Wisconsin. | 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 |
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 |
AB222 | A sustainable aviation fuel production tax credit. (FE) | This bill creates an income and franchise tax credit for the production of sustainable aviation. XSustainable aviation fuelY is aviation fuel of which at least 90 percent of the aviation fuel is derived from synthetic, renewable, and nonpetroleum sources. Beginning in tax year 2028, the credit is equal to $1.50 for each gallon of sustainable aviation fuel produced by a claimant in this state during a taxable year. For a sustainable aviation fuel derived from energy crops to be eligible for the credit, the energy crops used to produce the sustainable aviation fuel must be grown within the United States. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
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 |
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 |
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 |
SB254 | Funding for the War Memorial Center and making an appropriation. (FE) | Under current law, by agreement between the county board and any nonprofit private corporation, a county having a population of 750,000 or more may establish and maintain a memorial to commemorate the lives and deeds of persons who served the state or nation in war or other national service. Milwaukee County is the only county in the state with a population of 750,000 or more, and the county established and maintains a memorial called the War Memorial Center. This bill creates a continuing appropriation account for the Department of Veterans Affairs from which the War Memorial Center[s memorial board may request DVA to provide funds to it for support of the memorial. In making a request for the funds, the memorial board is required to describe its intended use of the funds, and to aver that it has secured equal matching funds that it will contribute to its intended project supporting the War Memorial Center. In addition, in each fiscal year in which the War Memorial Center[s memorial board receives funds from DVA as described under the bill, the War Memorial Center[s memorial board is required to submit a report to the Joint Committee on Finance that describes how the funds were used and that indicates how much money remains in the appropriation account. LRB-2889/1 JAM:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 254 For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
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 |
AJR18 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
AB194 | Modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE) | This bill makes modifications to three housing programs administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority: the residential housing infrastructure revolving loan program, also known as the Infrastructure Access Program; the main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan program, also known as the Restore Main Street Program; and the commercial-to-housing conversion revolving loan program, also known as the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program. For the Infrastructure Access Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to a developer to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit to provide up to 25 percent of total project costs. Under current law, a loan to a developer may provide up to 20 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit may provide up to 10 percent of total project costs. 2. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For the Restore Main Street Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to $50,000 per dwelling unit or 33 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $20,000 per dwelling unit or 25 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 3. Allows loans to be awarded to projects under the jurisdiction of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band. For the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs related to constructing residential housing and eliminates the dollar amount cap on loans. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $1,000,000 per project or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Permits housing developments with four or more dwelling units to be eligible for a loan if the housing development is located in a governmental unit with a population of 10,000 or less. Under current law, an eligible housing development must have 16 or more dwelling units. 3. Allows a project converting a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development that contains residential housing to be eligible for a loan under the program. Under current law, to be eligible for a loan, a construction project must convert a vacant commercial building to residential housing. Under the bill, a loan awarded for the conversion of a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development must be for costs associated with constructing residential housing within the mixed-use development. 4. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 5. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For all three of the programs, the bill does all of the following: 1. Permits eligible projects to benefit from a tax incremental district and to use historic tax credits. Under current law, eligible projects may not benefit from a tax incremental district or use historic tax credits. 2. Allows a loan to be awarded for projects on tribal reservation or trust lands not subject to property taxes in this state if the land is designated as tribal reservation or trust lands on the effective date of the bill. 3. In applying for a loan, requires that, in addition to the current law requirement that a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing in connection with the eligible project, a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing within the governmental unit, generally. 4. Allows a governmental unit to satisfy the loan eligibility condition that it update the housing element of the statutorily required local government comprehensive plan if, within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the loan application, the governmental unit adopts an ordinance or resolution certifying that the housing element of the governmental unit[s current comprehensive plan provides an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the governmental unit. 5. Allows a loan to be secured by a corporate guarantee. Under current law, a loan under any of the three programs must be secured by a personal guarantee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
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 |
AJR55 | Designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
SJR53 | Designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | Relating to: designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
AJR40 | Celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. | Relating to: celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. | Crossed Over |
AJR39 | Recognizing Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month as a time to honor the important contributions of Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States. | Relating to: recognizing Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month as a time to honor the important contributions of Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States. | Crossed Over |
AJR41 | Proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | Relating to: proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | Crossed Over |
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 |
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 |
AB220 | Discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, national guard, jury duty, and adoption and in the receipt of mental health or vocational rehabilitation services. | This bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual[s gender identity or gender expression. The bill defines Xgender identityY as an individual[s internal, deeply held knowledge or sense of their own gender, regardless of the individual[s sex assigned at birth or gender identifiers on official governmental documents, and Xgender expressionY as an individual[s gender-related appearance or behavior, or the perception of that appearance or behavior, regardless of whether it is stereotypically associated with the individual[s sex assigned at birth. The bill also make changes to various discrimination laws, including all of the following: 1. Current law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and the equal enjoyment of a public place of accommodation or amusement on the basis of a person[s sex or sexual orientation. Current law also requires certain state agencies, authorities, and corporations to include provisions in contracts they execute obliging the contractor to similarly not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as prohibited bases for discrimination in these areas. 2. Current law prohibits the University of Wisconsin System, the Technical College System, public elementary and secondary schools, and charter schools from discriminating against a student on the basis of the student[s sex or sexual orientation. The bill prohibits the same educational institutions from discriminating against a student on the basis of the student[s gender identity or gender expression and from discriminating against a student based on the protected status of the student[s parent. The bill also prohibits the UW System Board of Regents from investing gifts, grants, and bequests in companies that practice discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 3. Current law prohibits the exclusion of an individual from jury duty on the basis of the individual[s sex or sexual orientation. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as a prohibited bases for exclusion of an individual from jury duty. 4. Current law allows only either a single adult or a husband and wife jointly to adopt a child. The bill allows only either a single individual or two individuals married to each other jointly to adopt a child and also provides that no otherwise qualified person may be denied the benefits of the adoption and guardianship statute subchapter because of the person[s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 5. Current law requires heads of executive departments and agencies to determine whether there is arbitrary discrimination on the basis of sex or sexual orientation and to take remedial action if such discrimination is found. The bill requires these heads to also determine if there is discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression and to take remedial action regarding such discrimination. 6. Current law prohibits discriminating against an employee, prospective employee, patient, or resident of an approved treatment facility providing treatment of alcoholic, drug dependent, mentally ill, or developmentally disabled persons on the basis of sex. The bill adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. 7. Current law prohibits agency rules from discriminating against a person by reason of sex or sexual orientation. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. 8. Current law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the provision of vocational rehabilitation or mental health services. The bill adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. 9. Current law prohibits the national guard or state defense force from denying membership based on sex or sexual orientation. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. The bill also provides that no member of the national guard or state defense force may be denied equal access to facilities most consistent with the person[s gender identity. 10. Current law provides that sex is a bona fide occupational qualification if all of the members of one sex are physically incapable of performing the essential duties required by a job or if the essence of the employer[s business operation would be undermined if employees were not hired exclusively from one sex. The bill adds to the sex as a bona fide occupational qualification law that an individual may not be treated or regarded inconsistent with the individual[s gender identity or discriminated against based on the individual[s gender identity or gender expression. 11. Current law allows public places of accommodation or amusement to provide separate facilities to persons of different sexes. The bill provides that public places of accommodation or amusement may provide separate facilities to persons of different sexes but prohibits those places from denying individuals equal access to the facilities most consistent with the individual[s gender identity. 12. The bill prohibits an insurer from discriminating against an individual on the basis of age, residence, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, occupation, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation, and also prohibits motor carriers, automobile insurers, transportation network companies, and real estate brokers and salespersons from discriminating against an individual on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 13. The bill expressly prohibits a school board from discriminating against a student-led organization because the organization[s mission is related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AJR33 | Declaration of the Economic Justice Bill of Rights. | Relating to: declaration of the Economic Justice Bill of Rights. | In Committee |
SJR33 | Declaration of the Economic Justice Bill of Rights. | Relating to: declaration of the Economic Justice Bill of Rights. | In Committee |
SJR45 | Proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | Relating to: proclaiming May 2025 and May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Months. | In Committee |
SJR47 | Observing Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as Equal Pay Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: observing Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as Equal Pay Day in Wisconsin. | In Committee |
SJR40 | Recognizing Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month as a time to honor the important contributions of Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States. | Relating to: recognizing Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month as a time to honor the important contributions of Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States. | In Committee |
SB180 | Modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE) | This bill makes modifications to three housing programs administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority: the residential housing infrastructure revolving loan program, also known as the Infrastructure Access Program; the main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan program, also known as the Restore Main Street Program; and the commercial-to-housing conversion revolving loan program, also known as the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program. For the Infrastructure Access Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to a developer to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit to provide up to 25 percent of total project costs. Under current law, a loan to a developer may provide up to 20 percent of total project costs and a loan to a governmental unit may provide up to 10 percent of total project costs. 2. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For the Restore Main Street Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to $50,000 per dwelling unit or 33 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $20,000 per dwelling unit or 25 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 3. Allows loans to be awarded to projects under the jurisdiction of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band. For the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program, the bill does all of the following: 1. Allows a loan to provide up to 33 percent of total project costs related to constructing residential housing and eliminates the dollar amount cap on loans. Under current law, a loan may provide up to $1,000,000 per project or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. 2. Permits housing developments with four or more dwelling units to be eligible for a loan if the housing development is located in a governmental unit with a population of 10,000 or less. Under current law, an eligible housing development must have 16 or more dwelling units. 3. Allows a project converting a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development that contains residential housing to be eligible for a loan under the LRB-1325/1 MDE:klm&cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 180 program. Under current law, to be eligible for a loan, a construction project must convert a vacant commercial building to residential housing. Under the bill, a loan awarded for the conversion of a vacant commercial building to a mixed-use development must be for costs associated with constructing residential housing within the mixed-use development. 4. Requires WHEDA to divide the state into regions based on the service jurisdiction of each regional planning commission constituted under current law, with the counties not served by a regional planning commission constituting collectively one region. Under the bill, of the moneys appropriated to the program[s revolving loan fund in the 2023-25 fiscal biennium, WHEDA must expend any remaining unencumbered moneys in such a way that no region receives in loans more than 12.5 percent of the total amount of the moneys appropriated in the 2023- 25 fiscal biennium. 5. Allows tribal housing authorities or business entities created by a tribal council to receive loans as developers of eligible projects. For all three of the programs, the bill does all of the following: 1. Permits eligible projects to benefit from a tax incremental district and to use historic tax credits. Under current law, eligible projects may not benefit from a tax incremental district or use historic tax credits. 2. Allows a loan to be awarded for projects on tribal reservation or trust lands not subject to property taxes in this state if the land is designated as tribal reservation or trust lands on the effective date of the bill. 3. In applying for a loan, requires that, in addition to the current law requirement that a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing in connection with the eligible project, a governmental unit establish that it has reduced the cost of housing within the governmental unit, generally. 4. Allows a governmental unit to satisfy the loan eligibility condition that it update the housing element of the statutorily required local government comprehensive plan if, within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the loan application, the governmental unit adopts an ordinance or resolution certifying that the housing element of the governmental unit[s current comprehensive plan provides an adequate housing supply that meets existing and forecasted housing demand in the governmental unit. 5. Allows a loan to be secured by a corporate guarantee. Under current law, a loan under any of the three programs must be secured by a personal guarantee. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AJR54 | Observing Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as Equal Pay Day in Wisconsin. | Relating to: observing Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as Equal Pay Day in Wisconsin. | 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 |
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 |
SJR41 | Celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. | Relating to: celebrating 50 years of strength and resilience of the Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese people. | In Committee |
AJR42 | An advisory referendum on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. | Relating to: an advisory referendum on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. | In Committee |
AJR36 | The right of the people to a clean, safe, and healthy natural environment and to its preservation (first consideration). | relating to: the right of the people to a clean, safe, and healthy natural environment and to its preservation (first consideration). | In Committee |
AR4 | Proclaiming our appreciation and respect for our Grocery and Retail Food Employees. | Relating to: proclaiming our appreciation and respect for our Grocery and Retail Food Employees. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
AB72 | 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. | 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 |
AB150 | Requiring the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if an executive order of the president of the United States freezes federal aid to the state. | This bill requires the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if the president of the United States issues an executive order under which federal aid to Wisconsin that was previously authorized under an act of Congress is frozen. The extraordinary session must be called for legislative consideration of a bill that does all of the following: 1. Establishes a procedure to estimate the amounts of federal aid that each state agency, eligible local governmental unit, and eligible nonprofit organization is likely to be deprived of as a result of the executive order. Only those local governmental units and nonprofit organizations that receive federal moneys under a state appropriation qualify as eligible. 2. Provides for payments from the budget stabilization fund to state agencies, eligible local governmental units, and eligible nonprofit organizations to offset estimated deprivation amounts. 3. Prioritizes payments to offset deprivation amounts of federal aid that fund essential services. 4. Limits payments to eligible local governmental units and eligible nonprofit organizations to no more than the amounts the eligible local governmental unit or eligible nonprofit organization would have received under a state appropriation of federal moneys but for the executive order. 5. To the extent allowed under federal law, provides for reimbursement to the budget stabilization fund for the payments specified in item 2 whenever the state receives a back payment of federal aid moneys that were previously frozen by executive order of the president. 6. Provides that if, in lieu of reimbursement to the budget stabilization fund, federal aid moneys received by the state as a back payment are paid to a state agency, eligible local governmental unit, or eligible nonprofit organization, the state agency, eligible local governmental unit, or eligible nonprofit organization must remit to the state for deposit in the budget stabilization fund an amount equal to the back payment amount received. | In Committee |
SJR21 | Honoring the life and public service of Senator Timothy Francis Cullen. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Senator Timothy Francis Cullen. | In Committee |
AJR26 | Honoring the life and public service of Senator Timothy Francis Cullen. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Senator Timothy Francis Cullen. | In Committee |
SJR38 | An advisory referendum on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. | Relating to: an advisory referendum on an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. | In Committee |
SJR37 | The right of the people to a clean, safe, and healthy natural environment and to its preservation (first consideration). | relating to: the right of the people to a clean, safe, and healthy natural environment and to its preservation (first consideration). | In Committee |
SB223 | Discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, national guard, jury duty, and adoption and in the receipt of mental health or vocational rehabilitation services. | This bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual[s gender identity or gender expression. The bill defines Xgender identityY as an individual[s internal, deeply held knowledge or sense of their own gender, regardless of the individual[s sex assigned at birth or gender identifiers on official governmental documents, and Xgender expressionY as an individual[s gender-related appearance or behavior, or the perception of that appearance or behavior, regardless of whether it is stereotypically associated with the individual[s sex assigned at birth. The bill also make changes to various discrimination laws, including all of the following: 1. Current law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and the equal enjoyment of a public place of accommodation or amusement on the basis of a person[s sex or sexual orientation. Current law also requires certain state agencies, authorities, and corporations to include provisions in contracts they execute obliging the contractor to similarly not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as prohibited bases for discrimination in these areas. 2. Current law prohibits the University of Wisconsin System, the Technical College System, public elementary and secondary schools, and charter schools from discriminating against a student on the basis of the student[s sex or sexual orientation. The bill prohibits the same educational institutions from discriminating against a student on the basis of the student[s gender identity or gender expression and from discriminating against a student based on the protected status of the student[s parent. The bill also prohibits the UW System Board of Regents from investing gifts, grants, and bequests in companies that practice discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 3. Current law prohibits the exclusion of an individual from jury duty on the basis of the individual[s sex or sexual orientation. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as a prohibited bases for exclusion of an individual from jury duty. 4. Current law allows only either a single adult or a husband and wife jointly to adopt a child. The bill allows only either a single individual or two individuals married to each other jointly to adopt a child and also provides that no otherwise qualified person may be denied the benefits of the adoption and guardianship LRB-0820/1 MIM&FFK:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 223 statute subchapter because of the person[s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 5. Current law requires heads of executive departments and agencies to determine whether there is arbitrary discrimination on the basis of sex or sexual orientation and to take remedial action if such discrimination is found. The bill requires these heads to also determine if there is discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression and to take remedial action regarding such discrimination. 6. Current law prohibits discriminating against an employee, prospective employee, patient, or resident of an approved treatment facility providing treatment of alcoholic, drug dependent, mentally ill, or developmentally disabled persons on the basis of sex. The bill adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. 7. Current law prohibits agency rules from discriminating against a person by reason of sex or sexual orientation. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. 8. Current law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the provision of vocational rehabilitation or mental health services. The bill adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. 9. Current law prohibits the national guard or state defense force from denying membership based on sex or sexual orientation. The bill adds gender identity and gender expression as prohibited bases of discrimination. The bill also provides that no member of the national guard or state defense force may be denied equal access to facilities most consistent with the person[s gender identity. 10. Current law provides that sex is a bona fide occupational qualification if all of the members of one sex are physically incapable of performing the essential duties required by a job or if the essence of the employer[s business operation would be undermined if employees were not hired exclusively from one sex. The bill adds to the sex as a bona fide occupational qualification law that an individual may not be treated or regarded inconsistent with the individual[s gender identity or discriminated against based on the individual[s gender identity or gender expression. 11. Current law allows public places of accommodation or amusement to provide separate facilities to persons of different sexes. The bill provides that public places of accommodation or amusement may provide separate facilities to persons of different sexes but prohibits those places from denying individuals equal access to the facilities most consistent with the individual[s gender identity. 12. The bill prohibits an insurer from discriminating against an individual on the basis of age, residence, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, occupation, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation, and also prohibits motor carriers, automobile insurers, transportation network companies, and real estate brokers and salespersons from discriminating LRB-0820/1 MIM&FFK:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 223 against an individual on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 13. The bill expressly prohibits a school board from discriminating against a student-led organization because the organization[s mission is related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SJR23 | Proclaiming the week of April 28 to May 2, 2025, as School Nutrition Professionals Appreciation Week. | Relating to: proclaiming the week of April 28 to May 2, 2025, as School Nutrition Professionals Appreciation Week. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
AJR19 | Honoring April 22, 2025, as the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. | Relating to: honoring April 22, 2025, as the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. | Crossed Over |
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 |
AJR27 | Condemning the pardons and sentence commutations of individuals involved in the violent attack on law enforcement officers at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. | Relating to: condemning the pardons and sentence commutations of individuals involved in the violent attack on law enforcement officers at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. | In Committee |
AB215 | Eliminating the publication requirement for a name change petition seeking to conform an individual’s name with the individual’s gender identity. | This bill provides an exception to the requirement that notices of name change petitions must be published for an individual who is seeking a name change to conform with the individual[s gender identity. Under current law, an individual who is a resident of this state generally is entitled to petition the court of the county in which the individual resides to have the individual[s name changed or established if no sufficient cause is shown to the contrary. Currently, the individual must, before petitioning the court, publish a notice stating the nature of the petition and when and where the petition will be heard. The individual must publish the notice in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks. Current law provides an exception to the publication requirement for an individual who 1) requests that the petition remain confidential, 2) shows that publication of the petition could endanger the individual, and 3) shows that the individual is not seeking a name change in order to avoid a debt or conceal a criminal record. Under current law, if the court determines that the individual is not required to publish notice, all records related to the individual[s name change are generally confidential and exempt from disclosure under the state public records law. This bill provides an additional exception to the publication requirement for an individual who shows that the individual is seeking a name change to conform with the individual[s gender identity. Under the bill, an individual who requests a confidential name change on that basis also must show that the individual is not seeking a name change in order to avoid a debt or conceal a criminal record, but the individual need not show that publication of the petition could endanger the individual. | In Committee |
AJR20 | Proclaiming the week of April 28 to May 2, 2025, as School Nutrition Professionals Appreciation Week. | Relating to: proclaiming the week of April 28 to May 2, 2025, as School Nutrition Professionals Appreciation Week. | In Committee |
AJR31 | Proclaiming March 31, 2025, as Wisconsin’s Transgender Day of Visibility. | Relating to: proclaiming March 31, 2025, as Wisconsin[s Transgender Day of Visibility. | 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 |
SB217 | Eliminating the publication requirement for a name change petition seeking to conform an individual’s name with the individual’s gender identity. | This bill provides an exception to the requirement that notices of name change petitions must be published for an individual who is seeking a name change to conform with the individual[s gender identity. Under current law, an individual who is a resident of this state generally is entitled to petition the court of the county in which the individual resides to have the individual[s name changed or established if no sufficient cause is shown to the contrary. Currently, the individual must, before petitioning the court, publish a notice stating the nature of the petition and when and where the petition will be heard. The individual must publish the notice in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks. Current law provides an exception to the publication requirement for an individual who 1) requests that the petition remain confidential, 2) shows that publication of the petition could endanger the individual, and 3) shows that the individual is not seeking a name change in order to avoid a debt or conceal a criminal record. Under current law, if the court determines that the LRB-0977/1 KRP:emw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 217 individual is not required to publish notice, all records related to the individual[s name change are generally confidential and exempt from disclosure under the state public records law. This bill provides an additional exception to the publication requirement for an individual who shows that the individual is seeking a name change to conform with the individual[s gender identity. Under the bill, an individual who requests a confidential name change on that basis also must show that the individual is not seeking a name change in order to avoid a debt or conceal a criminal record, but the individual need not show that publication of the petition could endanger the individual. | In Committee |
SJR31 | Proclaiming March 31, 2025, as Wisconsin’s Transgender Day of Visibility. | Relating to: proclaiming March 31, 2025, as Wisconsin[s Transgender Day of Visibility. | In Committee |
AB142 | Algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty. | This bill prohibits the use of algorithmic software in setting rental rates or occupancy levels for residential dwelling units and prohibits persons from selling, licensing, or providing algorithmic software to a residential landlord. XAlgorithmic softwareY is defined in the bill to mean software that uses an algorithm to perform calculations on nonpublic competitor data regarding rent or occupancy levels in this state for the purpose of informing a landlord[s decision regarding residential housing occupancy rates, whether to leave a residential unit vacant, or the amount of rent that a landlord may obtain for a residential unit. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the attorney general, or a district attorney may investigate violations of this bill, and the attorney general or a district attorney may commence an action seeking an injunction or to recover a civil forfeiture of up to $1,000 per violation. In addition, a tenant may file a civil action seeking actual damages incurred as a result of a violation of the bill or $1,000 per violation, whichever is greater, or for injunctive relief, or for a combination of injunctive relief and damages. Under the bill, if a landlord includes a provision in a lease that 1) waives the landlord[s obligation to comply with the prohibition on the use of algorithmic software or 2) discourages or impedes a tenant from filing an action seeking injunctive relief or damages stemming from the landlord[s violation of the bill[s prohibitions, then the rental agreement is void and unenforceable. | In Committee |
SB142 | Algorithmic software for residential housing, and providing a penalty. | This bill prohibits the use of algorithmic software in setting rental rates or occupancy levels for residential dwelling units and prohibits persons from selling, licensing, or providing algorithmic software to a residential landlord. XAlgorithmic softwareY is defined in the bill to mean software that uses an algorithm to perform calculations on nonpublic competitor data regarding rent or occupancy levels in this state for the purpose of informing a landlord[s decision regarding residential housing occupancy rates, whether to leave a residential unit vacant, or the amount of rent that a landlord may obtain for a residential unit. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the attorney general, or a district attorney may investigate violations of this bill, and the attorney general or a district attorney may commence an action seeking an injunction or to recover a civil forfeiture of up to $1,000 per violation. In addition, a tenant may file a civil action seeking actual damages incurred as a result of a violation of the bill or $1,000 per violation, whichever is greater, or for injunctive relief, or for a combination of injunctive relief and damages. Under the bill, if a landlord includes a provision in a lease that 1) waives the landlord[s obligation to comply with the prohibition on the use of algorithmic software or 2) discourages or impedes a tenant from filing an action seeking LRB-1569/1 JAM:klm 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 142 injunctive relief or damages stemming from the landlord[s violation of the bill[s prohibitions, then the rental agreement is void and unenforceable. | 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 |
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 |
SJR20 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jim Soletski. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Jim Soletski. | In Committee |
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 |
AJR5 | Proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month. | Relating to: proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
SJR19 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Jonathan Brostoff. | In Committee |
SB135 | Special observance days in schools. | This bill adds February 18, Vel R. Phillips[s birthday, to the list of special observance days that apply to general school operations. Current law provides a list of 22 special observance days, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Susan B. Anthony[s birthday; Environmental Awareness Day; Bullying Awareness Day; and Veterans Day. Under current law, a special observance day must be appropriately observed when school is held on that day or, if the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on the school day immediately preceding or following the special observance day. | In Committee |
SJR17 | Honoring April 22, 2025, as the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. | Relating to: honoring April 22, 2025, as the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. | In Committee |
AB125 | Special observance days in schools. | This bill adds February 18, Vel R. Phillips[s birthday, to the list of special observance days that apply to general school operations. Current law provides a list of 22 special observance days, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Susan B. Anthony[s birthday; Environmental Awareness Day; Bullying Awareness Day; and Veterans Day. Under current law, a special observance day must be appropriately observed when school is held on that day or, if the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on the school day immediately preceding or following the special observance day. | In Committee |
SB60 | Expanding the homestead income tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, the homestead tax credit is a refundable income tax credit that may be claimed by homeowners and renters. The credit is based on the claimant[s household income and the amount of property taxes or rent constituting property taxes on his or her Wisconsin homestead. Because the credit is refundable, if the credit exceeds the claimant[s income tax liability, he or she receives the excess as a refund check. Under current law, there are three key dollar amounts used when calculating the credit: 1. If household income is $8,060 or less, the credit is 80 percent of the property taxes or rent constituting property taxes. If household income exceeds $8,060, the property taxes or rent constituting property taxes are reduced by 8.785 percent of the household income exceeding $8,060, and the credit is 80 percent of the reduced property taxes or rent constituting property taxes. 2. The credit may not be claimed if household income exceeds $24,680. LRB-2169/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 60 3. The maximum property taxes or rent constituting property taxes used to calculate the credit is $1,460. Beginning with claims filed for the 2025 tax year, this bill reduces the percentage used for household income over $8,060 from 8.785 to 5.614 percent and increases the maximum income amount from $24,680 to $35,000. The bill also indexes the $8,060, $35,000, and $1,460 amounts for inflation during future tax years. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AB52 | Expanding the homestead income tax credit. (FE) | Under current law, the homestead tax credit is a refundable income tax credit that may be claimed by homeowners and renters. The credit is based on the claimant[s household income and the amount of property taxes or rent constituting property taxes on his or her Wisconsin homestead. Because the credit is refundable, if the credit exceeds the claimant[s income tax liability, he or she receives the excess as a refund check. Under current law, there are three key dollar amounts used when calculating the credit: 1. If household income is $8,060 or less, the credit is 80 percent of the property taxes or rent constituting property taxes. If household income exceeds $8,060, the property taxes or rent constituting property taxes are reduced by 8.785 percent of the household income exceeding $8,060, and the credit is 80 percent of the reduced property taxes or rent constituting property taxes. 2. The credit may not be claimed if household income exceeds $24,680. 3. The maximum property taxes or rent constituting property taxes used to calculate the credit is $1,460. Beginning with claims filed for the 2025 tax year, this bill reduces the percentage used for household income over $8,060 from 8.785 to 5.614 percent and increases the maximum income amount from $24,680 to $35,000. The bill also indexes the $8,060, $35,000, and $1,460 amounts for inflation during future tax years. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SJR15 | Condemning the pardons and sentence commutations of individuals involved in the violent attack on law enforcement officers at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. | Relating to: condemning the pardons and sentence commutations of individuals involved in the violent attack on law enforcement officers at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. | In Committee |
AB48 | Providing state aid to reimburse public and private schools that provide free meals to all pupils for the costs of those meals and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill provides additional state aid to public and private schools in this state that provide free meals to all pupils. Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction makes payments to school districts, private schools, independent charter schools, tribal schools, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to partially match the federal contribution under the National School Lunch Program, under which schools provide free or reduced-price lunches to low-income children. Currently, the state share for school lunches is a variable percentage of the amount of the federal basic reimbursement, which is then allocated among eligible schools according to the number of lunches served during the prior school year. Also under current law, DPI provides a per meal reimbursement to school districts, private schools, and tribal schools that provide breakfast to pupils under the federal School Breakfast Program. Currently, the state provides a per meal reimbursement of $0.15 for each breakfast served under the program, but, if there is insufficient funding to pay the full amount, DPI prorates the payments. Under the bill, a school is eligible for additional state reimbursement for lunches and breakfasts served in a school year if the school 1) participates in both the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program for the school year; and 2) for each school day in which school is in session during the school year, provides to any pupil who requests one, at no cost to the pupil, one lunch and one breakfast that meet the federal food, nutritional, and other requirements for meals served under the federal programs. Under the bill, DPI must reimburse an eligible school a per meal amount that is equal to the federal reimbursement rate applicable to the eligible school under the applicable federal program for a meal served to a pupil who satisfies the income eligibility criteria for a free lunch, minus any amount the eligible school receives from the federal government to pay for those meals. In other words, the bill guarantees that an eligible school will receive a total amount in state and federal aid that will reimburse the eligible school an amount equal to the free meal reimbursement rate for each meal the eligible school serves. The additional state reimbursement under the bill is available to school districts, independent charter schools, private schools, tribal schools, residential care centers for children and youth, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired that meet the eligibility requirements. Under the bill, if a school does not meet the eligibility requirements for the additional state reimbursement for a school year, all of the following apply: 1. If the school participates in the National School Lunch Program for the school year, DPI will reimburse the school an amount required to meet the state[s matching obligation under the federal program. 2. If the school participates in the federal School Breakfast Program for the school year, DPI will reimburse the school $0.15 for each breakfast served under the federal program, without proration. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SB67 | Providing state aid to reimburse public and private schools that provide free meals to all pupils for the costs of those meals and making an appropriation. (FE) | This bill provides additional state aid to public and private schools in this state that provide free meals to all pupils. Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction makes payments to school districts, private schools, independent charter schools, tribal schools, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to partially match the federal contribution under the National School Lunch Program, under which schools provide free or reduced-price lunches to low-income children. Currently, the state share for school lunches is a variable percentage of the amount of the federal basic LRB-2213/1 KMS:amn 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 67 reimbursement, which is then allocated among eligible schools according to the number of lunches served during the prior school year. Also under current law, DPI provides a per meal reimbursement to school districts, private schools, and tribal schools that provide breakfast to pupils under the federal School Breakfast Program. Currently, the state provides a per meal reimbursement of $0.15 for each breakfast served under the program, but, if there is insufficient funding to pay the full amount, DPI prorates the payments. Under the bill, a school is eligible for additional state reimbursement for lunches and breakfasts served in a school year if the school 1) participates in both the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program for the school year; and 2) for each school day in which school is in session during the school year, provides to any pupil who requests one, at no cost to the pupil, one lunch and one breakfast that meet the federal food, nutritional, and other requirements for meals served under the federal programs. Under the bill, DPI must reimburse an eligible school a per meal amount that is equal to the federal reimbursement rate applicable to the eligible school under the applicable federal program for a meal served to a pupil who satisfies the income eligibility criteria for a free lunch, minus any amount the eligible school receives from the federal government to pay for those meals. In other words, the bill guarantees that an eligible school will receive a total amount in state and federal aid that will reimburse the eligible school an amount equal to the free meal reimbursement rate for each meal the eligible school serves. The additional state reimbursement under the bill is available to school districts, independent charter schools, private schools, tribal schools, residential care centers for children and youth, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired that meet the eligibility requirements. Under the bill, if a school does not meet the eligibility requirements for the additional state reimbursement for a school year, all of the following apply: 1. If the school participates in the National School Lunch Program for the school year, DPI will reimburse the school an amount required to meet the state[s matching obligation under the federal program. 2. If the school participates in the federal School Breakfast Program for the school year, DPI will reimburse the school $0.15 for each breakfast served under the federal program, without proration. For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
AJR11 | Honoring the life and public service of Representative Jim Soletski. | Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Jim Soletski. | In Committee |
AB62 | Health care costs omnibus, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Elimination of cost sharing for prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program Under current law, certain persons who receive health services under the Medical Assistance program, also known in this state as BadgerCare, are required to contribute a cost-sharing payment to the cost of certain health services. This bill eliminates all cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. Cost-sharing cap on insulin The bill prohibits every health insurance policy and governmental self-insured health plan that covers insulin and imposes cost sharing on prescription drugs from imposing cost sharing on insulin in an amount that exceeds $35 for a one-month supply. Current law requires every health insurance policy that provides coverage of expenses incurred for treatment of diabetes to provide coverage for specified expenses and items, including insulin. The required coverage under current law for certain diabetes treatments other than insulin infusion pumps is subject to the same exclusions, limitations, deductibles, and coinsurance provisions of the policy as other covered expenses. The bill[s cost-sharing limitation on insulin supersedes the specification that the exclusions, limitations, deductibles, and coinsurance are the same as for other coverage. Fiduciary and disclosure requirements for pharmacy benefit managers The bill imposes fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers. Pharmacy benefit managers contract with health plans that provide prescription drug benefits to administer those benefits for the plans. They also have contracts with pharmacies and pay the pharmacies for providing drugs to the plan beneficiaries. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager owes a fiduciary duty to a health plan sponsor. The bill also requires that a pharmacy benefit manager annually disclose all of the following information to the plan sponsor: 1. The indirect profit received by the pharmacy benefit manager from owning a pharmacy or service provider. 2. Any payments made to a consultant or broker who works on behalf of the plan sponsor. 3. From the amounts received from drug manufacturers, the amounts retained by the pharmacy benefit manager that are related to the plan sponsor[s claims or bona fide service fees. 4. The amounts received from network pharmacies and the amount retained by the pharmacy benefit manager. Reimbursements for certain 340B program entities The bill prohibits any person from reimbursing certain entities that participate in the federal drug pricing program, known as the 340B program, for a drug subject to an agreement under the program at a rate lower than that paid for the same drug to pharmacies that have a similar prescription volume. The bill also prohibits a person from imposing any fee, charge back, or other adjustment on the basis of the entity[s participation in the 340B program. The entities covered by the prohibitions under the bill are federally qualified health centers, critical access hospitals, and grantees under the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, as well as these entities[ pharmacies and any pharmacy with which any of the entities have contracted to dispense drugs through the 340B program. Drug repository program Under current law, the Department of Health Services must maintain a drug repository program under which any person may donate certain drugs or supplies to be dispensed to and used by eligible individuals, prioritizing uninsured and indigent individuals. The bill allows DHS to partner with out-of-state drug repository programs. The bill also allows out-of-state persons to donate to the drug repository program in Wisconsin and persons in Wisconsin to donate to participating drug repository programs in other states. Further, the bill directs DHS to study and implement a centralized, physical drug repository program. Value-based diabetes medication pilot project The bill directs the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to develop a pilot project under which a pharmacy benefit manager and pharmaceutical manufacturer are directed to create a value-based, sole-source arrangement to reduce the costs of prescription diabetes medication. The bill allows OCI to promulgate rules to implement the pilot project. Pharmacist continuing education credits for volunteering at free and charitable clinics Under current law, a licensed pharmacist must renew his or her license every two years. An applicant for renewal of a pharmacist license must submit proof that he or she has completed 30 hours of continuing education within the two-year period immediately preceding the date of his or her application. The bill allows pharmacists to meet up to 10 hours of the continuing education requirement for each two-year period by volunteering at a free and charitable clinic approved by the Pharmacy Examining Board. Prescription drug importation program The bill requires the commissioner of insurance, in consultation with persons interested in the sale and pricing of prescription drugs and federal officials and agencies, to design and implement a prescription drug importation program for the benefit of and that generates savings for Wisconsin residents. The bill establishes requirements for the program, including all of the following: 1. The commissioner must designate a state agency to become a licensed wholesale distributor or contract with a licensed wholesale distributor and to seek federal certification and approval to import prescription drugs. 2. The program must comply with certain federal regulations and import from Canadian suppliers only prescription drugs that are not brand-name drugs, have fewer than four competitor drugs in this country, and for which importation creates substantial savings. 3. The commissioner must ensure that prescription drugs imported under the program are not distributed, dispensed, or sold outside of Wisconsin. 4. The program must have an audit procedure to ensure the program complies with certain requirements specified in the bill. Before submitting the proposed program to the federal government for certification, the commissioner must submit the proposed program to the Joint Committee on Finance for its approval. Pharmacy benefits tool grants The bill directs OCI to award grants in an amount of up to $500,000 in each fiscal year to health care providers to develop and implement a patient pharmacy benefits tool that would allow prescribers to disclose the cost of prescription drugs for patients. The tool must be usable by physicians and other prescribers to determine the cost of prescription drugs for their patients. Any health care provider that receives a grant to develop and implement a patient pharmacy benefits tool is required to contribute matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the total grant awarded. Prescription drug purchasing entity study The bill requires OCI to conduct a study on the viability of creating or implementing a state prescription drug purchasing entity. Licensure of pharmacy services administrative organizations The bill requires that a pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO) be licensed by OCI. Under the bill, a PSAO is an entity operating in Wisconsin that does all of the following: 1. Contracts with an independent pharmacy to conduct business on the pharmacy[s behalf with a third-party payer. 2. Provides at least one administrative service to an independent pharmacy and negotiates and enters into a contract with a third-party payer or pharmacy benefit manager on the pharmacy[s behalf. The bill defines Xindependent pharmacyY to mean a licensed pharmacy operating in Wisconsin that is under common ownership with no more than two other pharmacies. XAdministrative serviceY is defined to mean assisting with claims or audits, providing centralized payment, performing certification in a specialized care program, providing compliance support, setting flat fees for generic drugs, assisting with store layout, managing inventory, providing marketing support, providing management and analysis of payment and drug dispensing data, or providing resources for retail cash cards. The bill defines Xthird-party payerY to mean an entity operating in Wisconsin that pays or insures health, medical, or prescription drug expenses on behalf of beneficiaries. The bill uses the current law definition of Xpharmacy benefit manager,Y which is an entity doing business in Wisconsin that contracts to administer or manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of an insurer or other entity that provides prescription drug benefits to Wisconsin residents. To obtain the license required by the bill, a person must apply to OCI and provide the contact information for the applicant and a contact person, evidence of financial responsibility of at least $1,000,000, and any other information required by the commissioner by rule. Under the bill, the license fee is set by the commissioner, and the term of a license is two years. The bill also requires that a PSAO disclose to OCI the extent of any ownership or control by an entity that provides pharmacy services; provides prescription drug or device services; or manufactures, sells, or distributes prescription drugs, biologicals, or medical devices. The PSAO must notify OCI within five days of any material change in its ownership or control related to such an entity. Licensure of pharmaceutical representatives The bill requires a pharmaceutical representative to be licensed by OCI and to display the pharmaceutical representative[s license during each visit with a health care professional. The bill defines Xpharmaceutical representativeY to mean an individual who markets or promotes pharmaceuticals to health care professionals on behalf of a pharmaceutical manufacturer for compensation. The term of a license issued under the bill is one year, and the license is renewable. The application to obtain or renew a license must include the applicant[s contact information, a description of the type of work in which the applicant will engage, the license fee, an attestation that professional education requirements are met, proof that any penalties and other fees are paid, and any other information required by OCI by rule. Under the bill, the license fee is set by the commissioner. The bill requires the pharmaceutical representative to report, within four business days, any change to the information provided on the application or any material change to the pharmaceutical representative[s business operations or other information required to be reported under the bill. The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative complete a professional education course prior to becoming licensed and to annually complete at least five hours of continuing professional education courses. The coursework must include, at a minimum, training in ethical standards, whistleblower protections, and the laws and rules applicable to pharmaceutical marketing. The bill directs the commissioner to regularly publish a list of courses that fulfill the education requirements. Under the bill, a course provider must disclose any conflict of interest to the commissioner, and the courses may not be provided by the employer of a pharmaceutical representative or be funded by the pharmaceutical industry or a third party funded by the industry. The bill requires that, no later than June 1 of each year, a pharmaceutical representative report to OCI the pharmaceutical representative[s total number of contacts with health care professionals in Wisconsin, the specialties of those health care professionals, the location and duration of each contact, the pharmaceuticals discussed, and the value of any item provided to a health care professional. The bill directs the commissioner to publish the information on OCI[s website without identifying individual health care professionals. The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative, during each contact with a health care professional, disclose the wholesale acquisition cost of any pharmaceuticals discussed and the names of at least three generic prescription drugs from the same therapeutic class. The bill directs the commissioner to promulgate ethical standards for pharmaceutical representatives. Additionally, the bill prohibits a pharmaceutical representative from engaging in deceptive or misleading marketing of a pharmaceutical product; using a title or designation that could reasonably lead a licensed health care professional, or an employee or representative of such a professional, to believe that the pharmaceutical representative is licensed to practice in a health occupation unless the pharmaceutical representative holds a license to practice in that health occupation; or attending a patient examination without the patient[s consent. An individual who violates any of the requirements under the bill is subject to a forfeiture, and the individual[s license may be suspended or revoked. An individual whose license is revoked must wait at least two years before applying for a new license. Insulin safety net programs The bill requires insulin manufacturers to establish a program under which qualifying Wisconsin residents who are in urgent need of insulin and are uninsured or have limited insurance coverage can be dispensed insulin at a pharmacy. An individual is in urgent need of insulin if the individual needs insulin in order to avoid the likelihood of suffering a significant health consequence and possesses less than a seven-day supply of insulin readily available for use. Under the program, if a qualifying individual in urgent need of insulin provides a pharmacy with a form attesting that the individual meets the program[s eligibility requirements, specified proof of residency, and a valid insulin prescription, the pharmacy must dispense a 30-day supply of insulin to the individual and may charge the individual a copayment of no more than $35. The pharmacy may submit an electronic payment claim for the insulin[s acquisition cost to the manufacturer or agree to receive a replacement of the same insulin in the amount dispensed. The bill also requires that each insulin manufacturer establish a patient assistance program to make insulin available to any qualifying Wisconsin resident who, among other requirements, is uninsured or has limited insurance coverage and whose family income does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty line. Under the bill, an individual must apply to participate in a manufacturer[s program. If the manufacturer determines that the individual meets the program[s eligibility requirements, the manufacturer must issue the individual a statement of eligibility, which is valid for 12 months and may be renewed. Under the bill, if an individual with a statement of eligibility and valid insulin prescription requests insulin from a pharmacy, the pharmacy must submit an order to the manufacturer, who must then provide a 90-day supply of insulin at no charge to the individual or pharmacy. The pharmacy may charge the individual a copayment of no more than $50. Under the bill, a manufacturer is not required to issue a statement of eligibility if the individual has prescription drug coverage through an individual or group health plan and the manufacturer determines that the individual[s insulin needs are better addressed through the manufacturer[s copayment assistance program. In such case, the manufacturer must provide the individual with necessary drug coupons to submit to a pharmacy, and the individual may not be required to pay more than a $50 copayment for a 90-day supply of insulin. Under the bill, if the manufacturer determines that an individual is not eligible for the patient assistance program, the individual may file an appeal with OCI. The bill directs OCI to establish procedures for deciding appeals. Under the bill, OCI must issue a decision within 10 days, and that decision is final. The bill requires that insulin manufacturers annually report to OCI certain information, including the number of individuals served and the cost of insulin dispensed under the programs and that OCI annually report to the governor and the legislature on the programs. The bill also directs OCI to conduct public outreach and develop an information sheet about the programs, conduct satisfaction surveys of individuals and pharmacies that participate in the programs, and report to the governor and the legislature on the surveys by July 1, 2028. Additionally, the bill requires that OCI develop a training program for health care navigators to assist individuals in accessing appropriate long-term insulin options and maintain a list of trained navigators. The bill provides that a manufacturer that fails to comply with the bill[s provisions may be assessed a forfeiture of up to noncompliance, which increases to $400,000 per month if the manufacturer continues to be in noncompliance after six months and to $600,000 per month if the manufacturer continues to be in noncompliance after one year. The bill[s requirements do not apply to manufacturers with annual insulin sales revenue in Wisconsin of no more than $2,000,000 or to insulin that costs less than a specified dollar amount. Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board The bill creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board, whose purpose is to protect Wisconsin residents and other stakeholders from the high costs of prescription drugs. The board consists of the commissioner of insurance and the following members, all of whom are appointed by the governor for four-year terms: 1. Two members who represent the pharmaceutical drug industry, at least one of whom is a licensed pharmacist. 2. Two members who represent the health insurance industry. 3. Two members who represent the health care industry, at least one of whom is a licensed practitioner. 4. Two members who represent the interests of the public. The bill requires the board to meet in open session at least four times per year to review prescription drug pricing information. The board must provide at least two weeks[ public notice of each meeting, make the meeting[s materials publicly available at least one week prior to the meeting, and provide the opportunity for public comment. The bill imposes conflict of interest requirements for the board relating to recusal and public disclosure of certain conflicts. The bill directs the board to access and assess drug pricing information, to the extent practicable, by accessing and assessing information from other states, by assessing spending for the drug in Wisconsin, and by accessing other available pricing information. Under the bill, the board must conduct drug cost affordability reviews. The board must identify prescription drugs whose launch wholesale acquisition cost exceeds specified thresholds, prescription drugs whose increase in wholesale acquisition cost exceeds specified thresholds, and other prescription drugs that may create affordability challenges for the health care system in Wisconsin. For each identified prescription drug, the board must determine whether to conduct an affordability review by seeking stakeholder input and considering the average patient cost share for the drug. During an affordability review, the board must determine whether use of the prescription drug that is fully consistent with the labeling approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration or standard medical practice has led or will lead to an affordability challenge for the health care system in Wisconsin. In making this determination, the bill requires the board to consider a variety of factors, which include the following: 1. The drug[s wholesale acquisition cost. 2. The average monetary price concession, discount, or rebate the manufacturer provides, or is expected to provide, for the drug to health plans. 3. The total amount of price concessions, discounts, and rebates the manufacturer provides to each pharmacy benefit manager for the drug. 4. The price at which therapeutic alternatives have been sold and the average monetary concession, discount, or rebate the manufacturer provides, or is expected to provide, to health plan payors and pharmacy benefit managers for therapeutic alternatives. 5. The costs to health plans based on patient access consistent with federal labeled indications and recognized standard medical practice. 6. The impact on patient access resulting from the drug[s cost relative to insurance benefit design. 7. The current or expected dollar value of drug-specific patient access programs that are supported by the manufacturer. 8. The relative financial impacts to health, medical, or social services costs that can be quantified and compared to baseline effects of existing therapeutic alternatives. 9. The average patient copay or other cost sharing for the drug. If the board determines that a prescription drug will lead to an affordability challenge, the bill directs the board to establish an upper payment limit for that drug that applies to all purchases and payor reimbursements of the drug dispensed or administered to individuals in Wisconsin. In establishing the upper payment limit, the board must consider the cost of administering the drug, the cost of delivering it to consumers, and other relevant administrative costs. For certain drugs, the board must solicit information from the manufacturer regarding the price increase and, if the board determines that the price increase is not a result of the need for increased manufacturing capacity or other effort to improve patient access during a public health emergency, the board must establish an upper payment limit equal to the drug[s cost prior to the price increase. Further, this bill provides $500,000 in program revenue in fiscal year 2026]27 for onetime implementation costs associated with establishing an Office of Prescription Drug Affordability in OCI. The bill provides that the Office of Prescription Drug Affordability is responsible for prescription drug affordability programming within OCI and for overseeing the operations of the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board. Additionally, the bill authorizes and funds for fiscal year 2026]27 16.0 positions for the Office of Prescription Drug Affordability. Finally, the bill credits to the appropriation account for OCI[s general program operations all moneys received from the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy benefit management brokers, pharmacy benefit management consultants, pharmacy services administrative organizations, and pharmaceutical sales representatives. 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 |
SB50 | Health care costs omnibus, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Elimination of cost sharing for prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program Under current law, certain persons who receive health services under the Medical Assistance program, also known in this state as BadgerCare, are required to contribute a cost-sharing payment to the cost of certain health services. This bill eliminates all cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under the Medical LRB-1423/1 JPC:all 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 Assistance program. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. Cost-sharing cap on insulin The bill prohibits every health insurance policy and governmental self-insured health plan that covers insulin and imposes cost sharing on prescription drugs from imposing cost sharing on insulin in an amount that exceeds $35 for a one-month supply. Current law requires every health insurance policy that provides coverage of expenses incurred for treatment of diabetes to provide coverage for specified expenses and items, including insulin. The required coverage under current law for certain diabetes treatments other than insulin infusion pumps is subject to the same exclusions, limitations, deductibles, and coinsurance provisions of the policy as other covered expenses. The bill[s cost-sharing limitation on insulin supersedes the specification that the exclusions, limitations, deductibles, and coinsurance are the same as for other coverage. Fiduciary and disclosure requirements for pharmacy benefit managers The bill imposes fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers. Pharmacy benefit managers contract with health plans that provide prescription drug benefits to administer those benefits for the plans. They also have contracts with pharmacies and pay the pharmacies for providing drugs to the plan beneficiaries. The bill provides that a pharmacy benefit manager owes a fiduciary duty to a health plan sponsor. The bill also requires that a pharmacy benefit manager annually disclose all of the following information to the plan sponsor: 1. The indirect profit received by the pharmacy benefit manager from owning a pharmacy or service provider. 2. Any payments made to a consultant or broker who works on behalf of the plan sponsor. 3. From the amounts received from drug manufacturers, the amounts retained by the pharmacy benefit manager that are related to the plan sponsor[s claims or bona fide service fees. 4. The amounts received from network pharmacies and the amount retained by the pharmacy benefit manager. Reimbursements for certain 340B program entities The bill prohibits any person from reimbursing certain entities that participate in the federal drug pricing program, known as the 340B program, for a drug subject to an agreement under the program at a rate lower than that paid for the same drug to pharmacies that have a similar prescription volume. The bill also prohibits a person from imposing any fee, charge back, or other adjustment on the basis of the entity[s participation in the 340B program. The entities covered by the prohibitions under the bill are federally qualified health centers, critical access hospitals, and grantees under the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, as well LRB-1423/1 JPC:all 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 as these entities[ pharmacies and any pharmacy with which any of the entities have contracted to dispense drugs through the 340B program. Drug repository program Under current law, the Department of Health Services must maintain a drug repository program under which any person may donate certain drugs or supplies to be dispensed to and used by eligible individuals, prioritizing uninsured and indigent individuals. The bill allows DHS to partner with out-of-state drug repository programs. The bill also allows out-of-state persons to donate to the drug repository program in Wisconsin and persons in Wisconsin to donate to participating drug repository programs in other states. Further, the bill directs DHS to study and implement a centralized, physical drug repository program. Value-based diabetes medication pilot project The bill directs the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to develop a pilot project under which a pharmacy benefit manager and pharmaceutical manufacturer are directed to create a value-based, sole-source arrangement to reduce the costs of prescription diabetes medication. The bill allows OCI to promulgate rules to implement the pilot project. Pharmacist continuing education credits for volunteering at free and charitable clinics Under current law, a licensed pharmacist must renew his or her license every two years. An applicant for renewal of a pharmacist license must submit proof that he or she has completed 30 hours of continuing education within the two-year period immediately preceding the date of his or her application. The bill allows pharmacists to meet up to 10 hours of the continuing education requirement for each two-year period by volunteering at a free and charitable clinic approved by the Pharmacy Examining Board. Prescription drug importation program The bill requires the commissioner of insurance, in consultation with persons interested in the sale and pricing of prescription drugs and federal officials and agencies, to design and implement a prescription drug importation program for the benefit of and that generates savings for Wisconsin residents. The bill establishes requirements for the program, including all of the following: 1. The commissioner must designate a state agency to become a licensed wholesale distributor or contract with a licensed wholesale distributor and to seek federal certification and approval to import prescription drugs. 2. The program must comply with certain federal regulations and import from Canadian suppliers only prescription drugs that are not brand-name drugs, have fewer than four competitor drugs in this country, and for which importation creates substantial savings. 3. The commissioner must ensure that prescription drugs imported under the program are not distributed, dispensed, or sold outside of Wisconsin. LRB-1423/1 JPC:all 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 4. The program must have an audit procedure to ensure the program complies with certain requirements specified in the bill. Before submitting the proposed program to the federal government for certification, the commissioner must submit the proposed program to the Joint Committee on Finance for its approval. Pharmacy benefits tool grants The bill directs OCI to award grants in an amount of up to $500,000 in each fiscal year to health care providers to develop and implement a patient pharmacy benefits tool that would allow prescribers to disclose the cost of prescription drugs for patients. The tool must be usable by physicians and other prescribers to determine the cost of prescription drugs for their patients. Any health care provider that receives a grant to develop and implement a patient pharmacy benefits tool is required to contribute matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the total grant awarded. Prescription drug purchasing entity study The bill requires OCI to conduct a study on the viability of creating or implementing a state prescription drug purchasing entity. Licensure of pharmacy services administrative organizations The bill requires that a pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO) be licensed by OCI. Under the bill, a PSAO is an entity operating in Wisconsin that does all of the following: 1. Contracts with an independent pharmacy to conduct business on the pharmacy[s behalf with a third-party payer. 2. Provides at least one administrative service to an independent pharmacy and negotiates and enters into a contract with a third-party payer or pharmacy benefit manager on the pharmacy[s behalf. The bill defines Xindependent pharmacyY to mean a licensed pharmacy operating in Wisconsin that is under common ownership with no more than two other pharmacies. XAdministrative serviceY is defined to mean assisting with claims or audits, providing centralized payment, performing certification in a specialized care program, providing compliance support, setting flat fees for generic drugs, assisting with store layout, managing inventory, providing marketing support, providing management and analysis of payment and drug dispensing data, or providing resources for retail cash cards. The bill defines Xthird-party payerY to mean an entity operating in Wisconsin that pays or insures health, medical, or prescription drug expenses on behalf of beneficiaries. The bill uses the current law definition of Xpharmacy benefit manager,Y which is an entity doing business in Wisconsin that contracts to administer or manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of an insurer or other entity that provides prescription drug benefits to Wisconsin residents. To obtain the license required by the bill, a person must apply to OCI and provide the contact information for the applicant and a contact person, evidence of LRB-1423/1 JPC:all 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 financial responsibility of at least $1,000,000, and any other information required by the commissioner by rule. Under the bill, the license fee is set by the commissioner, and the term of a license is two years. The bill also requires that a PSAO disclose to OCI the extent of any ownership or control by an entity that provides pharmacy services; provides prescription drug or device services; or manufactures, sells, or distributes prescription drugs, biologicals, or medical devices. The PSAO must notify OCI within five days of any material change in its ownership or control related to such an entity. Licensure of pharmaceutical representatives The bill requires a pharmaceutical representative to be licensed by OCI and to display the pharmaceutical representative[s license during each visit with a health care professional. The bill defines Xpharmaceutical representativeY to mean an individual who markets or promotes pharmaceuticals to health care professionals on behalf of a pharmaceutical manufacturer for compensation. The term of a license issued under the bill is one year, and the license is renewable. The application to obtain or renew a license must include the applicant[s contact information, a description of the type of work in which the applicant will engage, the license fee, an attestation that professional education requirements are met, proof that any penalties and other fees are paid, and any other information required by OCI by rule. Under the bill, the license fee is set by the commissioner. The bill requires the pharmaceutical representative to report, within four business days, any change to the information provided on the application or any material change to the pharmaceutical representative[s business operations or other information required to be reported under the bill. The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative complete a professional education course prior to becoming licensed and to annually complete at least five hours of continuing professional education courses. The coursework must include, at a minimum, training in ethical standards, whistleblower protections, and the laws and rules applicable to pharmaceutical marketing. The bill directs the commissioner to regularly publish a list of courses that fulfill the education requirements. Under the bill, a course provider must disclose any conflict of interest to the commissioner, and the courses may not be provided by the employer of a pharmaceutical representative or be funded by the pharmaceutical industry or a third party funded by the industry. The bill requires that, no later than June 1 of each year, a pharmaceutical representative report to OCI the pharmaceutical representative[s total number of contacts with health care professionals in Wisconsin, the specialties of those health care professionals, the location and duration of each contact, the pharmaceuticals discussed, and the value of any item provided to a health care professional. The bill directs the commissioner to publish the information on OCI[s website without identifying individual health care professionals. The bill requires that a pharmaceutical representative, during each contact with a health care professional, disclose the wholesale acquisition cost of any LRB-1423/1 JPC:all 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 pharmaceuticals discussed and the names of at least three generic prescription drugs from the same therapeutic class. The bill directs the commissioner to promulgate ethical standards for pharmaceutical representatives. Additionally, the bill prohibits a pharmaceutical representative from engaging in deceptive or misleading marketing of a pharmaceutical product; using a title or designation that could reasonably lead a licensed health care professional, or an employee or representative of such a professional, to believe that the pharmaceutical representative is licensed to practice in a health occupation unless the pharmaceutical representative holds a license to practice in that health occupation; or attending a patient examination without the patient[s consent. An individual who violates any of the requirements under the bill is subject to a forfeiture, and the individual[s license may be suspended or revoked. An individual whose license is revoked must wait at least two years before applying for a new license. Insulin safety net programs The bill requires insulin manufacturers to establish a program under which qualifying Wisconsin residents who are in urgent need of insulin and are uninsured or have limited insurance coverage can be dispensed insulin at a pharmacy. An individual is in urgent need of insulin if the individual needs insulin in order to avoid the likelihood of suffering a significant health consequence and possesses less than a seven-day supply of insulin readily available for use. Under the program, if a qualifying individual in urgent need of insulin provides a pharmacy with a form attesting that the individual meets the program[s eligibility requirements, specified proof of residency, and a valid insulin prescription, the pharmacy must dispense a 30-day supply of insulin to the individual and may charge the individual a copayment of no more than $35. The pharmacy may submit an electronic payment claim for the insulin[s acquisition cost to the manufacturer or agree to receive a replacement of the same insulin in the amount dispensed. The bill also requires that each insulin manufacturer establish a patient assistance program to make insulin available to any qualifying Wisconsin resident who, among other requirements, is uninsured or has limited insurance coverage and whose family income does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty line. Under the bill, an individual must apply to participate in a manufacturer[s program. If the manufacturer determines that the individual meets the program[s eligibility requirements, the manufacturer must issue the individual a statement of eligibility, which is valid for 12 months and may be renewed. Under the bill, if an individual with a statement of eligibility and valid insulin prescription requests insulin from a pharmacy, the pharmacy must submit an order to the manufacturer, who must then provide a 90-day supply of insulin at no charge to the individual or pharmacy. The pharmacy may charge the individual a copayment of no more than $50. Under the bill, a manufacturer is not required to issue a statement of eligibility if the individual has prescription drug coverage through an individual or LRB-1423/1 JPC:all 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 group health plan and the manufacturer determines that the individual[s insulin needs are better addressed through the manufacturer[s copayment assistance program. In such case, the manufacturer must provide the individual with necessary drug coupons to submit to a pharmacy, and the individual may not be required to pay more than a $50 copayment for a 90-day supply of insulin. Under the bill, if the manufacturer determines that an individual is not eligible for the patient assistance program, the individual may file an appeal with OCI. The bill directs OCI to establish procedures for deciding appeals. Under the bill, OCI must issue a decision within 10 days, and that decision is final. The bill requires that insulin manufacturers annually report to OCI certain information, including the number of individuals served and the cost of insulin dispensed under the programs and that OCI annually report to the governor and the legislature on the programs. The bill also directs OCI to conduct public outreach and develop an information sheet about the programs, conduct satisfaction surveys of individuals and pharmacies that participate in the programs, and report to the governor and the legislature on the surveys by July 1, 2028. Additionally, the bill requires that OCI develop a training program for health care navigators to assist individuals in accessing appropriate long-term insulin options and maintain a list of trained navigators. The bill provides that a manufacturer that fails to comply with the bill[s provisions may be assessed a forfeiture of up to noncompliance, which increases to $400,000 per month if the manufacturer continues to be in noncompliance after six months and to $600,000 per month if the manufacturer continues to be in noncompliance after one year. The bill[s requirements do not apply to manufacturers with annual insulin sales revenue in Wisconsin of no more than $2,000,000 or to insulin that costs less than a specified dollar amount. Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board The bill creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board, whose purpose is to protect Wisconsin residents and other stakeholders from the high costs of prescription drugs. The board consists of the commissioner of insurance and the following members, all of whom are appointed by the governor for four-year terms: 1. Two members who represent the pharmaceutical drug industry, at least one of whom is a licensed pharmacist. 2. Two members who represent the health insurance industry. 3. Two members who represent the health care industry, at least one of whom is a licensed practitioner. 4. Two members who represent the interests of the public. The bill requires the board to meet in open session at least four times per year to review prescription drug pricing information. The board must provide at least two weeks[ public notice of each meeting, make the meeting[s materials publicly available at least one week prior to the meeting, and provide the opportunity for LRB-1423/1 JPC:all $200,000 per month of 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 public comment. The bill imposes conflict of interest requirements for the board relating to recusal and public disclosure of certain conflicts. The bill directs the board to access and assess drug pricing information, to the extent practicable, by accessing and assessing information from other states, by assessing spending for the drug in Wisconsin, and by accessing other available pricing information. Under the bill, the board must conduct drug cost affordability reviews. The board must identify prescription drugs whose launch wholesale acquisition cost exceeds specified thresholds, prescription drugs whose increase in wholesale acquisition cost exceeds specified thresholds, and other prescription drugs that may create affordability challenges for the health care system in Wisconsin. For each identified prescription drug, the board must determine whether to conduct an affordability review by seeking stakeholder input and considering the average patient cost share for the drug. During an affordability review, the board must determine whether use of the prescription drug that is fully consistent with the labeling approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration or standard medical practice has led or will lead to an affordability challenge for the health care system in Wisconsin. In making this determination, the bill requires the board to consider a variety of factors, which include the following: 1. The drug[s wholesale acquisition cost. 2. The average monetary price concession, discount, or rebate the manufacturer provides, or is expected to provide, for the drug to health plans. 3. The total amount of price concessions, discounts, and rebates the manufacturer provides to each pharmacy benefit manager for the drug. 4. The price at which therapeutic alternatives have been sold and the average monetary concession, discount, or rebate the manufacturer provides, or is expected to provide, to health plan payors and pharmacy benefit managers for therapeutic alternatives. 5. The costs to health plans based on patient access consistent with federal labeled indications and recognized standard medical practice. 6. The impact on patient access resulting from the drug[s cost relative to insurance benefit design. 7. The current or expected dollar value of drug-specific patient access programs that are supported by the manufacturer. 8. The relative financial impacts to health, medical, or social services costs that can be quantified and compared to baseline effects of existing therapeutic alternatives. 9. The average patient copay or other cost sharing for the drug. If the board determines that a prescription drug will lead to an affordability challenge, the bill directs the board to establish an upper payment limit for that drug that applies to all purchases and payor reimbursements of the drug dispensed or administered to individuals in Wisconsin. In establishing the upper payment limit, the board must consider the cost of administering the drug, the cost of delivering it to consumers, and other relevant administrative costs. For certain LRB-1423/1 JPC:all 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 50 drugs, the board must solicit information from the manufacturer regarding the price increase and, if the board determines that the price increase is not a result of the need for increased manufacturing capacity or other effort to improve patient access during a public health emergency, the board must establish an upper payment limit equal to the drug[s cost prior to the price increase. Further, this bill provides $500,000 in program revenue in fiscal year 2026]27 for onetime implementation costs associated with establishing an Office of Prescription Drug Affordability in OCI. The bill provides that the Office of Prescription Drug Affordability is responsible for prescription drug affordability programming within OCI and for overseeing the operations of the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board. Additionally, the bill authorizes and funds for fiscal year 2026]27 16.0 positions for the Office of Prescription Drug Affordability. Finally, the bill credits to the appropriation account for OCI[s general program operations all moneys received from the regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacy benefit management brokers, pharmacy benefit management consultants, pharmacy services administrative organizations, and pharmaceutical sales representatives. 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 |
SB20 | Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) | Under current law, the Wisconsin earned income tax credit is equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit, and subject to certain exceptions, a married claimant must file a joint return to claim both the Wisconsin EITC and the federal EITC. This bill allows a married claimant to file a separate return to claim the Wisconsin EITC if the claimant lives apart from the claimant[s spouse when filing the return and is unable to file a joint return because of domestic abuse. The bill defines Xdomestic abuseY as 1) intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or illness; 2) intentional impairment of physical condition; 3) first-, second-, or third-degree sexual assault; or 4) a physical act that may cause reasonable fear of imminent engagement in any of the conduct listed above. Under the bill, the amount of the Wisconsin EITC is equal to the amount that the claimant would be eligible to claim if the claimant were considered unmarried. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-0088/1 KP:cdc 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 20 | In Committee |
AB20 | Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) | Under current law, the Wisconsin earned income tax credit is equal to a percentage of the federal earned income tax credit, and subject to certain exceptions, a married claimant must file a joint return to claim both the Wisconsin EITC and the federal EITC. This bill allows a married claimant to file a separate return to claim the Wisconsin EITC if the claimant lives apart from the claimant[s spouse when filing the return and is unable to file a joint return because of domestic abuse. The bill defines Xdomestic abuseY as 1) intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or illness; 2) intentional impairment of physical condition; 3) first-, second-, or third-degree sexual assault; or 4) a physical act that may cause reasonable fear of imminent engagement in any of the conduct listed above. Under the bill, the amount of the Wisconsin EITC is equal to the amount that the claimant would be eligible to claim if the claimant were considered unmarried. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. | In Committee |
SJR10 | Proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month. | Relating to: proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month. | 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 |
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 |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
SB108 | Sharing minors’ safety plans. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Nay |
SB283 | Public protective services hearing protection assistance. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Nay |
AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Nay |
AB279 | Talent recruitment grants. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 06/24/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
SB24 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
AB23 | Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
AB43 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
AB137 | Maximum life and allocation period for Tax Incremental District Number 9 in the village of DeForest and the total value of taxable property that may be included in tax incremental financing districts created in the village of DeForest. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
AB140 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Port Washington. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 05/13/2025 | Yea |
AB73 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
AB165 | Local guaranteed income programs. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
AB162 | Workforce metrics. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Nay |
AB168 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Nay |
AB169 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 04/22/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
AB103 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Nay |
AB104 | Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Nay |
AB105 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/20/2025 | Nay |
AB24 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/18/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
AB15 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
AB16 | Repealing an administrative rule of the Department of Natural Resources related to the possession of firearms. | Assembly: Referred to Environment | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
AB13 | The suspension of a rule of the Elections Commission. | Assembly: Referred to Campaigns and Elections | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
AB66 | Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes. | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
AB75 | Department of Justice collection and reporting of certain criminal case data. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
AB85 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
AB85 | Recommendation to revoke extended supervision, parole, or probation if a person is charged with a crime. (FE) | Assembly: Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 laid on table | 03/13/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
AB3 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Nay |
AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Assembly: Read a third time and passed | 02/19/2025 | Nay |
AB4 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) | Assembly: Decision of the Chair upheld | 02/19/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
SJR2 | Requiring photographic identification to vote in any election (second consideration). | Assembly: Read a third time and concurred in | 01/14/2025 | Nay |
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 | Nay |
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 45 | Assembly | Democrat | In Office | 01/03/2023 |