Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 109: Relating to: clinician initiation of emergency detention of a minor and providing a penalty.

SB 109 allows licensed mental health clinicians (like psychologists, psychiatrists, or clinical social workers) in counties with fewer than 750,000 residents to initiate emergency detentions for minors under specific conditions. To qualify, clinicians must complete county-approved training, document their belief that a minor is mentally ill, drug-dependent, or developmentally disabled, and confirm that custody is the least restrictive option. The county department of community programs must approve the detention before a minor can be taken into custody and transported to a treatment facility. This bill directly affects clinicians who may now initiate such detentions, minors in crisis, and county departments responsible for oversight and transportation.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 36: Relating to: law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE)

AB 36 allows retired law enforcement officers and firefighters in Wisconsin to opt out of rejoining the state retirement system if they return to work for a local government employer. It specifically applies to those who retire and later get rehired by a participating employer (like a city or county fire department). The bill requires three conditions: the retiree must not have a prior agreement to return to that employer, must not have a pending employment contract, and must actively choose not to rejoin the retirement system using a department-provided form. This prevents automatic re-enrollment in the retirement system for these specific retirees who choose to opt out.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 124: Relating to: prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty.

AB 124 prohibits individuals convicted of a violent crime from changing their name, with violations punishable as a Class H felony. The bill amends existing state laws to explicitly block all name change requests - whether through court orders or vital records updates - for people with such convictions. This applies to all name change processes, including those for birth records, marriage records, or court-ordered changes. The law does not affect name changes for individuals without violent crime convictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 295: Relating to: the use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE)

This bill permits courts to use artificial intelligence translation tools instead of or alongside human interpreters in both civil and criminal court proceedings. It applies to all court settings requiring language assistance, including municipal courts and criminal trials. The key change is that courts no longer need to obtain waivers from parties to use AI translation, which differs from current rules for human interpreters. It directly affects non-English speakers accessing court services and court staff managing interpretation needs.

Topics ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 292: Relating to: the use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE)

AB 292 allows courts to use artificial intelligence or machine-assisted translation services instead of or alongside human interpreters in both civil and criminal court proceedings. It also updates rules to permit telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials (beyond just non-trial stages) and clarifies that using AI translation does not require a waiver that would normally be needed for alternative interpretation methods. This bill directly affects court proceedings involving language barriers, expanding options for language assistance without mandating AI use. The law amends specific statutes to implement these changes, focusing on procedural flexibility for courts.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AJR 61: Relating to: proclaiming June 6, 2025, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Wisconsin.

AJR 61 is a symbolic resolution, not a law, that formally designates June 6, 2025, as "Gun Violence Awareness Day" in Wisconsin. It does not create new legal requirements or affect any specific group; instead, it serves as a ceremonial recognition of gun violence impacts. The resolution cites Wisconsin's statistics on gun-related deaths and injuries to frame the awareness day, but it contains no policy changes or funding mechanisms. This procedural action aims to highlight the issue through official proclamation, consistent with similar resolutions in other states.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 281: Relating to: allowing certified advanced practice nurse prescribers to engage in the practice of radiography.

SB 281 would allow certified advanced practice nurses who can prescribe medications (under Section 441.16(2)) to also perform radiography, such as taking X-rays. This bill directly affects these nurses by expanding their scope of practice to include radiography without requiring separate certification. The key provision creates a new statutory section (462.02(2)(g)) to explicitly permit this expanded practice. The bill does not change requirements for other radiography professionals or alter existing radiology regulations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 60: Relating to: proclaiming June 6, 2025, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Wisconsin.

This bill (SJR 60) is a symbolic resolution that formally proclaims June 6, 2025, as "Gun Violence Awareness Day" in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies but uses the legislature's authority to recognize gun violence as a critical public health issue, citing statistics on firearm deaths and injuries in Wisconsin (including 741 annual gun deaths, 64% suicides, and 1,500 annual injuries). The resolution aims to raise public awareness and align with broader efforts to address gun violence, as noted in its "whereas" clauses referencing national and state data. It directly affects all Wisconsin residents by designating a specific day for community reflection and education on the topic.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 295: Relating to: allowing certified advanced practice nurse prescribers to engage in the practice of radiography.

This bill would permit certified advanced practice nurses (who prescribe medications) to perform radiography services, such as X-rays, as part of their existing practice. It creates a new statutory provision explicitly expanding their scope to include radiography without requiring separate radiography certification. The change directly affects these nurse prescribers, allowing them to conduct medical imaging procedures in healthcare settings. The bill was introduced in 2025 and referred to the Health committee for review.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 163: Relating to: redeterminations of eligibility for the Medical Assistance program and database confirmation for public assistance program eligibility. (FE)

AB 163 requires regular eligibility reviews for the Medical Assistance program (a public health benefits program) every six months, replacing automatic renewals. Recipients must report changes affecting their benefits within 10 days or face a six-month loss of coverage. The bill mandates state agencies to cross-check public benefit databases against death records and other state databases (like employment or prison records) every three months to remove deceased individuals and verify eligibility. It also establishes data-sharing agreements between agencies to confirm applicant information using sources like federal benefit records, with all eligibility reviews required to be completed by January 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 177: Relating to: sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE)

AB 177 exempts diapers and feminine hygiene products from state sales tax. The bill defines "diapers" as absorbent garments for people with incontinence and "feminine hygiene products" to include tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and similar items (excluding grooming products like soap or toothpaste). It adds these categories to the list of tax-exempt items under Wisconsin’s sales tax code (77.54(75)), directly affecting consumers who purchase these essential products. The exemption applies to both retail sales and use of these items, removing a tax burden on these daily necessities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 19: Relating to: fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE)

SB 19 creates a fee waiver for Wisconsin state park vehicle admissions for families with 4th graders who have an active Every Kid Outdoors pass from the U.S. National Park Service. It directly affects Wisconsin residents who are parents or guardians of eligible 4th graders, waiving the annual vehicle admission fee (including issuance costs) for vehicles with Wisconsin plates. The bill requires proof of the child's pass and the parent/guardian's ownership of the vehicle. This policy change provides free access to state parks for these families without altering existing park fees for other visitors.

Bill results