AB 59 restricts how private community water systems can use federal capitalization grant funds for infrastructure projects. It specifically prohibits using these funds for principal forgiveness on loans, except when the loan is exclusively for replacing lead service lines. This directly affects private water system owners who receive federal grants under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill was withdrawn from committee in June 2025 and did not advance further.
AB 246 requires certain health insurance plans - including those covering government employees (state, county, city, town, village, or school district) and disability insurance - to cover asthma medications and related supplies like inhalers. It limits out-of-pocket costs to $25 per month for each asthma medication and $50 total for all related supplies, with no deductibles applied. The law applies specifically to these government-backed plans and self-insured employer plans, not all health insurance. It ensures asthma treatment remains affordable without requiring patients to meet deductibles first.
AB 171 allows Wisconsin judicial officers (such as judges) to request privacy protections for their personal information, including home addresses and secondary residences, from public disclosure. The bill requires government agencies and land records websites to remove such information from public records within 10 business days after receiving a notarized written request from a judicial officer. It defines specific criteria for third parties (like title companies or entities with confidentiality agreements) to access protected records under limited circumstances. This law directly affects judicial officers' privacy by creating a formal process to shield their personal details from public view, while maintaining access for authorized entities under defined conditions.
AB 132 creates a "nuclear power summit board" to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit in Madison, requiring the event to occur within one month after a specific university academic term begins. The board includes appointed legislators (two senators, two assembly members), the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation CEO, a governor-appointed member, and nonvoting industry/faculty representatives. It is funded through a dedicated appropriation from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, with the summit allowing free attendance for Wisconsin residents and varying registration fees for others. The board must disband 180 days after the summit concludes, returning remaining assets to the University of Wisconsin-Madison's nuclear engineering program.
AB 121 reorganizes existing battery-related statutes into a new, clearer structure without changing penalties or legal definitions. It consolidates and renumbers sections covering battery offenses (e.g., battery by prisoners, battery against firefighters, and elder abuse) into new statutory sections like 940.61, 940.62, and 940.66. For example, it moves provisions about battery to firefighters from old sections to 940.62 and creates a new definition of "recklessly" for elder abuse cases under 940.66. The bill primarily streamlines the legal code for easier reference, as all referenced penalties and conditions remain unchanged from prior law.
AB 176 repeals the financial eligibility requirement (section 46.87(5m)) for Wisconsin's Alzheimer's family and caregiver support program. It updates two sections of the law to remove references to this repealed requirement, clarifying that eligibility now depends on meeting the financial criteria previously defined under the repealed section. The bill directly affects Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers in residential facilities who previously needed to satisfy these financial standards to receive program services. The key change is eliminating the specific financial threshold that determined program access, streamlining eligibility without creating new benefits or funding. This is a technical adjustment to existing statutes, not a substantive policy change.
AB 107 establishes a legal process for nonprofit cooperative health care associations (organized under §185.981) to convert into service insurance corporations. It requires the cooperative’s board to create a detailed conversion plan (including reasons, terms, and new name), which must be approved by the state insurance commissioner before member voting. If approved by both the commissioner and members, the cooperative files articles of conversion with the Department of Financial Institutions, becoming a new service insurance corporation that inherits all assets and obligations. This bill directly affects health care co-ops seeking to operate under a different corporate structure, with no financial compensation allowed for conversion-related work beyond regular salaries.
AB 111 establishes new regulatory standards for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) serving individuals under 21. It requires state certification for PRTFs, sets federal compliance standards for services, and mandates that facilities meet specific safety and treatment protocols. The bill also grants the state health department rule-making authority to set bed limits, security requirements, and geographic distribution priorities for PRTFs - prioritizing northern/north-central and southern regions for new facilities. Additionally, it clarifies reimbursement processes tied to federal approval and permits video monitoring in common areas with patient notification, while prohibiting its use as a substitute for direct patient supervision.
AB 113 creates a secure online portal for sharing minors' crisis safety plans between authorized organizations. It allows minors (12+ years old) to create written plans with a facilitator, including details like emergency contacts, de-escalation strategies, and what to tell first responders during mental health or behavioral crises. Minors must sign a release form agreeing to share their plan only with designated safety partners (like schools, hospitals, or police) via the portal, which expires after one year. The portal will enable real-time access for crisis response while requiring strict confidentiality and minor consent, directly affecting minors with behavioral health needs and the agencies supporting them.
AB 285 creates a state program providing hearing protection devices to law enforcement and fire departments. The bill requires the department to obtain commercially available devices meeting specific standards - reusable, fully inserted in the ear canal, with at least 25 decibels noise reduction and a maximum output of 80 decibels - and supply them to agencies upon request. Agencies can request any quantity needed for personnel safety, focusing on protecting first responders from noise exposure during operations. The legislation establishes clear device criteria but does not address funding sources or implementation timelines.
SB 186 updates definitions in state law to align with federal standards for "volunteer fire department" as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 2229. The bill requires the state to report specific data about volunteer and paid firefighters, including the number of volunteers and the fire departments employing them. It directly affects state reporting systems and fire departments that track volunteer firefighter participation. The key change is clarifying terminology to ensure consistent reporting of volunteer firefighter statistics across state and federal frameworks.
SB 233 prohibits offering or giving anything of value (like money or items worth over $1, or $5 for specific petitions) to influence someone to sign or avoid signing certain political petitions during election periods. It directly affects individuals circulating or signing petitions related to candidate nominations, recall efforts, referendums, or propositions during defined election windows (e.g., spring, general, or special elections). Key provisions define "election period" and specifically ban inducements for petitions supporting or opposing candidates, referendums, or recall efforts. The bill creates new statutory language (12.11(1m)(a) 5-6) to clarify these restrictions and applies to nomination papers and recall petitions. It aims to prevent financial incentives from influencing petition participation in elections.
