Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 17, 2026

AB 1232: Relating to: a University of Wisconsin System nonresident tuition exemption. (FE)

This bill would create a tuition exemption for nonresident students attending University of Wisconsin System schools if they meet specific residency and immigration status requirements. To qualify, a student must have lived in Wisconsin for 12 consecutive months before registering for classes and must have approved deferred action status under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The exemption applies to students enrolling in the semester or session following the bill's effective date. This legislation is designed to provide financial relief to certain immigrant students by allowing them to pay in-state tuition rates despite not being Wisconsin residents. The bill was introduced in March 2026 and referred to the Committee on Colleges and Universities for review.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 16, 2026

AB 1209: Relating to: modifying the income and franchise tax rate structure for individuals and corporations, creating a school aid fund, supplemental school aid, school district revenue limits, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill modifies Wisconsin's income and franchise tax rates for both individuals and corporations while establishing a new School Aid Fund to support education. It creates a separate trust fund that receives annual transfers from the general fund, with specific provisions for supplemental school aid and revenue limits for school districts. The tax structure introduces graduated rates for higher income levels, with individual and corporate brackets adjusted to increase percentages on income exceeding certain thresholds, and includes provisions for partnerships to elect entity-level taxation. Changes take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, with some rates already set for 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 1172: Relating to: human growth and development instruction. (FE)

This bill requires Wisconsin school boards to provide age-appropriate, medically accurate instruction on human growth and development in grades K-12, covering topics like puberty, reproductive anatomy, gender identity, and healthy relationships. It mandates that schools teach abstinence as the most reliable way to prevent pregnancy and STIs while also including information on contraceptives, consent, and digital safety. The legislation defines key terms such as "age-appropriate" and "medically accurate" to ensure content is scientifically based and recognized by leading health organizations. School boards must decide whether to separate students by gender during instruction and include specific subjects like enthusiastic consent and parental communication. The bill also connects marriage and parenting to parental responsibility while addressing bullying and stereotyping prevention.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 1020: Relating to: grants for patient lift devices and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 1020 creates a $300,000 grant program to help specific healthcare facilities purchase patient lift devices. Eligible facilities include adult family homes, nursing homes, community-based residential facilities, and residential care apartment complexes. Grants cover devices approved by the department that can be operated independently by residents or with staff assistance, and mechanically lift people. Recipients must report usage data, with up to $100,000 of the appropriation reserved for data collection and analysis.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 837: Relating to: grants for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration programs for persons with mental illness and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 837 creates a new state grant program providing $1.6 million annually to counties and tribes for mental health treatment alternatives to prosecution and incarceration. It directly affects low-to-medium risk individuals with mental illness who interact with the criminal justice system, excluding violent offenders as defined by law. Key provisions require grantees to establish programs using restorative justice principles, integrate mental health services, and meet evidence-based treatment standards while tracking outcomes like reduced jail populations and recidivism. Grantees must submit annual reports on program impact to the Department of Justice and an oversight committee, with data shared monthly for state evaluation. The bill mandates collaboration between courts, prosecutors, public defenders, and health agencies to coordinate care and services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 14, 2026

AB 847: Relating to: grants for alternatives to prosecution and incarceration programs for persons with mental illness and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 847 creates a state grant program providing $1.6 million annually to counties and tribes for mental health diversion programs. These programs offer alternatives to prosecution and incarceration for low-to-medium risk individuals with mental illness who interact with the criminal justice system, including deferred prosecution and restorative justice services. Eligible programs must provide holistic treatment (mental health care, housing, employment support), avoid including violent offenders, and collaborate with courts, prosecutors, and mental health providers. Counties receiving grants must submit annual reports on program impact, including effects on jail populations and participant outcomes, and comply with state audits. The bill aims to reduce incarceration costs, improve public safety, and address mental health needs through evidence-based approaches.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 13, 2026

AB 1060: Relating to: grants for falls prevention awareness and initiatives and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 1060 allocates $450,000 annually for two fiscal years (2025-26 and 2026-27) to fund falls prevention awareness and initiatives in Wisconsin. The bill directs the Department of Health Services to award this grant specifically to the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging. This funding supports statewide programs aimed at reducing fall-related injuries, primarily affecting older adults in the state. The bill makes a concrete budget adjustment to enable this grant without altering existing health service programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 13, 2026

AB 1022: Relating to: creating a baby bond program and baby bond fund, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 1022 establishes a "baby bond program" that creates a state trust fund to provide financial support for newborns. The bill requires sharing birth record information (excluding Social Security numbers) with the Department of Financial Institutions, which opens a baby bond account for each eligible child at birth. Funds in the account can be used later for specific eligible expenses like postsecondary education, home purchases, business startup, or retirement savings (as defined in §224.58). The program is funded through an annual $150,000 state appropriation, donations, and investment earnings from the baby bond fund. It directly affects all newborns in the state whose birth records are processed under the new requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 13, 2026

AB 790: Relating to: creating the water fund for our future, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 790 creates a dedicated "Water Fund for Our Future" with an initial $250 million transfer from the general fund. The fund establishes a rapid response account to cover clean water-related costs during natural disasters or public health emergencies, including remediation and assistance for affected individuals. A new joint committee oversees fund spending, reviewing requests for funding (excluding non-clean-water uses) and recommending approvals to the finance committee. All funds must be used exclusively for clean water activities, with specific rules for disbursement and oversight.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 1172: Relating to: eliminating the fee for an annual fishing license issued to a resident senior citizen and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill eliminates the $6.25 annual fishing license fee for Wisconsin resident senior citizens, making the license free for this group. To offset the lost revenue, the legislation creates a new appropriation that transfers an equal amount to the state conservation fund each fiscal year, calculated based on the number of senior fishing licenses issued multiplied by the original $7 fee amount. The changes directly affect senior citizens by removing their license cost while maintaining funding for conservation efforts through the state treasury. The bill also clarifies that there is no issuing fee for these licenses and updates related statutes to reflect the fee reduction.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 1106: Relating to: carbon monoxide detection systems on motorboats and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill requires motorboats with enclosed living spaces to be equipped with carbon monoxide detection systems and warning stickers to protect occupants from dangerous gas exposure. It mandates that the state provide free safety information and stickers when registering cabin motorboats, while also requiring dealers to ensure new boats meet these safety standards before sale. The legislation establishes specific penalties for operating or selling non-compliant boats, with fines up to $500 for first offenses and up to $300 for repeat violations. These rules apply to boats sold, registered, or operated on the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 1199: Relating to: fee for the inland waters trout stamp. (FE)

This bill proposes changing the fee for the inland waters trout stamp from $9.75 to $15.75. It directly affects anglers who purchase this stamp to fish for trout in inland waters. The change is made by amending the relevant section of the state statutes. The bill was introduced in 2026 but failed to pass during the legislative session.

Bill results