Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 118: Relating to: a transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 118 creates a state-funded pilot program to help farmers transition to managed grazing systems, allocating $500,000 annually from the environmental fund. The program provides grants covering technical assistance, infrastructure (like fencing and water systems), and incentives during the first three years of implementing new or improved grazing practices on marginal lands (e.g., flood-prone or steep areas). Grants are limited to $40,000 per farmer, with payments phased over three years (75% upfront, then 12.5% each subsequent year). The bill directly affects farmers adopting forage-based managed grazing and requires the Department of Agriculture to support this transition through a new staff position. It does not fund existing grazing systems, focusing only on new implementations or enhancements that improve conservation and financial outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 298: Relating to: grants for technical colleges to provide mapping data to law enforcement. (FE)

AB 298 creates grants for technical colleges to develop and share digital maps of their buildings with local law enforcement. It requires these "interactive critical mapping data" systems to include specific details like building numbers, floors, and room locations - without needing additional software purchases by first responders. The grants, administered by the Office of School Safety, aim to improve emergency response coordination during incidents. This directly affects technical colleges (via district boards) and law enforcement agencies that receive the mapping data.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 27: Relating to: expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War.

AB 27 expands eligibility for state veterans' benefits to include individuals who served in Laos supporting U.S. forces during the Vietnam War and were naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill updates state statutes to define these veterans as qualifying for property tax exemptions (under 36.27) and other benefit programs (under 38.24 and 45.01). It specifically adds them to eligibility criteria for benefits previously limited to other veteran categories. This change directly affects Hmong veterans residing in the state who meet the federal naturalization requirements. The bill passed committee unanimously and is now pending in the Rules committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 172: Relating to: consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 172 creates a new consumer data protection law by defining key terms like "personal data," "biometric data," "sale of personal data," and "consumer" in section 100.80 of the statutes. This bill directly affects businesses that collect or process personal data of state residents, requiring them to follow standardized handling practices for such data. The law includes penalty provisions for violations, though specific penalty amounts and enforcement details are not provided in the available bill text.

Topics ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 113: Relating to: a transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 113 creates a pilot program to help farmers transition to managed grazing systems, which rotate livestock between pasture sections to reduce soil erosion and improve forage quality. It directly affects farmers adopting new managed grazing systems or improving existing ones, excluding support for current practices. The program provides grants covering infrastructure (fencing, water systems), technical assistance from specialists, and incentive payments for the first three years of transition, with a $40,000 annual cap per farmer. Funded by $500,000 annually from the environmental fund, grants are paid as 75% in year one and 12.5% each subsequent year. The bill also defines "marginal areas" (land unsuitable for crops like floodplains) as eligible for supplemental feed development.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 303: Relating to: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline grants. (FE)

AB 303 creates a new state grant program to fund crisis intervention services for people contacting the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from within the state. The bill requires the state department to award grants to organizations providing crisis care coordination to individuals who call or text 988. This directly affects crisis service providers that serve callers within the state's geographic boundaries. The key mechanism is a state-funded grant program administered by the department to support these organizations, ensuring consistent access to crisis care for 988 users. The bill does not change the 988 hotline's operation but provides state funding to support local crisis response services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 299: Relating to: provision of virtual mental health services for students at certain UW System institutions. (FE)

AB 299 requires the University of Wisconsin (UW) System Board to contract with a mental health service provider for virtual counseling and support for students at UW institutions with 30,000 or fewer full-time undergraduate students (as counted April 1 annually). The services must work alongside existing campus mental health programs, operate beyond standard business hours, and include proven clinical support and licensed professionals experienced with college students. Vendors must have at least five years of higher education mental health experience and provide software enabling collaboration with campus staff. The board must annually report student usage statistics system-wide and by institution to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 260: Relating to: a pilot school-centered mental health program. (FE)

AB 260 establishes a two-year pilot program providing school-centered mental health services to at-risk students and families in two schools per year (one rural, one urban/suburban). The program requires schools to already offer some behavioral health resources and agree to surveys/data sharing. It funds full-time therapists and family coaches to deliver year-round, evidence-based services - including in-school therapy, family coaching on mental health support, and connections to community health resources - while measuring impacts on students' mental health symptoms, academic performance, and basic needs like housing or food. A report on outcomes must be submitted to the legislature after the pilot ends.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 227: Relating to: inducements to sign or refrain from signing nomination papers, recall petitions, and certain other petitions.

AB 227 prohibits offering anything of value exceeding $1 (or $5 for recall and nomination petitions) to influence whether someone signs or refrains from signing specific election-related petitions. The bill defines "election period" as key time frames before spring elections (starting December 1), general elections (starting April 15), and special or recall elections. It specifically targets inducements for petitions about candidate nominations, recall efforts, or ballot measures on political/social issues during these periods. The law applies to all such transactions, including at candidate nomination meetings, to prevent undue influence on voter participation.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 59: Relating to: the use of federal capitalization grant funds for lead service line replacement. (FE)

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.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 246: Relating to: cost-sharing caps on prescription drugs and medical supplies to treat asthma under health insurance policies and plans. (FE)

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.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 171: Relating to: privacy protections for judicial officers.

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.

Topics ✓ Technology

Bill results