Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 393: Relating to: school bus operation by drivers over 70 and drivers with medical conditions.

SB 393 allows school bus drivers over 70 or those whose endorsement was canceled due to medical conditions to reinstate their license by providing a healthcare provider's certification confirming they can safely operate a school bus. It requires drivers aged 70 or older to submit annual medical certification and undergo a medical review every four years to maintain their school bus endorsement. The bill establishes a clear reinstatement process: the department must reinstate the endorsement upon receiving proper medical documentation unless a reviewing board determines it's inappropriate. This directly affects school bus drivers in these categories by modifying medical review and reinstatement procedures.

Topics ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 88: Relating to: the membership of the Professional Standards Council for Teachers.

SB 88 amends Wisconsin Statute 15.377 (8) (c) 14 to change membership requirements for the Professional Standards Council for Teachers (PSCT). It removes the current requirement that one council member must be "licensed as a teacher by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI)," replacing it with a requirement that the member be "employed as a teacher in a tribal school" and recommended by a federally recognized Wisconsin tribe with a tribal school. This change directly affects the PSCT’s composition by expanding eligibility for the tribal school representative position to include teachers without DPI licenses who work in tribal schools. The bill does not alter the council’s advisory role to the Department of Public Instruction or other council membership rules.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 87: Relating to: a lifetime license that authorizes an individual to teach an American Indian language in an American Indian language program and modifying rules promulgated by the Department of Public Instruction. (FE)

SB 87 creates a process where federally recognized American Indian tribes in Wisconsin can review applicants for lifetime teaching licenses in their specific American Indian language programs. If a tribe opts in by notifying the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in writing, DPI must inform the tribe when an applicant applies, and the tribe then decides whether to endorse the applicant for a lifetime license or recommend a lower-tier license renewal. The bill modifies existing law so DPI can only issue these specific lifetime licenses if the associated tribe provides written endorsement of the applicant's language proficiency. This directly affects tribes, applicants seeking these licenses, and DPI in administering the licensing process for American Indian language educators.

Topics ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 89: Relating to: requiring school districts to report information related to American Indian children attending school in the school district.

SB 89 requires Wisconsin school districts to report the number, ages, and tribal affiliation of American Indian students attending their schools. Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, this data must be included in districts' annual reports to the Department of Public Instruction. The bill expands existing reporting requirements to mandate this information, which was previously collected voluntarily by some districts since 2021-22. The term "American Indian" is defined under Wisconsin law (s. 115.71(2)).

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 491: Relating to: video monitoring or recording in residential care centers for children and youth, group homes, and shelter care facilities.

AB 491 allows residential care centers for children and youth, group homes, and shelter care facilities to use video surveillance in common areas, entrances, and exits without a child’s consent, provided they inform the child and their parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Facilities must adopt a safety monitoring policy that may include such video use and are prohibited from replacing one-on-one supervision for high-risk children with video alone. Video recordings are kept confidential (not public) but may be reviewed by the department, with exceptions for public inspection mirroring existing confidentiality rules. The bill applies directly to these child care facilities and the children they serve.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 283: Relating to: making certain child care expenditures eligible for the business development tax credit. (FE)

AB 283 expands Wisconsin's business development tax credit to include specific child care costs incurred by employers for their employees. It allows businesses to claim a tax credit covering up to 15% of eligible expenses, such as capital costs to start a child care program, operational costs, reimbursements for employee child care, purchased child care slots, and contributions to dependent care flexible spending accounts. This directly affects businesses operating in Wisconsin that provide child care benefits to employees, making these costs deductible under the existing tax credit program. The bill modifies tax code sections to define these eligible expenses and sets the effective date for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 442: Relating to: requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke in operating rooms. (FE)

SB 442 requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to implement policies preventing exposure to surgical smoke during procedures that generate it. The bill mandates the use of smoke evacuation systems - equipment capturing harmful smoke at its source - during any surgery likely to produce surgical smoke (like laser or electrosurgical procedures), unless a provider determines it's unnecessary for a specific case. It directly affects healthcare facilities and surgical staff by establishing a new safety standard for operating rooms. Key provisions define "surgical smoke" and clarify that facilities must adopt these policies, with providers retaining limited discretion to exempt specific procedures. The law aims to reduce respiratory and eye exposure risks for medical personnel and patients.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 328: Relating to: providing permanency plan and comments to out-of-home care providers in advance of a permanency plan review or hearing. (FE)

AB 328 requires child welfare agencies to share a redacted copy of a child's permanency plan and any written comments with out-of-home care providers (such as foster parents or group homes) **before** a permanency plan review or court hearing. The bill mandates that agencies remove confidential information protected by state or federal law (like medical records or sensitive family details) before sharing. This change directly affects foster care providers by giving them advance access to plan details, helping them prepare for reviews. It applies to both foster care (under Chapter 48) and juvenile justice systems (Chapter 938), effective 30 days after enactment. The bill does not alter permanency plan content but ensures providers receive timely, relevant information.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 384: Relating to: virtual currency kiosks.

AB 384 regulates virtual currency kiosks (machines that exchange cash for cryptocurrency or vice versa) by requiring operators to obtain state licenses, display a specific fraud warning before every transaction, and verify customer identities using government ID and photos. It limits daily transactions to $1,000 in cash, caps fees at $5 or 3% of the transaction amount, and mandates refunds for fraud victims who report incidents within 30 days. The law directly affects kiosk operators (who must comply with licensing and ID rules) and customers (who receive fraud protections and transaction limits). These provisions aim to reduce scams and financial risks associated with in-person crypto exchanges.

Topics ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 412: Relating to: creation of a farmland link program. (FE)

SB 412 creates a state-run "farmland link program" to connect property owners with land available for farming to farmers or agricultural businesses seeking land exclusively for farming. The program, managed by the state department (likely Agriculture), will operate a public website for these connections and provide assistance with land transfers. The department must report annually to the governor and legislature on the number of farms, acres, and users served by the program. This directly affects landowners, farmers, and agricultural businesses seeking to use land for farming purposes.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 386: Relating to: virtual currency kiosks.

SB 386 regulates virtual currency kiosks in the state, requiring operators to obtain a license and directly affecting both kiosk businesses and customers using these services. Key provisions include mandatory fraud warnings displayed physically and electronically before every transaction, strict identity verification (requiring government ID copies, photos, and personal details for each customer), and daily transaction limits of $1,000 in traditional money. The bill also caps fees at $5 or 3% of the transaction amount and mandates refunds for customers fraudulently induced into transactions within 30 days. These rules aim to enhance consumer protection while establishing clear operational standards for kiosk operators.

Topics ✗ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 473: Relating to: postloss assignment of rights or benefits under property insurance policies to residential contractors and providing a penalty. (FE)

AB 473 prevents residential contractors from promising to rebate insurance deductibles or negotiating claims on behalf of homeowners after disasters like fires, floods, or tornadoes. It requires contractors to provide a written notice in bold type explaining that signing an assignment transfers insurance claim rights, including a 5-day cancellation window and a warning that insurers may not cover all claimed costs. The bill applies to contractors repairing residential roofs or exterior damage from covered events, ensuring homeowners understand they may still owe costs if insurance doesn’t cover full repairs. Assignments must itemize work and costs but cannot override insurer terms or mortgagee rights.

Bill results