AB 581 creates two new disaster assistance grant programs funded through the state budget: a $10 million annual program for individuals affected by disasters and a $20 million annual program for businesses impacted by disasters. The bill establishes new statutory sections (20.465(3)(bf) and 20.465(3)(bg)) to formalize these biennial funding streams. These grants will directly assist residents and small businesses recovering from declared disasters by providing direct financial support. The legislation specifies the exact funding amounts for each program in the state's budget schedule without detailing eligibility criteria or application processes.
AB 546 redefines "abortion" in state statutes to exclude specific medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. It clarifies that procedures like emergency cesareans, early inductions, or removal of dead embryos/fetuses - especially during ectopic, anembryonic, or molar pregnancies - do not count as abortion. The bill creates consistent definitions across multiple statutes (including 20.927, 48.375, and 69.01) to ensure these medical exceptions apply uniformly. It directly affects healthcare providers by clarifying legal boundaries for life-saving treatments during complex pregnancies. The bill does not restrict access to these procedures but explicitly defines them as non-abortion under the law.
AB 580 creates a state grant program to help individuals and businesses recover from disasters declared by the governor. It provides up to $25,000 per household for individuals to cover home repairs, damaged property, or temporary housing, and up to $50,000 per business for repairs, payroll, or operating costs. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster declaration, and grants cannot duplicate federal aid if available. The program is administered by the Department of Military Affairs, with eligibility requiring proof of disaster-related expenses and a commitment to repay if other aid is received.
AB 589 eliminates specific abortion-related requirements from medical licensing regulations. It removes references to abortion procedures from statutes governing medical board investigations (amending §448.02) and repeals sections requiring parental consent, ultrasound disclosures, or abortion-specific definitions (like §253.10). This directly affects physicians and medical licensing boards by removing mandatory reporting obligations related to abortion care. The bill streamlines medical oversight by excluding abortion-related violations from the list of unprofessional conduct that triggers board investigations.
AB 301 creates a new grant program providing up to $300,000 annually for mental health clubhouses - nonresidential support programs for individuals with mental health conditions (not medical treatment providers). Eligible clubhouses must meet specific criteria, including having members diagnosed with or awaiting diagnosis for mental illness, raising matching funds equal to the grant amount, operating in a separate physical space, and allowing member participation in operations. Grants are capped at $50,000 per clubhouse per year, with all funding expiring by June 30, 2030. This bill directly affects qualified clubhouses seeking financial support to maintain their services.
SB 547 eliminates specific abortion-related regulations in Wisconsin statutes. It repeals requirements for parental consent for minors seeking abortions (repealing 253.10), mandatory ultrasounds (repealing 441.07), and certain medical certification rules (repealing 457.26 and 940.15). The bill also amends provisions related to medical emergency definitions and updates references to "induced abortion" in other laws. These changes directly affect healthcare providers by removing reporting burdens and minors seeking abortion services by eliminating parental consent and ultrasound mandates. The bill takes effect March 1, 2026, after repeal of the referenced statutes.
AB 410 provides state funding through grants to community organizations for falls prevention awareness programs and initiatives. It directly affects local health agencies, senior service providers, and community groups working with at-risk populations, particularly older adults. The bill establishes a specific appropriation from the state budget to support these prevention efforts. This is a funding measure, not a regulatory change, and focuses on allocating resources for education and outreach programs.
AB 574 updates Wisconsin's voter registration processes to improve accuracy by requiring election officials to verify voters' addresses using U.S. Postal Service data. It mandates that clerks remove voters from registration lists if they no longer reside at their registered address (e.g., when a postcard is returned or USPS data shows a change), and requires timely notifications to voters and election authorities about status changes. This affects all registered voters whose addresses need verification and election officials responsible for maintaining voter rolls. The bill streamlines existing procedures by standardizing address verification, removal triggers, and reporting requirements for voter registration lists.
SB 557 creates two new biennial grant programs for disaster assistance: a $10 million program for individuals and a $20 million program for businesses. The bill directly affects residents and businesses impacted by disasters by establishing recurring state funding for these grants. Key provisions specify the exact annual funding amounts ($10M for individuals, $20M for businesses) to be allocated every two years, as shown in the bill's fiscal schedule. The legislation does not change eligibility rules or application processes but solely authorizes the appropriations for these existing assistance types.
AB 545 prevents University of Wisconsin System institutions from charging students supplemental fees for exclusively online courses unless the fee covers specific, verifiable online costs or applies equally to in-person versions of the same course. It directly affects students enrolled in online courses at UW institutions, particularly non-resident students who might face higher fees. The bill adds a new requirement (36.27(1)(c)) that prohibits unjustified fees for online-only courses while allowing fees tied to actual online-specific expenses or those applied consistently to in-person equivalents. This policy change targets course-related charges, not tuition rates, and applies starting 30 days after the law takes effect.
SB 594 allows local governments (counties, cities, towns, school districts) to adopt ranked-choice voting for nonpartisan local elections. It defines ranked-choice voting as a system where voters rank candidates in order of preference for each office, and requires local governing bodies to adopt it via ordinance or resolution - prohibiting primaries for these races. The bill also creates a grant program to fund local governments' equipment and software upgrades for implementing ranked-choice voting. It applies only to nonpartisan local elections, not state-level or partisan races.
SB 558 creates two new grant programs to assist individuals and businesses affected by state-declared disasters. It authorizes the Department of Military Affairs to award grants of up to $25,000 per household for individuals (covering home repairs, temporary housing, and damaged property) and up to $50,000 per business (covering property repairs, payroll, and operating costs) following a governor’s disaster emergency declaration after January 1, 2025. The bill requires applicants to submit receipts and sign affidavits to prevent duplicate funding from insurance or federal aid, and explicitly prohibits grants if federal assistance is already available for the same disaster. This legislation directly affects residents and businesses in areas impacted by declared state emergencies, providing supplemental support after federal aid is exhausted.
