Wisconsin Bills

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 6, 2026

AB 130: Relating to: exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE)

AB 130 exempts specific groups from certain PFAS enforcement actions under Wisconsin's spills law if they allow the state to clean up contaminated land at no cost to them. It directly affects landowners, fire departments, airports, wastewater spreaders, and waste facilities that handled PFAS-contaminated materials legally. The bill creates exemptions for those who spread permitted biosolids, owned land where such spreading occurred, used PFAS in emergency response (per federal rules), accepted PFAS waste, or own property not responsible for the contamination origin. This applies only to enforcement sections related to PFAS contamination under the spills law, not all PFAS regulations.

Topics ✗ Environment

Ben Franklin (R) Dan Knodl (R) Ron Tusler (R) Dave Murphy (R) Rick Gundrum (R)

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 191: Relating to: requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address.

SB 191 requires courts to serve subpoenas for law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement officers, public officers, or public employees at their workplace address - not their home address - when their testimony relates to official duties. This applies to all witnesses in these roles whose testimony concerns actions taken in their official capacity or employment. The bill specifies that subpoenas must be delivered by giving a copy to the individual at work, leaving it at the workplace, or presenting it to them there. It updates legal procedures to streamline service for these officials while clarifying that "address" for such testimony means their employer’s street address under defined circumstances.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 127: Relating to: exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE)

SB 127 exempts specific entities from PFAS-related enforcement actions under Wisconsin's spills law, provided they allow the state to clean up contaminated land at no cost to them. It directly affects landowners who spread permitted biosolids/wastewater containing PFAS, fire departments using PFAS in emergencies, airports, municipalities, solid waste facilities, and property owners not responsible for the contamination. The key provision requires these entities to grant permission for state-led remediation, removing liability under certain enforcement sections of the spills law. This applies to PFAS chemicals commonly found in firefighting foam and industrial products. The bill does not change PFAS contamination standards but alters enforcement responsibilities for qualifying parties.

Topics ✗ Environment

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 501: Relating to: creating a veterinary loan repayment grant program administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board and exempting from taxation amounts received from such a grant program.

SB 501 creates a state program to help veterinarians repay student loans by providing annual grants of up to $25,000 (max $100,000 total) to those working full-time in rural counties. To qualify, veterinarians must have at least $25,000 in veterinary education debt, work in a rural county for one year, and provide at least 25% of their care to farm animals (defined as animals raised for food or fiber). The program, administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board, is available to recent graduates (within 7 years) or final-year veterinary students. Amounts received through the grant are exempt from state income tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 225: Relating to: regulation of amusement rides located at campgrounds. (FE)

SB 225 exempts amusement rides installed at licensed campgrounds from certain existing safety regulations. Specifically, it creates a new statute (101.05 (7)) stating that sections 101.02 (15), 101.12 (1), and 101.17 (1) do not apply to rides meeting manufacturer-recommended standards at campgrounds licensed under section 97.67. This directly affects campground operators who install such rides, removing requirements from other safety codes. The bill’s key provision is the regulatory exemption based on manufacturer standards rather than broader state safety rules.

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 521: Relating to: highway signs for the Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial. (FE)

SB 521 requires the state transportation department to install and maintain two directional highway signs along both eastbound and westbound U.S. Highway 18 for the Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial. The bill creates a new statute (86.19(1g)(i)) mandating this signage to improve navigation to the memorial site. This procedural bill directly affects the department's highway signage responsibilities but does not alter memorial funding, design, or public access. It has no fiscal impact beyond standard maintenance costs.

Topics ✓ Transportation ✓ Veterans

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 376: Relating to: a tax credit for employer-provided child care. (FE)

SB 376 adjusts the effective year for a state tax credit that employers can claim for providing child care benefits to employees, changing the reference from 2024 to 2025 in multiple sections. It also adds language specifying that the credit will be "in effect for federal purposes," aligning the state credit with federal tax treatment. This bill directly affects employers offering child care programs, ensuring the credit applies to 2025 tax filings and coordinates with federal rules. The bill passed unanimously in the legislature on November 18, 2025, with no opposition.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 367: Relating to: virtual credit card payments in health insurance policies.

SB 367 requires health insurance companies to notify healthcare providers if an additional fee may be charged for using virtual credit card payments. This directly affects insurers who must disclose such fees to providers accepting this payment method. The bill amends policy language to mandate this clear notification about potential extra costs. It does not change insurance coverage or payment amounts, only the disclosure requirement for virtual credit card transactions. The bill passed on November 18, 2025, after being amended to include this notification provision.

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 391: Relating to: equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices.

SB 391 clarifies that the requirement for school buses to be equipped with audiovisual recording devices applies to public school boards *and* the governing bodies of private or tribal schools. The bill amends existing law by replacing "board" with "board, or the governing body of a private school or tribal school" to explicitly include these entities. This change ensures all schools operating buses - public, private, or tribal - must comply with the recording device requirement. The bill does not create new requirements but specifies which school entities are subject to the existing mandate.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 485: Relating to: video monitoring or recording in residential care centers for children and youth, group homes, and shelter care facilities.

SB 485 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. Facilities must inform children and their parents/guardians about the monitoring and adopt written safety policies that may include video. The law prohibits using video as a substitute for one-on-one supervision of children at high risk for self-harm and requires all video data to remain confidential, with limited exceptions for department review. This directly affects staff and children in these facilities by standardizing monitoring practices while maintaining privacy protections.

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 474: Relating to: fire suppression products derived from soybeans.

SB 474 adds soybean-derived fire suppression products to the list of eligible costs for state fire grant programs. This means local fire departments and municipalities can now use state grant funds to purchase fire suppressants made from soybeans, rather than only traditional chemical-based products. The bill directly affects grant recipients by expanding their funding options for fire safety equipment under existing state grant programs. It creates a specific policy change without altering other grant requirements or imposing new costs.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 556: Relating to: providing utility aid payments for certain energy storage facilities. (FE)

SB 556 creates new annual payments to municipalities and counties for hosting energy storage facilities (like batteries or thermal systems) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities. For energy storage facilities with at least 1 megawatt capacity, payments are calculated as $2,000 per megawatt, split between the local city/town (two-thirds) and county (one-third) or town (one-third) and county (two-thirds). For LNG storage facilities, payments are based on the property's net book value at 6 mills for cities/villages or 3 mills for towns, with the county receiving the remaining share. The bill ensures payments continue even if some facility units cease operation, maintaining consistent support for local governments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

Bill results