Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1180: Relating to: circulating or signing nomination papers and certain petitions.

SB 1180 amends Wisconsin election laws to clarify rules for nomination papers and petitions, directly affecting candidates and individuals who sign or circulate these documents. The bill establishes that a person can only sign nomination papers for one candidate per office in the same election, making earlier signatures valid and later ones invalid. It requires signers to print their full name, complete address, and signing date on each paper, while also mandating that circulators certify they personally obtained each signature and verified the signers' eligibility. The legislation updates standard wording on nomination forms to include statements confirming the signer has not supported another candidate for the same office and that the circulator knows the signers are actual residents of the district.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1162: Relating to: eliminating recovery by the state for birth expenses paid through the Medical Assistance program. (FE)

This bill would prohibit the state from seeking reimbursement from alleged fathers for pregnancy and birth expenses already paid by the Medical Assistance program for unmarried mothers who were recipients of that program at the time of birth. The legislation amends existing statutes to prevent courts from ordering alleged fathers to repay these specific costs, while still allowing the state to pursue other medical support obligations from parents. By creating a new statute section and modifying several existing sections, the bill ensures that state-funded birth expenses for eligible unmarried mothers cannot be recovered through paternity judgments or court orders. The changes apply to paternity orders issued on or after the bill's effective date, leaving other medical support requirements intact for cases not covered by this specific provision.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 144: Relating to: accounting and expenditure of state funds and reduction of deficit (first consideration).

This bill proposes to amend the state constitution to require the legislature to account for all state funds using generally accepted accounting principles and to prevent passing any legislation that would increase projected deficits in state funds. It mandates that annual or biennial budget bills must reduce existing deficits by at least one-tenth of the projected annual increase in tax revenues for each fiscal year, and once a deficit is eliminated, no new legislation can create a projected deficit in that fund. The measure directly affects the state legislature and state financial management by establishing stricter budgetary rules and transparency requirements for how state money is tracked and spent.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1144: Relating to: penalties imposed on owners of mobile or manufactured home communities, grants for mobile homes and manufactured homes, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a grant program to help owners of mobile or manufactured home communities meet licensing standards and assists individual homeowners with repairs and improvements. It creates a new statute that defines key terms and authorizes a state authority to distribute funds for community compliance and home upgrades. The legislation also introduces a penalty system that imposes a $5,000 annual forfeiture on community owners who fail to meet reporting or other requirements, with unpaid penalties creating a lien on the property. All collected forfeitures are directed to fund the grant program, linking enforcement revenue directly to assistance for affected homeowners.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1219: Relating to: campaign contribution limits.

This bill amends Wisconsin campaign finance laws to establish specific contribution limits for individuals, committees, and political parties supporting candidates for various state offices. It sets maximum donation amounts that differ based on the office being sought, ranging from $500 for state representatives to $43,000 for governor, while also defining contribution caps for political action committees and other persons not subject to individual limits. The legislation creates new statutory sections to organize these limits and adjusts the calculation method for local office contributions based on population size, capping donations at $2,500 per jurisdiction.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1133: Relating to: the maximum term of extended supervision or probation.

This bill proposes to cap the maximum length of extended supervision or probation at five years for most felony and misdemeanor convictions in Wisconsin. It directly affects judges, prosecutors, and individuals sentenced to probation or extended supervision by limiting how long they can be required to report to a supervising agency. The legislation establishes a minimum supervision period of 25 percent of the prison sentence or five years, whichever is less, and sets a hard five-year ceiling for combined probation terms regardless of how many charges are involved. It also removes previous distinctions based on specific felony classes and ensures that even when probation is extended due to new convictions, the total supervision period cannot exceed five years.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1195: Relating to: creating an Office of Civil Legal Aid to be overseen by a Civil Legal Aid Board, providing a right to the appointment of counsel at state expense for residential tenants in eviction actions, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new Office of Civil Legal Aid overseen by a nine-member Civil Legal Aid Board to provide legal representation for residential tenants facing eviction. The legislation establishes a right to appointed counsel at state expense for tenants in eviction actions, requiring landlords to include notices about this right in rental agreements and eviction notices. A nine-member board, appointed by the state supreme court with at least five being licensed attorneys, would oversee program operations, manage budgets, and appoint lawyers to represent tenants who request assistance. The bill also authorizes funding for the office and sets up procedures for tenants to request appointed counsel by appearing in court or contacting the clerk before the eviction hearing date.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1097: Relating to: insurer claims denial practices and auditing, creating the Office of the Public Intervenor, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new Office of the Public Intervenor within the state insurance commissioner's office to help individuals navigate insurance claim denials for medical procedures, medications, and other health services. The office would be funded through assessments on insurance companies based on their disability insurance premium volumes and has authority to conduct audits of insurer claims processing practices. The legislation establishes specific requirements for how insurers must handle claim denials, including providing detailed explanations with policy citations, setting time limits for processing claims, and requiring transparency when using artificial intelligence in decision-making. Additionally, the bill prohibits several unfair practices such as using vague policy terms, stalling reviews, or denying claims without reviewing all relevant medical records.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1121: Relating to: BadgerCare purchase option, basic plan, state-based insurance exchange, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

This bill creates a basic health plan option for individuals with household incomes up to 200% of the poverty line and establishes a purchase option program allowing eligible individuals with higher incomes to buy coverage through the state program instead of private insurance. The program would offer benefits equal to existing state coverage, use premium rates similar to managed care plans, and allow enrollment during standard open enrollment periods while seeking federal waivers to ensure financial stability. Additionally, the bill directs the state to develop a state-based insurance exchange that would allow access to these purchase options and grants officials authority to create necessary rules for implementation.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1141: Relating to: notice provided to electric utility customers with rate case information...

This bill requires electric utilities in the state to send notices to their customers whenever they file for rate changes or when the Public Service Commission issues a final decision on those changes. The notices must explain that rates are being requested, estimate how much bills will change for average residential and commercial customers, and inform customers where to find the full application documents and request detailed explanations. Utilities must deliver these notices both on their websites and through the same method they use to send customer bills, such as mail or email. The law applies to rate cases filed after the bill takes effect, ensuring customers receive clear information about proposed or approved rate adjustments.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1146: Relating to: a dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a pilot grant program to help smaller dairy farms improve their operations and resilience. It provides up to $1.5 million in annual funding for grants aimed at dairy producers with fewer than 1,000 milking cows. The program allows the Department of Agriculture to create rules for administering grants that support projects enhancing operational efficiency and farm resilience. The legislation also authorizes the department to make rules necessary to manage the program and includes the funding appropriation in the 2026 budget schedule.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1092: Relating to: a cap on rate increases for retail electric service.

This bill would limit how much electric utility rates can increase for retail customers, capping annual rate hikes at 5 percent. It directly affects Wisconsin retail electric service providers and their customers by establishing a statutory ceiling on rate increases. The legislation creates a new provision in state statutes that would prevent the public service commission from approving rate increases exceeding this threshold. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2029, after repealing an existing provision that is scheduled to be removed on that date.

Topics ✓ Energy