AB 562 requires the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) to erect signs marking the Mississippi River Trail after municipalities along the route approve the trail's path. Once municipalities adopt resolutions supporting the trail, the DOT must notify the legislative bureau and erect signs within 18 months. The bill allows the DOT to request supplemental funding from the finance committee without needing to declare an emergency. This procedural bill directly affects local governments (through approval requirements) and the DOT (through signage implementation), focusing solely on physical trail signage.
AB 657 exempts sales and use taxes for specific equipment and materials used exclusively in qualified nuclear fusion technology projects. It covers over 70 listed items, including plasma heating systems, superconductors, diagnostic tools, specialized materials like lithium and tungsten, and safety equipment. The exemption applies to businesses conducting fusion projects focused on energy generation, medical isotope production, research, or other fusion-related applications as defined in the bill. This policy directly reduces costs for companies developing nuclear fusion technology by eliminating taxes on qualifying purchases.
AB 238 prohibits hotels, motels, and inns from discriminating against dog handlers accompanied by certified search and rescue dogs. The law bans refusing entry, charging extra fees, or publishing discriminatory notices based on a handler’s dog. To qualify, the dog must wear a visible harness or cape, be leashed, and the handler must provide certification. Hotels must modify policies to allow these dogs in public areas (without separation from handlers) unless accommodation would cause a fundamental change to services or pose safety risks. Handlers remain responsible for sanitation and damage caused by the dog.
AB 659 modifies Wisconsin's tuition benefit policies for veterans and their families. It reduces the required residency period from 5 to 3 consecutive years in the state before enrollment for veterans themselves and their dependents (spouses or children) to qualify for tuition exemptions or grants at University of Wisconsin System schools, technical colleges, or private nonprofit institutions. The bill applies to veterans who served honorably, died on duty or from service-connected disabilities, or have a 30% service-connected disability rating, and to dependents who meet the revised residency requirement. It does not change eligibility for veterans who were Wisconsin residents at the time of military entry. The policy change takes effect for the first semester or session beginning after the bill's effective date.
AB 679 creates a new permit system for trucks carrying grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer that exceed standard weight limits. It allows vehicles with 6 or more axles to operate at up to 91,000 pounds gross weight on state highways, provided they meet axle weight distribution rules and follow department-specified routes. The bill directly affects agricultural haulers and trucking companies transporting these materials, requiring a $325 permit for such operations. Permits are invalid on interstate highways (except as permitted by federal law) and may be suspended during spring thaw conditions. This bill does not change base weight limits but establishes a regulated pathway for heavier agricultural transport.
AB 696 updates licensing requirements for certified public accountants (CPAs) in the state. It requires applicants to complete 150 semester hours of education (including accounting and business coursework) and gain work experience involving accounting, tax, or consulting skills, verified by the Accounting Examining Board. The bill also clarifies that out-of-state CPAs with equivalent licenses can continue practicing without reapplying, as long as they met prior requirements. These changes modify both statute law and administrative rules governing CPA licensure and education standards.
This bill creates a grant program to help school districts build or upgrade playgrounds to be accessible for students with disabilities. It allocates $1 million for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund these projects. The program requires school districts to match the grant amount with their own spending on playground construction or upgrades. Only school districts can apply for these grants, and the funding is intended specifically for making playgrounds accessible to pupils with disabilities.
This bill establishes a state grant program to help school districts provide safe transportation for high school students attending school-sponsored events. The legislation creates new funding categories in the state budget, allocating $500,000 for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Department of Public Instruction for distribution to eligible school districts. The program is designed to assist districts with transportation costs for events such as sports competitions, academic competitions, and other organized activities. The funding is authorized through June 30, 2027, after which the grant program will expire unless renewed by the legislature.
This bill requires health care plans to publicly disclose which medical services require prior authorization and the specific rules governing those requirements. It mandates that these lists be posted on websites in plain language without requiring users to create accounts, and it sets standards for how clinical review criteria must be developed and updated. The legislation also grants the state insurance commissioner authority to create rules for certain limited service health organizations and includes provisions to prevent claims denials when prior authorization requirements were not in effect at the time of service.
This bill aims to protect health insurance enrollees from unexpected medical bills by establishing rules for how insurance plans must handle emergency care and services provided by out-of-network providers. It requires insurance plans to cover emergency medical services without requiring prior authorization and ensures that cost-sharing amounts for out-of-network emergency care are no higher than what would apply for in-network care. Additionally, the bill mandates that plans pay out-of-network providers directly for emergency services and certain non-emergency services provided at in-network facilities, preventing patients from being billed for the difference between the out-of-network rate and the recognized amount. These provisions apply to defined network plans, preferred provider plans, and self-insured governmental plans that have networks of participating providers.
This bill aims to protect patients from unexpected medical bills by establishing rules for how health insurance plans must handle emergency care and services provided by out-of-network providers. It requires insurance plans to cover emergency medical services without prior authorization and ensures that cost-sharing amounts for out-of-network emergency care are no higher than what would apply for in-network care. Additionally, the bill mandates that plans pay out-of-network providers directly for services rendered at participating facilities and counts patient cost-sharing payments toward in-network deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. These provisions apply to defined network plans, preferred provider plans, and self-insured governmental plans that have networks of participating providers.
This bill prohibits cosmetic manufacturers from conducting or contracting for animal testing on cosmetics within the state after December 31, 2026, and restricts the sale of products developed using such testing after July 1, 2027. It applies to any person whose name appears on a cosmetic label and bans the import or sale of cosmetics or ingredients known to have been tested on live nonhuman vertebrates after the specified date. Exceptions allow testing required by federal or state regulatory agencies under specific conditions, including when no alternative testing methods exist, or for compliance with foreign jurisdiction requirements where test results are not used to substantiate product safety in the state. Violations of the prohibition carry a penalty of $5,000 for each offense plus an additional $1,000 for each day the violation continues.
