SB 1066 prohibits health insurance companies (including disability insurance and self-insured plans) from using artificial intelligence to deny prior authorization for medical treatments or experimental procedures. Instead, the bill requires a licensed healthcare provider to review these requests before a denial can be issued. It directly affects insurers that currently use AI for these decisions and healthcare providers who seek approval for patient care. The law takes effect in the fourth month after publication, with specific transition rules for plans under collective bargaining agreements.
AB 1068 modifies Wisconsin's broadband expansion grant program to better support local governments. It repeals outdated sections and updates rules to allow cities, villages, towns, and counties to apply for grants covering broadband infrastructure construction in unserved areas and related planning costs. Key changes include enabling grants for project planning (like feasibility studies) and permitting up to 50% of a broadband director's salary to be covered by grant funds. The bill directly affects local governments seeking to expand high-speed internet access in underserved communities.
SB 1039 modifies state grant programs to support broadband expansion in underserved areas. It repeals outdated sections of law and amends statutes to allow cities, villages, towns, and counties to apply for grants covering infrastructure construction, project planning (including feasibility reports), and up to 50% of costs for hiring a dedicated broadband director. The bill directly affects local governments seeking to expand high-speed internet access in areas without reliable service. Grants will be funded from specific state appropriations allocated for broadband projects. This bill focuses on streamlining funding mechanisms for local broadband development.
AB 1075 changes the age threshold for juvenile court jurisdiction by reclassifying 17-year-olds as adults for criminal prosecution purposes. It amends definitions to define "adult" as 17 years or older (instead of 18) for investigating and prosecuting criminal violations, while keeping 17-year-olds under juvenile court jurisdiction for specific cases. The bill also creates a new funding mechanism to reimburse counties for costs related to 17-year-olds accused of crimes starting in 2026. This directly affects 17-year-olds facing criminal charges and county juvenile justice systems managing their cases.
AB 953 requires retail firearm sellers to provide a clear written warning about child safety risks and a secure storage option during each sale. The warning, in block letters at least one-fourth inch tall, states that leaving a loaded firearm accessible to a child may result in fines or jail time if the child discharges it. Sellers must also provide either a lockable container designed for firearms or a trigger lock. Violating these requirements carries a penalty of up to $500 or 30 days in jail.
AB 954 requires firearm owners to report lost or stolen weapons to local law enforcement within 24 hours, and to report recovery as soon as possible. Law enforcement agencies must forward these reports to a state database for tracking stolen firearms, which will be shared with other agencies. Owners who fail to report lost/stolen firearms face fines or jail time (Class A misdemeanor for first offense, Class I felony for repeat violations), and false reports are punishable under existing law. The bill also mandates sellers provide written notice of these reporting requirements to buyers at the time of sale.
AB 651 updates Wisconsin's worker's compensation law with two key changes. It creates a new requirement for insurers to report suspected fraud (such as false employee classifications) to the department, and establishes procedures for investigating and prosecuting such fraud. The bill also adjusts maximum weekly compensation rates for permanent partial disability injuries, setting specific dollar limits that increase incrementally over time (e.g., $645 for injuries between March 2024-2025, rising to $693 by 2027). These changes directly affect workers receiving benefits, employers paying premiums, and insurers managing claims.
This bill establishes new funding and administrative provisions for Wisconsin's Medical Assistance program, including grants for community primary care and outreach services. It allocates $41.75 million for 2025-26 and $66.75 million for 2026-27 to support community health centers in hiring health workers, nurses, and social workers to provide care coordination services, particularly for individuals facing barriers like mental illness or homelessness. The legislation also creates a stabilization fund of $20 million for the BadgerCare Direct program, which pays providers directly for services rather than through insurance intermediaries. Additionally, the bill adds requirements for the state to maintain a 24/7 nurse consultation helpline, improve provider recruitment, and explore ways to reduce healthcare costs while ensuring timely access to medically necessary services.
AB 940 repeals two outdated sections of Wisconsin law (238.03(5) and 238.04(15)) that referenced economic development positions no longer in use. The bill, proposed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation as remedial language, removes these defunct references to clean up the statutes. It does not create new policies or affect any individuals or programs. This is a routine legislative revision to maintain accurate legal language.
AB 936 updates several Wisconsin statutes to align with current federal laws governing workforce and vocational programs. It revises references to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Social Security Act, and vehicle safety standards for traveling sales crews. The bill ensures state agencies like the Department of Workforce Development use accurate federal codes when administering programs (e.g., vocational rehabilitation services, migrant labor contractor certifications). It does not change program eligibility, funding, or requirements - only corrects outdated statutory references. This technical update helps maintain compliance with federal regulations.
AB 925 is a procedural correction bill that resolves conflicts between existing Wisconsin statutes and prior laws. It does not create new policies or affect any individuals or organizations - it only ensures that specific statutory provisions (like those in sections 15.08, 25.18, and 440.03) remain valid as interpreted by earlier laws (e.g., 2021 Act 23, 2023 Act 87), preventing accidental repeal. The bill explicitly states that multiple statutory treatments "stand" without being repealed by subsequent legislation. As a technical correction measure, it has no substantive policy impact and solely maintains legal clarity in the statute book.
AB 926 is a correction bill that fixes minor, nonsubstantive errors in existing Wisconsin statutes. It corrects obvious typographical, grammatical, or formatting mistakes across multiple statutes (such as clarifying "level A release, as a member" instead of "level A release as a member" or fixing "jurisdiction over highways" instead of "jurisdiction of highways"). The bill directly affects the statutes themselves, not people or organizations, by ensuring consistent and clear language. It does not create new policies or change legal requirements - only correcting technical errors to prevent confusion in the law.
