Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1094: Relating to: creating the penalty of death or life imprisonment for persons who are convicted of certain child sex offenses, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill establishes the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole for individuals convicted of specific child sex offenses, including sexual abuse of a child and sexual exploitation of a child. It creates new statutory provisions that remove these offenders from eligibility for parole, work release, and extended supervision programs, ensuring they remain incarcerated for the duration of their sentences. The legislation also defines crimes punishable by death and adjusts sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders of serious violent crimes, while including administrative provisions for emergency rule procedures and controlled substance permits for executions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1091: Relating to: a premium assistance individual income tax credit and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a state premium assistance tax credit for Wisconsin residents who pay monthly premiums for qualified health plans during the 2026 tax year. The credit allows eligible individuals to claim a refund equal to the federal premium assistance amount they would have qualified for between 2021 and 2025, but only if they are not already eligible for similar federal tax credits. The legislation applies only to full-year residents who file claims within the standard tax filing deadline and requires state funding to cover any credit amounts exceeding the taxpayer's tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1152: Relating to: requirements for granting a certificate for certain electric facilities and use of environmental trust bonds to finance the costs of retiring electric facilities.

This bill modifies rules for how electric utilities can retire old facilities and use special environmental trust bonds to pay for those costs. It requires the state Public Service Commission to approve the use of environmental trust bonds for retiring facilities only if the facility hasn't fully recovered its value and the commission finds it serves the public interest. The bill also adds a requirement that new electric facilities primarily serving very large customers (those with at least 75 megawatts of power) must obtain financing approval for any unrecovered value if the facility is retired before full value recovery. Additionally, it clarifies that the commission cannot deny cost recovery for environmental control activities just because environmental trust financing might be available.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1111: Relating to: penalties for certain offenses related to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, restrictions related to ignition interlock devices, and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill proposes stricter penalties for repeat drunk driving offenses by increasing license revocation periods and fines for individuals with two or more qualifying convictions within a 10-year window. It directly affects drivers convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, particularly those with prior convictions, suspensions, or revocations that count toward the two-conviction threshold. The legislation establishes specific revocation durations ranging from one to two years, allows for occupational licenses after a waiting period if the driver completes required assessments and safety plans, and sets minimum fines between $350 and $1,100 with mandatory jail time of at least five days. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for tribal court revocations to align with state penalties and outlines conditions under which reduced jail sentences may apply if probation with treatment is successfully completed.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1119: Relating to: protection of pregnant individuals’ information, authorization for disclosure, data breach, and providing a penalty.

This bill establishes privacy protections for health information collected at unregulated pregnancy services centers, requiring written authorization from individuals before their nonpublic personal health information can be shared. It defines specific types of health information and pregnancy-related services, and outlines requirements for authorization forms including details about the information to be disclosed, who it will be shared with, and the right to revoke consent at any time. The legislation also mandates that these centers notify affected individuals if there is a data breach and prohibits discrimination against people who do not grant authorization for information disclosure. Any violations of these privacy requirements would be treated as unfair and deceptive trade practices under existing state law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1200: Relating to: contributions by corporations, cooperative associations, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes.

This bill would allow corporations, cooperatives, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes to make contributions to segregated political funds, but only up to a total of $12,000 per calendar year. The law currently prohibits these entities from contributing to most political committees, with this change creating a specific exception for segregated funds. The bill does not permit these groups to contribute to independent expenditure committees or referendum committees. This provision would apply to both foreign and domestic corporations as well as the other specified organizations.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1134: Relating to: criminal sentence adjustment due to sentencing.

This bill modifies Wisconsin's criminal sentencing laws to allow for adjustments when legal changes occur after a person is sentenced. It directly affects inmates currently serving prison time or on extended supervision by enabling courts to reduce their sentences if new laws would have resulted in shorter terms. The key mechanism allows courts to convert prison time to extended supervision or vice versa, with limits to ensure the adjusted sentence does not exceed what the offender could have received under the new laws at the time of sentencing. The bill also includes safeguards to prevent extended supervision from exceeding the maximum term allowed for the offense when the petition is filed.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1161: Relating to: ambulance staffing, late renewal and reinstatement of an emergency medical services practitioner license or emergency medical responder certificate, license and certification reciprocity standards for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a tax subtraction for stipends received by volunteer emergency responders. (FE)

This bill proposes changes to ambulance staffing rules, license renewal procedures, certification reciprocity standards, and tax benefits for volunteer emergency responders in Wisconsin. It would allow physicians, physician assistants, and registered nurses to practice their full scope of duties while staffing ambulances without departmental restrictions. The bill also simplifies the process for out-of-state emergency medical responders to obtain Wisconsin licenses by reducing documentation requirements and establishes clear pathways for late license renewal and reinstatement based on how long a license has been expired. Additionally, it creates a tax subtraction of up to $2,000 for stipends received by volunteer emergency responders based on calls or shifts worked.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1115: Relating to: minimum nurse staffing ratios in hospitals, registered nurses’ right to refuse a work assignment, prohibiting mandatory overtime for registered nurses, and providing a penalty.

This bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for various hospital units, such as limiting registered nurses to no more than four patients in emergency units or two patients in intensive care units. It requires hospitals to create and publicly post annual staffing plans that include input from nursing staff, maintain detailed records of actual staffing levels, and establish committees with a majority of frontline nurses to oversee staffing decisions. The legislation also grants registered nurses the right to refuse work assignments that violate these ratios and prohibits mandatory overtime for nurses. Hospitals that fail to comply with staffing requirements or submit plans by the deadline face financial penalties, including a $25,000 forfeiture for missing deadlines and daily fines for non-compliance with corrective action plans.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1105: Relating to: dental services for pregnant persons under the Medical Assistance program. (FE)

This bill expands dental care access for pregnant individuals enrolled in the Medical Assistance program by allowing licensed dental therapists to provide basic dental services. It creates a new legal definition for dental therapists and amends existing statutes to include them alongside dentists for these specific services. The legislation also establishes a requirement that pregnant recipients referred for dental care must be seen within 30 days of their referral, ensuring timely access to care. These changes aim to improve dental health outcomes for pregnant persons by increasing provider options and reducing wait times for appointments.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1124: Relating to: firearm transfers and possession that are prohibited under federal law. (FE)

This bill modifies Wisconsin statutes to update definitions related to domestic abuse and firearm transfers prohibited under federal law. It reorganizes existing legal sections and expands the definition of "domestic abuse" to include dating relationships and individuals who have cohabited with the actor. The legislation also clarifies who qualifies as a "relative" or "similarly situated" person for the purposes of domestic abuse and firearm transfer restrictions. By updating these definitions, the bill ensures that firearm prohibitions apply consistently to a broader range of relationships covered under federal law.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1126: Relating to: a state minimum wage, allowing the enactment of local minimum wage ordinances, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

This bill establishes a state minimum wage of $15 per hour while allowing local governments to enact their own minimum wage ordinances. It creates a system where the state department of labor can set lower wages for specific groups like agricultural workers, camp counselors, and students, and can exempt certain casual employment arrangements. The minimum wage will automatically adjust annually based on changes in the consumer price index, unless inflation shows no increase. The legislation also prohibits the state from setting different minimum wages for men and women.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results