Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1182: Relating to: leadership in energy and environmental design certification grant program and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a grant program to help Wisconsin municipalities and community organizations earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications for their buildings. The Department of Administration would administer the program, awarding grants specifically for LEED certification costs. The legislation appropriates $1 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year to fund these grants. The bill also establishes the legal framework for the program within state statutes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1186: Relating to: prohibiting retail dynamic price gouging of consumer goods and providing a penalty.

This bill prohibits retail sellers from using artificial intelligence or automated systems to set personalized prices for consumer goods based on individual customer data. It defines consumer goods as packaged items for personal use and dynamic price gouging as customized pricing generated through computational models that process consumer information. Retailers who violate this rule could face warnings, civil forfeiture of up to $10,000, or legal injunctions from state authorities. The law applies to both online and in-person sales of everyday products like groceries and household items.

Topics ✗ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1151: Relating to: general equalization aids, the reimbursement rate for special education costs, excluding special education reimbursement from certain per pupil payments, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill proposes changes to how Wisconsin calculates and distributes state funding for special education and related school programs. It would adjust the reimbursement rate for special education costs to distribute the full appropriated amount, capping reimbursement at 60 percent of eligible costs, and modifies how certain special education funds are excluded from per-pupil payment calculations. The legislation also increases the general school aid appropriation by approximately $446 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year. These changes would affect the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and school districts receiving state education funding. The bill was introduced in March 2026 but failed to pass the Senate.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1102: Relating to: reimbursement of maternal mental health screenings under the Medical Assistance program and coverage of maternal mental health screenings by health insurance policies and plans. (FE)

This bill requires health insurance policies and plans in Wisconsin to cover maternal mental health screenings for each pregnancy, while also allowing the Medical Assistance program to reimburse these screenings. The legislation mandates that screening standards be developed in consultation with organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and other persons of color, and permits licensed midwives, nurse-midwives, advanced practice registered nurses, and other qualified healthcare providers to administer the screenings. Additionally, the bill requires state disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans that include maternity coverage to include these screenings. The law takes effect on the day after publication, with specific provisions for collective bargaining agreements to apply when new or renewed.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1149: Relating to: prescription drug cost reporting by manufacturers, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill requires prescription drug manufacturers to report price increases and new drug introductions to the state health department and insurance office, affecting companies that sell brand-name or generic drugs in the state. Manufacturers must notify regulators at least 30 days before raising prices by more than 25 percent over two years or introducing high-cost drugs, providing justification including cost-effectiveness data and comparisons to similar medications. The bill also mandates annual reports on manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs and requires posting of pricing documentation online with public hearings to review trends. Failure to submit required notices or reports can result in daily penalties of up to $10,000. The legislation authorizes funding for two additional state staff positions to administer these reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1159: Relating to: management and preservation of records and correspondence of members of the legislature. (FE)

This bill proposes to repeal a specific section of the state statutes that governs how members of the legislature manage and preserve their personal records and correspondence. The change would remove the requirement outlined in 16.61 (2) (b) 1., which currently sets rules for these legislative records. By eliminating this provision, the bill would alter the existing framework for how legislative members handle their official documentation. The legislation was introduced by Senators Larson and Spreitzer and cosponsored by several other lawmakers. It ultimately failed to pass when it did not meet the requirements of Senate Joint Resolution 1.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1100: Relating to: a state-based insurance exchange and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a state-based health insurance exchange that will operate on the federal platform by 2029 and transition to a standalone state-run exchange by 2030. It authorizes the state insurance commissioner to collect user fees from insurers offering plans through the exchange, starting at 0.5 percent of monthly premiums for the federal platform phase and adjusting rates for the standalone phase. The legislation also creates a specific appropriation account for exchange operations, with any unspent funds exceeding 10 percent of annual expenditures returning to the state's general fund at the end of each fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1215: Relating to: management and preservation of records and correspondence of members of the legislature. (FE)

This bill proposes to repeal a specific section of the state statutes that governs how members of the legislature manage and preserve their personal records and correspondence. By removing this provision, the legislation would eliminate the current legal requirements for legislators to maintain and archive their official documents and communications. The change directly affects state legislators who would no longer be subject to the specific record-keeping rules outlined in the repealed statute. This is a procedural amendment that modifies existing legislative record management policies without adding new obligations or restrictions.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1110: Relating to: allocation of building trust funds to develop preliminary plans and specification for expansion of the mother-young child care program under the Department of Corrections. (FE)

This bill directs the building commission to allocate $1,000,000 from building trust funds to create preliminary plans for expanding mother-young child care facilities within the state women's correctional system. The funding is intended to evaluate infrastructure needs and develop specifications for a prison nursery program that would allow eligible inmates and their children to reside together in correctional institutions. The proposed expansion aims to support infant development and provide comprehensive postpartum care for incarcerated mothers. The legislation also requires the development of plans to enable bonding, breastfeeding, and nurturing between mothers and their children while in custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1117: Relating to: entering into an agreement among the states to elect the president and vice president of the United States by means of a national popular vote.

This bill proposes to join an interstate compact that would allow states to elect the U.S. president and vice president based on the national popular vote rather than the Electoral College. It would take effect only when enough states have joined the agreement to collectively hold a majority of Electoral College votes. The bill amends state election laws to implement the compact's provisions, which require member states to count all popular votes nationwide and award all Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the most popular votes across all participating states. The agreement includes provisions for state withdrawal, dispute resolution in case of ties, and termination if the Electoral College is abolished.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1168: Relating to: leadership in energy and environmental design certification grant program and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a grant program to help Wisconsin municipalities and community organizations earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications for their buildings. The program would provide funding to support these entities in obtaining green building certifications from the Green Building Certification Institute. The legislation includes an appropriation of $1 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year to administer the grant program. This bill would create new statutory sections to define the program and authorize the funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1175: Relating to: prohibitions on nondisparagement clauses in employment contracts.

This bill prohibits employers from including clauses in employment contracts that require former employees to refrain from speaking negatively about their former employers after leaving the job. The law declares such nondisparagement provisions illegal, void, and unenforceable as unreasonable restraints on trade. Employers must also post a notice in conspicuous locations and on their websites informing current and former employees that these clauses are not legally binding. The restrictions apply to contracts entered into, extended, modified, or renewed on the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results