Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1082: Relating to: a sales and use tax exemption for breastfeeding equipment. (FE)

AB 1082 creates a temporary sales and use tax exemption for breastfeeding equipment in Wisconsin, effective until June 30, 2027. It exempts breast pumps, breast pump kits (pumps bundled with collection/storage supplies), and specific collection/storage supplies like breast shields, bottles, and milk storage bags. This directly affects new and expecting mothers who purchase these items, reducing their out-of-pocket costs. The exemption does not cover unrelated products like nursing bras, cleaning supplies, or general bottles sold separately. The bill defines covered items precisely to ensure only essential breastfeeding equipment qualifies for the tax break.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1053: Relating to: the state or federal benefits of a child in out-of-home care. (FE)

AB 1053 ensures that children in out-of-home care (like foster care) retain control over their state or federal benefits. It requires child welfare departments to hold these benefits in protected accounts that won’t reduce other benefits, provide regular financial reports to the child and their legal representatives, and return any remaining funds when the child leaves care. The bill explicitly prohibits using a child’s benefits to cover their care costs. This policy change directly affects children in state custody and their legal representatives, focusing on financial accountability and preserving benefits for the child’s future.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1081: Relating to: modifying administrative rules relating to regulation of opioid treatment programs and requiring adjustments to the rates for substance use disorder treatment services with medications for opioid use disorder. (FE)

AB 1081 adjusts payment rates for opioid treatment programs using medication-based care to match Medicare rates for comparable services starting in 2027. It also sets new staffing requirements, including a medical director with addiction medicine experience who must be present 40% of dosing time (reduced to 20% for the first 60 days of operation), and mandates one counselor for every 55 enrolled patients. The bill changes admission rules for minors, requiring documented failed detox attempts and written parental consent, while adding requirements for initial physical exams and Hepatitis/HIV testing with patient consent. These provisions directly affect all Wisconsin opioid treatment programs providing medication-assisted therapy.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1057: Relating to: reporting positive rental payment information to credit bureaus.

AB 1057 requires landlords to offer residential tenants the option to have their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus. Landlords must provide this opt-in offer at lease signing and annually thereafter, with tenants able to accept or decline without penalty. Landlords may charge up to $10 monthly (or actual cost) for this service but cannot report payment of the fee as rent or use it to evict tenants. Tenants can stop reporting at any time but must wait six months to restart the reporting. The bill specifically covers only positive payment history (timely rent), not late payments.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1067: Relating to: advertising broadband and other Internet speeds and providing a standardized broadband label.

AB 1067 requires broadband providers to advertise and sell services based on consistent, verifiable speeds - minimum 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload - matching federal standards. It mandates standardized broadband labels using FCC templates for all consumers before sale, preventing misleading speed claims. Providers violating these rules face consumer refunds if they fail to correct misrepresentations within a month of written notice. The bill directly affects broadband companies and protects consumers by ensuring accurate speed disclosures.

Topics ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1047: Relating to: setback restrictions in shoreland zoning ordinances in Waukesha County.

AB 1047 modifies shoreland zoning rules for Waukesha County by changing how setback distances (minimum distance structures must be from water) are calculated for new construction. It requires county zoning ordinances to set new building setbacks as the average of existing nearby structures' setbacks when both existing structures are within 250 feet of the proposed building and set back more than 75 feet from the water's edge. This rule applies specifically to properties in Waukesha County and only if the calculated setback still allows construction on the parcel. The bill does not affect existing structures or apply outside Waukesha County.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1078: Relating to: creating an innovation grant program for institutions of higher education and making an appropriation. (FE)

AB 1078 creates a $5 million biennial grant program for Wisconsin's private nonprofit colleges (specifically those in the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities) to fund new academic programs or public infrastructure projects addressing workforce needs. Institutions must provide matching funds equal to the grant amount and demonstrate a self-sustaining revenue plan after program launch. The program limits any single institution to no more than 10% of total grant funds awarded. The bill establishes this program through new statutory sections and appropriates funds for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1064: Relating to: prohibiting landlords from charging application fees and credit checks and background checks obtained by landlords.

AB 1064 prohibits landlords from charging prospective tenants application fees or requiring tenants to pay for credit or background checks. Landlords may charge up to $25 for these reports but must provide a copy within 7 business days. Tenants can avoid these fees by providing their own recent credit report (less than 30 days old) or background check (less than 6 months old) before the landlord requests one. The bill takes effect 3 months after publication.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1034: Relating to: prohibited employment for former members of the Public Service Commission.

SB 1034 prohibits former members of the Public Service Commission from working for compensation with investor-owned public utilities or transmission companies for 36 months after leaving office. Specifically, it bans employment in roles involving policy-making, executive decisions, operations management, or government relations at these companies. The law applies retroactively to those who left the Commission in the year before the bill's effective date. This directly affects former commissioners seeking jobs at regulated utility companies, creating a cooling-off period to prevent potential conflicts of interest. The bill establishes this restriction through new statutory language (19.45 (8m)) in the state code.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1029: Relating to: local regulation of landlords.

SB 1029 repeals Section 66.0104 of the statutes, which previously allowed local governments to regulate landlords. This bill directly affects cities and counties that had authority under this statute to create local rules for rental housing. The key provision is the removal of this specific legal authority, meaning local governments would no longer be able to enact ordinances under this section. The bill does not create new regulations but eliminates an existing framework for local landlord oversight.

Topics ✗ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1036: Relating to: advertising broadband and other Internet speeds and providing a standardized broadband label.

SB 1036 requires internet service providers to accurately advertise broadband speeds and use standardized labels. It prohibits claiming a service meets certain speeds unless it consistently delivers at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload (or federal standards), and mandates that providers give consumers a federally approved label before sale. If an ISP misrepresents speeds, consumers can demand a refund and cancel their contract after a 30-day notice period. This bill directly affects internet providers and protects consumers from misleading speed claims.

Topics ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1046: Relating to: permits for firearms dealers, firearms transactions and safety, firearms crimes, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 1046 updates Wisconsin's firearm laws by requiring courts to notify the Department of Justice when ordering someone not to possess firearms, ensuring accurate background checks and restrictions. It creates a new permit requirement for firearm dealers (20.455 (2) (gs)) and mandates law enforcement agencies to submit recovered firearms to the eTrace system within 48 hours for ballistics analysis. The bill also revises court notification procedures across multiple statutes to limit disclosure of court records to only necessary firearm restriction information. These changes directly affect courts, law enforcement, firearm dealers, and individuals subject to firearm restrictions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results