AB 673 bans medical and research facilities receiving state or federal funds from using genetic software or sequencers developed by foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations). It also prohibits storing human genome data of state residents in foreign adversary countries, with exceptions for certain clinical trials. The law applies to facilities, companies, and nonprofits handling genetic data, requiring them to keep such data inaccessible to foreign adversaries. Violations carry a $10,000 penalty per offense, enforced by the state Attorney General.
SB 291 expands Wisconsin's business development tax credit to include certain employer-provided child care costs. It allows businesses to claim a tax credit equal to up to 15% of qualifying expenses for establishing or operating child care programs for employees, such as upfront setup costs, operational expenses, employee reimbursements, or reserved child care slots. The bill directly affects Wisconsin-based businesses that provide child care benefits to employees, making these costs eligible for the tax credit starting in 2025. Key provisions define "eligible child care costs" broadly to cover capital expenditures, operational spending, and reimbursements, while capping the credit at 15% of those expenses. The law applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
SB 532 prohibits University of Wisconsin System institutions from charging students supplemental fees for enrolling in courses offered exclusively online, unless the fee covers specific costs directly tied to online delivery (like technology or platform costs) or is also charged for equivalent in-person courses. It directly affects students taking fully online courses, particularly non-resident students who might face higher fees. The bill creates a new requirement (36.27 (1) (c)) ensuring online course fees are justified by actual costs or applied equally to in-person options. The law takes effect for the first semester or session beginning at least 30 days after its effective date.
SB 389 adjusts how Wisconsin school districts calculate their maximum allowable spending limits (revenue limits) for specific school years. It adds $325 per student to the calculation for the 2023-24 through 2026-27 school years, while removing previous adjustments that would have affected spending limits for the 2015-16 through 2018-19 years and the 2021-22 year. The bill also modifies rules for consolidated school districts, changing how their revenue limits are calculated during the 2020-21 through 2026-27 school years. These changes take effect for the 2027-28 school year and beyond, directly impacting all public school districts in Wisconsin.
AB 166 requires Wisconsin colleges and universities to collect and report specific data about student outcomes and costs starting in 2027. Institutions must report graduates' average salaries (6 months and 5 years post-graduation by major), average debt, graduation rates, cost of attendance, and popular degree programs. The state board will also create and publish a list of the 50 most in-demand jobs in Wisconsin with required education levels and average salaries. This data will be provided to high schools for students in grades 10-12 as part of required academic and career planning services. The bill directly affects higher education institutions and students seeking career guidance.
SB 525 streamlines the process for sign owners to remove vegetation obstructing outdoor advertising signs along highways. It creates a permit system allowing sign owners to trim or remove vegetation within a 500-foot "viewing window" around a sign, defined as the area where the sign must be visible. The bill requires permit applicants to describe proposed work, mandates 15-day advance notice and photo documentation for existing sign owners, and specifies that vegetation removal must include stump removal and proper disposal. This directly affects sign owners and highway departments managing rights-of-way, with new rules for permits, documentation, and compensation for removing trees in designated "living snow fences."
SB 432 requires certain professionals, including social workers and agency employees who interact directly with children or handle child welfare cases, to report suspected or threatened child abuse to law enforcement. It mandates that county departments, the state department, and licensed child welfare agencies refer most abuse cases to police within 12 hours (excluding weekends/holidays) and adopt written policies for reporting specific types of abuse or neglect defined in state law. The bill adds a new reporting category for child welfare employees and clarifies when written policies must be created for certain abuse cases. This changes existing procedures by expanding who must report and requiring standardized policies for specific scenarios.
AB 366 requires individuals seeking housing with an emotional support animal to provide documentation from a licensed health professional confirming a disability and a disability-related need for the animal. It imposes a minimum $500 fine for falsely claiming a disability or providing false documentation to obtain housing, and similarly penalizes health professionals who issue such documentation without a 30-day patient-provider relationship. The bill clarifies that "service animals" must be trained to perform specific tasks (like guiding or alerting) and creates penalties for falsely claiming a service animal in public places, including fines up to $500 or community service. It also mandates that businesses receive educational materials about service animal laws to help them respond appropriately to service animal requests without violating the law.
AB 582 creates a Council on Dual Enrollment to oversee credit transfer policies, with members representing universities, technical colleges, school districts, tribal colleges, and state education leaders. It requires public colleges to make 72 core general education credits transferable between institutions by September 1, 2026, and private colleges to make 36 such credits transferable starting in 2027-28. The bill mandates agreements ensuring high school students’ dual enrollment credits for core courses (e.g., math, English) satisfy college requirements at participating institutions. This directly affects high school students in dual enrollment programs, public and private colleges, and tribal colleges across Wisconsin.
AB 225 clarifies venue rules for civil cases involving businesses. It states that courts cannot count insurers or other joined parties when deciding if a county is the proper location for a case. For businesses, the bill defines "residence" as the state or country where they were incorporated, and "substantial business" as only occurring in their main county of operation. This directly affects corporations, LLCs, and civil lawsuits where venue is contested, simplifying how courts determine case locations. The law passed in November 2025 and is now in effect.
AB 674 prohibits health insurance plans and the Medical Assistance program from covering organ transplants or related care if the organ was transplanted in or originated from a country designated by the department as participating in forced organ harvesting. The bill applies to disability insurance, self-insured health plans, and Medical Assistance. It defines "forced organ harvesting" as removal via coercion, deception, or abuse of power, and requires the department to designate affected countries. Life-saving post-transplant care remains covered even if the transplant itself is prohibited under the bill.
AB 248 creates a new statutory section (17.03(10m)) clarifying how vacancies are handled in appointive state offices with fixed terms. It defines "appointive state office" to include positions in state departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and authorities (but excludes the legislature and courts). The bill specifies that when an appointee's fixed term expires, the vacancy is filled under existing procedures - without changing current rules. This is a procedural clarification, not a policy change, affecting state government appointees but not altering how vacancies are currently managed.
