SB 797 provides $600,000 in one-time funding to create an online dashboard tracking health care claims data, managed by the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO). It also allocates $1.38 million for 2025-26 and $1.56 million for 2026-27 to cover WHIO’s increased operational costs. The dashboard will display health care claims information and integrate data from new health insurers, directly affecting WHIO and the health care providers/payers contributing data. This bill makes specific budget adjustments to support these data-sharing and transparency efforts.
SB 789 creates a new grant program providing up to $5 million annually for nonprofit religious organizations to improve security. It directly affects religious groups facing or at risk of bias-motivated attacks, prioritizing those targeted due to their religion. Grants cover physical security upgrades (like fencing or surveillance), staff training, or emergency planning, with a $500,000 limit per organization or $500,000 per member for umbrella groups. The program is funded through a new appropriation in the state budget and administered by the Department of Military Affairs.
AB 805 creates a program to reimburse corn farmers for seed coating that deters sandhill cranes from eating corn seeds. Eligible farmers must have produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenue the previous year and plant corn on agricultural land. The program covers up to 50% of seed coating costs (max $6,250 per farmer per planting season), prioritizing farmers with prior crane permits, recent reimbursement, or documented vulnerability to crane damage. It is funded by a $1.875 million annual appropriation for two years to cover reimbursements and administrative costs.
AB 814 creates a sales and use tax exemption for movie theater projectors purchased by movie theaters. This directly affects movie theaters by eliminating sales tax on projector purchases, potentially reducing their operating costs. The exemption includes a revenue trigger: if tax revenues drop by $2 million due to this exemption, the state must notify lawmakers, and the exemption expires either 25 months after the bill's effective date or 3 months after the notification, whichever comes first. The bill does not change tax rates but modifies the tax code to exclude these specific equipment purchases.
AB 811 creates a $25 million annual grant program for businesses opening new locations or expanding into vacant commercial spaces, administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). It directly affects eligible businesses in commercial districts, continuing a similar program from June 2023 while explicitly excluding nonprofit organizations from receiving grants. The bill allocates $25 million for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund these "Main Street Bounceback Grants" through WEDC's existing grant framework. Key provisions require WEDC to follow eligibility rules nearly identical to the prior "Wisconsin Tomorrow" program, focusing on revitalizing underutilized commercial properties.
AB 802 provides $600,000 in one-time funding to create an online dashboard tracking healthcare claims data, to be managed by the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO). It also allocates $1.38 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year and $1.56 million for 2026-27 to cover increased operational costs for WHIO. The bill directly affects WHIO, which will use the funds to build the dashboard and onboard new healthcare payer data. This is a funding measure focused on improving data accessibility, not changing healthcare policies or regulations.
SB 770 establishes two new grant programs: a $200,000 annual Farm to Fork grant for businesses, hospitals, and other non-school entities to connect local farms with cafeterias, and a $250,000 annual Farm to School grant for school districts. The Farm to School grants prioritize proposals from high-poverty school districts (where many students qualify for free/reduced meals) and support initiatives like expanding local food procurement, facility upgrades, and nutrition education. Both programs require the Agriculture Department to award grants with preferences for innovative models, value-added agricultural products (like processed local foods), and projects improving farm access to markets. The bill also adds administrative funding for the department to manage these programs.
AB 798 requires the Department of Transportation (DMV) to ask applicants for driver's licenses or ID cards whether they want to provide contact information for up to three primary caregivers during the application process. If provided, the DMV stores this information securely in the applicant's file. Law enforcement agencies can electronically request and access this caregiver information (along with emergency contacts from another law section) during emergencies, but the DMV cannot share it with anyone else. The bill aims to improve emergency contact access while maintaining privacy protections for applicants.
SB 768 clarifies the classification of healthcare workers using digital platforms to schedule shifts at facilities. It establishes 15 specific conditions that must be met for these workers to be treated as independent contractors (not employees) of either the platform or the facility. Key provisions include requiring written agreements, allowing workers to freely accept/reject shifts without penalties, setting hourly rates independently, and mandating that platforms provide work injury, general liability, and professional liability insurance. The bill directly affects healthcare workers using such platforms and the platforms themselves, ensuring their classification as independent contractors under these defined terms.
AB 806 modifies Wisconsin law to clarify parental access to minors' health and court records. It generally grants parents access to their minor child's records but allows minors aged 14 or older to block access by submitting a written objection to the records custodian. The bill also explicitly denies access rights to parents who have been denied physical placement due to child protection cases (e.g., under § 48.13 for parental actions causing harm). These changes apply to health care records under statutes § 146.82 and § 146.83. The bill is currently pending in the Health, Aging and Long-Term Care Committee.
AB 797 creates a $2.5 million grant program to help counties, cities, and towns test privately owned wells for water quality and map well locations. It provides up to $10,000 per grant for well testing, groundwater assessment, and geologic studies, plus separate grants for county health departments to offer well-testing education. The bill also requires municipalities with private wells to inform residents about testing importance and exempts the department from standard emergency rule procedures for implementing this program. The law appropriates funds for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these concrete actions.
AB 804 establishes two new grant programs: a $200,000 annual "Farm to Fork" grant for non-school entities (like businesses, hospitals, or universities with cafeterias) to connect local farms with food service operations, and a $250,000 annual "Farm to School" grant for school districts to expand local food sourcing. The bill prioritizes innovative proposals, high-need schools (where many students qualify for free/reduced meals), and projects supporting value-added agricultural products. It requires the Agriculture Department to administer the grants, provide annual legislative reports, and create rules for implementation. The legislation also adds one dedicated staff position to manage the Farm to Fork program.
