Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 861: Relating to: various changes to the state lottery. (FE)

SB 861 clarifies and updates definitions related to state lottery games and vendor payments. It creates specific definitions for "break open games" (like pull-tabs), "instant games" (scratch-offs), and "lotto games," along with their associated services and supplies. The bill amends statutes to specify that retailers receive up to 1% of instant game revenue and 2% of break open game revenue as additional compensation, while vendors are paid for services under defined categories. These changes primarily affect lottery vendors providing game services and retailers selling tickets, streamlining how payments are calculated and categorized under existing lottery revenue structures.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 937: Relating to: including a space for write-in candidates on city election ballots; eliminating independent candidates from the partisan primary ballot; and using a temporary operator’s license or identification card to establish proof of residence for voter registration (suggested as remedial legislation by the Elections Commission).

AB 937 modifies city election rules in three key ways. It requires city ballots to include space for write-in candidates and removes independent candidates from partisan primary ballots (they will appear on separate ballots instead). The bill also allows temporary driver's licenses or ID cards to serve as proof of residence for voter registration. These changes directly affect city voters, independent candidates running for city offices, and individuals registering to vote using temporary identification.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 908: Relating to: correcting terminology for making additional contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System; eliminating a social security account maintained in the public employee trust fund and removing a provision regarding liability for state employer social security remittances; and clarifying who may participate in an income continuation insurance plan provided by the Group Insurance Board (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Employee Trust Funds).

This bill updates Wisconsin retirement and insurance laws by clarifying terminology for additional contributions to the Wisconsin Retirement System and removing a specific social security account from the public employee trust fund. It also clarifies eligibility rules for income continuation insurance plans, allowing participation for those who have not reached age 70 while preserving access to health and life insurance for all eligible employees. Additionally, the legislation removes state liability for employer social security remittance debts and expands how employees can make voluntary retirement contributions through payroll deductions or other methods. These changes directly affect public employees, employers, and the state's retirement and insurance administration systems.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 917: Relating to: an optional final hearing by affidavit for the dissolution of a marriage (suggested as remedial legislation by the Office of the Director of State Courts).

SB 917 amends Wisconsin divorce law to require parties seeking dissolution of marriage to include an affidavit disclosing any history of domestic violence or battery. The bill specifically mandates that the affidavit state whether the parties were involved in any pending or completed court cases involving domestic abuse, interspousal battery, or related criminal charges under statutes like 940.60 or 940.19. This change directly affects individuals filing for divorce in Wisconsin by adding a mandatory disclosure requirement about past domestic violence incidents. The provision aims to help courts better assess safety risks during divorce proceedings, using plain language to clarify existing legal requirements.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 859: Relating to: adopting changes to the federal Internal Revenue Code for state tax purposes and modifying administrative rules related to such changes. (FE)

SB 859 updates Wisconsin's state tax code to align with specific federal tax changes. For taxable years starting after December 31, 2025, Wisconsin will use the federal Internal Revenue Code as amended through December 31, 2025, instead of current federal rules. The bill explicitly excludes certain federal tax provisions (like specific sections from recent laws) from Wisconsin's tax calculations and creates new rules to handle differences between state and federal tax treatments. This directly affects Wisconsin taxpayers and businesses by changing how state income tax is calculated based on updated federal rules.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 915: Relating to: definition of personal assistance services for the purposes of vocational rehabilitation; updating reference to federal vocational rehabilitation law; updating references to the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014; updating reference to federal law for certificate of registration as a migrant labor contractor; updating statutory reference to federal Social Security Act; and updating references to federal law for safety standards for vehicles used to transport traveling sales crews (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Workforce Development).

SB 915 updates outdated references in state law to align with current federal statutes related to workforce and vocational programs. It corrects statutory citations to match the latest versions of federal laws, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014), the Social Security Act, and vehicle safety standards for traveling sales crews. The bill directly affects state agencies like the Department of Workforce Development, ensuring their programs remain compliant with federal requirements without changing program rules or benefits. This is administrative cleanup to maintain consistency between state and federal regulations, not a policy change.

passed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 915: Relating to: tax credit for small businesses offering individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements. (FE)

AB 915 creates a $400-per-employee tax credit for Wisconsin small businesses (with 1-50 employees) that offer individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRA) to their workers. To qualify, businesses must contribute at least $400 per covered employee annually into the ICHRA, and employees must accept the arrangement. The credit reduces state income tax liability for qualifying businesses, with partnerships and LLCs required to allocate the credit to owners based on ownership shares. This policy directly affects small employers seeking to provide health benefits without traditional group plans, while requiring specific contribution levels to claim the credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 946: Relating to: implementing a behavioral health prevention pilot program and making an appropriation.

AB 946 creates a two-year pilot program to provide behavioral health support to high school students in Wisconsin. It allocates $1.5 million annually for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years to give at least 50,000 high school students access to a digital tool offering online mental health resources, peer support, and private sessions with licensed professionals. The tool must be accessible via mobile/web, support English/Spanish, include professional profiles for user choice, and follow a population health model. The program is administered by the Department of Public Instruction and requires contracting with educational service agencies, with the related funding provision set to expire on July 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 911: Relating to: fixing a cross-reference in a definition of “violent crime” and updating terminology to reflect changes in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (suggested as remedial language by the Department of Justice).

SB 911 corrects a technical error in Wisconsin law by updating references to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's reporting systems. It amends three statutes to replace outdated terminology (like "Federal Bureau of Investigation" with current naming) and fixes a cross-reference in the definition of "violent crime" used for legal classifications. This purely procedural bill does not change criminal definitions or policies - it only aligns existing law with current FBI reporting terminology as requested by the Department of Justice. The changes affect how violent crime statistics are documented in state legal codes but do not alter who is classified as a violent offender.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 907: Relating to: required livestock premises activities (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection).

This bill amends state statutes to update requirements for livestock premises activities, specifically addressing the types of livestock kept at each location. It incorporates standards and guidelines from the federal National Animal Identification Plan developed by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The change applies to livestock operations and aims to align state regulations with federal identification standards where practicable. The legislation was recommended by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as remedial legislation.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 906: Relating to: revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of making corrections and reconciling conflicts (Correction Bill).

This bill is a correction bill that updates Wisconsin state statutes by renumbering various sections and updating cross-references to ensure consistency across the legal code. It directly affects government officials, legal professionals, and anyone who references Wisconsin statutes by aligning outdated numbering with current statutory structures. The key mechanism involves systematically changing specific statute numbers and their internal references to match recent legislative changes, without altering the actual content or substance of the laws. This administrative update helps maintain an organized and accurate legal code for public use and reference.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 904: Relating to: revising various provisions of the statutes for the purpose of making corrections and reconciling conflicts (Correction Bill).

This bill is a technical correction that resolves conflicts between different Wisconsin statutes by ensuring multiple legal treatments of specific code sections remain in effect simultaneously. It directly affects Wisconsin state agencies and courts that rely on these statutes, clarifying that earlier legislative actions were not unintentionally repealed by more recent laws. The key mechanism involves explicitly stating that various statutory provisions from different years should coexist rather than being replaced, covering areas like health care, education, and administrative regulations. This procedural measure does not create new policies but instead maintains legal consistency across the state codebook.

Bill results