SB 755 requires correctional facilities to provide specific healthcare and support services to incarcerated people who are pregnant or within six weeks postpartum. It bans unnecessary physical restraints during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period, mandating staff training on these requirements. Facilities must offer pregnancy testing, STI/HIV screening, continuing medication, educational materials on parenting, and access to doula or lactation support services. They must also provide mental health assessments, breastfeeding supplies, and opportunities to express milk to maintain milk supply. These requirements apply to all state correctional facilities under the law.
AB 791 makes it illegal to intentionally send false text messages to 911 reporting a non-existent emergency. It directly affects individuals who send such deceptive messages, imposing fines ($100-$600) or up to 90 days in jail for a first offense. For repeat offenses within four years, the penalty escalates to a Class H felony charge. The bill targets misuse of emergency services by adding specific penalties for text-based false reports, which previously lacked clear legal consequences. This law aims to deter non-emergency text spam that wastes critical resources.
SB 714 establishes minimum bathing standards for inmates in state correctional facilities and county jails or houses of correction. It requires each facility to provide at least four bathing periods per week, with each period including a minimum of 10 minutes of heated running water and 15 minutes of total time. The bill directly affects all inmates in these facilities by setting concrete, measurable requirements for hygiene access. It creates a new statute (302.072) to implement these standards, applying equally to both state and county custody settings.
SB 147 allows courts to permit interpreters to participate in civil and criminal trials via telephone or video, rather than requiring in-person attendance. This directly affects parties in court cases who need language assistance, including non-English speakers and their legal representatives. The key provision requires the court to grant permission only upon a party's request and with the consent of all other parties involved. The bill amends existing court procedures to formally enable this remote interpretation option.
SB 20 allows married individuals who live apart from their spouse due to domestic abuse (as defined by state law) to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) when filing a separate state tax return. It provides a state tax credit equal to 4%, 11%, or 34% of the federal EITC amount - depending on whether the filer has one, two, or three or more qualifying children living with them. The bill applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and modifies existing tax code to permit this credit for eligible individuals who cannot file jointly. This policy change directly supports domestic abuse survivors facing financial barriers while filing separately.
SB 413 provides legal immunity for individuals who assist sexual assault victims by calling 911, reporting the assault, or seeking help at a medical facility. It extends the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault prosecutions from 10 to 20 years for specific offenses under state law. The bill also allows tenants who are sexual assault victims to immediately terminate their lease by providing an injunction order, without liability for future rent, and requires landlords to change locks upon request. Additionally, it mandates 20-year storage of sexual assault kits to give victims more time to report incidents. These changes directly affect sexual assault victims, tenants in rental housing, and individuals seeking to assist victims without fear of drug-related charges.
SB 308 allocates $1 million in state funding to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to purchase and renovate an existing facility in Chippewa Falls. The grant will create a 50-bed treatment center specifically for men with substance use disorders who need recovery services. The bill directs the Department of Administration to award this grant in the 2025-26 fiscal year. It directly affects men in Chippewa Falls seeking substance use treatment by providing a dedicated facility. The key mechanism is the state grant covering facility acquisition and renovation costs.
AB 75 (now Wisconsin Act 45) requires the Wisconsin Department of Justice to collect and report criminal case data using an interactive dashboard that excludes personally identifiable information about defendants. The bill amends existing requirements by replacing terms like "charging recommendation" with "arrest charge" and mandates the dashboard be available by January 1, 2026. It directly affects the Department of Justice’s data collection processes and ensures transparency while protecting defendant privacy. The law was enacted after Governor approval on October 31, 2025.
SB 91 upgrades penalties for child trafficking by imposing mandatory life imprisonment without parole when the crime involves three or more child victims. It applies to individuals who recruit, transport, or exploit children for commercial sex acts (as defined by existing law), as well as those who benefit financially from such trafficking. The bill amends statutes to classify these offenses as Class A felonies with no possibility of parole or extended supervision. This change directly affects convicted traffickers and their enablers, ensuring life sentences for repeat or large-scale cases involving multiple minors.
SB 232 creates annual state grants of $17,000 per child advocacy center in Wisconsin to support education, training, medical advice, and quality assurance for responding to child maltreatment cases. The bill specifically authorizes funding for existing centers in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Fox Valley, Marathon, Chippewa, Brown, Racine, Walworth, and Green counties, plus adds the Lakeshore Regional Center in Sheboygan County and a statewide "Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin" entity. These grants, drawn from a specific state appropriation, directly support the operational capacity of these centers to improve multidisciplinary child abuse response. The bill was enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 13 after approval by the Governor on July 2, 2025.
