AB 180 requires the state Department of Health Services to request a federal waiver from the USDA to prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits (the state's name for SNAP) for purchasing candy or sugary drinks. The bill mandates that if the waiver is granted, candy and sugary drinks would be excluded from eligible items; if denied, the state must reapply annually. This applies directly to FoodShare recipients who currently can use benefits for these items. The bill creates a procedural requirement for the state to seek this change but does not immediately ban the purchases.
SB 384 requires health care providers to provide the same standard of care and immediate hospital transport for any child born alive after an abortion or attempted abortion, as they would for any newborn of the same gestational age. Violating these requirements is a Class H felony, but the mother cannot be prosecuted for the incident. The bill also allows affected women to seek triple the cost of the abortion as civil damages, plus attorney fees, while protecting their identity through court confidentiality orders. It explicitly states the law does not create or recognize a right to abortion.
SB 553 clarifies that certain medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life do not count as "abortion" under state law. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "anembryonic pregnancy," "ectopic pregnancy," and "molar pregnancy," and explicitly states that abortion does not include procedures like emergency cesarean sections, removal of a dead fetus, or treatment for these specific conditions when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. This directly affects healthcare providers who perform these emergency procedures and pregnant patients facing medical crises. The law updates multiple statutes to ensure these scenarios are excluded from the legal definition of abortion.
AB 598 allows patient representatives to consent to health care facility admissions for incapacitated individuals without requiring a court-appointed guardian or protective placement petition. The bill creates a defined "patient representative" role, requiring two medical professionals (e.g., two physicians or one physician plus an advanced practice clinician) to certify incapacity based on medical need - not age, disability, or eccentricity. Patient representatives gain authority to make health care decisions, enroll individuals in Medical Assistance, and authorize health care expenses similar to a guardian, but only for non-developmental disability and non-mental illness cases. This change streamlines admissions for incapacitated patients while mandating 72-hour notifications to county agencies about the certification.
SB 264 requires health insurance plans and the Medical Assistance program to cover specific breast cancer screenings without out-of-pocket costs for enrollees. It defines two key types of screenings: "diagnostic breast examinations" (used to evaluate symptoms or abnormalities, like mammograms) and "supplemental breast screening examinations" (for high-risk individuals without symptoms, using MRI or ultrasound). The bill prohibits cost-sharing (such as copays) for all diagnostic screenings and for the first supplemental screening per year, while allowing limited cost-sharing for additional supplemental screenings in the same year. This directly affects individuals with health insurance or Medical Assistance who require these screenings, particularly those at higher risk for breast cancer.
SB 23 extends Medicaid eligibility for postpartum women from 60 days to 365 days (one year) after pregnancy, directly affecting pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in the Medical Assistance program. The bill modifies eligibility rules to ensure coverage continues without regard to income changes during this extended period. It also adds a provision allowing women with family income above 300% of the poverty line to qualify if medical expenses for family members are covered, extending this eligibility to all family members. The bill requires federal approval for the 365-day extension to take effect.
SB 182 provides tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and practitioners enrolled in technical college emergency medical services (EMS) programs. It requires technical colleges offering EMS programs to prioritize grant funds for expanding student enrollment access - either through direct program expansion or by contracting with districts for expansion services. The bill also updates program terminology throughout (replacing "course" with "program") to clarify educational standards. This directly affects EMS students, technical colleges, and the state's EMS workforce development system.
SB 108 creates a secure online portal to share minors' safety plans during mental health or behavioral crises. It allows minors (13+) to create written plans with a facilitator, including contact info, de-escalation strategies, and crisis guidance, which they can share only with designated safety plan partners (like schools, law enforcement, or health providers) after signing a consent form. The portal, managed by the state, requires minor consent for sharing, limits access to crisis situations or updates, and expires after one year. This directly affects minors at risk of crisis encounters with emergency services and the agencies coordinating their care. The bill standardizes how safety information is shared while requiring explicit consent and confidentiality.
SB 106 clarifies the authority of state departments to regulate psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) by removing ambiguous language from existing rules. It requires facilities to follow department rules and allows departments to establish specific requirements, policies, and standards for PRTFs. The bill directly affects PRTFs and state departments responsible for oversight, ensuring rules are applied consistently. It became law as 2025 Wisconsin Act 9 after approval by the Governor on July 2, 2025. The changes focus on precise language to streamline regulatory processes, without creating new requirements.
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.
