Healthcare

vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 4: Relating to: agreements for direct primary care.

SB 4 establishes legal requirements for direct primary care agreements in Wisconsin. It defines these contracts as written arrangements between healthcare providers and patients (or employers) where providers offer ongoing primary care services for a fixed subscription fee. Key provisions mandate that agreements must detail specific services, specify the fee, allow termination with written notice, and be signed by both parties. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on August 11, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes legal framework for direct primary care agreements, enhancing patient access and provider-patient clarity through standardized contracts and fee transparency.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · Wisconsin · Assembly May 13, 2026

AB 73: Relating to: statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets.

AB 73 creates a new statute (Chapter 798) to formally recognize two types of specialized court programs in Wisconsin: treatment courts and commercial courts. Treatment courts (e.g., drug, mental health, veterans courts) address underlying issues like addiction to reduce recidivism through treatment and supervision, while commercial courts handle business disputes more efficiently. The bill establishes these dockets within the existing court system, requiring judges to receive specialized training and operate using graduated sanctions and rewards. It directly affects courts handling these case types, aiming to improve outcomes for participants and streamline dispute resolution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes treatment courts to reduce recidivism through rehabilitation (e.g., drug/mental health programs), directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like reducing recidivism and improving rehabilitation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly creates statutory recognition for mental health treatment courts, directly supporting mental health services as part of reducing recidivism through treatment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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vetoed · Wisconsin · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 417: Relating to: visitation of a long-term care facility resident or hospital patient during a communicable disease outbreak.

SB 417 establishes rules for allowing essential visitors and clergy to visit residents in long-term care facilities (like nursing homes) and hospitals during communicable disease outbreaks. It requires facilities to permit at least one designated essential visitor (such as a family member or legal guardian) or clergy member in specific compassionate situations, including end-of-life care, grief support, or when a health professional determines the visitor’s presence benefits the patient. Facilities may deny visitation only if the visitor refuses safety protocols, poses a contagion risk, or the patient declines the visit. The bill also creates a process for residents to file complaints if facilities violate these rules and provides liability protection for facilities following the policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates essential visitor access during outbreaks, protecting patient rights and improving compassionate care access in healthcare facilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 9, 2026

AB 604: Relating to: coverage under the Medical Assistance program for incarcerated individuals. (FE)

AB 604 would require Wisconsin's Department of Health Services to request a federal Medicaid waiver to provide pre-release medical coverage for incarcerated individuals eligible for Medicaid. It specifically covers case management, medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders, and a 30-day supply of prescription medications for up to 90 days before release. This bill directly affects incarcerated people who qualify for Medicaid, aiming to improve continuity of care upon reentry. The waiver request must be submitted by January 1, 2027, to allow state and federal reimbursement for these services. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand healthcare access during a critical transition period.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides pre-release Medicaid coverage including substance use treatment to improve reentry outcomes, directly reducing recidivism through rehabilitation-focused continuity of care.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage pre-release for incarcerated individuals, ensuring continuity of care including medication-assisted treatment and prescriptions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 657: Relating to: a sales and use tax exemption for nuclear fusion technology projects. (FE)

AB 657 exempts sales and use taxes for specific equipment and materials used exclusively in qualified nuclear fusion technology projects. It covers over 70 listed items, including plasma heating systems, superconductors, diagnostic tools, specialized materials like lithium and tungsten, and safety equipment. The exemption applies to businesses conducting fusion projects focused on energy generation, medical isotope production, research, or other fusion-related applications as defined in the bill. This policy directly reduces costs for companies developing nuclear fusion technology by eliminating taxes on qualifying purchases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax exemption for fusion projects, reducing business tax burden to promote innovation in energy technology.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts taxes for nuclear fusion energy projects, promoting clean energy infrastructure development and advancement.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly includes medical isotope production as a covered application, enabling healthcare-related diagnostic and treatment tools through tax exemption.70% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTax exemption for nuclear fusion tech equipment directly supports advancement of this emerging technology sector through financial incentives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 24, 2026

AB 180: Relating to: requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE)

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts FoodShare use for sugary drinks/candy to improve public health outcomes, aligning with healthcare policy goals of preventing diet-related illnesses through nutrition-focused program modifications.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 384: Relating to: requirements for children born alive following abortion or attempted abortion and providing a penalty.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates standard medical care and transport for live-born infants post-abortion, protecting patient rights in healthcare provision per bill requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 553: Relating to: limitations on the definition of 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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies medical procedures (e.g., emergency cesarean) don't count as abortion, preventing legal barriers to life-saving care and protecting patient access to necessary healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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signed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 20, 2026

AB 598: Relating to: consent to admissions to certain health care facilities by patient representatives without requiring a petition for guardianship or protective placement. (FE)

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves court barriers for patient reps to consent to healthcare admissions, improving access for incapacitated individuals without requiring guardianship petitions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Wisconsin · Senate Oct 22, 2025

SB 182: Relating to: emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE)

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition/materials reimbursement for EMS students and mandates technical colleges to expand enrollment access, directly funding higher education access and program growth.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tuition/reimbursement for EMS education, expanding workforce training to improve emergency medical services access and provider capacity.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare