AB 304 provides $1 million in state funding to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan for renovating an existing facility in Chippewa Falls to create a 50-bed treatment center specifically for men with substance use disorders. The grant will cover costs for purchasing and remodeling the Libertas Treatment Center to provide recovery services. This bill directly affects men in Chippewa Falls seeking treatment for substance use disorders and the organization operating the facility. The legislation authorizes the Department of Administration to disburse the funds in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
AB 660 creates a refundable tax credit for married couples who complete premarital counseling before marriage. It provides up to $600 annually for joint filers (reducing to $300 in year two and $100 in year three) or $300 for separate filers (reducing to $150 and $50), with the credit tied to the couple's first three years of marriage. To claim the credit, couples must submit written certification from a qualified counselor (including licensed therapists, psychologists, or clergy) verifying premarital counseling was completed before marriage. The credit is refundable, meaning it can be paid even if no tax is owed, and cannot be claimed by divorced couples, nonresidents, or those filing for partial tax years.
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.
This bill allocates $2 million annually for two years to fund LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and social workers in Wisconsin public schools. It requires school boards to provide department-approved training on LGBTQIA+ rights, defined as including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other nonheterosexual or noncisgender identities. The training must be developed or approved by the state Department of Public Instruction. School counselors and social workers employed by participating school boards will directly receive this training through the grant program. The funding is tied to specific statutory provisions creating new grant categories under education budgets.
SB 649 prohibits state-funded medical and research facilities from using genetic software or operational tools developed by foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations), and bans storing human genome data of state residents within foreign adversary countries. It directly affects facilities receiving state or federal funds for health services or genetic research, requiring them to keep all genomic data within the state and inaccessible to foreign adversaries. Key provisions include a $10,000 penalty per violation for noncompliance, enforced by the state attorney general, with exceptions for clinical trials under federal guidelines. The bill focuses on restricting data and software access from designated foreign entities to protect genomic information.
SB 281 would allow certified advanced practice nurses who can prescribe medications (under Section 441.16(2)) to also perform radiography, such as taking X-rays. This bill directly affects these nurses by expanding their scope of practice to include radiography without requiring separate certification. The key provision creates a new statutory section (462.02(2)(g)) to explicitly permit this expanded practice. The bill does not change requirements for other radiography professionals or alter existing radiology regulations.
SB 305 creates a new grant program providing up to $300,000 annually for mental health clubhouses, with individual clubhouses eligible for up to $50,000 per year. The bill directly affects nonresidential mental health clubhouses that support individuals diagnosed with or awaiting diagnosis for mental illness (but do not provide medical treatment), requiring them to meet specific criteria like matching grant funds, maintaining separate facilities, and ensuring voluntary membership. Key provisions include annual funding limits, mandatory member diagnosis requirements, and a requirement that clubhouses raise matching funds equal to the requested grant amount. The program expires on June 30, 2030, and is codified under new sections 20.435(5)(bk) and 46.67 of the statutes.
SB 68 amends Wisconsin's prescription drug monitoring program to require healthcare practitioners (like doctors and pharmacists) to review a patient's prescription history before issuing new prescriptions for certain medications. This review must occur before prescribing, and can be done by the practitioner or their agent following standard practices. The requirement applies until April 1, 2030, after which the rule expires. The bill updates existing statutes to clarify this review process and sets a specific end date for the mandate.
SB 350 creates state funding to help schools increase mental health staff. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, school districts, charter schools, and participating private schools can receive 50% reimbursement for additional spending on counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses compared to the prior year. The bill adds $16.5 million for 2025-26 and $18 million for 2026-27 to this program. This directly supports schools seeking to expand mental health services for students.
SB 639 allocates $5 million in state funds specifically for veterans' mental health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires the department to promote veterans' access to community-based mental health care and provide grants to organizations offering these services. The bill also streamlines rulemaking by allowing the department to issue emergency rules for administering these services without usual requirements for emergency rule justification. This directly affects veterans seeking mental health support and community organizations delivering those services. The funding and program structure are established for the 2026 biennium.
