Assembly Bill 220 seeks to expand anti-discrimination protections across various aspects of life. The bill proposes to amend numerous state statutes to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. This would directly affect individuals in areas such as employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, and adoption. Key provisions include requiring government contractors not to discriminate on these grounds, while clarifying that affirmative action requirements may not apply to these new protected characteristics in certain contracts.
AB 337 requires public school staff in Wisconsin to receive training focused on student mental health and social-emotional learning. This bill directly affects school staff, including teachers and administrators, by mandating new training programs. It authorizes a $500,000 funding increase for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these training initiatives through the Department of Public Instruction. The legislation creates a new statutory requirement (115.28 (63)(d)) for schools to implement this training, funded by the specified appropriations.
Assembly Bill 12 grants "state agency status" to physician assistants and advanced practice nurse prescribers who volunteer their services. This status applies when they provide uncompensated healthcare services for local health departments or school districts. For local health departments, this covers services requiring medical oversight, and for schools, it includes immunization programs. By gaining state agency status, these providers would be considered agents of the Department of Health Services for specific legal protections, such as representation by the attorney general, provided they adhere to state protocols.
SB 547 eliminates specific abortion-related regulations in Wisconsin statutes. It repeals requirements for parental consent for minors seeking abortions (repealing 253.10), mandatory ultrasounds (repealing 441.07), and certain medical certification rules (repealing 457.26 and 940.15). The bill also amends provisions related to medical emergency definitions and updates references to "induced abortion" in other laws. These changes directly affect healthcare providers by removing reporting burdens and minors seeking abortion services by eliminating parental consent and ultrasound mandates. The bill takes effect March 1, 2026, after repeal of the referenced statutes.
Assembly Bill 43 permits pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives to individuals aged 18 and older. Pharmacists must adhere to new rules, including requiring patients to complete a self-assessment questionnaire and undergo a blood pressure screening. The bill also mandates that pharmacists report prescriptions to the patient's primary care provider, provide a written record, and carry malpractice liability insurance. Furthermore, it ensures these contraceptives are covered under Medical Assistance when prescribed by pharmacists and grants the Pharmacy Examining Board authority for related rule-making.
AB 177 exempts diapers and feminine hygiene products from state sales tax. The bill defines "diapers" as absorbent garments for people with incontinence and "feminine hygiene products" to include tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and similar items (excluding grooming products like soap or toothpaste). It adds these categories to the list of tax-exempt items under Wisconsin’s sales tax code (77.54(75)), directly affecting consumers who purchase these essential products. The exemption applies to both retail sales and use of these items, removing a tax burden on these daily necessities.
AB 542 requires dental insurance plans (like defined network plans or preferred provider plans) that rent their provider networks to disclose this practice to dentists. Specifically, insurers must notify dentists in writing or electronically within 45 days if their network is rented to another entity, including the name of the renting entity. The bill also mandates that any entity renting a dental network must honor the original contract terms (such as discounted rates) between the insurer and the dentist. This directly affects dentists, insurers, and third-party entities that rent dental provider networks, ensuring transparency and protecting contractual obligations.
This bill creates "independence accounts" allowing individuals to save up to $15,000 annually from their gross earnings without that money counting toward Medicaid asset limits. It specifically excludes assets acquired through inheritance when determining eligibility for benefits. The department must seek federal approval to implement this change, though the program would take effect if federal authorities approve. The bill directly affects people applying for or receiving Medicaid benefits in the state.
SB 434 regulates prior authorization processes for health insurance plans by requiring greater transparency and standardizing procedures. It directly affects health insurers, self-insured employer plans, and utilization review entities (like insurance companies) that manage pre-approval for medical services. Key provisions include defining "prior authorization" and "adverse determination," mandating that adverse decisions be made by qualified healthcare providers (physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners), and setting timeframes for non-urgent cases. The bill also establishes new requirements for notifying enrollees about coverage decisions. This focuses on clarifying the process for patients seeking covered treatments, not altering coverage benefits.
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.
