AB 339 creates a state-funded program to reimburse school districts and charter schools for comprehensive mental health services provided to students during school and after-school hours, starting in the 2025-26 school year. Eligible services include mental health literacy programs, parent training, community partnerships, mental health navigators, and telehealth setup costs, while excluding direct treatment services, insurance deductibles, and regular school operating expenses. The program allocates $83.8 million for each of the next two fiscal years, with reimbursement capped at either $100,000 per school or $100 per enrolled student. This funding aims to expand accessible mental health support within schools without requiring new taxes or fees.
AB 226 prohibits public school districts and independent charter schools from serving free or reduced-price school meals containing five specific ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, and red dye 3. The law applies to meals under federal programs like the National School Lunch Program and takes effect July 1, 2027. It does not restrict private vendors from serving these ingredients at school events or on school premises. The bill directly affects schools serving subsidized meals to eligible students.
AB 173 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by requiring them to disclose formulary details and drug costs to health plans and patients before enrollment. It prohibits PBMs or insurers from penalizing patients for choosing specific pharmacies within a network or charging different fees for the same pharmacy services. The bill also mandates advance written notice (at least 90 days) to patients when drugs are removed from formularies or moved to higher-cost tiers, including exception request procedures. These changes directly affect PBMs, health insurance plans, and patients covered by those plans, aiming to increase transparency and choice in prescription drug coverage.
SB 245 establishes a two-year pilot program for school-centered mental health services at two selected schools (one rural, one urban) to support at-risk students and families. The bill requires participating schools to offer existing behavioral health resources and allow surveys/data sharing, while mandating providers to deliver year-round therapy, family coaching, classroom observations, and community resource connections. Funding from the Department of Health Services covers full-time therapist and family coach positions at these schools, with providers required to report on improvements in students' mental health symptoms, social needs, and academic/social-emotional growth. The pilot aims to evaluate how integrated school-based mental health services impact student well-being and academic outcomes before potential expansion.
SB 140 creates a provisional certification pathway for social workers who haven’t passed the national licensing exam. It allows individuals to obtain a temporary certificate (valid for 36 months) after applying, paying fees, and passing a state law exam, enabling them to practice under supervision while completing required training. The bill requires 37.5 hours of supervised practice (including 25 hours of in-person one-on-one supervision) within the first 2,000 hours of practice, with no renewal option for provisional status. This directly affects new social work professionals seeking licensure after failing the national exam, streamlining their transition to full certification upon completing supervision. The bill modifies existing statutes to establish these provisional requirements and their conversion to permanent credentials.
AB 499 requires health insurance plans and self-insured health plans to provide equal coverage for nonopioid pain treatments compared to opioids. Specifically, plans must cover at least two nonopioid prescription medications (not controlled substances) and three non-drug pain management options, without imposing stricter prior authorization or step therapy rules on nonopioid treatments than on opioids. The law prohibits designating nonopioid drugs as "nonpreferred" if opioids are listed and mandates annual public disclosure of pain management coverage details to enrollees and providers. This directly affects all health plans covering prescription drugs in Wisconsin, aiming to expand access to nonopioid pain management alternatives.
SB 632 expands the legal scope of practice for naturopathic doctors in Wisconsin. It grants them the authority to prescribe, dispense, and administer prescription drugs (under specific rules) and allows them to provide expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea. The bill also requires naturopathic doctors to maintain malpractice insurance coverage (with limited exceptions for government employees) and formally includes them in the definition of "health care practitioner" for regulatory purposes. This legislation directly affects licensed naturopathic doctors by changing their legal practice boundaries and responsibilities.
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 168 modifies Wisconsin's worker's compensation law to adjust how mental injury claims (specifically PTSD) are handled for certain public safety and emergency response professionals. It directly affects emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners, medical examiners, and their staff. The bill creates new statutory definitions for these roles and requires that PTSD claims for these workers meet specific conditions to be compensable, rather than automatically covering all mental injuries without physical trauma. This change clarifies the process for filing such claims under the state's worker's compensation system.
AB 309 creates legal immunity for Wisconsin 911 call centers and dispatchers who transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (or its successor number). The bill shields these entities from civil lawsuits related to outcomes of such transfers, unless the injury resulted from the dispatcher's gross negligence or willful misconduct. This directly affects public safety answering points statewide by reducing liability risks when connecting individuals in crisis to the 988 service. The law defines "national crisis hotline" as 988 or its successor under federal program 42 USC 290bb-36c.
