SB 306 requires the University of Wisconsin (UW) System Board to contract with a vendor providing virtual mental health services for students at UW institutions with 30,000 or fewer full-time undergraduate students (based on April 1 enrollment data). The services must complement existing campus mental health resources, extend support beyond regular hours, and include licensed providers with higher education experience. Vendors must have at least five years of experience in student mental health services and submit annual reports on student usage to the board and legislature. This bill directly affects eligible UW students and aims to expand access to virtual mental health support through a structured vendor partnership.
AB 336 would allocate $11 million annually for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund additional mental and behavioral health services at the University of Wisconsin System. The bill specifically directs these funds toward improving student health services through enhanced staffing, training, prevention programs, and assessment tools. It directly affects all University of Wisconsin System campuses and their students by expanding access to mental health support. The funding mechanism is a direct state appropriation with no additional requirements for institutions.
SB 351 allocates $11 million annually for improved student mental and behavioral health services at the University of Wisconsin System. It directly affects UW System students by funding additional staffing, training, operations, assessment, and prevention programs in this area. The bill creates a new funding line (20.285(1)(cm)) in the state budget, specifying these funds must support mental and behavioral health services. The appropriation applies to the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.
AB 343 increases state funding to help schools hire more mental health staff by reimbursing 50% of new spending on pupil services professionals (like counselors and social workers). It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and participating private schools that increase their spending on these roles. The bill adds $16.5 million for fiscal year 2025-26 and $18 million for 2026-27 to the existing mental health aid appropriation. This creates a new reimbursement mechanism for schools that expand their mental health staffing beyond prior-year levels.
SB 407 creates a grant program to fund Rogers Behavioral Health's new integrated mental health facility in the Chippewa Valley. The bill requires Rogers to submit detailed certification plans for all service levels (inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient care) to meet state licensing requirements before receiving funds. It also mandates that the facility accept Medical Assistance recipients (Wisconsin's Medicaid program), admit involuntary patients within two years, and provide annual reports to the Department of Health Services for five years. This bill directly affects Rogers Behavioral Health and mental health patients in the Chippewa Valley region seeking comprehensive care.
AB 113 creates a secure online portal for sharing minors' crisis safety plans between authorized organizations. It allows minors (12+ years old) to create written plans with a facilitator, including details like emergency contacts, de-escalation strategies, and what to tell first responders during mental health or behavioral crises. Minors must sign a release form agreeing to share their plan only with designated safety partners (like schools, hospitals, or police) via the portal, which expires after one year. The portal will enable real-time access for crisis response while requiring strict confidentiality and minor consent, directly affecting minors with behavioral health needs and the agencies supporting them.
AB 111 establishes new regulatory standards for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) serving individuals under 21. It requires state certification for PRTFs, sets federal compliance standards for services, and mandates that facilities meet specific safety and treatment protocols. The bill also grants the state health department rule-making authority to set bed limits, security requirements, and geographic distribution priorities for PRTFs - prioritizing northern/north-central and southern regions for new facilities. Additionally, it clarifies reimbursement processes tied to federal approval and permits video monitoring in common areas with patient notification, while prohibiting its use as a substitute for direct patient supervision.
SB 109 allows licensed mental health clinicians (like psychologists, psychiatrists, or clinical social workers) in counties with fewer than 750,000 residents to initiate emergency detentions for minors under specific conditions. To qualify, clinicians must complete county-approved training, document their belief that a minor is mentally ill, drug-dependent, or developmentally disabled, and confirm that custody is the least restrictive option. The county department of community programs must approve the detention before a minor can be taken into custody and transported to a treatment facility. This bill directly affects clinicians who may now initiate such detentions, minors in crisis, and county departments responsible for oversight and transportation.
AB 338 requires most health insurance plans (including those offered by state/local governments) to cover at least 28 annual therapy visits for mental health or substance use disorders without prior authorization. It mandates that insurers provide this minimum coverage per policy year, based on the insured's treatment goals. The law includes a cost-check mechanism: if insurers' actuarial analysis shows coverage would increase plan costs by over 10%, enforcement may be paused. This directly affects health insurers, self-insured public employer plans, and individuals seeking mental health/substance use treatment. The bill takes effect for new policy years starting after its publication date.
SB 153 expands a grant program for counties and tribes to create treatment and diversion programs for individuals with substance use disorders or mental illness who are charged with or convicted of crimes related to these conditions. The bill requires programs to use evidence-based practices, integrate mental health services, include case management, and collaborate with courts, prosecutors, and treatment providers. It also modifies sentencing rules to exempt participants in approved programs from losing good time in jail. This bill directly affects individuals facing charges related to substance use or mental health, as well as local governments and service providers.
