SB 933 requires social media platforms serving users in this state to display a clear mental health warning each time a user accesses the platform. The warning must note potential negative mental health effects and provide access to crisis resources like the 988 suicide hotline. Platforms cannot hide the warning, make it less visible, or disable it except under specified conditions. Violations could result in fines up to $5,000 per incident or lawsuits by affected users seeking damages or injunctions.
SB 950 eliminates the option for parents or guardians to exempt children from school or childcare immunization requirements based on "personal conviction." It directly affects students, parents, and schools by restricting waivers to only health or religious reasons. The bill amends statutes to remove "personal conviction" from acceptable exemption grounds, requiring schools to inform families about the limited waiver options. This changes current practice by ending non-medical, non-religious exemptions for immunizations in educational settings. The bill is currently pending in the Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs.
SB 1047 adjusts payment rates for medication-based opioid treatment services to match Medicare rates starting in 2027, directly affecting opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their patients. It eliminates a requirement for OTPs to document enrollment details and mandates specific staffing rules, including having a nurse present during dosing and maintaining a 1 counselor-to-55-patient ratio. The bill also updates admission criteria, requiring documented failed detox attempts for minors seeking maintenance treatment and clarifying initial dose limits for new patients. These changes aim to standardize care and payment while ensuring program compliance with federal and state regulations.
SB 939 prohibits operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to simulate ongoing, personalized relationships with users) from making these tools available to children under 18 without specific safety measures. It requires such chatbots to avoid encouraging self-harm, replacing professional mental health care, promoting illegal activity, sharing explicit content, prioritizing validation over safety, or optimizing engagement beyond safety features. Operators face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation per day, and affected children or their guardians may sue for damages. The law exempts customer service bots, internal business tools, and research systems, and includes a 2027 implementation deadline.
AB 1031 exempts menstrual discharge collection devices from sales tax. The bill defines these products to include tampons, pads, menstrual cups, period underwear, and other similar items designed for menstrual cycle use (such as period swimwear or sleep shorts), while explicitly excluding regular grooming products like soap or toothpaste. It adds these items to the list of tax-exempt goods under state law, meaning retailers won’t charge sales tax on them. This change directly affects consumers who purchase these products, making them more affordable by removing the tax burden.
SB 1055 increases funding for home-delivered meal programs by $250,000 for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. This bill directly affects existing home-delivered meal services, primarily supporting seniors and vulnerable individuals who rely on these programs. The key provision amends the state budget to add the specified funds to the department of health services' appropriation under Section 46.80(5)(a). The funding boost aims to expand meal availability without creating new programs or changing eligibility rules.
AB 1083 prevents the state from seeking reimbursement from alleged fathers for birth expenses paid through the Medical Assistance program when the mother was an unmarried recipient at the time of birth. It amends statutes to eliminate the state’s right to recover these costs and prohibits courts from ordering fathers to pay for such expenses. The bill specifically applies to cases involving unmarried mothers who received Medical Assistance during pregnancy or birth. This affects unmarried mothers enrolled in Medical Assistance who have given birth while covered by the program.
SB 926 creates a two-year pilot program (2026-27 and 2027-28 school years) to provide behavioral health prevention tools to at least 50,000 high school students across Wisconsin. The program allocates $3 million in funding, with up to $1.5 million per school year, to deliver an electronic tool meeting specific requirements: online education resources, moderated peer support, private sessions with mental health professionals, mobile/web accessibility, and English/Spanish language support. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will administer the pilot, potentially contracting with educational service agencies, and must select tools proven effective in rural and urban schools in other states. This program directly affects high school students by expanding access to preventive mental health services through a structured digital platform.
AB 1059 increases funding for home-delivered meals by $250,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and another $250,000 for fiscal year 2026-27. This directly affects seniors and vulnerable adults who rely on state-funded home-delivered meal programs under Section 46.80(5)(a). The bill modifies the budget allocation to the Department of Health Services, specifically boosting the available funds for these services. It does not change program eligibility or service requirements, only increasing the financial support.
AB 1012 establishes a family and medical leave insurance program that would allow eligible workers to take up to 14 weeks of leave per year to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, or family member with a serious health condition, or to address certain family military needs. The bill would require employers with 50 or more employees to provide this leave, funded through a new family and medical leave insurance trust fund. It defines "family member" broadly to include spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, and other close relatives or people in close association with the employee. The legislation also sets specific limits on leave availability, including a maximum of 6 weeks for certain family situations and 8-14 weeks for combined reasons within a 12-month period.
