Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1143: Relating to: utility charges related to residential rental agreements.

This bill requires landlords and utility providers to give tenants clear information about utility charges in residential rental agreements. It mandates that landlords disclose whether utilities are included in rent before a lease begins and explains how any separate utility costs will be calculated and allocated. The law also establishes a process for tenants to request detailed accounting of variable utility charges within 14 days and prohibits landlords from charging separate fees for processing utility payments. Additionally, the bill requires public utilities and housing cooperatives to provide tenants with copies of property utility charges upon request.

Topics ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1127: Relating to: coverage of speech therapies as a treatment for stuttering under health insurance policies and plans and the Medical Assistance program and providing speech therapy to a child in need of protection or services. (FE)

This bill requires health insurance policies and self-insured plans in Wisconsin to cover speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering, including both services that help maintain or improve skills and those that restore lost abilities. The law applies to disability insurance policies and health plans offered by the state, counties, cities, towns, villages, and school districts, ensuring coverage regardless of whether the stuttering is developmental or caused by other factors. Key provisions mandate that covered plans cannot impose annual visit limits, deny coverage based on the cause of stuttering, or require prior authorization for speech therapy services. The bill also includes telehealth options and establishes a process for the state insurance commissioner to seek federal waivers if the new requirements would trigger additional state costs under federal healthcare laws.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1208: Relating to: attorney general enforcement authority for civil rights violations and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill expands the Wisconsin attorney general's authority to file civil lawsuits on behalf of the state against individuals or entities accused of violating civil rights in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations. It allows the attorney general to investigate these potential violations by requiring sworn statements, accessing relevant documents, and issuing subpoenas to gather information. If a violation is found, the attorney general can seek court orders to stop the illegal conduct, recover investigation costs, and impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 for first offenses or $100,000 for subsequent violations within seven years. The bill also permits the attorney general to accept voluntary compliance agreements as an alternative to litigation, though breaking such agreements would still be treated as a violation subject to penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1201: Relating to: the definition of political action committee for campaign finance purposes.

This bill proposes to update the legal definition of a political action committee (PAC) for campaign finance purposes in the state statutes. It would classify a group as a PAC if it spends more than $1,000 in a 12-month period on express advocacy, referendum support or opposition, or contributions to candidates, legislative committees, or political parties. The definition specifically excludes fundraising and administrative expenses from the spending calculation. This change would affect how organizations are categorized and regulated under campaign finance laws. The bill was introduced in March 2026 but failed to pass the Senate.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1136: Relating to: prior authorization for treatment of severe misalignment or malocclusion of teeth under health insurance policies and plans.

This bill prohibits disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans from using the Salzmann Evaluation Index alone to deny coverage for treating severe misalignment or malocclusion of teeth. It directly affects dental coverage under various health insurance plans, including limited service organizations, preferred provider plans, and defined network plans. The legislation requires these plans to consider additional clinical factors beyond the Salzmann Index when making prior authorization decisions for orthodontic treatment. The bill applies to policies and plans starting with the 2026-2027 plan year, with additional provisions for collective bargaining agreements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1153: Relating to: campaign contribution limits.

SB 1153 amends Wisconsin campaign finance laws to adjust contribution limits for various election candidates and political entities. The bill establishes specific dollar caps on how much individuals, political action committees, other organizations, and political parties can donate to candidates for state and local offices. Key provisions set maximum amounts ranging from $500 for state representatives to $86,000 for governor candidates, with different limits for judicial positions and local offices based on population. The legislation also modifies how contribution limits are calculated for local office candidates, using a formula based on jurisdiction population with a $2,500 maximum cap. This bill was introduced in March 2026 but failed to pass the Senate.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1229: Relating to: prohibitions on nondisparagement clauses in employment contracts.

This bill prohibits employers from including clauses in employment contracts that require former employees to refrain from speaking negatively about their former employers after leaving the job. The law declares such nondisparagement provisions illegal, void, and unenforceable because they impose an unreasonable restraint on trade. Employers must also post a notice in conspicuous locations and on their websites informing current and former employees that these clauses are not legally binding. The restrictions apply to contracts entered into, extended, modified, or renewed on or after the bill's effective date.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1106: Relating to: expanding eligibility for the Medical Assistance program. (FE)

This bill expands eligibility for the Medical Assistance program to include parents or caretakers of dependent children and adults under 65 whose family income falls between 101 and 133 percent of the poverty line. The legislation requires the state insurance commissioner to seek federal approval for these new eligibility categories, and the program changes would only take effect if the federal government grants permission. If federal approval is not obtained, individuals meeting these new criteria would not qualify for benefits. The expanded eligibility provisions are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2029, if approved.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1086: Relating to: restoring private individual authority to bring a qui tam claim against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance, actions by the attorney general against a person for making a false claim for medical assistance, and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill restores the ability for private individuals to file qui tam lawsuits against those who knowingly submit false claims for medical assistance, such as Medicaid fraud. It establishes penalties requiring violators to pay three times the damages caused to the state, while also allowing for reduced penalties if the violator cooperates with the attorney general and reports the fraud promptly. The law outlines procedures for filing complaints, including a 60-day sealing period and the attorney general's option to intervene or take over the case, while also granting the state authority to settle cases with approval from the governor.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SJR 146: Relating to: reserving to the people the power of referendum to reject acts of the legislature and the power of initiative to propose and approve at an election laws and constitutional amendments (first consideration).

This bill proposes constitutional changes to establish direct democracy tools for voters, allowing them to reject laws passed by the legislature and propose new laws or amendments independently. Under the referendum provision, citizens could gather signatures equal to at least 4% of the last gubernatorial vote to place existing legislation on the ballot for public rejection. The initiative provision would let citizens propose new laws or constitutional amendments by collecting signatures ranging from 6% for laws to 8% for amendments, with strict rules requiring single-subject proposals and paper-based signature collection. Once approved, initiative laws would take effect 30 days after certification and could only be repealed by a two-thirds legislative vote or another initiative, while rejected initiatives could not be resubmitted for five years. The bill also prohibits payment based on the number of signatures collected for these petitions, though it allows compensation for signature gathering work itself.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1127: Relating to: fertility treatment rights, reimbursement of fertility treatments under the Medical Assistance program, and requiring insurance coverage for fertility treatments. (FE)

This bill establishes legal rights for individuals to access fertility treatments, including egg and sperm preservation, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and related medications, while also protecting health care providers and insurance companies from interference when delivering these services. It creates a reimbursement mechanism for fertility treatments under the state's Medical Assistance program, though payment is contingent on federal approval or the absence of required federal waivers. The legislation defines fertility treatment broadly to include genetic testing, gamete donation, and other services aligned with American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines, and grants individuals rights to make decisions about their reproductive genetic material. Additionally, the bill provides legal recourse through civil actions for individuals, providers, or manufacturers whose rights are violated, with courts authorized to award equitable relief and litigation costs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1094: Relating to: creating the penalty of death or life imprisonment for persons who are convicted of certain child sex offenses, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill establishes the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole for individuals convicted of specific child sex offenses, including sexual abuse of a child and sexual exploitation of a child. It creates new statutory provisions that remove these offenders from eligibility for parole, work release, and extended supervision programs, ensuring they remain incarcerated for the duration of their sentences. The legislation also defines crimes punishable by death and adjusts sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders of serious violent crimes, while including administrative provisions for emergency rule procedures and controlled substance permits for executions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice