Wisconsin Bills | MyRepTracker

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 1160: Relating to: misclassification of employees and providing a penalty. (FE)

This bill addresses the misclassification of employees by establishing penalties for employers who incorrectly label workers as independent contractors instead of employees. It repeals existing exemption provisions and creates two new penalty categories: a $500 fine for each negligent misclassification and a $25,000 fine for intentional misclassification or providing false information to evade requirements. The legislation also introduces a mechanism where employers with three or more negligent misclassification cases within five years may face escalated penalties for subsequent violations, and allows the department to publish a public list of penalized employers on its website.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 1167: Relating to: prohibiting recovery of a rate of return on retired electric generating facilities; an exemption from certificate requirements for constructing a large electric generating facility; and a permit dashboard for applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity. (FE)

This bill addresses three main areas of electric utility regulation. First, it prevents electric companies from charging customers for the profits they made on power plants that have already been retired. Second, it creates a public online dashboard to track the status of applications for permits needed to build large electric generating facilities. Third, it adds requirements for new large power facilities to show they will use at least 70% of their electricity for manufacturing or mining at the same location, and to agree to pay for connecting to the public power grid. These changes directly affect electric utilities, customers who pay utility rates, and developers seeking to build new power generation projects.

Topics ✓ Energy

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 2, 2026

AB 1228: Relating to: incorporating awareness about fentanyl and the use of an opioid antagonist into school district educational goals. (FE)

This bill requires school districts to include education about fentanyl and the use of opioid antagonists in their official educational goals. It amends existing state law to add specific awareness of fentanyl and naloxone to the list of required drug abuse prevention topics. The changes would first apply to the 2026-27 school year, ensuring students receive information about these specific opioid-related issues as part of their health education curriculum.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Apr 1, 2026

AB 1184: Relating to: grants for school district construction of or upgrades to accessible playgrounds and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a grant program to help school districts build or upgrade playgrounds to be accessible for students with disabilities. It allocates $1 million for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund these projects. The program requires school districts to match the grant amount with their own spending on playground construction or upgrades. Only school districts can apply for these grants, and the funding is intended specifically for making playgrounds accessible to pupils with disabilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 1125: Relating to: priorities for siting certain electric transmission facilities.

This bill establishes priority rules for locating specific types of high-voltage electric transmission infrastructure, including mega transmission systems, consolidated utility corridors, and high-voltage direct current systems. It directs that these facilities be sited within existing high-voltage transmission line rights-of-way or along the corridors of interstate highways, U.S. numbered highways, state trunk highways, or railroad rights-of-way. The legislation defines a mega transmission system as a high-voltage line designed to operate at more than 400 kilovolts and renumbers an existing statute section to accommodate this new provision.

Topics ✓ Energy

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 1089: Relating to: creating a Mississippi River erosion control revolving loan program, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a revolving loan program to help municipalities and homeowners along the Mississippi River address shoreline erosion that threatens their buildings. The Department of Natural Resources would administer the program, using $2 million in state funding to provide loans to eligible applicants who meet income and other criteria. The legislation also grants the department authority to create rules for the program and allows it to use emergency rule procedures without needing to prove an immediate public safety emergency. Additionally, the bill extends the time emergency rules remain in effect to 25 months and authorizes the creation of half a full-time equivalent position to manage the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 1145: Relating to: grants to school districts for safe transportation for school-sponsored events and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes a state grant program to help school districts provide safe transportation for high school students attending school-sponsored events. The legislation creates new funding categories in the state budget, allocating $500,000 for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Department of Public Instruction for distribution to eligible school districts. The program is designed to assist districts with transportation costs for events such as sports competitions, academic competitions, and other organized activities. The funding is authorized through June 30, 2027, after which the grant program will expire unless renewed by the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 1163: Relating to: prior authorization transparency, exemptions from prior authorization requirements, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

This bill requires health care plans to publicly disclose which medical services require prior authorization and the specific rules governing those requirements. It mandates that these lists be posted on websites in plain language without requiring users to create accounts, and it sets standards for how clinical review criteria must be developed and updated. The legislation also grants the state insurance commissioner authority to create rules for certain limited service health organizations and includes provisions to prevent claims denials when prior authorization requirements were not in effect at the time of service.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 30, 2026

AB 1218: Relating to: preventing surprise bills for emergency medical services and other items and services under health insurance policies and plans. (FE)

This bill aims to protect health insurance enrollees from unexpected medical bills by establishing rules for how insurance plans must handle emergency care and services provided by out-of-network providers. It requires insurance plans to cover emergency medical services without requiring prior authorization and ensures that cost-sharing amounts for out-of-network emergency care are no higher than what would apply for in-network care. Additionally, the bill mandates that plans pay out-of-network providers directly for emergency services and certain non-emergency services provided at in-network facilities, preventing patients from being billed for the difference between the out-of-network rate and the recognized amount. These provisions apply to defined network plans, preferred provider plans, and self-insured governmental plans that have networks of participating providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 1164: Relating to: preventing surprise bills for emergency medical services and other items and services under health insurance policies and plans. (FE)

This bill aims to protect patients from unexpected medical bills by establishing rules for how health insurance plans must handle emergency care and services provided by out-of-network providers. It requires insurance plans to cover emergency medical services without prior authorization and ensures that cost-sharing amounts for out-of-network emergency care are no higher than what would apply for in-network care. Additionally, the bill mandates that plans pay out-of-network providers directly for services rendered at participating facilities and counts patient cost-sharing payments toward in-network deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. These provisions apply to defined network plans, preferred provider plans, and self-insured governmental plans that have networks of participating providers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 30, 2026

AB 1185: Relating to: testing cosmetics on animals and providing a penalty.

This bill prohibits cosmetic manufacturers from conducting or contracting for animal testing on cosmetics within the state after December 31, 2026, and restricts the sale of products developed using such testing after July 1, 2027. It applies to any person whose name appears on a cosmetic label and bans the import or sale of cosmetics or ingredients known to have been tested on live nonhuman vertebrates after the specified date. Exceptions allow testing required by federal or state regulatory agencies under specific conditions, including when no alternative testing methods exist, or for compliance with foreign jurisdiction requirements where test results are not used to substantiate product safety in the state. Violations of the prohibition carry a penalty of $5,000 for each offense plus an additional $1,000 for each day the violation continues.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SJR 149: Relating to: proclaiming April 2026 as family strengthening month in Wisconsin.

This bill proposes designating April 2026 as Family Strengthening Month in Wisconsin to raise awareness about preventing child abuse and neglect. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic resolution to highlight the importance of family support and community involvement. The measure references research on protective factors like parental resilience and social connections that help build safe environments for children. Ultimately, the bill aims to encourage public and government commitment to strengthening families through awareness rather than policy changes.