AB 957 increases funding by $400,000 for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to support internet crimes against children law enforcement within the Department of Justice. This is a budget adjustment that directly affects the Department of Justice's resources for investigating and prosecuting online crimes targeting minors. The bill does not create new laws or change existing legal standards - it solely allocates additional state funds for enforcement efforts.
SB 533 defines "equipment" for correctional officers to include tools used for communication, seeking help, or accessing locked areas, alongside items designed to cause harm or restraint. The bill amends penalties for intentionally disarming an officer or removing their issued equipment. It directly affects correctional officers and individuals who interfere with their authorized tools, making such actions a punishable offense under existing law. The legislation clarifies what constitutes prohibited interference with an officer's duties-related equipment.
AB 604 would require Wisconsin's Department of Health Services to request a federal Medicaid waiver to provide pre-release medical coverage for incarcerated individuals eligible for Medicaid. It specifically covers case management, medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders, and a 30-day supply of prescription medications for up to 90 days before release. This bill directly affects incarcerated people who qualify for Medicaid, aiming to improve continuity of care upon reentry. The waiver request must be submitted by January 1, 2027, to allow state and federal reimbursement for these services. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to expand healthcare access during a critical transition period.
SB 5 amends Wisconsin statutes to improve background check procedures for certain jobs involving vulnerable populations. It requires agencies (like child welfare or healthcare providers) to verify the final disposition of any serious crime charge - specifically including battery or threat offenses under sections 940.20 and 940.202 - when background checks show a potential conviction within the last five years. If records are incomplete, agencies must contact courts to obtain criminal complaint and conviction details. This affects background checks for roles in childcare, healthcare, and other regulated fields, ensuring more accurate criminal history assessments. The bill does not create new penalties but refines verification processes for existing offenses.
AB 265 strengthens Wisconsin's penalties for human trafficking by requiring minimum prison terms: 15 years for child trafficking and 10 years for general human trafficking convictions. It creates new felony charges for individuals who profit from trafficking (Class D C felony) or receive compensation from commercial sex acts or debt bondage (Class F E felony). The bill directly affects convicted traffickers, their financial beneficiaries, and those who facilitate trafficking through recruitment or harboring of children for commercial sex. These sentencing changes apply to offenses committed after the bill's effective date.
SB 278 prevents the automatic expiration (sunset) of Wisconsin's Community-Oriented Policing-House Grant Program by changing its funding mechanism. The bill amends state law to establish the program as a "continuing appropriation" that receives biennial funding without requiring annual legislative action to renew it. This change directly affects local law enforcement agencies and community organizations that receive these grants to fund policing initiatives focused on community engagement. The policy shift ensures stable, ongoing funding for the program starting July 1, 2025, rather than requiring renewal each biennium. The bill was enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 27 and signed into law on August 11, 2025.
SB 232 creates annual state grants of $17,000 per child advocacy center in Wisconsin to support education, training, medical advice, and quality assurance for responding to child maltreatment cases. The bill specifically authorizes funding for existing centers in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Fox Valley, Marathon, Chippewa, Brown, Racine, Walworth, and Green counties, plus adds the Lakeshore Regional Center in Sheboygan County and a statewide "Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin" entity. These grants, drawn from a specific state appropriation, directly support the operational capacity of these centers to improve multidisciplinary child abuse response. The bill was enacted as 2025 Wisconsin Act 13 after approval by the Governor on July 2, 2025.
