SB 799 modifies parental access to minors' health records. It requires parents to obtain written consent from minors aged 14 or older before accessing their health records, unless the minor is developmentally disabled (where consent isn't required). The bill also restricts access for parents who caused child protection cases (e.g., abuse/neglect), denying them access to health records if their child was placed under child protection services due to their actions. This applies specifically to health records covered under statutes related to patient care and treatment.
AB 104 prohibits health care providers from performing or referring minors under 18 for medical interventions intended to change their physical characteristics to match a gender different from their biological sex. It specifically bans surgeries (like hysterectomy or orchiectomy), mastectomies, puberty-blocking drugs, and high-dose cross-sex hormone treatments. Exceptions apply for genetic disorders of sex development, treating complications from prior procedures, or immediate life-threatening conditions. Violations could result in license revocation for health care providers by the licensing board.
SB 45 is the 2025 executive budget act, primarily allocating state funds through new grant programs and modifications to existing funding mechanisms. It creates a grant program for local construction projects requiring 50% nonstate funding, allocates $10 million to the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute (with matching private funding required), and establishes a state film office within the Department of Tourism. The bill also directs annual county grants, authorizes tribal government training grants for the Oneida Nation, and specifies annual transfers from the local government fund to the transportation fund. These provisions focus on funding distribution for infrastructure, healthcare, cultural programs, and tribal-state collaboration.
AB 73 creates a new statute (Chapter 798) to formally recognize two types of specialized court programs in Wisconsin: treatment courts and commercial courts. Treatment courts (e.g., drug, mental health, veterans courts) address underlying issues like addiction to reduce recidivism through treatment and supervision, while commercial courts handle business disputes more efficiently. The bill establishes these dockets within the existing court system, requiring judges to receive specialized training and operate using graduated sanctions and rewards. It directly affects courts handling these case types, aiming to improve outcomes for participants and streamline dispute resolution.
SB 214 requires out-of-state health care providers (like doctors and nurses) to register with Wisconsin to offer telehealth services within the state. The bill establishes a new registration fee and mandates that providers maintain malpractice insurance coverage meeting Wisconsin’s standards for health care providers. It also requires registrants to report any license issues to Wisconsin authorities. The law directly affects telehealth providers from other states seeking to serve Wisconsin patients remotely. This bill creates a formal registration process to ensure provider accountability and patient protection in telehealth.
SB 405 creates a legal right for minors injured by gender transition procedures to sue healthcare providers for physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harm. The bill defines "gender transition procedure" broadly (including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones) but excludes treatments for certain medical conditions like disorders of sexual development. It requires providers to document a minor's gender identity for two years, obtain certification from multiple healthcare professionals confirming the procedure is the only treatment for a mental health concern, and provide specific risk warnings to minors and parents before consent. The law allows lawsuits to be filed before the minor turns 33, with defenses available if providers follow the required documentation and consent protocols.
AB 308 prohibits Wisconsin state and local government funds from being used to pay for health services for individuals without legal immigration status. The bill directly affects undocumented residents by blocking state/local funding for their healthcare. Key provisions ban state/local funds for such services (except where federal law requires payment or where applying the ban would cause loss of federal funds). The law does not restrict federal healthcare programs or funding. This is a policy change affecting state budget allocations, not a procedural measure.
AB 674 prohibits health insurance plans and the Medical Assistance program from covering organ transplants or related care if the organ was transplanted in or originated from a country designated by the department as participating in forced organ harvesting. The bill applies to disability insurance, self-insured health plans, and Medical Assistance. It defines "forced organ harvesting" as removal via coercion, deception, or abuse of power, and requires the department to designate affected countries. Life-saving post-transplant care remains covered even if the transplant itself is prohibited under the bill.
SB 181 creates a levy limit exemption for local governments that fund regional emergency medical services (EMS). It allows counties or municipalities to count costs for regional EMS (via joint districts or agreements) toward their budget without triggering standard spending limits, provided the service area covers at least 232 square miles or 8+ municipalities. The bill requires that annual EMS funding increases stay within an inflation-adjusted cap (U.S. CPI plus 5%) and that the local government confirms a coordinated regional service area. This directly affects local governments operating regional EMS systems by making their funding more flexible under budget constraints. The exemption applies to costs for fire department-provided EMS and excludes these expenditures from standard spending limit calculations.
AB 699 creates a 20% tax credit for disability insurers who pay long-term care insurance assessments. The credit applies to the taxable year after the assessment is paid and the next four years, reducing taxes owed under Wisconsin law. It directly affects disability insurers (defined in the bill) who collect these assessments, not individual consumers. The credit cannot be claimed by partnerships or their members if the entity claims it, and unused credits are paid by the state from a dedicated fund. This bill establishes a new tax credit mechanism without changing insurance requirements for consumers.