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.
AB 180 requires the state Department of Health Services to request a federal waiver from the USDA to prohibit the use of FoodShare benefits (the state's name for SNAP) for purchasing candy or sugary drinks. The bill mandates that if the waiver is granted, candy and sugary drinks would be excluded from eligible items; if denied, the state must reapply annually. This applies directly to FoodShare recipients who currently can use benefits for these items. The bill creates a procedural requirement for the state to seek this change but does not immediately ban the purchases.
AB 226 prohibits public school districts and independent charter schools from serving free or reduced-price school meals containing five specific ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, azodicarbonamide, and red dye 3. The law applies to meals under federal programs like the National School Lunch Program and takes effect July 1, 2027. It does not restrict private vendors from serving these ingredients at school events or on school premises. The bill directly affects schools serving subsidized meals to eligible students.
SB 309 grants legal immunity to 911 call centers and dispatchers who transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It specifically protects them from civil lawsuits related to those transfers, unless the harm resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct by the dispatcher or center. The bill defines the "national crisis hotline" as the federally managed 988 number (or its successor). This law directly affects public safety answering points in Wisconsin by limiting their liability when connecting individuals in crisis to the 988 service.
