Assembly Bill 220 seeks to expand anti-discrimination protections across various aspects of life. The bill proposes to amend numerous state statutes to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. This would directly affect individuals in areas such as employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, and adoption. Key provisions include requiring government contractors not to discriminate on these grounds, while clarifying that affirmative action requirements may not apply to these new protected characteristics in certain contracts.
AB 337 requires public school staff in Wisconsin to receive training focused on student mental health and social-emotional learning. This bill directly affects school staff, including teachers and administrators, by mandating new training programs. It authorizes a $500,000 funding increase for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to support these training initiatives through the Department of Public Instruction. The legislation creates a new statutory requirement (115.28 (63)(d)) for schools to implement this training, funded by the specified appropriations.
AB 668 amends Wisconsin law to allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with psychiatric expertise to conduct examinations determining whether involuntarily committed individuals can refuse medication or treatment. This change directly affects individuals in psychiatric commitment under specific legal standards who refuse care, as it expands the pool of qualified professionals (previously limited to physicians) who can provide the required medical certification. The bill requires any motion to override a patient's refusal to include a written report signed by an APRN or physician stating the individual is not competent to refuse treatment or that treatment is necessary to prevent serious harm. The amendment takes effect September 1, 2026, after a temporary transition period allowing physician-only assessments until that date. This creates a new pathway for competency determinations while maintaining existing court hearing requirements.
AB 607 creates new programs and modifies existing ones to address housing, homelessness, and related services in Wisconsin. It establishes a lead service line replacement program for water systems, creates an annual review process for homelessness services, and funds emergency rental assistance for households earning under 80% of county median income. The bill allocates $43 million for indigent civil legal services, $5 million for emergency rental assistance (2026-27), and $2.5 million for housing grants. These provisions directly affect low-income residents, homeless individuals, and service providers by expanding access to housing support, legal aid, and water infrastructure improvements.
Senate Bill 223 aims to expand anti-discrimination protections within the state. It proposes to add "gender identity," "gender expression," and "sexual orientation" to the list of characteristics protected by state law. The bill amends numerous statutes to prohibit discrimination based on these categories across various sectors, including employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and insurance coverage. It also extends these protections to areas such as the National Guard, jury duty, and adoption processes.
AB 339 creates a state-funded program to reimburse school districts and charter schools for comprehensive mental health services provided to students during school and after-school hours, starting in the 2025-26 school year. Eligible services include mental health literacy programs, parent training, community partnerships, mental health navigators, and telehealth setup costs, while excluding direct treatment services, insurance deductibles, and regular school operating expenses. The program allocates $83.8 million for each of the next two fiscal years, with reimbursement capped at either $100,000 per school or $100 per enrolled student. This funding aims to expand accessible mental health support within schools without requiring new taxes or fees.
SB 245 establishes a two-year pilot program for school-centered mental health services at two selected schools (one rural, one urban) to support at-risk students and families. The bill requires participating schools to offer existing behavioral health resources and allow surveys/data sharing, while mandating providers to deliver year-round therapy, family coaching, classroom observations, and community resource connections. Funding from the Department of Health Services covers full-time therapist and family coach positions at these schools, with providers required to report on improvements in students' mental health symptoms, social needs, and academic/social-emotional growth. The pilot aims to evaluate how integrated school-based mental health services impact student well-being and academic outcomes before potential expansion.
SB 106 clarifies the authority of state departments to regulate psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) by removing ambiguous language from existing rules. It requires facilities to follow department rules and allows departments to establish specific requirements, policies, and standards for PRTFs. The bill directly affects PRTFs and state departments responsible for oversight, ensuring rules are applied consistently. It became law as 2025 Wisconsin Act 9 after approval by the Governor on July 2, 2025. The changes focus on precise language to streamline regulatory processes, without creating new requirements.
AB 309 creates legal immunity for Wisconsin 911 call centers and dispatchers who transfer callers to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (or its successor number). The bill shields these entities from civil lawsuits related to outcomes of such transfers, unless the injury resulted from the dispatcher's gross negligence or willful misconduct. This directly affects public safety answering points statewide by reducing liability risks when connecting individuals in crisis to the 988 service. The law defines "national crisis hotline" as 988 or its successor under federal program 42 USC 290bb-36c.
AB 114 allows licensed clinicians (such as psychologists, psychiatrists, or clinical social workers) in counties with fewer than 750,000 residents to initiate emergency detentions for minors who are mentally ill, drug-dependent, or developmentally disabled. Clinicians must complete county-approved training, document specific reasons (including why detention is the least restrictive option), and obtain county department approval before initiating detention. The county department must arrange transport to a treatment facility and file documentation with the court within 24 hours. This bill does not apply to large counties (750,000+ population) and replaces existing law for clinician-initiated detentions.
