Senate and Assembly Floor Sessions: January 16, 2024

Date Wed, Jan. 31, 2024 - 11:40am By Hamilton

Both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature met January 16 to vote on bills, resolutions, and executive appointments. Also this month, the Assembly met January 18 and 25.

This was the first floor day of the new year, and January will be one of the last regular floor periods of the 2023-24 legislative session. The Assembly is expected to meet several times in February and then adjourn; based on the session calendar, February 13, 15, 20, and 22 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) are the most likely dates that the Assembly would meet. The Senate is also expected to meet on one of those days in February, then meet once again in March (on 12, 13, or 14) and adjourn.

Senate (floor calendar)

The Senate passed 62 bills, adopted one resolution, confirmed 33 gubernatorial appointments, and rejected one.

The Senate voted en masse to confirm 32 people appointed by Gov. Evers (D) to various state boards and commissions, mostly related to health care professional licensing (the vote was 30-2, Republican Sens. Nass and Tomczyk against). The Senate voted separately to confirm one and reject another of Gov. Evers’ appointees to the Public Service Commission, the state’s utility regulator. More on that in this article.

The following bills passed by unanimous roll call or voice vote unless otherwise noted:

SB 52 Deicer Certification Program Creating a deicer applicators certification program and making an appropriation. Passed, 17-15.
SB 72 Adults at Risk Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty.
SB 155 Nursing Home Facility Closure Notification of certain facility closures, change in type or level of services or means of reimbursement accepted, and care management organization notification of contract termination with a provider that is a nursing home or community-based residential facility.
SB 186 Commercial building plans Procedures for reviewing commercial building plans.
SB 187 Commercial building plans Local government review of commercial building plans.
SB 188 Commercial Building Construction Permission to start construction of a commercial building before plan approval.
SB 257 Visitation Rights Patients’ and residents’ rights to visitors in a health care facility, restricting visitation, and liability for the actions of visitors.
SB 314 Child Pornography Possession of child pornography and providing a penalty.
SB 321 Child Sex Dolls Child sex dolls and providing a penalty.
SB 381 Preadoption Training Preadoption training formats.
SB 398 Tax Credit A tax credit for transportation services for blind workers. Passed, 30-2.
SB 399 Bridge Designation Designating a bridge in Pierce County as the Eisenhower Bridge of Valor.
SB 411 Fish Transportation The transportation of fish taken by hook and line.
SB 415 Park Stickers Annual vehicle admission receipt validity period.
SB 450 Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act Adopting modifications to, and renaming, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act.
SB 452 Memorial Highway Designating and marking the Deputy Kaitie Leising Memorial Highway.
SB 466 Merchant Category Codes Prohibiting firearms merchant category codes in payment card transactions, prohibiting government lists of firearm owners, and providing a penalty. Passed, 22-10.
SB 476 Out-of-State Telehealth Provision of health services through telehealth by out-of-state providers under the Medical Assistance program.
SB 477 Children at Public Nude Events Attendance of children at public events with groups of nude adults and providing a penalty. Passed, 23-9.
SB 478 Exposure of Genitals Intentional exposure of genitals and providing a penalty. Passed, 23-9.
SB 485 Robbery Robbery of a financial institution and providing a penalty. Passed, 25-7.
SB 526 EMS Board Members Adding rural emergency medical services providers to the Emergency Medical Services Board.
SB 531 Caller ID Caller identification spoofing, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.
SB 546 Veterans Homes Admission of spouses at veterans homes.
SB 559 Delivery Network Couriers Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. Passed, 21-11.
SB 573 Officer Training Expenses Training expenses for officers. Passed, 31-1.
SB 586 Airgun Hunting Hunting with an airgun, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.
SB 587 Firearm Definition Defining muzzle-loading firearm for hunting purposes.
SB 591 Driver Education Driver education instruction related to work zone safety.
SB 626 Notarial Acts Notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals.
SB 633 Designating Highway Designating and marking the Ho-Chunk World War II Code Talkers Memorial Highway.
SB 643 Medical Training Grants Expanding graduate medical training grants and making an appropriation. Passed, 31-1.
SB 668 DFI Regulations The licensing and regulation by the Department of Financial Institutions of consumer lenders, payday lenders, money transmitters, sales finance companies, collection agencies, mortgage bankers and mortgage brokers, adjustment service companies, community currency exchanges, and insurance premium finance companies; the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry; modifying and repealing rules promulgated by the Department of Financial Institutions; and granting rule-making authority.
SB 671 Nurse Aide Qualifications Student qualification for employment as a nurse aide.
SB 672 Medical Assistance Value-based purchasing arrangements under the Medical Assistance program.
SB 689 Dental Therapists Licensure of dental therapists; extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and granting rule-making authority.
SB 692 Dentist Compact Ratification of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact.
SB 702 Oral Health Programs Funding for technical college oral health care programs.
SB 706 Dentistry Scholarships Scholarships for Marquette University School of Dentistry students who practice in dental health shortage areas.
SB 728 Fee Exemptions License fee exemptions for a dog that is a service animal.
SB 744 Tuition Grant Program The tuition grant program for national guard members administered by the Department of Military Affairs.
SB 773 Credit Unions Authorized activities and operations of credit unions; the lending area of savings and loan associations; automated teller machines; residential mortgage loans and variable rate loans; payments for public deposit losses in failed financial institutions; promissory notes of certain public bodies; repealing rules promulgated by the Department of Financial Institutions; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and providing a penalty.
SB 789 Redacting Fees Fees for redacting certain records of law enforcement agencies. Passed, 22-10.
SB 791 EV Charging Exemptions from public utility regulation regarding electric vehicle charging stations, installation and operation of electric vehicle charging stations by state agencies or local governmental units, and imposing an excise tax on electric vehicle charging. Passed, 29-2.
SB 792 EV Infrastructure An electric vehicle infrastructure program and making an appropriation. Passed, 30-2.
SB 810 WEDC Grants Grants awarded by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for the purpose of attracting opportunities and events to Wisconsin.
SB 812 Gas Pipelines Increasing the penalties for gas pipeline safety violations and providing a penalty.
SB 846 Agreement Ratification Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2023-24 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
SB 847 Agreement Ratification Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2023-24 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds.
AB 62 Dental Benefits Assignment of dental benefits under health insurance.
AB 224 Ambulance Staffing Ambulance staffing on aircraft transporting pediatric patients between hospitals.
AB 386 Lowering Tax Rates Lowering the individual income tax rates in the third bracket and increasing and expanding the retirement income subtraction. Passed, 21-10.
AB 437 Insurance Law Changes Various changes to insurance laws and providing a penalty.
AB 514 Public Contracts Prohibiting certain indemnification provisions in public contracts relating to design professional services.
AB 541 Out-of-State Telehealth Provision of telehealth services by out-of-state health care providers. Passed, 23-7.
AB 543 Election Observers Election observers and providing a penalty. Passed, 21-10.
AB 545 Technical College District Board Technical college district board membership. Passed, 20-11.
AB 550 Tech Ed Grants Technical education equipment grants, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and making an appropriation.
AB 570 Election Fraud Certain kinds of election fraud, defects on absentee ballot certificates, returning absentee ballots to the office of the municipal clerk, appointment of election officials, allowing an employee of a residential care facility or qualified retirement home to serve as a personal care voting assistant during a public health emergency or an incident of infectious disease, and providing a penalty. Passed, 20-11.
AB 573 DHS Pilot Program A law enforcement officer virtual behavioral health crisis care pilot program.
AB 576 Peer Counseling Public safety peer counseling and privilege for peer support and critical incident stress management services communications and granting rule-making authority.
AB 616 MA Coverage Medical Assistance coverage of services provided in an institution for mental disease.

The Assembly Bills (AB) listed above have passed both houses of the Legislature and can be presented to the governor for his signature or veto. Also, several Senate Bills were later taken up and passed by the Assembly the same day, listed below.

The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow.

Assembly (floor calendar)

The Assembly passed 22 bills and adopted two resolutions. The following bills passed by unanimous roll call or voice vote unless otherwise noted:

AB 42 State Projects Selection of architects and engineers for state projects.
AB 90 Occupational Therapist Licenses Third-party processing of applications for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants and granting rulemaking authority.
AB 143 Examination Prohibition Prohibiting statutes and rules examinations for certain professions.
AB 189 Death notification Requiring notification to the medical examiner or coroner of any death that occurs within 24 hours of presentment at or admission to certain facilities.
AB 569 Driver Schools The location and operation of driver schools.
SB 21 DOC Property Value The value of tangible personal property allowed in state correctional facilities.
SB 158 Health Care Credentials Preliminary health care credentials granted to previously unlicensed individuals.
SB 173 Death records Providing additional information fields regarding occupation and substance use on death records.
SB 174 Electronic vital records Requiring use of the electronic system of vital records for medical certifications of death.
SB 175 Death certificate training Recommended training for persons who complete and sign medical certifications of death.
SB 176 Death investigations Requiring the Department of Health Services to establish and encourage best practices for coroners and medical examiners.
SB 178 Death notification Requiring notification to the medical examiner or coroner of any death that occurs within 24 hours of presentment at or admission to certain facilities.
SB 218 Communication System Grant Creating a grant program for public safety interoperable communication system upgrades.
SB 318 Anatomical Gifts Receipt of anatomical gifts by search and rescue organizations for human remains detection canines.
SB 381 Preadoption Training Preadoption training formats.
SB 450 Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act Adopting modifications to, and renaming, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act.
SB 476 Out-of-State Telehealth Provision of health services through telehealth by out-of-state providers under the Medical Assistance program.
SB 689 Dental Therapists Licensure of dental therapists; extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; and granting rule-making authority.
SB 692 Dentist Compact Ratification of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact.
SB 702 Oral Health Programs Funding for technical college oral health care programs.
SB 846 Agreement Ratification Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2023-24 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed, 96-1.
SB 847 Agreement Ratification Ratification of the agreement negotiated between the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin State Building Trades Negotiating Committee, for the 2023-24 fiscal year, covering employees in the building trades crafts collective bargaining unit, and authorizing an expenditure of funds. Passed, 96-1.

Except for SB 158 and SB 174, to which the Assembly added its own amendments, the Senate Bills (SB) listed above previously passed the Senate and can be presented to the governor for his signature or veto.

The Assembly delayed acting on one bill, AB 665, relating to Marquette University dentistry scholarships for underserved areas. The Senate passed its version of the bill the same day (SB 706) and the Assembly approved it two days later, on January 18.

The Assembly also adopted a resolution honoring former Rep. John Klenke and another recognizing the accomplishments of the Racine Raiders semiprofessional football team.

For more information about the 2023-24 legislative session in Wisconsin, see the following articles:

Categories Economic & Workforce Development / Health & Human Resources / Law Enforcement / Transportation / Utilities & Energy / Wisconsin Legislature