SESSION SUMMARY

2023-2024 Session of the Wisconsin Legislature

While the 2023-24 Legislature has not officially adjourned, the bulk of the work has been completed. Should there be additional activity, it will be reported in future Capitol Updates.

This Capitol Update summarizes bills of interest to the Wisconsin Catholic Conference in the 2023-2024 legislative session, where it either took a position and/or the bill was signed into law or vetoed. Legislation is listed by general topic: state budget, life issues, religious liberty, children and families, education, health care, social concerns, criminal justice, and stewardship of creation.

Under each topic, bills are listed in numerical order, with Senate bills preceding Assembly bills. If only one bill is listed, there was no companion bill. Where WCC testimony was identical for companion bills, the link provided is to the Senate testimony. Bills signed into law are highlighted in yellow.

State Budget

Executive Budget SB-70 / AB-43 (Joint Finance) 

State finances and appropriations, constituting the biennial budget act of the 2023 legislature

WCC POSITION: WCC advocated for the inclusion of items in the WCC Issue Brief; an overview of what was included in the final budget is in the WCC Budget Summary 

STATUS: SB-70 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 19, including the Governor's Partial Veto (Veto Message)

Life Issues

Abortion Law Referendum SJR-10 (Roys, Kelda, D-Madison) / AJR-10 (Subeck, Lisa, D-Madison)

Providing for an advisory referendum on the question of repealing Wisconsin's 1849 abortion law and legalizing abortion

WCC POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Failed to pass

Born Alive Requirements SB-61 (Wimberger, Eric, R-Green Bay) / AB-63 (Rozar, Donna, R-Marshfield)

Establishing requirements for children born alive following abortion or attempted abortion

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Suicide Prevention Grants SB-205 (James, Jesse, R-Altoona) / AB-173 (Sortwell, Shae, R-Two Rivers)

Establishing grants to prevent suicide by firearm

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Abortion Prohibitions SB-298 (Roys) / AB-218 (Subeck)

Eliminating certain abortion prohibitions so as to legalize abortion

WCC POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Failed to pass

Abortion Exceptions SB-299 (Felzkowski, Mary, R-Tomahawk) / AB-175 (Rozar)

Clarifying medical necessity for abortion and adding exceptions in cases of rape or incest

WCC POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Failed to pass

Abortion Activity Prohibition SB-300 (Jacque, André, R-De Pere) / AB-247 (Behnke, Elijah, R-Oconto)

Prohibiting the use of public employees and public property for activities relating to abortion

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Abortion Definition SB-343 (Quinn, Romaine, R-Cameron) / AB-357 (Magnafici, Gae, R-Dresser)

Clarifying that a medical procedure designed to prevent the death of a pregnant woman, such as the removal of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, is not an abortion

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Unborn Child Dependent SB-344 (Quinn) / AB-343 (Snyder, Patrick, R-Schofield)

Designating an unborn child as a dependent for income tax purposes and increasing the income tax exemption for a dependent

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Choose Life Grants SB-345 (Quinn) / AB-344 (Nedweski, Amanda, R-Pleasant Prairie)

Creating grants to pregnancy resource centers through Choose Life Wisconsin

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Adoption Grants SB-346 (Quinn) / AB-336 (Rozar)

Creating a grant program for financial assistance for adoption

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Suicide Prevention Grants SB-356 (James) / AB-355 (Sortwell)

Funding grants to prevent suicide by firearm

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Infant Safety Devices SB-369 (Ballweg, Joan, R-Markesan) / AB-369 (Schutt, Ellen, R-Clinton)

Permitting the installation of newborn infant safety devices (baby boxes)

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: SB-369 enacted as 2023 WI Act 79

Suicide Prevention SB-527 (Ballweg) / AB-566 (VanderMeer, Nancy, R-Tomah)

Establishing grants for suicide prevention programming

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: SB-527 enacted as 2023 WI Act 85

Suicide Medication Requests SB-739 (Hesselbein, Dianne, D-Middleton) / AB-781 (Ohnstad, Tod, D-Kenosha)

Permitting certain individuals to make a request for medication for the purpose of ending their lives

WCC POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Failed to pass

Abortion Expansion SB-1011 (Felzkowski) / AB-975 (Nedweski)

Legalizing abortion if the probable postfertilization age of an unborn child is 14 or more weeks and requiring a referendum

WCC POSITION: Opposed (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Religious Liberty

Freedom to Gather SJR-54 (Tomczyk, Cory, R-Mosinee) / AJR-60 (Bodden, Ty, R-Hilbert)

Guaranteeing the freedom to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency (first consideration)

WCC POSITION: Other

STATUS: SJR-54 passed Senate and Assembly (as a constitutional amendment, it will need to pass next session and be approved by Wisconsin voters to go into effect)

Children & Families

Savings Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities SB-122 (Jacque) / AB-121 (Mursau, Jeff, R-Crivitz)

Requiring the Department of Financial Institutions to implement a section 529A ABLE savings account program

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Diaper Tax Exemption SB-219 (Jacque)

Creating a sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Diaper Tax Exemption AB-226 (Dittrich, Barbara, R-Oconomowoc)

Creating a sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Earned Income Tax Credit SB-243 (Jacque) / AB-248 (Tittl, Paul, R-Manitowoc)

Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return if unable to file a joint return because of domestic abuse

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Child Tax Exemption SB-388 (James) / AB-399 (Steffen, David, R-Howard)

Creating a sales and use tax exemption for various items used in the care of babies

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Child Care Reimbursement SB-426 (Quinn) / AB-387 (Goeben, Joy, R-Hobart)

Creating a child care reimbursement account program and providing an income tax subtraction for certain contributions to a child care reimbursement account

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Breastfeeding Breaks SB-430 (Ballweg) / AB-436 (Subeck)

Requiring an employer to provide reasonable break time and accommodations for an employee to express breast milk for her child

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Earned Income Tax Credit SB-453 (Roys) / AB-471 (Bare, Mike, D-Verona)

Increasing the earned income tax credit for claimants with fewer than three children

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Restricting Internet Materials SB-683 (Wanggaard, Van, R-Racine) / AB-730 (Gustafson, Nate, R-Neenah)

Restricting the distribution of certain internet materials harmful to minors

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Home Visitation Program SB-803 (James) / AB-864 (Rozar)

Increasing funding for the Family Foundations home visitation program

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Child Care Tax Credit SB-976 (Quinn) / AB-1023 (Binsfeld, Amy, R-Sheboygan)

Expanding the child and dependent care tax credit

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: AB-1023 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 101

Married Persons Tax Credit SB-979 (Ballweg) / AB-1022 (Schutt)

Increasing the married persons tax credit

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Vetoed (Veto Message)

Education

Pupil Strip Searches SB-111 (Wimberger) / AB-108 (Steffen)

Expanding the definition of “strip search” for the purpose of prohibiting strip searches of pupils

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: SB-111 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 198

Hmong American Instruction SB-240 (Tomczyk) / AB-232 (Snyder)

Directing school boards to provide instruction on Hmong Americans and Asian Americans

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: AB-232 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 266

Reading Instruction SB-329 (Stroebel, Duey, R-Saukville) / AB-321 (Kitchens, Joel, R-Sturgeon Bay)

Reforming reading instruction in public schools and private schools participating in parental choice programs and instituting an early literacy assessment and intervention program

WCC POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: AB-321 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 20

Per Pupil Payments SB-330 (Stroebel) / AB-305 (Vos, Robin, R-Rochester)

Increasing the per pupil payments in parental choice programs, the Special Needs Scholarship program, and independent charter schools and increasing the revenue ceiling for public school districts

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: SB-330 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 11

Sexual Misconduct in Schools SB-333 (James) / AB-341 (Spiros, John, R-Marshfield)

Prohibiting sexual misconduct against a pupil by a school staff member or volunteer

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: SB-333 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 200

UW Sports Participants SB-377 (Knodl, Daniel, R-Germantown) / AB-378 (Dittrich)

Designating University of Wisconsin and technical college sports and athletic teams based on the sex of the participants

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

School Sports Participants SB-378 (Knodl) / AB-377 (Dittrich)

Designating athletic sports and teams operated or sponsored by public schools or private schools participating in a parental choice program based on the sex of the participants

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Vetoed (Veto Message)

Parent Rights SB-489 (Wanggaard) / AB-510 (Wittke, Robert, R-Racine)

Establishing fundamental rights reserved to a parent or guardian of a child

WCC POSITION: Monitored

STATUS: Vetoed (Veto Message)

School Safety Grants SB-911 (James) / AB-1001 (Allen, Scott, R-Waukesha)

Establishing a school safety grant program for public and private schools

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

School Choice Programs SB-989 (Stroebel) / AB-1042 (Rodriguez, Jessie, R-Oak Creek)

Combining Wisconsin's three school choice programs into one Private School Choice Program (PSCP)

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Health Care

Postpartum Medical Assistance SB-110 (Ballweg) / AB-114 (Rozar)

Extending eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women to one year

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Pelvic Exam Consent SB-127 (Jacque) / AB-125 (Brandtjen, Janel, R-Menomonee Falls)

Requiring informed consent before performing a pelvic examination on a patient who is under general anesthesia or unconscious

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Contraception SB-211 (Felzkowski) / AB-176 (Kitchens)

Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives

WCC POSITION: Opposed (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

BadgerCare Plus Eligibility SB-245 (Stafsholt, Rob, R-New Richmond) / AB-148 (Penterman, William, R-Columbus)

Disenrolling ineligible individuals from (and redeterminations of eligibility for) BadgerCare Plus, and requiring database confirmation for public assistance program eligibility

WCC POSITION: Opposed (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Visitation Rights SB-257 (Jacque) / AB-257 (Wichgers, Chuck, R-Muskego)

Protecting patients' and residents' rights to visitors (including clergy) in a health care facility

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Gender Transition SB-480 (Stroebel) / AB-465 (Allen)

Prohibiting gender transition medical intervention for individuals under 18 years of age

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Vetoed (Veto Message)

MA Coverage SB-635 (Marklein, Howard, R-Spring Green) / AB-616 (Hurd, Karen, R-Fall Creek)

Permitting Medical Assistance coverage of services provided in an institution for mental disease

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: AB-616 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 177

Palliative Care Council SB-703 (James) / AB-736 (Snyder)

Establishing a Palliative Care Council without limitations on assisted suicide

WCC POSITION: Opposed (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Direct Primary Care SB-905 (Cabral-Guevara, Rachael, R-Appleton) / AB-953 (Duchow, Cindi, R-Delafield)

Exempting direct primary care agreements from insurance law and embedding gender identity in Wisconsin law

WCC POSITION: Opposed (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Social Concerns

Black Catholic History Month SJR-85 (Taylor, Lena, D-Milwaukee) / AJR-96 (Myers, LaKeshia, D-Milwaukee)

Proclaiming November 2023 as Black Catholic History Month

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Flat Income Tax SB-1 (LeMahieu, Devin, R-Ootsburg) / AB-1 (Brooks, Rob, R-Saukville)

Establishing a flat individual income tax rate

WCC POSITION: Opposed (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Homelessness Restrictions SB-669 (Tomczyk) / AB-689 (Dallman, Alex, R-Green Lake)

Requiring new performance metrics for obtaining homelessness grants, prohibiting camping on public lands, and creating structured camping facilities for the homeless

WCC POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Failed to pass

Firearm Possession SB-754 (James) / AB-801 (Pronschinske, Treig, R-Mondovi)

Permitting possession of a firearm by a licensee in a place of worship located on the grounds of a private school

WCC POSITION: Opposed

STATUS: Failed to pass

Occupational Credentials for DACA Recipients SB-828 (Taylor) / AB-822 (Macco, John, R-Ledgeview)

Permitting recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to receive occupational credentials

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Restricting Refugee Resettlement SB-916 (Tomczyk) / AB-1004 (Hurd)

Requiring additional local consultation for refugee resettlement in Wisconsin

WCC POSITION: Opposed (Testimony)

STATUS: Vetoed (Veto Message)

Human Trafficking Training SB-940 (Knodl) / AB-973 (Gundrum, Rick, R-Slinger)

Mandating human trafficking training for employees of community-based residential facilities, owners of certain entities, and certain other employees

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: AB-973 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 237

Prostitution SB-941 (Knodl) / AB-972 (Gundrum)

Increasing penalties for soliciting a person to commit prostitution

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Sex Trafficking SB-942 (Johnson, LaTonya, D-Milwaukee) / AB-971 (Emerson, Jodi, D-Eau Claire)

Increasing penalties for sex trafficking of adults at risk

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Sex Offender Registration SB-945 (James) / AB-970 (Tittl)

Requiring sex offender registration for certain crimes

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Human Trafficking Testimony SB-946 (James) / AB-976 (Billings, Jill, D-La Crosse)

Permitting a child to testify in a room outside the courtroom in a human trafficking trial

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: AB-976 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 238

Courtroom Supports for Children SB-949 (James) / AB-1052 (Billings)

Requiring all necessary courtroom supports for the health, safety, or liberty of a child in court and sealing the identifying information of child victims and child witnesses of human trafficking crimes

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Human Trafficking Council SB-954 (Wimberger) / AB-978 (O'Connor, Jerry, R-Fond du Lac)

Creating a Human Trafficking Council and requiring the establishment of county sex trafficking task forces

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: AB-978 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 239

Human Trafficking Instruction SB-960 (Johnson) / AB-981 (Stubbs, Shelia, D-Madison)

Requiring instruction on human trafficking in licensed schools of barbering, schools of cosmetology, and specialty schools

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Victim Services Grants SB-961 (Jacque) / AB-979 (O'Connor)

Establishing a grant program for nonprofit organizations to provide support services

to human trafficking victims

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Human Trafficking Civil Action AB-974 (Steffen)

Allowing a victim of child trafficking to bring a civil action before the age of 35

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Human Trafficking Poster AB-980 (Stubbs)

Displaying a human trafficking resource center hotline poster

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Criminal Justice

Mental Health Treatment SB-11 (Jacque) / AB-17 (Tittl)

Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs to include mental health treatment

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Criminal Record Expungement SB-38 (Cabral-Guevara) / AB-37 (Steffen)

Permitting a person to file a petition for expungement after completing his or her sentence

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Child Prostitution SB-55 (James) / AB-48 (Kitchens)

Prohibiting the prosecution of a child who is under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Adult-Entertainment Establishments SB-56 (Jacque) / AB-60 (Bodden)

Creating requirements and prohibitions for adult-entertainment establishments

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Hiring Hotline for Convicted SB-169 / AB-180 (Joint Legislative Council)

Establishing a hotline for employers interested in hiring individuals with conviction records

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: SB-169 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 228

Inmate Earned Release SB-170 / AB-181 (Joint Legislative Council)

Expanding the earned release program to include inmates who complete an employment readiness training program

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Rental Readiness SB-171 / AB-182 (Joint Legislative Council)

Requiring the Department of Corrections (DOC) to include training on rental readiness in its pre-release reentry programming and to issue a certification of rental readiness to individuals who successfully complete the training

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Community Reentry Centers SB-172 / AB-183 (Joint Legislative Council)

Establishing and operating community reentry centers for individuals leaving incarceration

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: SB-172 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 233

AI Child Pornography SB-314 (James) / AB-315 (Callahan, Calvin, R-Tomahawk)

Prohibiting receiving, distributing, producing, possessing, or accessing virtual child pornography

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: SB-314 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 224

Deep Fakes SB-553 (Jacque) / AB-608 (Wichgers)

Prohibiting intimate representations (deep fakes) of an identifiable person with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate that person

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Victim Task Force SB-568 (James) / AB-615 (Stubbs)

Creating a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Crime Sentencing SB-801 (James) / AB-845 (Novak, Todd, R-Dodgeville)

Prohibiting life sentences without parole for crimes committed by a person who is under the age of 18

WCC POSITION: Supported (Testimony)

STATUS: Failed to pass

Stewardship of Creation

Well Compensation Grants SB-58 (Cowles, Rob, R-Green Bay) / AB-64 (Kitchens)

Expanding eligibility for the nitrate contamination and the well compensation grant program

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: Failed to pass

Watershed Grants SB-59 (Cowles) / AB-65 (Kitchens)

Expanding eligibility for producer-led watershed, lake, and river protection grants

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: AB-65 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 5

Food Incentive Program SB-948 (Ballweg) / AB-1013 (Joers, Alex, D-Madison)

Creating a healthy food incentive program

WCC POSITION: Supported

STATUS: AB-1013 enacted as 2023 Wisconsin Act 201

Looking Ahead to Next Session

As election season nears, the WCC has prepared Faithful Citizenship resources to help Catholics reflect on what it means to be politically responsible.

Faithful Citizenship is the mindful consideration of public policy and voting issues through the lens of the Church’s social teaching. It is a call to exercise the right to vote and to remain engaged between elections, so as to protect human life, uphold human dignity, and promote the common good.

The WCC resources are based on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States.

You can find information on what is on your ballot at MyVote Wisconsin. Additionally, WisconsinEye, an independent, nonpartisan news service, provides candidate interviews and coverage of state government proceedings.