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3 days ago
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Cracking down on fake emotional support, service animals among notable bills from May
While state budget negotiations happen in the background, Wisconsin lawmakers have been busy introducing dozens of bills, spanning from mental health care for college students to protecting endangered bees. Several hundred pieces of legislation are pitched each session, and only a fraction end up becoming law. Around 300 proposals have been introduced since lawmakers reconvened at the state Capitol in January. Here's a roundup of notable ones from May. Most haven't yet received public hearings, the first step on the path to becoming law. You can read our April roundup here. Republicans leading the bill say business and property owners have reported higher cases of emotional support and service animal misrepresentation, with owners using fake harnesses or vests. The bill would enshrine in law landlords' ability to ask tenants for documentation showing a prescription for an emotional support animal. Tenants who provide false documentation or health care providers who don't have a 30-day, established relationship with the patient could face a $500 fine. Under the bill, people who bring fake service animals in public places could face a $200 fine. The state Department of Workforce Development would be required to create signs for businesses that say "task-trained service animals are welcome" and misrepresenting a service animal is against state law. The bill "does not infringe on the federal protections under the Fair Housing Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act. It simply reinforces responsible and verifiable use of those protections in Wisconsin," lawmakers argue. Disability Rights Wisconsin didn't immediately have comment on the bill but is reviewing the proposal. Other states have moved to crack down on people passing off their pets as service animals. Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc Lawmakers introduced a group of bills aimed at protecting pollinators. One would name the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee the official state native insect. Another would create a "Protect Pollinators" license plate, generating revenue for the state's endangered species fund. While there are some Republican supporters, the bills have typically been sponsored by Democrats in past sessions and never made it far in the state Legislature. Bees, butterflies and other insects keep ecosystems thriving, and a whole week in mid-June is dedicated to pollinators. Authors: Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin, D-Whitefish Bay; Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee; Rep. Deb Andraca, D-Whitefish Bay; Rep. Elijah Behnke, R-Chase; Rep. Lee Snodgrass; D-Appleton; Rep. Vincent Miresse, D-Stevens Point More: These Wisconsin specialty license plates were the most popular in 2024 This bill would require the University of Wisconsin System to contract with a vendor to provide virtual mental health services for students, beyond traditional business hours. Campuses have already utilized telehealth, lawmakers note. "Telehealth services have proven to be effective in shortening waiting times to see a provider, and allow patients to receive care at their convenience," bill authors wrote. The bill doesn't include any new funding. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposal included $22 million for the UW System to support student mental health, including telehealth services and 57 new counselor positions. Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee removed several UW-related portions of Evers' budget at their first meeting, but didn't strike the mental health provisions. The budget will likely be signed later this summer, so it's not clear if mental health funding for UW will be in the final version. Authors: Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp; Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville More: The state of mental health across Wisconsin's public universities in 4 charts In Wisconsin, each city, town or village sets its own early voting hours and locations, where voters can cast an absentee ballot in-person starting two weeks before Election Day. This bill would require municipalities to offer a minimum of 20 hours of early voting. Bill authors argue early voting access has become unequal between large cities and smaller towns. Milwaukee offered 10 sites for the November election, for example. But some election officials told VoteBeat it wouldn't make sense for communities with only a few dozen voters and limited clerk capacity. Supporters plan to propose funding in the budget to help smaller communities reach the 20-hour minimum. Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater; Rep. Scott Krug, R-Rome More: Wisconsin early voting surges compared with the 2023 spring election This bipartisan proposal would require the state Department of Health Services to work with health care providers to develop informational materials on menopause and perimenopause, the transitional phase. Those handouts would include information like symptoms, treatments, when to consult a provider, the biological process and how to talk to friends and family. The bill is modeled after legislation in Pennsylvania, where public testimony highlighted the "difficulty women have in being heard and taken seriously discussing menopause and the issues that surround it," lawmakers said. Authors: Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton; Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Karen DeSanto, D-Baraboo This proposal could provide up to $2 million for a data sharing pilot program for police and sheriff's departments in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. The grant would reduce siloed data between agencies, helping solve cases faster, bill authors argue. The bill was introduced May 12 and quickly received a hearing May 27 in the Senate. It has at least one Democratic cosponsor. The Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, which supports the bill, testified that the proposal would help agencies struggling with staffing. "While geographic boundaries may define our jurisdictions, the individuals committing crimes do not recognize or respect those lines," the association said. "Effective information sharing is essential to modern policing." Authors: Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine; Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield This bipartisan bill would allow funeral processions to use flashing purple lights. Current law allows flashing amber lights during the procession, but that can be ambiguous to divers, lawmakers argue. Bill authors point out purple is a symbol of mourning in many cultures and would be distinct from red and blue lights used by emergency vehicles. Wisconsin would join about a dozen other states that use purple lights for funeral processions, including North Carolina. Authors: Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin; Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit; Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah Two lawmakers are leading a resolution that urges the "overdue induction" of Jack Vainisi into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Vainisi scouted and drafted 12 future Hall of Famers, from Bart Starr to Ray Nitschke, and played an important role in persuading the team to hire Vince Lombardi. He "may have had more influence on the Packers dynasty than any player or coach," lawmakers wrote. Resolutions are different than bills — they express the opinion of lawmakers but don't carry the force of state law. The Hall of Fame selection process is intense, with a 50-person selection committee and only a handful of new enshrinees each year. Authors: Sen. Andre Jacque, R-New Franken; Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-New Richmond This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Legislature's May bills include fake service animals
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Requiring stores to accept cash, and other notable bills introduced in Wisconsin in April
As state lawmakers head into budget season, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will soon start covering the effects on funding for K-12 schools, higher education, prisons, mental health care and more. Meanwhile, legislators have been busy introducing standalone bills in the past few weeks, spanning issues from health care to state parks admission to funding for Milwaukee's War Memorial Center. Several hundred bills are pitched each legislative session, and only a fraction end up becoming law. Here's a roundup of notable ones from April, which aren't guaranteed to pass and haven't yet received public hearings. You can read our March roundup here. It's easier than ever to tap your credit card or phone to pay at a store or restaurant. But a group of Republican lawmakers want to require retailers to continue accepting printed money. Supporters of the bill argue not everyone has the credit necessary to obtain a debit or credit card. They also say people should have a right to pay with cash, given a rise in surcharges on transactions made with cards. The Republican authors included caveats for large-scale, cashless venues like Lambeau Field, Summerfest and American Family Field. At least one vendor on the premises must accept cash, but not every vendor would be required to. Under the bill, a retailer who violates the requirement would face a $200 to $5,000 fine. Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart More: 'We still take cash': Fiserv, Summerfest and others go cards only, but servers still want tips in cash Under this bill, admission to state parks would be free April 22 each year in recognition of Earth Day, founded by former Wisconsin Gov. and U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson. Supporters say free access to state parks on Earth Day would support volunteerism. According to the bill authors, the idea was "sparked by a young group of students that was inadvertently dissuaded from volunteering in a state park on Earth Day because of the fee associated with admittance." The idea gained bipartisan support in 2023 but never reached a vote in the full Assembly or Senate. Supporters: Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton; Rep. Alex Joers, D-Middleton More: Annual Wisconsin state park stickers valid 12 months from purchase starting Jan. 1 A large group of Democratic lawmakers introduced the "Abortion Rights Restoration Act" that would establish a statutory right to abortion in Wisconsin. It would undo restrictions on medication abortions and requirements like an ultrasound. The GOP-controlled state Legislature almost certainly won't allow public hearings or votes on the bill. Republicans previously suggested banning abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy in Wisconsin if voters approve it, but Democratic Gov. Tony Evers pledged to veto any bill that reduces abortion access. The state Supreme Court is soon expected to issue a decision on whether the state's 1849 law specifically bans abortions or whether subsequent laws or court rulings override the statute. Authors: Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison; Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison More: Act 10, abortion laws, gerrymandering: Status of issues before Wisconsin Supreme Court A preservation fund for the War Memorial Center on Milwaukee's lakefront is "urgently needed to ensure the long-term viability of this iconic landmark," two Republican lawmakers wrote in a memo seeking support. The bill would provide $9 million in state funds, matched by the private sector. Milwaukee County covers 20% of the center's annual $2.6 million budget, but its contribution will sunset over the next decade. The fund would cover annual maintenance costs, building repairs and improvements. "Additional state support is crucial to securing the future of both the building and its mission," lawmakers said. Authors: Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto; Rep. Tony Kurtz, R-Wonewoc More: About the Milwaukee County War Memorial A group of Democrats, including two from Appleton, introduced a bill that would cap out-of-pocket costs at $25 for a one-month supply of inhalers and other drugs used to treat asthma, and $50 per month for related medical supplies. Cole Schmidtknecht, 22, from Appleton died after a severe asthma attack in 2024 when his out-of-pocket inhaler price skyrocketed to $529. His parents filed a lawsuit against Walgreens and OptumRx, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. Previous Democratic bills proposing limits to health care costs, such as emergency room rates for uninsured patients, haven't gained momentum in the Legislature. No Republicans have signed in support of the bill, according to Snodgrass' office. Authors: Sens. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, D-Appleton; Sarah Keyeski, D-Lodi; Reps. Lee Snodgrass, D-Appleton; Renuka Mayadev, D-Madison; Maureen McCarville, D-DeForest More: A 22-year-old from Appleton died after his inhaler price skyrocketed. His parents are suing. In 2023, Wisconsin joined many states with a safe haven law that allows hospitals, fire stations and law enforcement buildings to install "baby boxes" staffed round-the-clock. There are at least four in Wisconsin. The infant safety devices allow distressed parents who can't care for their newborn to surrender their baby anonymously with no legal consequences. The original, bipartisan law covered infants up to 72 hours old, but a new bill proposes expanding that timeframe to 30 days. "(The current law is) not enough time for new parents to make the monumental decision to give up their child," bill authors wrote. According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, other states have moved to expand their safe haven laws. That includes Louisiana, which increased the time to 60 days in 2016, and Mississippi, which approved 45 days in 2023. Authors: Sen. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield; Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger More: Distressed parents can now surrender newborns anonymously in Wisconsin. Here's what you need to know. This bill would introduce regulations for referral agencies that consult with families to find assisted living options. Referral agencies often advertise their services as free, lawmakers say, but actually have a contract with providers and costs are passed down to consumers. Other states, including Missouri, are pursuing similar laws that would require referral agencies to disclose their financial ties with the facilities they refer families to and how they're compensated. "Most aspects of Wisconsin's assisted living profession are highly regulated to protect the consumer and to ensure quality care. However, while referral agencies are playing a greater role ... these agencies themselves have little oversight," lawmakers said. Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Rick Gundrum, R-Slinger More: 9 hours of training, 24-hour shifts: Why Wisconsin struggles to find, and keep, assisted living workers This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Legislature introduced these 7 notable bills in April
