The Wisconsin State Assembly jumped right into 2026 with two floor days this past week. On January 13, the Assembly adopted two proposed constitutional amendments addressing freedom to gather during emergencies and governmental discrimination, both passing mostly along party lines. In addition, representatives passed numerous Assembly bills related to public safety, criminal justice, housing and tax credits, employment verification, school safety, municipal courts and transportation.
Later in the week, on January 15, the Assembly adopted the tax on tips exemption, legislation to allow out-of-state health care providers to deliver telehealth services to patients in Wisconsin, and the criminalization of counterfeit airbags, among other items. While many of the measures were passed along party lines, there were several bills that cleared the final hurdle and now are headed to the Governor’s desk.
Below are the votes on the highlighted bill and the link to the full calendar.
January 13 – Assembly Calendar Key Bill Highlights
AB-155 Memorial Highway (Kurtz, Tony) Designating the Tom Diehl Memorial Highway. Passed, (Voice Vote). Messaged.
AB-677 Grooming a Child (Nedweski, Amanda) Creating a crime of grooming a child for sexual activity and providing a penalty. Am. 1 adopted, (Voice Vote). Passed, 93-6. Messaged.
SB-391 School Bus Equipment (James, Jesse) Equipment of school buses with audiovisual recording devices. Am. 1 adopted, (Voice Vote). Passed, 83-16. Messaged.
SB-136 School Bus Lamps (Tomczyk, Cory) School bus back-up lamps. Passed, (Voice Vote). Messaged.
SB-146 Name Changes (Wanggaard, Van) Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty. Passed, 54-45. Messaged.
SB-367 Policy Payments (Cabral-Guevara, Rachael) Virtual credit card payments in health insurance policies. Passed, (Voice Vote). Messaged.
SB-392 Driver Ed Instruction (James, Jesse) Driver education instruction related to school bus safety. Passed, (Voice Vote). Messaged.
SB-461 DOT Projects (Marklein, Howard) Alternative delivery of projects contracted by the Department of Transportation. Passed, (Voice Vote). Messaged.
January 15, 2026 – Assembly Calendar Key Bill Highlights
AB-038 Tips Tax Exemption (Tusler, Ron) An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. Sub. 3 tabled, 52-42. Sub.2 adopted, (Voice Vote). Passed, 61-33. Messaged.
SB-096 Charging Stations (Marklein, Howard) Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. Passed, 96-0. Messaged.
SB-214 Telehealth Services (Stafsholt, Rob) Registration of out-of-state health care providers to provide telehealth services. Point of order, Asm Sub. 1 ruled non-germane, Shall the decision of the chair be upheld?, 52-44. Am. 1 Returned to author. Passed, 52-44. Messaged.
SB-537 Airbags (Wanggaard, Van) Nonfunctional and counterfeit airbags and providing a penalty.