The last of Rep. John Nygren’s (R-Marinette) 11 special session bills to combat the state’s opioid addiction crisis continue to move through Assembly and Senate committees. The Assembly passed nine of these special session bills as part of the Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda in its Tuesday, April 4 floor session, and the full Senate and Assembly could take up the remaining bills when they are on the floor on May 2.

On April 20, the Assembly Committee on Judiciary voted on the last two special session bills remaining in Assembly committee. SSAB 3, relating to probation revocation immunity, passed the committee 8-1, with one amendment. The committee also unanimously recommended for passage SSAB 5, which extends the Department of Health Services’ drug dependence services.

On April 24, the Senate Committee on Education voted by paper ballot on the last two special session bills remaining in Senate committee. SSAB 6, which would create a recovery charter school, passed the committee 6-1. Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) was the only member to vote against the bill. The committee also unanimously recommended for passage SSAB 11, which would require mental health training in schools.

All 11 special session bills have now passed out of committees. The full Assembly has yet to debate and vote on SSAB 3 and SSAB 6. The full Senate has not yet voted on any of the 11 bills. We anticipate the full Senate will consider these bills in May.