On Tuesday, October 14, the State Senate was in session. We passed 39 bills, many of which passed with bi-partisan support. A number of the bills we voted on were either authored, or co-sponsored by me. I wanted to use this week’s column to highlight that legislation and others that may be of interest.

Senate Bill (SB) 183 – EMS Treat-no-Transport: Not every 911 call for an ambulance ends with a patient being transported to the emergency room. However, EMS providers still incur costs when they respond to these calls. This bill increases the amount that EMS departments can bill the state’s Medicaid program for calls in which they respond to a call but do not transport the patient to the hospital.

SB 183 also requires an annual report be published with changes to the state and national EMS scope of practice and how these changes may impact training hours. Oftentimes, changes to the scope of practice are made without much public input. Seemingly small changes can have huge impacts on the number of training hours our EMS personnel must complete. This bill will help publicize these changes and help ensure only items which are actually needed are added to the scope of practice.

SB 221 and SB 331 – ATV/UTV Bills: These two bills make a variety of changes to ATV/UTV laws in Wisconsin. SB 221 closes a loophole allowing ATV and UTVs to be registered as commercial vehicles in another state. SB 331 makes several changes to state ATV/UTV law, including expanding the definition of “careless operation” to cover reckless and negligent behavior and permitting ATV/UTV access across longer bridges with local approval.

SB 337 – Local Grant Writing: This bill creates a grant program to help municipalities with fewer than 7,500 residents pay for professional grant writing services. Grants can play a critical role in rural community finances, helping offset the cost of public safety, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and more. Unfortunately, most part-time local officials do not have the time or expertise necessary to apply for these grants. This legislation helps level the playing field and allows small communities to better compete for financial assistance.

SB 443 – ARIP 2.0: Under current law, local governments can apply for the popular Ag Road Improvement Program (ARIP) only if their road is posted with weight restrictions. In some ag-friendly communities, rural roads that are used by farmers are not posted, even when they are in poor condition. The program requirements have led to an increase in roads being unnecessarily posted just to qualify for ARIP funding, which is contrary to the goal of the program.

This bill expands the program’s eligibility by allowing local governments to apply for funding without posting a weight limit if a professional engineering analysis determines that the road cannot sustain heavy agricultural traffic.

Assembly Bill (AB 2) – Cell Phones in the Classroom: This bill would require school districts to adopt a policy that prohibits the use of cellphones during classroom time in schools unless they are being used for educational purposes, managing a medical condition, or in response to a perceived threat. This legislation would add Wisconsin to the growing list of states to recognize that phones in the classroom can be distracting and lead to worse educational outcomes.

SB 264 – Breast Cancer Screening Coverage: This legislation would require Medicaid and other health insurers to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations for women with dense breast tissue. SB 264 would close a critical loophole that affects thousands of women across Wisconsin, ensuring that those who need more advanced screenings, such as ultrasounds or MRIs, can receive them without financial penalty.

SB 309 – Immunity for 911 Dispatchers: I was proud to co-sponsor this legislation, written by Sen. Jesse James (R-Thorp). This bill provides civil immunity to 911 dispatchers when they transfer callers in mental distress from 911 to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in cases where the result of the transfer is self-harm or suicide. This civil immunity only applies when there is no willful misconduct or negligence.

This bill will allow dispatchers to confidently connect individuals experiencing a crisis with trained professionals who are equipped to handle these difficult situations.

These are just a handful of the bills we passed during a very productive week in the State Capitol. The majority of our work was bi-partisan and makes meaningful, necessary updates to state laws. Ideas for many of these bills came directly from individuals in our community.

If you need assistance with any state-related matters, please call my team at the State Capitol – 608-266-0703 – or email me – Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov. My team is ready and willing to help navigate your state government, clear obstacles, and receive your input.