Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: coverage under the Medical Assistance program for incarcerated individuals. (FE)
Health services department of — Health Medical assistance Medical education Prison
- Introduced, completed
- Passes Assembly, completed
- Passes Senate, completed
- Governor signs, completed
- Law, completed
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Health Services to submit a request to the secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services for a waiver of federal Medicaid law to conduct a demonstration project to provide prerelease coverage to incarcerated individuals for case management services, medication-assisted treatment for all types of substance use disorders, and a 30-day supply of prescription medications under the Medical Assistance program for up to 90 days before release if the individual is otherwise eligible for coverage under the Medical Assistance program. The bill provides that if the waiver is approved, DHS must provide reimbursement under the Medical Assistance program for both the federal and nonfederal share of these services, to the extent approved under the waiver. The Medical Assistance program is a joint state and federal program that provides health services to individuals who have limited financial resources. Under the bill, DHS must submit the request for a waiver no later than January 1, 2027.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Introduced by: Anderson (D) , DeSmidt (D) , Dittrich (R) , Emerson (D) , Hurd (R) , Joers (D) , Kitchens (R) , Kurtz (R) , Mayadev (D) , Moses (R) , Novak (R) , Ortiz-Velez (D) , Piwowarczyk (R) , Rodriguez (R) , Sheehan (D) , Sinicki (D) , Snyder (R) , Steffen (R) , Stroud (D) , Stubbs (D) , Tenorio (D) , Tucker (R) , Udell (D) , Wittke (R)
23 cosponsors
Andraca (D) , Brill (R) , Carpenter (D) , Dassler-Alfheim (D) , Drake (D) , J. Jacobson (D) , James (R) , Keyeski (D) , Kirsch (D) , L. Johnson (D) , Larson (D) , Madison, Vining and Clancy , Marklein (R) , Melotik (R) , Moore Omokunde (D) , Palmeri (D) , Phelps (D) , Ratcliff (D) , Roys (D) , Smith (D) , Spreitzer (D) , Subeck (D) , Wimberger (R)
Registered lobbying interests · 23
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
- American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Inc
- American Lung Association, dba American Lung Association in Wisconsin
- Badger State Sheriffs' Association
- Community Medical Services
- Dane County
- Disability Rights Wisconsin
- DreamCorps
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Inc
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Milwaukee County
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Wisconsin
- The Pew Charitable Trusts
- Wisconsin Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, Inc.
- Wisconsin Association of Family & Children's Agencies
- Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards
- Wisconsin Catholic Conference
- Wisconsin Counties Association
- Wisconsin County Human Services Association
- Wisconsin Medical Society
- Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association (WPHCA)
- Wisconsin Psychological Association
- Wisconsin Public Health Association
- Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association
Votes
Assembly: Report passage recommended by Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Ayes 10, Noes 0
Passed 10–0 Feb 4, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Senate: Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
Passed 3–2 Mar 16, 2026 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Aye · 32
- André Jacque (1)
- Bob Wirch (22)
- Brad Pfaff (32)
- Chris Kapenga (33)
- Chris Larson (7)
- Cory Tomczyk (29)
- Dan Feyen (20)
- Devin LeMahieu (9)
- Dianne Hesselbein (27)
- Dora Drake (4)
- Eric Wimberger (2)
- Howard Marklein (17)
- Jamie Wall (30)
- Jeff Smith (31)
- Jesse James (23)
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (8)
- John Jagler (13)
- Julian Bradley (28)
- Kelda Roys (26)
- Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (18)
- LaTonya Johnson (6)
- Mark Spreitzer (15)
- Mary Felzkowski (12)
- Melissa Ratcliff (16)
- Patrick Testin (24)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara (19)
- Rob Hutton (5)
- Rob Stafsholt (10)
- Romaine Quinn (25)
- Sarah Keyeski (14)
- Tim Carpenter (3)
- Van Wanggaard (21)
Nay · 1
- Steve Nass (11)
Full history
- Oct 29, 2025 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Moses, Stubbs, Anderson, DeSmidt, Dittrich, Emerson, Hurd, Joers, Kitchens, Kurtz, Mayadev, Novak, Ortiz-Velez, Piwowarczyk, Sheehan, Sinicki, Snyder, Steffen, Stroud, Tenorio, Tucker, Udell, Wittke and Rodriguez; cosponsored by Senators James, Marklein, Keyeski, L. Johnson, Dassler-Alfheim, Drake, Ratcliff, Roys, Smith, Wimberger and Spreitzer
- Oct 29, 2025 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention
- Oct 30, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Brill added as a coauthor
- Oct 31, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Melotik added as a coauthor
- Nov 4, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Kirsch added as a coauthor
- Nov 4, 2025 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Nov 5, 2025 · Assembly
Senator Carpenter added as a cosponsor
- Nov 5, 2025 · Assembly
Representatives Madison, Vining and Clancy added as coauthors
- Nov 13, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Andraca added as a coauthor
- Nov 14, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Palmeri added as a coauthor
- Nov 18, 2025 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 21, 2025 · Assembly
Representative Subeck added as a coauthor
- Feb 3, 2026 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Ayes 10, Noes 0
- Feb 4, 2026 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 9, 2026 · Assembly
Representative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor
- Feb 16, 2026 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 9:30 PM on 2-19-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 15
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Phelps added as a coauthor
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Senator Larson added as a cosponsor
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Representative Moore Omokunde added as a coauthor
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 19, 2026 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 23, 2026 · Senate
Received from Assembly
- Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
- Feb 25, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 16, 2026 · Senate
Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a second time
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 32, Noes 1
- Mar 17, 2026 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 18, 2026 · Assembly
Received from Senate concurred in
- Mar 25, 2026 · Assembly
Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026
- Apr 2, 2026 · Assembly
Presented to the Governor on 4-2-2026
- Apr 9, 2026 · Assembly
Report approved by the Governor on 4-8-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 233
- Apr 9, 2026 · Assembly
Published 4-9-2026