Skip to content
Bills from the 2025–26 session

Senate Bill 959

Requirements for the use of a memory care designation by community-based residential facilities. (FE)

Topics: Community-based residential facility, Disease

Stopped before the full Senate voted

The recommended passing it, but the full Senate never voted on it. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Feb 6, 2026

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Senate vote, stopped here

    Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.

  4. Assembly vote, not reached

  5. Governor, not reached

  6. Law, not reached

Latest entry in the official record, Apr 7, 2026: “Fiscal estimate received”

Read the bill

Following saves it on this device. New actions show on your Following page. You can also get updates in a feed reader.

Embed this on your site

Paste this code into your page. The card shows the latest record each time it loads. Preview the card

The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 984. That version died when the session ended.

What it would have done

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill provides that, beginning on July 1, 2027, a community-based residential facility (CBRF) may use the designation of “memory care” in its name, advertising, or communications only if the CBRF serves the client group for individuals with irreversible dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and ensures that, as part of both the initial training and the annual continuing education required for CBRF administrators and resident care staff, the administrator and resident care staff receive training that includes 1) an introduction to dementia, including understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and including causes, progression, symptoms, and the impact on individuals and caregivers; 2) person-centered dementia care; 3) effective communication; 4) behavioral interventions and alternatives to medication; and 5) supporting independence and quality of life, including encouraging dignity, autonomy, and meaningful engagement in daily activities.

The bill specifies that a CBRF providing memory care services before July 1, 2027, and intending to continue services using a memory care designation on or after July 1, 2027, must be in full compliance with the requirements of the bill to continue operations using a memory care designation.

Who's behind it

Romaine Quinn, a Republican, is its ⁠.

10 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 11 names

Author (1)

Signed on in support (10)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

How lawmakers voted

There was one vote on this bill.

Senate Committee on Health vote to recommend it

Passed, 5 to 0 · Feb 17, 2026

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report passage recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Apr 7, 2026

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  2. Mar 23, 2026

    The session ended, and the bill died with it.

  3. Mar 16, 2026

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  4. Feb 17, 2026

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.

  5. Feb 17, 2026

    1 more senator signed on in support.

  6. Feb 12, 2026

    The committee held a public hearing.

  7. Feb 6, 2026

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Health.

  8. Feb 6, 2026

    Introduced in the Senate.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Feb 6, 2026 · Senate

    Introduced by Senator Quinn; cosponsored by Representatives Armstrong, Dittrich, Kaufert, Maxey, Nedweski, Stubbs, Swearingen, Donovan and Kurtz

  2. Feb 6, 2026 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Health

  3. Feb 12, 2026 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Senator Drake added as a coauthor

  5. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  6. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 5, Noes 0

  7. Feb 17, 2026 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  8. Mar 16, 2026 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

  9. Mar 23, 2026 · Senate

    Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  10. Apr 7, 2026 · Senate

    Fiscal estimate received

Terms on this page

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

More in the glossary

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary

From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source

Committee

A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.

Senate Joint Resolution 1

The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.

Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1

Legislative Reference Bureau

The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.

Official term: LRB analysis

Author

A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Official term: Author, coauthor

Signed on in support

Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.

Official term: Cosponsor

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

Roll call

A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.

Official term: Roll call vote