Wisconsin 2025 Regular Session Status: Passed Assembly Bipartisan · 8 D · 5 R cosponsors

AB 23 — Relating to: establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE)

Last action — Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Assembly. Introduced February 07, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed Assembly

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 21 sponsors

    1 primary, 20 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 D · 5 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

An Act to create 15.197 (22m) and 146.695 of the statutes;

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

150 added · 11 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Assembly Bill 23 changes the composition of the newly proposed Palliative Care Council. Instead of having unspecified physician members, the amendment specifies that there will be five physician members, including two palliative care specialists, one pediatric palliative care specialist, and two primary care doctors. This change is significant because it ensures the council has a well-rounded representation of expertise in palliative care, which can lead to better guidance for health services on important palliative issues.

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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBa0024/1 SWB:cdc ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT 1, TO ASSEMBLY BILL 23 February 18, 2025 - Offered by RepresentatNYDER.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-1708/1 SWB:emw&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 23 February 7, 2025 - Introduced by RepresentatNYDERS, PIROS, ARE, DITTRICH, JOHNSON , K REIBICH, M AYADEV, M CCARVILLE, O'CONNOR , R OE, STROUD , SUBECK and V ININ, cosponsored by Senators J AMES, W ANGGAARD , C ARPENTER, D ASSLER-ALFHEIM, FEYEN , RATCLIFF, ROYS and S PREITZER.
At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:
Referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care.
A N A CT to create 15.197 (22m) and 146.695 of the statutes;
relating to:
establishment of a Palliative Care Council.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill establishes within the Department of Health Services a Palliative Care Council, which includes as members a statewide group of medical and clinical professionals with expertise in the provision of palliative care services, as well as patients or family members of patients who have experience receiving palliative care services, to advise DHS about palliative care issues.
The bill requires the council to consult with and advise DHS regarding 1) outcome evaluation of established palliative care programs;
2) the economic and quality of life effectiveness of palliative care that is provided along with curative treatment;
3) the mechanisms for and adequacy of reimbursement for palliative care services;
and 4) any other issues relating to palliative care arising through meetings or discussions, as the council determines appropriate.
The bill provides that the council may not consult with or advise DHS on physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, medical aid in dying, or any other act that would condone, authorize, approve, or permit any affirmative or deliberate act to end life other than the withholding or withdrawing of health care under an advance directive or power of attorney for health care so as to permit the natural process of dying.
Under the bill, DHS must, in consultation with the council, establish a statewide palliative care consumer and professional information and education program to ensure that - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-1708/1 SWB:emw&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 23 SECTION 1 comprehensive and accurate information and education about palliative care are available to the public, health care providers, and health care facilities.
The bill provides that DHS must make certain information and resources regarding palliative care available on its website.
Under the bill, the council must submit reports to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature providing its analysis on the issues of access to palliative care and the impact of palliative care on health care delivery systems in this state and on families that have experience with palliative care services.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
S ECTION 1.
15.197 (22m) of the statutes is created to read:
15.197 (22m) P ALLIATIVE CARE COUNCIL .
(a) In this subsection, “community- based palliative care program” means a program in which palliative care is provided in a patient’s home or place of residence.
(b) There is created in the department of health services a palliative care council.
The council shall consist of not more than 22 members appointed, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, by the secretary of health services to serve for 3-year terms, including all of the following:
Page 2, line 9:
Five physician members, 3 of whom are palliative care physicians and 2 of whom are primary care physicians.
delete lines 9 to 10 and substitute:
2.
X1.
Two advanced practice nurse prescribers certified under s.
Five physician members, 2 of whom are palliative care physicians, one of whom is a pediatric palliative care physician, and 2 of whom are primary care physicians.Y.
441.16 (2) and certified in palliative care.
One of the advanced practice nurse prescribers shall have provided direct patient care in a community-based palliative care program for at least 2 of the last 5 years.
One of the advanced practice nurse prescribers shall have provided direct patient care in a hospital-based palliative care program for at least 2 of the last 5 years.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-1708/1 SWB:emw&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 23 SECTION 1 3.
Two physician assistants who are licensed under subch.
IX of ch.
448 and who are certified in palliative care or have provided palliative care for at least 2 of the last 5 years.
One of the physician assistants shall have provided direct patient care in a community-based palliative care program for at least 2 of the last 5 years.
One of the physician assistants shall have provided direct patient care in a hospital- based palliative care program for at least 2 of the last 5 years.
4.
Three health care professionals, including a nurse, a social worker, and a spiritual care professional.
5.
Two patients or family members of patients who have experience receiving palliative care services.
6.
Two nonclinical health care leaders with experience operating community- based palliative care programs.
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7.
One representative from a health care insurance company who has experience making decisions about reimbursement for palliative care services.
8.
One representative from the department of health services who works on issues relating to aging and long-term care.
9.
One representative to the assembly appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
10.
One representative to the assembly appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
11.
One senator appointed by the president of the senate.
12.
One senator appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
(c) A member appointed under par.
(b) 1.
to 8.
may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms on the council.
- 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-1708/1 SWB:emw&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 23 SECTION 1 (d) Any member of the council appointed under par.
(b) 1.
to 8.
who meets the required qualifications for more than one category of appointees may be appointed to serve as a member fulfilling the requirements for a council member in some or all of those categories, as determined by the secretary of health services.
(e) The council shall meet at least twice each year.
(f) When possible, the council shall seek and the secretary of health services shall appoint members who represent the various geographic areas of the state and the council and the secretary of health services shall ensure statewide representation on the council.
The council shall, as often as possible, hold its meetings in different geographic areas of the state, both rural and urban, to better learn about and aid in palliative care access and quality in all communities.
S ECTION 2.
146.695 of the statutes is created to read:
146.695 Palliative care.
(1) In this section, “council” means the palliative care council.
(2) (a) The council shall consult with and advise the department on all of the following:
1.
Outcome evaluation of established palliative care programs.
2.
The economic and quality of life effectiveness of palliative care that is provided along with curative treatment.
3.
The mechanisms for and adequacy of reimbursement for palliative care services.
4.
Any other issues relating to palliative care arising through meetings or discussions, as the council determines appropriate.
- 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-1708/1 SWB:emw&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 23 SECTION 2 (b) The council may not consult with or advise the department on physician- assisted suicide, euthanasia, medical aid in dying, or any other act that would condone, authorize, approve, or permit any affirmative or deliberate act to end life other than the withholding or withdrawing of health care under an advance directive or power of attorney for health care so as to permit the natural process of dying.
(3) The department shall, in consultation with the council and subject to the limitations in sub.
(2) (b), establish a statewide palliative care consumer and professional information and education program to ensure that comprehensive and accurate information and education about palliative care are available to the public, health care providers, and health care facilities.
(4) The department shall make available electronically on its website information and resources regarding palliative care, including all of the following items:
(a) Links to external resources regarding palliative care.
(b) Continuing education opportunities for health care providers.
(c) Information about palliative care programs.
(d) Consumer educational materials regarding palliative care.
(5) One year after the first meeting of the council, then on the 3rd January 1 after the first meeting of the council, and thereafter biennially no later than January 1, the council shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.
13.172 (3) providing the council’s analysis on all of the following issues:
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-1708/1 SWB:emw&skw ASSEMBLY BILL 23 S ECTION 2 (a) Access to palliative care.
(b) The impact of palliative care on health care delivery systems in this state and on families that have experience with palliative care services.
(6) Nothing in this section may be construed to create a cause of action or create a standard of care, obligation, or duty that provides a basis for a cause of action.
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Action History

  1. Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

  2. Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque

  3. Senator L. Johnson added as a cosponsor

  4. Available for scheduling

  5. Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

  6. Representative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor

  7. Received from Assembly

  8. Ordered immediately messaged

  9. Read a third time and passed, Ayes 96, Noes 1

  10. Rules suspended

  11. Ordered to a third reading

  12. Assembly Amendment 1 adopted

  13. Read a second time

  14. Representative Clancy added as a coauthor

  15. Withdrawn from committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 5-13-2025

  16. Representative DeSmidt added as a coauthor

  17. Representative Joers added as a coauthor

  18. Representative Arney added as a coauthor

  19. Referred to committee on Rules

  20. Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care, Ayes 14, Noes 1

  21. Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care, Ayes 14, Noes 1

  22. Executive action taken

  23. Fiscal estimate received

  24. Representative Miresse added as a coauthor

  25. Representative Fitzgerald added as a coauthor

  26. Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Snyder

  27. Representative Sinicki added as a coauthor

  28. Public hearing held

  29. Representatives Ortiz-Velez and Stubbs added as coauthors

  30. Representative Udell added as a coauthor

  31. Read first time and referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care

  32. Introduced by Representatives Snyder, Spiros, Bare, Dittrich, Johnson, Kreibich, Mayadev, McCarville, O'Connor, Roe, Stroud, Subeck and Vining; cosponsored by Senators James, Wanggaard, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Feyen, Ratcliff, Roys and Spreitzer

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 20 co-sponsors · 111 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (20)

Not signed on (111)

111 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 111 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Read a third time and passed

Passed 96 Yea · 1 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 51101
Democrat 42001
Unaffiliated 3000
Total 96102
% of votes cast 97%1%0%2%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
JOHNSON — Yea
MOORE OMOKUNDE — Yea
SPEAKER — Yea
Anderson, Clinton Democrat Yea
Andraca, Deb Democrat Yea
Arney, Margaret Democrat Yea
Bare, Mike Democrat Yea
Billings, Jill Democrat Yea
Brown, Brienne Democrat Yea
Clancy, Ryan Democrat Yea
Cruz, Angelina Democrat Yea
DeSanto, Karen Democrat Yea
DeSmidt, Ben Democrat Yea
Doyle, Steve Democrat Yea
Emerson, Jodi Democrat Yea
Fitzgerald, Joan Democrat Yea
Goodwin, Russell Democrat Not Voting
Haywood, Kalan Democrat Yea
Hong, Francesca Democrat Yea
Hysell, Andrew Democrat Yea
Jacobson, Jenna Democrat Yea
Joers, Alex Democrat Yea
Kirsch, Karen Democrat Yea
Madison, Darrin Democrat Yea
Mayadev, Renuka Democrat Yea
McCarville, Maureen Democrat Yea
McGuire, Tip Democrat Yea
Miresse, Vincent Democrat Yea
Neubauer, Greta Democrat Yea
Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia Democrat Yea
Palmeri, Lori Democrat Yea
Phelps, Christian Democrat Yea
Prado, Priscilla Democrat Yea
Rivera-Wagner, Amaad Democrat Yea
Roe, Ann Democrat Yea
Sheehan, Joe Democrat Yea
Sinicki, Christine Democrat Yea
Snodgrass, Lee Democrat Yea
Spaude, Ryan Democrat Yea
Stroud, Angela Democrat Yea
Stubbs, Shelia Democrat Yea
Subeck, Lisa Democrat Yea
Taylor, Sequanna Democrat Yea
Tenorio, Angelito Democrat Yea
Udell, Randy Democrat Yea
Vining, Robyn Democrat Yea
Allen, Scott Republican Yea
Armstrong, David Republican Yea
August, Tyler Republican Yea
Behnke, Elijah Republican Yea
Born, Mark Republican Yea
Brill, Lindee Republican Yea
Brooks, Robert Republican Yea
Callahan, Calvin Republican Yea
Dallman, Alex Republican Yea
Dittrich, Barbara Republican Yea
Donovan, Bob Republican Yea
Duchow, Cindi Republican Yea
Franklin, Benjamin Republican Yea
Goeben, Joy Republican Yea
Green, Chanz Republican Yea
Gundrum, Rick Republican Yea
Gustafson, Nate Republican Yea
Hurd, Karen Republican Yea
Jacobson, Brent Republican Not Voting
Kaufert, Dean Republican Yea
Kitchens, Joel Republican Yea
Knodl, Daniel Republican Yea
Kreibich, Rob Republican Yea
Krug, Scott Republican Yea
Kurtz, Tony Republican Yea
Maxey, Dave Republican Yea
Melotik, Paul Republican Yea
Moses, Clint Republican Yea
Murphy, David Republican Yea
Mursau, Jeffrey Republican Yea
Nedweski, Amanda Republican Yea
Neylon, Adam Republican Yea
Novak, Todd Republican Yea
O'Connor, Jerry Republican Yea
Penterman, William Republican Yea
Petersen, Kevin Republican Yea
Piwowarczyk, Jim Republican Yea
Pronschinske, Treig Republican Yea
Rodriguez, Jessie Republican Yea
Snyder, Patrick Republican Yea
Sortwell, Shae Republican Yea
Spiros, John Republican Yea
Steffen, David Republican Yea
Summerfield, Rob Republican Yea
Swearingen, Rob Republican Yea
Tittl, Paul Republican Yea
Tranel, Travis Republican Yea
Tucker, Duke Republican Yea
Tusler, Ron Republican Yea
VanderMeer, Nancy Republican Yea
Wichgers, Chuck Republican Nay
Wittke, Robert Republican Yea
Zimmerman, Shannon Republican Yea

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Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 23 do?
An Act to create 15.197 (22m) and 146.695 of the statutes;
Who sponsors AB 23?
AB 23 is sponsored by James, Wanggaard, Carpenter, Dassler-Alfheim, Feyen, Ratcliff, Roys, Spreitzer, Snyder, Patrick (Republican), Spiros, John (Republican), Bare, Mike (Democrat), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Johnson, Tara (Democrat), Kreibich, Rob (Republican), Mayadev, Renuka (Democrat), McCarville, Maureen (Democrat), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Roe, Ann (Democrat), Stroud, Angela (Democrat), Subeck, Lisa (Democrat), and Vining, Robyn (Democrat).
What is the current status of AB 23?
This bill has passed the Assembly. Introduced February 07, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track AB 23?
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