AB 598 — Relating to: consent to admissions to certain health care facilities by patient representatives without requiring a petition for guardianship or protective placement. (FE)
Last action — Published 3-21-2026
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Assembly
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✓Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced October 29, 2025. It awaits signature.
Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased 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
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To Executive
Current position in the legislative process.
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35 sponsors
1 primary, 34 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (17 R · 13 D) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 5 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 renumber and amend 50.06 (1) and 50.06 (4); to amend 50.06 (2) (b), 50.06 (2) (c), 50.06 (5) (a) (intro.), 50.06 (5) (b), 50.06 (6), 50.06 (7), 50.08 (1) (b) and 154.225 (1) (c); to create 50.06 (1) (a), 50.06 (1) (b), 50.06 (1) (d), 50.06 (4) (b), 50.06 (4) (c), 50.06 (5) (am), 50.06 (5) (ar), 50.06 (8), 54.36 (1m), 54.50 (3) (cm), 59.42 (4) and 146.82 (2) (a) 7m. of the statutes;
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
501 added · 525 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendments to Assembly Bill 598 allow a patient’s representative to consent to the admission of an incapacitated person to a nursing home or similar facility without needing to go through a lengthy legal process for guardianship. Additionally, these representatives can make healthcare decisions and manage medical expenses without the usual time limitations, making it easier for families to help their loved ones. This change is significant because it streamlines the process for families dealing with incapacitated individuals, removing bureaucratic hurdles and allowing for more timely care. Furthermore, it clarifies definitions related to incapacitation and introduces terms relevant to the healthcare context.
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBs0544/1LRB-4934/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjsJPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTEBILL AMENDMENT598 3,October TO29, ASSEMBLY2025 BILL- 598Introduced Februaryby 19,RepresentativeNYDER, 2026SUBECK -, OfferedITTRICH, D ONOVAN, DOYLE, GOODWIN , UNDRUM , HURD , OHNSON , NODL , REIBICH, K URTZ, M CCARVILLE, M ELOTIK, MURSAU , NOVAK , O'CONNOR , PALMERI, PENTERMAN , P IWOWARCZYK , PRADO , RIVERA-WAGNER, R ODRIGUEZ, R OE, SHEEHAN , SINICK, TROUD , TUBBS, SWEARINGEN and W ITTKE, cosponsored by RepresentatNYDER.Senators W IMBERGER , CABRAL-GUEVARA , FEYEN, JAMES and Q UINN.
Referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care.
to create 50.06 (1) (a), 50.06 (1) (b), 50.06 (1) (d), 50.06 (4) (b), 50.06 (4) (c), 50.06 (5) (am), 50.06 (5) (ar), 50.06 (8), 54.36 (1m), 54.50 (3) (cm), 146.8259.42 (2)(4) (a) 7m., 146.904, 814.66 (1) (p) and 851.72146.82 (1m)(2) of(a) the7m. statutes;
of the statutes;
consent to admissions to certain health care facilities by patient representatives without requiring a petition for guardianship or protective placementplacement. and hospital price transparency.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill allows a patient’s representative to consent to an admission of an incapacitated individual from a hospital to a nursing home or community-based residential facility without a petition for guardianship or protective placement and allows a patient’s representative to make health care decisions, enroll the patient in the Medical Assistance program, and authorize expenditures related to health care on behalf of an incapacitated individual without certain time limitations that are imposed under current law if certain conditions are met.
Under current law, an individual who is either related to an incapacitated - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 individual as provided under current law or is an adult close friend of an incapacitated individual may consent to admission, directly from a hospital to a nursing home or community-based residential facility, of the incapacitated individual who does not have a valid power of attorney for health care and who has not been adjudicated incompetent in this state if certain conditions apply, including that the individual for whom admission is sought is not diagnosed as developmentally disabled or as having a mental illness at the time of the proposed admission, that the incapacitated individual does not verbally object to or otherwise actively protest the admission, and that petitions for guardianship for the individual and for protective placement of the individual are filed prior to the proposed admission.
A determination that an individual is incapacitated must be made by two physicians or one physician and one psychologist who personally examine the individual.
An individual who consents to admission of an incapacitated individual may make health care decisions to the same extent as a guardian of the person and authorize expenditures related to health care to the same extent as a guardian of the estate until 60 days after the admission to the facility, discharge of the incapacitated individual from the facility, or appointment of a guardian for the incapacitated individual, whichever occurs first.
The bill allows a patient’s representative to consent to an admission of an incapacitated individual from a hospital to a nursing home or community-based residential facility as provided under current law without petitions for guardianship or protective placement of the incapacitated individual being filed if 1) the incapacitated individual is admitted directly from a hospital inpatient unit, 2) the facility to which the incapacitated individual is admitted notifies the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated patient resides of the admission within 72 hours of admission, and 3) the patient’s representative signs, subject to penalty of false swearing, a declaration that contains certain information including a written acknowledgment that the patient’s representative may make decisions or authorize expenditures as provided under the bill and promptly provides the signed declaration to all of the incapacitated individual’s family members that can be reasonably contacted, the discharging hospital and the accepting facility, the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, and the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides.
Further, the bill allows a patient’s representative to make health care decisions, enroll the incapacitated individual in the Medical Assistance program, and authorize expenditures related to health care without the time limitations that apply to other direct admissions under current law if the patient’s representative satisfies the conditions for admission provided under the bill.
The authority of a patient’s representative to make health care decisions and authorize expenditures related to health care under the bill ends if a court appoints a guardian to make such decisions, the incapacitated individual is discharged to a setting that is not a facility, a health care power of attorney that was not identified - 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 at the time that the patient’s representative was established is identified, or the individual is determined to no longer be incapacitated.
The bill provides that a determination that an individual is incapacitated for the purposes of admitting the individual directly from a hospital to a facility may be made by two physicians or by one physician and one advanced practice clinician, which is defined to mean either a psychologist, a registered nurse who is currently certified as a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant who a physician responsible for overseeing the physician assistant’s practice affirms is competent to conduct evaluations of the capacity of patients to manage health care decisions.
Any physician or advanced practice clinician who determines that an individual is incapacitated for the purposes of admitting the individual directly from a hospital to a facility must, if the individual is admitted to a facility as provided under the bill, prepare a written statement on a form prescribed by the DHS stating that the physician or advanced practice clinician personally examined the incapacitated individual, the date and location that the physician or advanced practice clinician determined the individual is incapacitated, the medical conditions of the individual, if any, that led the physician or advanced practice clinician to conclude that the individual is incapacitated, the physician’s or advanced practice clinician’s office address and contact information, and any other information identified by DHS.
A copy of the written statement must be included in the incapacitated individual’s patient health care records and must be sent, within 72 hours of the incapacitated individual’s admission to a facility, to the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides and the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides.
The bill provides that any physician or psychologist who examines an individual who is a proposed ward pursuant to a petition for guardianship must request and review any written statements prepared for the proposed ward and received by an adult-at-risk agency as provided under the bill.
The bill provides that a petitioner for temporary guardianship of a proposed ward admitted to a facility under the alternative procedure set forth in the bill must, as soon as practicable after filing the petition, request a copy of any written statement held by the corporation counsel for the county in which the proposed ward resided prior to admission to the facility.
The corporation counsel must provide a copy of any written statement relating to the proposed ward upon the request of a petitioner who has filed a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary guardianship of the proposed ward.
The petitioner must submit to the court either a copy, under seal, of any written statement received for in camera inspection by the court or a statement that the petitioner requested any relevant written statement but no such document was located.
Under the bill, the court must inspect, in camera, any submitted written statement, and unless the court determines that a written statement in which a physician or advanced practice clinician determined the proposed ward is no longer incapacitated has been submitted to the court and indicates that the proposed ward’s circumstances have changed from those described in the written statement submitted to the court in which a physician or advanced practice clinician determined the individual is - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 1 incapacitated, the submitted written statement containing the determination that the individual is incapacitated constitutes a prima facie showing, for purposes of temporary guardianship proceedings, that the proposed ward’s particular situation requires immediate appointment of a temporary guardian of the person or estate, notwithstanding that the document may be uncorroborated hearsay.
The submitted written statement is self authenticating and does not require foundational or other testimony for its admissibility.
However, the prima facie evidence may be rebutted by presenting information that affirmatively indicates a lack of trustworthiness in the document or information that the proposed ward’s circumstances have changed.
The privilege between health care providers and patients does not apply to these written statements.
The bill provides that no patient’s representative may consent to admission for an incapacitated individual in the manner established in the bill after three years following the effective date of the bill.
Finally, the bill provides that an individual who consents to admission of an incapacitated individual as set forth under current law may enroll the incapacitated individual in the Medical Assistance program in addition to the authority provided under current law to make health care decisions to the same extent as a guardian of the person and authorize expenditures related to health care to the same extent as a guardian of the estate.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
SSECTION ECTION 1.
- 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 1 50.06 (1) (intro.) In this section, “incapacitated”:
SSECTION ECTION 2.
SSECTION ECTION 3.
- 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 SECTION 3 50.06 (1) (b) “Advanced practice clinician” has the meaning given in s.
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 7 S ECTION 7.
Neither of the individuals who make a finding that an individual is incapacitated may be a - 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 SECTION 7 relative, as defined in s.
A copy of the written - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 8 statement shall be included in the incapacitated individual’s patient health care records and shall, within 72 hours following admission of the incapacitated individual to a facility under sub.
(8), be filedsent withto the registercorporation incounsel probate for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides and sent to the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides.
An adult-at- risk agency receiving a written statement is under no obligation to take any action with respect to the statement.
(8), - 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 SECTION 9 prepare a written statement that they personally examined the individual, the date and location that the physician or advanced practice clinician determined the individual is no longer incapacitated for purposes of sub.
A copy of the written statement shall be included in the individual’s patient health care records and shall, within 72 hours of a determination made under this paragraph, be filedsent withto the registercorporation incounsel probate for the county in which the individual resides and sent to the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the individual resides.
AnS adult-at-riskECTION agency10. receiving a written statement is under no obligation to take any action with respect to the statement.
- 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 10 S ECTION 10.
Show all 212 changed lines (172 more)
(ar) and (b), a patient’s representative may, for the incapacitated individual, make health care decisions to the same extent as a guardian of the person may, enroll the incapacitated - 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 11 individual in the Medical Assistance program under subch.
- 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 11 3.
- 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 14 50.06 (6) If Unless the incapacitated individual was admitted to a facility under sub.
50.06 (7) An individual who consents to an admission under this section A patient’s representative may request a functional screening and a financial and - 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 15 cost-sharing screening to determine eligibility for the family care benefit under s.
- 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 SECTION 16 2.
The patient’s representative signs a declaration under oath and promptly submits the signed declaration to the discharging hospital and the accepting facility, to the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, to the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, and to all of the incapacitated individual’s family members that can be reasonably contacted following admission of the incapacitated individual to a facility under this subsection,subsection. and to the register in probate for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides for filing.
AnThe adult-at-riskdepartment agencyshall receivingprescribe a form declaration isfor underuse noby obligationa topatient’s takerepresentative anyunder actionthis withsubdivision. respect to the declaration.
The department shall prescribe a form declaration for use by a patient’s - 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 16 representative under this subdivision.
(5) (am), the patient’s representative agrees to exercise the - 2026 Legislature - 11 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 SECTION 16 degree of care, diligence, and good faith that an ordinarily prudent person exercises in his or her own affairs.
(3) does not - 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 16 exist or no family member in a higher priority class is willing to make health care decisions on the incapacitated individual’s behalf under sub.
3.
The facility to which the incapacitated individual is admitted under this subsection notifies the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides of the admission no later than 72 hours after the admission.
- 2026 Legislature - 12 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 16 (c) Nothing in this subsection or sub.
(e) 1.Any person, including the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides or the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, may petition the court to review whether the patient’s representative is acting in accordance with the known wishes or in the best interest of the incapacitated individual and is exercising the degree of care, diligence, and good faith when acting on behalf of the incapacitated individual that an ordinarily prudent person exercises in his or her own affairs.
AnyThe person,court includingmay theissue adult-at-riskorders agencythat for the countycourt indetermines whichnecessary the incapacitated individual resides or the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, may petition the court to reviewprotect whether the patient’s representative is acting in accordance with the known wishes - 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 16 or in the best interest of the incapacitated individualindividual, andincluding isany exercising the degree of care, diligence, and good faith when acting on behalf of the incapacitatedfollowing: individual that an ordinarily prudent person exercises in his or her own affairs.
1.
Directing the patient’s representative to act in the best interest of the incapacitated individual.
NoticeRequiring ofthe apatient’s petitionrepresentative underto thisreport paragraphto shallthe becourt inperiodically writing.on the incapacitated individual’s status.
A copy of the petition and any related motion or other documents filed with the court shall be attached to the notice.
Unless otherwise provided, notice may be delivered in person, by certified mail with return receipt requested, or by facsimile transmission.
Notice is considered to be given by proof of personal delivery or by proof that the notice was mailed to the last-known address of the recipient or was sent by facsimile transmission to the last-known facsimile transmission number of the recipient.
Failure of the petitioner to provide notice to all interested persons shall deprive the court of jurisdiction unless receipt of notice is waived by the interested person or by the court under subd.
3.
b.
3.
Upon the filing of a petition under this paragraph, the court shall, except as provided in subd.
4., order the petitioner to serve notice on the incapacitated individual and to deliver notice to interested persons of the time and place of the hearing as follows:
a.
On the incapacitated individual by personal service at least 10 days before the time set for hearing.
The process server shall inform the incapacitated individual of the complete contents of the notice and petition, motion, or other required document;
certify on the notice that the process server served and informed the incapacitated individual;
and return the certificate and notice to the court.
b.
Personally or by mail at least 10 days before the time set for hearing to the - 2026 Legislature - 11 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 16 incapacitated individual’s counsel, if any;
the incapacitated individual’s guardian ad litem, if any;
any presumptive adult heirs, as specified in s.
851.09, of the incapacitated individual;
any other interested persons, unless specifically waived by the court;
any public or private agency, charity, or foundation from which the incapacitated individual is receiving aid or assistance;
and any other person that the court requires.
4.
The court may, in response to a petition filed under subd.
1., after a hearing, issue any order that the court determines necessary to protect the incapacitated individual, including an order that does any of the following:
a.
Directs the patient’s representative to act in the best interest of the incapacitated individual.
b.
Requires the patient’s representative to report to the court periodically on the incapacitated individual’s status.
c.3.
DirectsDirecting the patient’s representative not to make certain decisions or authorize certain expenditures under sub.
5.- 2026 Legislature - 13 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 16 (f) If an incapacitated individual is admitted to a facility pursuant to this subsection, any person, including the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, or any facility staff, may request that the incapacitated individual be reevaluated under sub.
The court may appoint a guardian ad litem for purposes of proceedings under this paragraph.
A guardian ad litem appointed under this subdivision shall be an attorney admitted to practice in this state and in compliance with the standards required for a guardian ad litem under ch.
54 set forth under SCR chapter 36.
No one who is an interested person in a proceeding, appears as counsel in a proceeding on behalf of any party, or is a relative or representative of an interested person may be appointed guardian ad litem in that proceeding or in any - 2026 Legislature - 12 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 16 other proceeding that involves the same incapacitated individual.
The guardian ad litem shall be an advocate for the best interests of the incapacitated individual.
The guardian ad litem shall function independently, in the same manner as an attorney for a party to the action, and shall consider, but is not bound by, the wishes of the incapacitated individual or the positions of others as to the best interests of the incapacitated individual.
The guardian ad litem has none of the rights or duties of a guardian.
The guardian ad litem shall perform all acts that are reasonably necessary to promote the incapacitated individual’s best interests.
6.
Except as otherwise provided under subd.
7., in any proceeding under this paragraph, the court may require the patient’s representative to pay personally any costs of the proceeding, including costs of service and attorney fees.
7.
If the court appoints a guardian ad litem under subd.
5., unless the court otherwise directs, the court may order reasonable compensation to be paid to the guardian ad litem from the incapacitated individual’s income or assets, if sufficient, or, if insufficient, by the county of venue, except that if court finds that the patient’s representative is not acting in accordance with the standards described under subd.
1., the court shall order the patient’s representative to pay the compensation of the guardian ad litem.
If a petition to the court under this paragraph is dismissed or the court otherwise finds that the patient’s representative is acting in accordance with the standards described under subd.
1., the court shall order the petitioner to pay the compensation of the guardian ad litem.
If the court orders a county to pay the compensation of the guardian ad litem, the amount ordered may not exceed the compensation paid to a private attorney under s.
977.08 (4m).
The guardian ad - 2026 Legislature - 13 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 16 litem shall receive compensation for performing all acts that are reasonably necessary to promote the incapacitated individual’s best interests.
(f) If an incapacitated individual is admitted to a facility pursuant to this subsection, any person, including the adult-at-risk agency for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, the corporation counsel for the county in which the incapacitated individual resides, or any facility staff, may request that the incapacitated individual be reevaluated under sub.
Complying, in the absence of actual knowledge of a limitation or revocation - 2026 Legislature - 14 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 16 of decision-making authority under par.
- 2026 Legislature - 14 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 16 (e), unless the health care facility or health care provider has actual knowledge of the order.
(h) Annually, upon request by the department, each registercorporation incounsel probate shall submit to the department the number of declarationspatients receivedadmitted underinto thisa -facility 2026under Legislaturethis - 15 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 16 subsection.
- 2026 Legislature - 15 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 17 S ECTION 17.
50.06 (4) (b) or (c) and received by a registercorporation incounsel probate under s.
851.7259.42 (1m)(4) and(b) may1. request and review any declaration signed by a patient representative of the proposed ward pursuant to s.
and may request and review any declaration signed by a patient representative of the proposed ward pursuant to s.
and received by a registercorporation incounsel probate under s.
851.7259.42 (1m).(4) (b) 1.
(c), request from the registercorporation incounsel probate for the county in which the proposed ward resided prior to admission to a facility under s.
50.06 (8) a copy of any written statement filedsent withto the registercorporation incounsel probate under s.
A copy, tounder beseal, kept confidential from all parties, of any written statement -sent 2026to Legislature - 16 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 19 filed with the relevant registercorporation incounsel probate under s.
A statement to the court that the petitioner requested any written - 2026 Legislature - 16 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 19 statement filedsent withto the relevant registercorporation incounsel probate under s.
The registercorporation incounsel probate for the county in which the proposed ward resided prior to admission to a facility under s.
851.7259.42 (1m),(4), provide to the petitioner, upon request by the petitioner for temporary guardianship after the petition has been filed, a copy of any written statement filedsent withto the registercorporation incounsel probate under s.
1., the written statement filedsent withto the registercorporation incounsel probate under s.
If, after in camera review, the court determines that any written statement submitted under subd.
1.
need not be excluded and may be used as prima facie evidence in the proceedings under this section, the court shall order the petitioner to serve copies of any such written - 2026 Legislature - 17 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 19 statement to the proposed ward, the proposed ward’s counsel, if any, the guardian ad litem for the proposed ward, and the petitioner’s attorney, if any.
The written statements shall continue to be treated as confidential.
- 2026 Legislature - 17 - LRB-4934/1 JPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 20 S ECTION 20.
146.8259.42 (2)(4) (a)of 7m.the statutes is created to read:
of59.42 the(4) statutesMAINTENANCE isOF createdCERTAIN toRECORDS read:.
146.82(a) (2)In (a)this 7m.subsection, “incapacitated individual” means an individual who was admitted to a facility pursuant to s.
To50.06 a(8). register in probate for purposes of s.
50.06 (4) (b) or1. (c).
SEach ECTIONcorporation 21.counsel shall accept receipt of any written statement submitted under s.
146.904 of the statutes is created to read:
146.904 Hospital price transparency.
(1) In this section, “federal hospital price transparency regulations” means the federal regulations set forth in 45 CFR part 180.
(2) If the federal hospital price transparency regulations are repealed in their entirety, and no substantively similar federal regulations are created to replace the repealed regulations, then all of the following apply:
(a) The department shall promulgate and enforce, through administrative rule, the version of the federal hospital price transparency regulations as they existed upon their full repeal as the state hospital price transparency rule.
(b) In promulgating and enforcing a rule under par.
(a), the department shall not substantively deviate from the version of the federal hospital price transparency - 2026 Legislature - 18 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs SECTION 21 regulations as they existed upon their full repeal.
The department shall monitor each hospital’s compliance with a rule promulgated and enforced under par.
(a) using any of the following methods:
1.
Evaluating complaints made to the department regarding noncompliance.
2.
Reviewing any analysis prepared regarding noncompliance.
3.
Auditing the websites of hospitals for noncompliance.
(c) The department shall create and maintain on its website a publicly available list of any hospital that has been found to have been in violation of any rule promulgated under par.
(a), including the dates that the hospital was not in compliance, that has been issued a penalty relating to a violation of a rule promulgated under par.
(a), or that has been sent, as the communication relates to a rule promulgated under par.
(a), a warning notice, request for a corrective action plan, or any other written communication from the department.
(3) Notwithstanding sub.
(2), if 45 CFR 180.60 is repealed in its entirety, and no substantively similar federal regulation is created to replace the repealed regulation, then all of the following apply:
(a) The department shall promulgate and enforce, through administrative rule, the version of 45 CFR 180.60 as it existed upon its full repeal as the state rule.
(b) In promulgating and enforcing a rule under par.
(a), the department shall not substantively deviate from the version of 45 CFR 180.60 as it existed upon its full repeal.
The department shall monitor each hospital’s compliance with a rule promulgated and enforced under par.
(a) using any of the following methods:
1.
Evaluating complaints made to the department regarding noncompliance.
2.
Reviewing any analysis prepared regarding noncompliance.
- 2026 Legislature - 19 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 21 3.
Auditing the websites of hospitals for noncompliance.
(c) The department shall create and maintain on its website a publicly available list of any hospital that has been found to have been in violation of any rule promulgated under par.
(a), including the dates that the hospital was not in compliance, that has been issued a penalty relating to a violation of a rule promulgated under par.
(a), or that has been sent, as the communication relates to a rule promulgated under par.
(a), a warning notice, request for a corrective action plan, or any other written communication from the department.
(4) Annually, the department shall review federal enforcement of the federal hospital price transparency regulations.
If the department determines that the federal agency responsible for enforcing the federal hospital price transparency regulations is not enforcing the federal hospital price transparency regulations, the department shall prepare a report of its findings to be distributed to the legislature in the manner provided in s.
13.172 (2).”.
S ECTION 22.
154.225 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
154.225 (1) (c) “Incapacitated” has the meaning given in s.
50.06 (1) (c).
S ECTION 23.
814.66 (1) (p) of the statutes is created to read:
814.66 (1) (p) For receiving a written statement or signed declaration for safekeeping, as provided under s.
851.72 (1m), $8.
S ECTION 24.
851.72 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
851.72 (1m) (a) 1.
Accept receipt for filing and safekeeping of any written statement submitted under s.
For purposes of this subsection, “incapacitated individual” means an - 2026 Legislature - 20 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 24 individual who was admitted to a facility pursuant to s.
50.06 (8).
The register in probate shall treat documents submitted for safekeeping under this subsection as confidential, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.
ProvideEach corporation counsel shall provide a copy of any written statement submitted under s.
Provide,Each uponcorporation request,counsel ashall copyprovide copies of any written statementstatements or signed declarations submitted under s.
50.06 (4) (b) or (c) or signed(8) declaration(a) submitted2. under s.
50.06 (8) (a) 2.
50.06 (3) (a) to (f)(f). or to any other person under the order of a court for good cause shown.
Provide,Each uponcorporation request,counsel ashall copyprovide copies of any written statementstatements submitted under s.
50.06 (4) (b) orand (c) or signed declarationdeclarations submitted under s.
5.(c) Each corporation counsel shall maintain each record received under this subsection and may only purge such records after the death of the incapacitated individual that is the subject of the records.
Provide,S uponECTION request,21. a copy of any written statement related to an incapacitated individual submitted under s.
50.06146.82 (4)(2) (b)(a) or7m. (c) or any signed declaration related to an incapacitated individual submitted under s.
50.06of (8)the (a)statutes 2.is created to read:
to- any2026 courtLegislature or- corporation18 counsel- requestingLRB-4934/1 aJPC&SWB:emw/amn/cjs copy.ASSEMBLY BILL 598 S ECTION 21 146.82 (2) (a) 7m.
(b)To Maintain each record received under this subsection and purge such a recordcorporation onlycounsel after the death of the incapacitated individual who is the subject of the record and in accordance with protocols, as established by the department of health services, for verifyingpurposes the death of an individual and destruction of written - 2026 Legislature - 21 - LRBs0544/1 SWB:skw/emw/cjs S ECTION 24 statements submitted under s.
50.06 (4) (b) andor (c)(c). and signed declarations submitted under s.
50.06SECTION (8)22. (a) 2.
SECTION154.225 25.(1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
Effective154.225 dates.(1) (c) “Incapacitated” has the meaning given in s.
This50.06 act(1) takes(c). effect on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after publication, except as follows:
(1) The treatment of s.
146.904 takes effect on the day after publication.
Show all 212 changed rows (172 more)
View plain text versions (2)
- Bill Text View text pdf
- Substitute Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 Current pdf
Action History
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Published 3-21-2026
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Report approved by the Governor on 3-20-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 115
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Representative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor
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Representative Emerson added as a coauthor
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Presented to the Governor on 3-19-2026
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Report correctly enrolled on 3-18-2026
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LRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 3)
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Received from Senate concurred in
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Ordered immediately messaged
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Senator Smith added as a cosponsor
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Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 28, Noes 5
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Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
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Ordered to a third reading
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Read a second time
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Representative Kitchens added as a coauthor
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Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
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Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
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Representative Brown added as a coauthor
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Available for scheduling
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Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
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Received from Assembly
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Ordered immediately messaged
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Read a third time and passed, Ayes 77, Noes 18
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Rules suspended
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Ordered to a third reading
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Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted
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Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Snyder
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Read a second time
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Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Neubauer
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Made a special order of business at 1:22 PM on 2-18-2026 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 13
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Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Snyder
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Representative Sheehan withdrawn as a coauthor
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Withdrawn from committee on Rules and referred to calendar of 2-17-2026
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Referred to committee on Rules
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Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care, Ayes 12, Noes 3
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Report Assembly Amendment 2 adoption recommended by Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care, Ayes 14, Noes 1
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Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care, Ayes 14, Noes 1
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Executive action taken
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Representative Stroud withdrawn as a coauthor
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Assembly Amendment 2 offered by Representative Snyder
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Representative Johnson withdrawn as a coauthor
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Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Snyder
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Representative Prado withdrawn as a coauthor
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Fiscal estimate received
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Representative Roe withdrawn as a coauthor
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Representative Palmeri withdrawn as a coauthor
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Representative Moses added as a coauthor
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Public hearing held
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Read first time and referred to Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care
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Introduced by Representatives Snyder, Subeck, Dittrich, Donovan, Doyle, Goodwin, Gundrum, Hurd, Johnson, Knodl, Kreibich, Kurtz, McCarville, Melotik, Mursau, Novak, O'Connor, Palmeri, Penterman, Piwowarczyk, Prado, Rivera-Wagner, Rodriguez, Roe, Sheehan, Sinicki, Stroud, Stubbs, Swearingen and Wittke; cosponsored by Senators Wimberger, Cabral-Guevara, Feyen, James and Quinn
Sponsors
- Wimberger · Cosponsor
- Cabral-Guevara · Cosponsor
- Feyen · Cosponsor
- James · Cosponsor
- Quinn · Cosponsor
- Patrick Snyder · Primary
- Lisa Subeck · Cosponsor
- Barbara Dittrich · Cosponsor
- Bob Donovan · Cosponsor
- Steve Doyle · Cosponsor
- Russell Goodwin · Cosponsor
- Rick Gundrum · Cosponsor
- Karen Hurd · Cosponsor
- Tara Johnson · Cosponsor
- Daniel Knodl · Cosponsor
- Rob Kreibich · Cosponsor
- Tony Kurtz · Cosponsor
- Maureen McCarville · Cosponsor
- Paul Melotik · Cosponsor
- Jeffrey Mursau · Cosponsor
- Todd Novak · Cosponsor
- Jerry O'Connor · Cosponsor
- Lori Palmeri · Cosponsor
- William Penterman · Cosponsor
- Jim Piwowarczyk · Cosponsor
- Priscilla Prado · Cosponsor
- Amaad Rivera-Wagner · Cosponsor
- Jessie Rodriguez · Cosponsor
- Ann Roe · Cosponsor
- Joe Sheehan · Cosponsor
- Christine Sinicki · Cosponsor
- Angela Stroud · Cosponsor
- Shelia Stubbs · Cosponsor
- Rob Swearingen · Cosponsor
- Robert Wittke · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 34 co-sponsors · 97 not signed on · 20 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Snyder, Patrick Republican
Co-sponsors (34)
- Wimberger
- Cabral-Guevara
- Feyen
- James
- Quinn
- Subeck, Lisa Democrat
- Dittrich, Barbara Republican
- Donovan, Bob Republican
- Doyle, Steve Democrat
- Goodwin, Russell Democrat
- Gundrum, Rick Republican
- Hurd, Karen Republican
- Johnson, Tara Democrat
- Knodl, Daniel Republican
- Kreibich, Rob Republican
- Kurtz, Tony Republican
- McCarville, Maureen Democrat
- Melotik, Paul Republican
- Mursau, Jeffrey Republican
- Novak, Todd Republican
- O'Connor, Jerry Republican
- Palmeri, Lori Democrat
- Penterman, William Republican
- Piwowarczyk, Jim Republican
- Prado, Priscilla Democrat
- Rivera-Wagner, Amaad Democrat
- Rodriguez, Jessie Republican
- Roe, Ann Democrat Voted No
- Sheehan, Joe Democrat
- Sinicki, Christine Democrat
- Stroud, Angela Democrat Voted No
- Stubbs, Shelia Democrat
- Swearingen, Rob Republican
- Wittke, Robert Republican
Not signed on (97)
97 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 97 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 85% | 15% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (33)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| JOHNSON | — | Yea |
| DASSLER-ALFHEI | — | Yea |
| HABUSH SINYKIN | — | Yea |
| Carpenter, Tim | Democrat | Nay |
| Drake, Dora | Democrat | Yea |
| Hesselbein, Dianne | Democrat | Yea |
| Keyeski, Sarah | Democrat | Yea |
| Larson, Chris | Democrat | Nay |
| Pfaff, Brad | Democrat | Yea |
| Ratcliff, Melissa | Democrat | Yea |
| Roys, Kelda | Democrat | Yea |
| Smith, Jeff | Democrat | Yea |
| Spreitzer, Mark | Democrat | Yea |
| Wall, Jamie | Democrat | Yea |
| Wirch, Robert | Democrat | Nay |
| Bradley, Julian | Republican | Yea |
| Cabral-Guevara, Rachael | Republican | Yea |
| Felzkowski, Mary | Republican | Yea |
| Feyen, Dan | Republican | Yea |
| Hutton, Rob | Republican | Yea |
| Jacque, André | Republican | Nay |
| Jagler, John | Republican | Yea |
| James, Jesse | Republican | Yea |
| Kapenga, Chris | Republican | Yea |
| LeMahieu, Devin | Republican | Yea |
| Marklein, Howard | Republican | Yea |
| Nass, Steve | Republican | Nay |
| Quinn, Romaine | Republican | Yea |
| Stafsholt, Rob | Republican | Yea |
| Testin, Patrick | Republican | Yea |
| Tomczyk, Cory | Republican | Yea |
| Wanggaard, Van | Republican | Yea |
| Wimberger, Eric | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 23 | 17 | 0 | 3 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 77 | 18 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 78% | 18% | 0% | 4% |
How each member voted (99)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| JOHNSON | — | Not Voting |
| MOORE OMOKUNDE | — | Nay |
| SPEAKER | — | Yea |
| Anderson, Clinton | Democrat | Nay |
| Andraca, Deb | Democrat | Nay |
| Arney, Margaret | Democrat | Nay |
| Bare, Mike | Democrat | Nay |
| Billings, Jill | Democrat | Yea |
| Brown, Brienne | Democrat | Yea |
| Clancy, Ryan | Democrat | Nay |
| Cruz, Angelina | Democrat | Yea |
| DeSanto, Karen | Democrat | Yea |
| DeSmidt, Ben | Democrat | Nay |
| Doyle, Steve | Democrat | Yea |
| Emerson, Jodi | Democrat | Yea |
| Fitzgerald, Joan | Democrat | Yea |
| Goodwin, Russell | Democrat | Yea |
| Haywood, Kalan | Democrat | Yea |
| Hong, Francesca | Democrat | Nay |
| Hysell, Andrew | Democrat | Nay |
| Jacobson, Jenna | Democrat | Yea |
| Joers, Alex | Democrat | Nay |
| Kirsch, Karen | Democrat | Yea |
| Madison, Darrin | Democrat | Nay |
| Mayadev, Renuka | Democrat | Nay |
| McCarville, Maureen | Democrat | Yea |
| McGuire, Tip | Democrat | Yea |
| Miresse, Vincent | Democrat | Nay |
| Neubauer, Greta | Democrat | Yea |
| Ortiz-Velez, Sylvia | Democrat | Yea |
| Palmeri, Lori | Democrat | Yea |
| Phelps, Christian | Democrat | Nay |
| Prado, Priscilla | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Rivera-Wagner, Amaad | Democrat | Yea |
| Roe, Ann | Democrat | Nay |
| Sheehan, Joe | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Sinicki, Christine | Democrat | Yea |
| Snodgrass, Lee | Democrat | Nay |
| Spaude, Ryan | Democrat | Yea |
| Stroud, Angela | Democrat | Nay |
| Stubbs, Shelia | Democrat | Yea |
| Subeck, Lisa | Democrat | Yea |
| Taylor, Sequanna | Democrat | Yea |
| Tenorio, Angelito | Democrat | Nay |
| Udell, Randy | Democrat | Yea |
| Vining, Robyn | Democrat | Not Voting |
| 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 | Yea |
| 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 | Yea |
| Wittke, Robert | Republican | Yea |
| Zimmerman, Shannon | Republican | Yea |
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does AB 598 do?
- An Act to renumber and amend 50.06 (1) and 50.06 (4); to amend 50.06 (2) (b), 50.06 (2) (c), 50.06 (5) (a) (intro.), 50.06 (5) (b), 50.06 (6), 50.06 (7), 50.08 (1) (b) and 154.225 (1) (c); to create 50.06 (1) (a), 50.06 (1) (b), 50.06 (1) (d), 50.06 (4) (b), 50.06 (4) (c), 50.06 (5) (am), 50.06 (5) (ar), 50.06 (8), 54.36 (1m), 54.50 (3) (cm), 59.42 (4) and 146.82 (2) (a) 7m. of the statutes;
- Who sponsors AB 598?
- AB 598 is sponsored by Wimberger, Cabral-Guevara, Feyen, James, Quinn, Snyder, Patrick (Republican), Subeck, Lisa (Democrat), Dittrich, Barbara (Republican), Donovan, Bob (Republican), Doyle, Steve (Democrat), Goodwin, Russell (Democrat), Gundrum, Rick (Republican), Hurd, Karen (Republican), Johnson, Tara (Democrat), Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Kreibich, Rob (Republican), Kurtz, Tony (Republican), McCarville, Maureen (Democrat), Melotik, Paul (Republican), Mursau, Jeffrey (Republican), Novak, Todd (Republican), O'Connor, Jerry (Republican), Palmeri, Lori (Democrat), Penterman, William (Republican), Piwowarczyk, Jim (Republican), Prado, Priscilla (Democrat), Rivera-Wagner, Amaad (Democrat), Rodriguez, Jessie (Republican), Roe, Ann (Democrat), Sheehan, Joe (Democrat), Sinicki, Christine (Democrat), Stroud, Angela (Democrat), Stubbs, Shelia (Democrat), Swearingen, Rob (Republican), and Wittke, Robert (Republican).
- What is the current status of AB 598?
- This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced October 29, 2025. It awaits signature.
- Where can I track AB 598?
- Track AB 598 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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