February 23, 2026

Assembly Adjourns Regular Session; Senate Still in Session

The Assembly’s regular session adjourned without passing a tax relief package being negotiated by Governor Evers and Republican leadership. If a deal is struck, Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) has said that the Assembly may return for a special or extraordinary session.

WCC Celebrates Passage of Postpartum Care Expansion

The WCC has long supported this measure, as it supports both mothers and babies. This critical vote means a woman will not lose her health insurance and primary care provider at a time when her steady access to healthcare is essential, and while she is rearranging her life around the care of her newborn.

WCC Dismayed by Passage of Gambling and Rent-to-Own Bills

Today the WCC expressed deep dismay at the Assembly passage of two bills that will harm Wisconsinites: AB 601, which begins the process of expanding online sports gambling in Wisconsin, and AB 742, which weakens consumer protections for lease-purchase agreements, commonly known as rent-to-own (RTO).

Both of these bills will exploit consumers to make a profit and Wisconsinites will be less prosperous as a result.

Online sports gambling is highly addictive and increases consumer debt, crime, mental health crises, and suicide. In fact, 96% of online sports gamblers lost money over time and 1 in 6 individuals with gambling disorder attempt suicide.

Similarly, RTO transactions charge two to five times the sticker price for consumer goods. Additionally, 7 out of 10 RTO customers fail to obtain ownership of their leased item. In other words, individuals with low-incomes often end up paying more than double the sticker price and still lose their goods.

In short, for both of these industries to make money, the vast majority of their customers must fail.

Assembly Passes FoodShare Funding

WCC Hiring an Associate Director

The priority application deadline is February 27. To learn more and apply, click the button below for the full job description and application instructions.

Legislative Action on Previously Reported Bills

Age Verification for Minors Online ▲ Testified in support
SB 130 (Van Wanggaard, R-Racine) / AB 105 (Joy Goeben, R-Hobart)
The bill requires age verification for viewing pornography online to protect minors. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that pornography “does grave injury to the dignity of the participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense.” Numerous studies have demonstrated the harms of pornography, especially to children.
Status: The bill passed the Senate and the Assembly and awaits action by the Governor.

Prohibiting Gender Transition for Minors ▲ Testified in support
SB 157 (Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee) / AB 104 (Scott Allen, R-Waukesha)
This bill prohibits gender transition surgery and other medical interventions such as puberty blockers for minors. As Catholics, we believe that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God and is deserving of dignity, respect, and compassion. We recognize the anguish of children as they wrestle with severe gender dysphoria, as well as their parents. They are members of our families and communities and often suffer in silence. We must treat all people with love and respect and accompany them with compassion and truth. The WCC supports this bill because gender transitioning of children upends the natural development of the human person and sends the message that some bodies are mistakes that can be manipulated at will.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and the Senate and awaits action from the Governor.

MA Coverage for Incarcerated Individuals ▲ Registered in support
SB 598 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 604 (Clint Moses, R-Menomonie)
This bill directs the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to apply for a waiver from the federal government to seek pre-release coverage under the Medical Assistance program for incarcerated individuals. Designed to reduce recidivism by proactively treating substance abuse, individuals who are incarcerated and qualify for Medicaid can receive case management, medication for behavioral therapy, and a 30 day supply of prescription medication to aid their treatment upon release.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits a Senate floor vote.

Long-Term Care Visits ▲ Testified in support
SB 417 (André Jacque, R-New Franken) / AB 418 (Chuck Wichgers, R-Muskego)
The bill ensures in-person visitation rights for patients and residents in health care facilities during an outbreak or epidemic of a communicable disease. With certain limitations, the bill ensures that patients and residents have the ability to visit with clergy members and other essential visitors.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and the Senate and awaits action from the Governor.

Born Alive Survivors Protection Act ▲ Registered in support
SB 384 (Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto) / AB 382 (Joy Goeben, R-Hobart)
The bill establishes a clear standard of care for infants who survive an induced abortion by requiring that health care providers exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care provider would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. The bill also ensures that the child born alive is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital and makes health care providers or employees mandatory reporters when violations occur.
Status: The bill passed the Senate, but did not receive a hearing in the Assembly before it adjourned.

Designating School Sports by Sex ▲ Testified in support
SB 116 (Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield) / AB 102 (Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc)
SB 117 (Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield) / AB 100 (Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc)
These bills require K-12 schools and public universities in Wisconsin to designate all sports teams by sex assigned at birth. Teams can be designated all male, all female, or co-ed. Consistent with the Catholic Church’s clear teaching on the equality of men and women, the WCC affirms that education and sports policies must uphold human dignity. This includes equal treatment between women and men and affirmation of the goodness of a person’s body, which is genetically and biologically female or male. All students must be assured the right to participate in or try out for activities in accord with their biological sex.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and the Senate and awaits action from the Governor.

Eligibility for Parental Choice Programs Based on Sibling Participation ▲ Testified in support
SB 452 (John Jagler, R-Watertown) / AB 460 (Cindi Duchow, R-Town of Delafield)
Under this bill, a student is eligible to participate in one of the three parental choice programs if the student’s sibling (or a dependent child of the parents) participated in the program the previous school year. The parental choice programs already have a so-called “once in, always in” provision meaning that students keep the voucher even if family income rises above the threshold, so long as the student does not voluntarily leave the program. This bill extends this provision to siblings or other children in the family.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits a Senate hearing.

Human Development Instruction on Adoption ▲ Registered in support
SB 887 (André Jacque, R-New Franken) / AB 918 (Rob Summerfield, R-Bloomer)
This bill adds adoption as a required topic to be covered by public schools that opt to use human growth and development curriculum. A school district is not required to offer human growth and development instruction.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits a Senate hearing.

Prohibiting Grooming a Child ▲ Registered in support
SB 671 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 677 (Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie)
The bill creates a crime of grooming a child for sexual activity. That crime prohibits any person from engaging in a course of conduct, pattern of behavior, or series of acts with the intention to condition, seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child for the purpose of doing either of the following: (1) engaging in sexual intercourse or sexual contact; or (2) producing, distributing, or possessing depictions of the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The Church supports efforts to advance the protection of children from all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and the Senate and awaits action from the Governor.

Stillbirth Tax Credit ▲ Testified in support
SB 379 (André Jacque, R-New Franken) / AB 373 (Lindee Rae Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls)
This bill creates a refundable individual income tax credit of up to $2,000 for a parent of a stillborn child. The bill also provides a formal acknowledgement to grieving families that Wisconsin recognizes the loss they have suffered with the death of their child.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits a Senate floor vote.

Antisemitism Definition ▲ Testified in support
SB 445 (Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield) / AB 446 (Ron Tusler, R-Harrison)
The bill creates a definition of antisemitism for purposes of laws, ordinances, policies, or criminal penalty enhancers concerning discrimination based on race, religion, color, or national origin. Here in Wisconsin, the Jewish community has seen an increase of over 450 percent in antisemitic incidents since 2015. Jewish synagogues, schools, community centers, and other Jewish organizations have been threatened and vandalized. As a result, Wisconsin’s Jewish community ends up paying millions of dollars in enhanced security to protect its members. The Catholic Church opposes antisemitism in all its forms. Watch the testimony on WisEye here.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits a Senate floor vote.

Occupational Credentials for DACA Recipients ▲ Testified in support
SB 745 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 759 (Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay)
The bill allows recipients of deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to obtain occupational licenses in Wisconsin. The Catholic Church has long advocated for the legal protection, full inclusion, and wellbeing of children brought to the U.S. DACA recipients are some of the most thoroughly vetted individuals in the state and this bill will allow recipients to enter into licensed careers benefiting them, employers, and the state of Wisconsin.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits a Senate hearing.

Updates from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

• “The Thought of Holding Thousands of Families in Massive Warehouses Should Challenge the Conscience of Every American,” Says Bishop Cahill
• Religious Liberty Report Aims to Help Catholics Bring the Spirit of the Gospel to Public Life
  
  
• Bishops Representing Latin America, Canada, and United States Gather to Pray, Discuss, and Reaffirm Their Unity as One Church

To take action on the USCCB’s current federal action alerts, click here.

Legislative Resources

Find the WCC’s session priorities, legislative committees, contact info for your legislators, and more.