February 9, 2026

Join the WCC in Urging Legislators to Oppose Online Sports Gambling

After fast-tracking these online sports gambling bills through the committee process and initially scheduling the bills for a floor vote in November, the Assembly postponed the bills. The Assembly is likely to finish their legislative work for the session by the end of this month and may bring these bills back for a vote.

The Catholic Church does not object to games of chance or wagers in themselves (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2413). However, gambling is unjust when it surpasses entertainment and becomes a source of enslavement, depriving people of what they need. Online sports gambling harms individuals and families, especially those that can least afford it.

The WCC’s memo to legislators highlights studies showing the negative impacts of online sports gambling, including a decrease in net investments and credit availability and higher rates of credit card debt, overdrawing, bankruptcy, as well as mental health crises and suicide. In addition to enabling these negative impacts, the legislation also does not include important consumer protections, such as advertising restrictions, maximum spending amounts, or additional support for gambling addiction treatment and prevention.

Join the WCC in urging legislators to vote NO by contacting your legislators below. Thank you to all who have already contacted their legislators to voice opposition.

Faith Coalition Opposes Bill to Weaken Consumer Protections for Rent-to-Own Transactions

Rent-to-own (RTO) transactions are structured for individuals to rent household goods via monthly payments, with an option to purchase at the end of the agreement. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions found that, on average, RTO transactions cost between two to five times as much as purchasing from a department or appliance store. In addition, 7 out of 10 consumers are never able to own the goods outright, either because they voluntarily relinquish them or because the RTOs repossess them. Because RTOs advertise to individuals struggling to make ends meet, far from making consumer goods more affordable, consumers with poor or no credit end up paying more for goods and risk losing the goods in the end.

The WCC, along with the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Council of Churches, and Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul groups throughout the state, issued a joint memo to lawmakers opposing the bill. They stressed that “As faith-based organizations, we have a duty to speak up in defense of individuals living in or close to poverty, which is the demographic that the RTO industry targets.”

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.

WCC Action at the Capitol

Grants to Nonprofit Religious Organizations ▲ Testified in support
SB 789 (Jodi Habush Sinykin, D-Whitefish Bay) / AB 796 (Ron Tusler, R-Harrison)
This bill provides safety and security grants to religious nonprofit organizations that show credible risks or threats posed against them. The bill allows religious nonprofits to apply for up to $500,000 per biennium to increase physical security, train or hire individuals, or enhance emergency protocols and systems.
Status: Since the public hearing, the Senate committee has taken no further action. The bill awaits an Assembly hearing.

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.
Status: The bill passed out of committee and awaits a Senate floor vote. Since the public hearing, the Assembly committee has taken no further action.

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 out of committee and awaits a Senate floor vote. The bill awaits a public hearing in the Assembly.

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 received a public hearing in the Assembly and awaits action in the Senate.

Structured Camping Facilities for Homeless Individuals ▼ Testified in opposition
SB 621 (Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee) / AB 631 (Dave Maxey, R-New Berlin)
The bill classifies setting up a temporary residence on public property as a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by $500 fine, 30 days imprisonment, or both. The bill also authorizes the Department of Administration and other political subdivisions to set up structured camping facilities for the homeless on public property. The WCC opposes the criminalization of homelessness, which will fail to help individuals out of homelessness.
Status: Since the public hearing, the Assembly committee has taken no further action. The Senate bill awaits a public hearing.

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 Senate and is scheduled for an Assembly committee vote on Wednesday, February 11.

Human Trafficking Victim Services Grant and Civil Causes of Action for Child Trafficking ▲ Testified in support
SB 838 (André Jacque, R-New Franken) / AB 833 (Jerry O’Connor, R-Fond du Lac)
SB 849 (Van Wanggaard, R-Racine) / AB 861 (Jeffrey Mursau, R-Crivitz)
SB 838 establishes a grant program that provides grants to nonprofit organizations to provide support services to trafficking victims, including direct victim advocacy, safety planning, housing, substance use disorder treatment, medical and behavioral health, job training, and employment support services. SB 849 specifies that a victim of child trafficking may bring a civil action regardless of whether anyone was prosecuted or convicted for the child trafficking violation, and specifies that the victim may commence the civil action any time before he or she reaches the age of 35. Both bills were part of a package of anti-human trafficking bills introduced in the 2023-24 Legislative Session.
Status: Since the public hearing, the Senate committee has taken no further action. The bills await a public hearing in the Assembly.

Updates from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

• Archbishop Coakley Calls for Holy Hour as a Moment of Renewal for Our Hearts and Our Nation
• Bishop-Chairmen Respond to Expanded “Mexico City Policy”
• Chairman’s Statement in Gratitude for Executive Actions Protecting Preborn Children
• Bishop Chairmen Call on Administration to Extend Protections for Haitians in the United States
• U.S. and African Bishops Call for Continuing Solidarity and Lifesaving Assistance to Africa in Joint Statement
• Archbishop Coakley Calls on Policymakers to Pursue Diplomatic Negotiations and Maintain New START’s Limits
• In Commemoration of Black History Month, “Let Us Be Faithful Stewards of Memory,” Say Bishop Garcia and Bishop Campbell

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.