March 23, 2026

Senate Passes Online Sports Gambling, But Not Rent-to-Own, in Final Floor Session

However, the Senate did not vote on the rent-to-own (RTO) expansion bill (SB 737 and AB 742). This outcome would not have been possible without your advocacy. We are so very grateful for the many emails sent to legislative offices to sound the alarm about the predatory nature of the RTO industry.

In the next few months, the Legislature may reconvene for a special session on specific topics (i.e., property taxes or redistricting). However, any standalone legislation that has not already passed the Assembly and the Senate will not become law in 2026.

Additionally, Senator Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), the Senate Majority Leader, announced that he will not seek reelection. With his announcement, Sen. LeMahieu joins Governor Tony Evers and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in retiring, meaning that next year Wisconsin’s three top political leaders will all be new.

See below for the recent bills the WCC supported that passed the Senate and await action from the Governor. Later this spring, we will send out a session summary recapping the final disposition of the bills the WCC advocated on this session.

Spring Election on Tuesday April 7; Faithful Citizenship Materials Available

• A letter from Wisconsin’s bishops and an overview of Catholic Social Teaching
• Our Call as Catholic Citizens bulletin insert with how to evaluate candidates and policies on important issues
• Frequently Asked Questions on Catholic Social Teaching
• WCC Guidelines for Church Involvement in Electoral Politics
• The U.S. Bishops’ statement, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States
• And more.

All WCC Faithful Citizenship resources, including Spanish versions, can be found at wisconsincatholic.org/fc.

WCC Celebrates Bipartisan Law Embracing Both Women & Children

For years, the WCC has strongly supported extending postpartum coverage for new moms because it contributes significantly to the well-being of women and their children. Catholics believe that every public policy should be measured by how it affects the life and dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable, so that every member of the human family is respected and protected from conception until natural death. This new law protects a mother’s steady access to care at a time when life-threatening complications can arise, all while she is rearranging her life around the care of her newborn.

Governor Signs Bill Boosting FoodShare Funding, Prohibiting Purchase of Candy and Soft Drinks

Today, Governor Evers signed AB 180 into law as 2025 Wisconsin Act 116, which provides needed funding for the FoodShare program and requires the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. On February 11, a broad coalition, including the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, urged Wisconsin lawmakers to address an urgent need for $69.2 million in FoodShare funding, in the wake of changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which shifted 75 percent of administrative costs to states. This needed funding was added by amendment to AB 180.

Action on Previously Reported Bills

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 Senate and Assembly and awaits action by the Governor.

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 the Senate and Assembly and awaits action by 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 also extends this provision to siblings or other children in the family.
Status: The bill passed the Senate and Assembly and awaits action by the Governor.

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 Senate and Assembly and awaits action by the Governor.

Drone Operation ▲ Registered in support
SB 519 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 530 (Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay)
The bill prevents drones from being flown over a school without permission of the school district/governing board or with certain exceptions (e.g. police chief can allow it for active manhunt).
Status: The bill passed the Senate and Assembly and awaits action by 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 Senate and Assembly and awaits action by the Governor.

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. However, a school district is not required to offer human growth and development instruction.
Status: The bill passed the Senate and Assembly and awaits action by the Governor.

Crypto Kiosks ▲ Registered in support
SB 975 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 968 (Patrick Snyder, R-Weston)
Crypto kiosks, also known as Bitcoin ATMs, crypto ATMs, and Bitcoin teller machines (BTMs), are devices that turn dollars into cryptocurrencies. Scammers will often pretend to be government officials, technical support, or bankers and direct an individual to withdraw thousands of dollars and insert them into crypto kiosks where dollars are immediately converted into cryptocurrency that is delivered to scammers (often overseas). The companies that operate these crypto kiosks will collect a large fee for executing the transfer. The bill adds new requirements for crypto kiosks, including requiring the operator to be licensed as a money transmitter in Wisconsin, capping user deposits at $1,000 per day, requiring the prominent display of fraud warnings, and more.
Status: The bill passed the Senate and Assembly and awaits action by the Governor.