WisconsinAB9352025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)HouseWALLET

An Act to repeal 45.03 (13) (j) and 45.03 (13) (k); to amend 45.01 (9), 45.03 (2m), 45.03 (3) (a), 45.03 (3) (b), 45.03 (13) (f) 2., 45.03 (15), 45.03 (21) (d), 45.04 (2), 45.07 (1), 45.10 (2), 45.40 (1m) (a), 45.40 (2) (c), 45.44 (2), 45.44 (3) (intro.), 45.44 (4), 45.51 (3) (b), 45.51 (4) (am) 2., 45.51 (4) (bm), 45.51 (13) (intro.), 45.55, 45.60 (1) (b), 45.60 (2), 45.61 (5), 45.62 (1) (g), 45.81 (2) and 45.85 (1); to create 45.01 (4m) of the statutes; Relating to: repealing expired programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs; definition, terminology, and grammatical changes for the Department of Veterans Affairs, mental health services for post-traumatic stress disorder; reporting on rules proposed by the Department of Veterans Affairs; asset calculation for determining eligibility for veterans assistance payments; and deceased veterans’ graves (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Veterans Affairs).

Sponsored By: Law Revision Committee

Became Law

Mental healthMilitary personnelStatutes -- RevisionVeteranVeteran -- ReliefVeterans AffairsDepartment of

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

First $50K life insurance excluded

When the state counts your assets for subsistence or health care aid, it ignores the first $50,000 of any life insurance cash value. For health care aid, you are not eligible if your counted liquid assets are over $1,000. This change can help veterans with life insurance qualify for help.

Limits on family entry to veterans homes

Spouses, surviving spouses, and parents who qualify through a veteran are not admitted to a Wisconsin Veterans Home unless the home’s overall occupancy is below the board’s chosen optimal level. The board sets the occupancy rule. This reduces access for those family members.

Veterans license fee waivers with limits

The Veterans Affairs Department runs a program to verify if you qualify for a license fee waiver. Licensing boards and the Wisconsin Supreme Court must ask the department to verify before waiving a fee. You can get a waiver only for an initial license, and you can use this waiver only once. The department and each licensing agency must post eligible licenses and contacts on their websites.

100% VA disability counts for state

If you receive 100% VA disability compensation, state law treats you as permanently and totally disabled. This clarifies who qualifies for state veterans programs that use this definition.

More VA info on PTSD and exposure

The department provides information and referrals about PTSD medical and mental health services. It must post details on its website about depleted uranium exposure, detection programs, federal treatment options, and possible state and federal benefits.

Board review of VA rules

The Veterans Affairs secretary must give the Board of Veterans Affairs any proposed rule. The board may send written comments and its opinion. The department must include those comments in the official rule analysis.

Small help for funeral honors and graves

The department reimburses eligible local units up to $50 per funeral for military honors, paid from a specified state appropriation. The department may also keep grave records that include headstone or marker descriptions.

Expired veteran grant programs removed

The law deletes an expired volunteer‑assistance grant and an expired authority to supplement housing costs for chronically homeless veterans. These programs were already expired, so this is a statutory cleanup.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Law Revision Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Tim Carpenter

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Published 3-28-2026

    3/27/2026House
  2. Report approved by the Governor on 3-27-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 138

    3/27/2026House
  3. Presented to the Governor on 3-26-2026

    3/26/2026House
  4. Report correctly enrolled on 3-25-2026

    3/25/2026House
  5. Received from Senate concurred in

    3/18/2026House
  6. Ordered immediately messaged

    3/17/2026Senate
  7. Senator Carpenter added as a cosponsor

    3/17/2026Senate
  8. Read a third time and concurred in

    3/17/2026Senate
  9. Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

    3/17/2026Senate
  10. Ordered to a third reading

    3/17/2026Senate
  11. Read a second time

    3/17/2026Senate
  12. Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

    3/16/2026Senate
  13. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

    3/16/2026Senate
  14. Available for scheduling

    2/11/2026Senate
  15. Read first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization

    2/11/2026Senate
  16. Received from Assembly

    2/10/2026Senate
  17. Ordered immediately messaged

    2/10/2026House
  18. Read a third time and passed

    2/10/2026House
  19. Rules suspended

    2/10/2026House
  20. Ordered to a third reading

    2/10/2026House
  21. Read a second time

    2/10/2026House
  22. Placed on calendar 2-10-2026 by Committee on Rules

    2/5/2026House
  23. Read first time and referred to Committee on Rules

    1/28/2026House
  24. Introduced by Law Revision Committee

    1/28/2026House

Bill Text

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