All Roll Calls
Yes: 105 • No: 23
WisconsinAB5982025-2026 Wisconsin Legislature (Biennial Session)HouseWALLET
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; Relating to: consent to admissions to certain health care facilities by patient representatives without requiring a petition for guardianship or protective placement. (FE)
Sponsored By: Barbara Dittrich (Republican), Bob Donovan (Republican), Steve Doyle (Democratic), Russell Goodwin (Democratic), Rick Gundrum (Republican), Karen Hurd (Republican), Tara Johnson (Democratic), Daniel Knodl (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), Tony Kurtz (Republican), Maureen McCarville (Democratic), Paul Melotik (Republican), Jeffrey Mursau (Republican), Todd Novak (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), Lori Palmeri (Democratic), William Penterman (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Priscilla Prado (Democratic), Amaad Rivera-Wagner (Democratic), Jessie Rodriguez (Republican), Ann Roe (Democratic), Joe Sheehan (Democratic), Christine Sinicki (Democratic), Patrick Snyder (Republican), Angela Stroud (Democratic), Shelia Stubbs (Democratic), Lisa Subeck (Democratic), Rob Swearingen (Republican), Robert Wittke (Republican)
Became Law
Community-based residential facilityGuardian and wardHospitals and health care facilitiesMedical assistanceNursing homes and adult careReports
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Faster hospital transfers for incapacitated adults
The law lets a patient’s representative consent to admission from a hospital inpatient unit by signing a sworn declaration. The representative must send the declaration to the hospital, the receiving facility, the county adult-at-risk agency, all reasonably contactable family members, and the county register in probate. A guardianship or protective placement petition does not need to be filed before this admission. After consent, the representative may make health care decisions, enroll the person in Medical Assistance, and approve health-care spending. This power ends if a court appoints a guardian, the person goes to a non‑facility setting, a health care power of attorney is found, or the person regains capacity. Clinicians must complete department forms and, within 72 hours, file incapacity and later recovery statements with the probate register and send them to the adult‑at‑risk agency. Hospitals and nursing homes must follow federal advance directive and resident‑representative rules and report concerns about a representative acting against the resident’s best interests. This consent pathway is available only for three years after its effective date.
Patient representative powers and limits
If you consent to admission as the patient’s representative, you may make health care decisions, enroll the person in Medical Assistance, and approve health‑care spending like a guardian. If the person has an agent under a durable power of attorney who can approve spending, that agent takes priority and you cannot authorize those costs. If no guardian is appointed by day 60 (and the admission was not under the hospital‑to‑facility pathway), your authority is extended 30 days only to start discharge planning. You may request functional and financial screenings for Family Care. If the person enters on private pay, you may waive the financial and cost‑sharing screening unless the person is expected to qualify for Medical Assistance within six months. The law also defines who counts as a “patient’s representative.”
Clear rules to judge incapacity
The law defines “incapacitated” as not being able to understand or communicate health and post‑hospital care decisions. Two clinicians must decide incapacity—either two physicians or one physician and one advanced practice clinician. Both must examine the person, sign a statement, and cannot be relatives or have claims on the person’s estate. The signed statement must be kept in the facility record.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Barbara Dittrich
Republican • House
Bob Donovan
Republican • House
Steve Doyle
Democratic • House
Russell Goodwin
Democratic • House
Rick Gundrum
Republican • House
Karen Hurd
Republican • House
Tara Johnson
Democratic • House
Daniel Knodl
Republican • House
Rob Kreibich
Republican • House
Tony Kurtz
Republican • House
Maureen McCarville
Democratic • House
Paul Melotik
Republican • House
Jeffrey Mursau
Republican • House
Todd Novak
Republican • House
Jerry O'Connor
Republican • House
Lori Palmeri
Democratic • House
William Penterman
Republican • House
Jim Piwowarczyk
Republican • House
Priscilla Prado
Democratic • House
Amaad Rivera-Wagner
Democratic • House
Jessie Rodriguez
Republican • House
Ann Roe
Democratic • House
Joe Sheehan
Democratic • House
Christine Sinicki
Democratic • House
Patrick Snyder
Republican • House
Angela Stroud
Democratic • House
Shelia Stubbs
Democratic • House
Lisa Subeck
Democratic • House
Rob Swearingen
Republican • House
Robert Wittke
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Brienne Brown
Democratic • House
Rachael Cabral-Guevara
Republican • Senate
Jodi Emerson
Democratic • House
Dan Feyen
Republican • Senate
Jenna Jacobson
Democratic • House
Jesse James
Republican • Senate
Joel Kitchens
Republican • House
Clint Moses
Republican • House
Romaine Quinn
Republican • Senate
Jeff Smith
Democratic • Senate
Eric Wimberger
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/17/2026
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 28, Noes 5
Yes: 28 • No: 5
House vote • 2/19/2026
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 77, Noes 18
Yes: 77 • No: 18
Actions Timeline
Published 3-21-2026
3/20/2026HouseReport approved by the Governor on 3-20-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 115
3/20/2026HouseRepresentative J. Jacobson added as a coauthor
3/20/2026HouseRepresentative Emerson added as a coauthor
3/19/2026HousePresented to the Governor on 3-19-2026
3/19/2026HouseReport correctly enrolled on 3-18-2026
3/18/2026HouseLRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 3)
3/18/2026HouseReceived from Senate concurred in
3/18/2026HouseOrdered immediately messaged
3/17/2026SenateSenator Smith added as a cosponsor
3/17/2026SenateRead a third time and concurred in, Ayes 28, Noes 5
3/17/2026SenateRules suspended to give bill its third reading
3/17/2026SenateOrdered to a third reading
3/17/2026SenateRead a second time
3/17/2026SenateRepresentative Kitchens added as a coauthor
3/16/2026SenatePlaced on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
3/16/2026SenatePublic hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
3/16/2026SenateRepresentative Brown added as a coauthor
3/6/2026SenateAvailable for scheduling
2/25/2026SenateRead first time and referred to committee on Senate Organization
2/25/2026SenateReceived from Assembly
2/23/2026SenateOrdered immediately messaged
2/19/2026HouseRead a third time and passed, Ayes 77, Noes 18
2/19/2026HouseRules suspended
2/19/2026HouseOrdered to a third reading
2/19/2026House
Bill Text
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3
2/19/2026
Bill Text
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