An Act to renumber 448.05 (5r); to amend 146.81 (1) (d), 146.997 (1) (d) 5., 256.15 (4) (a) 3., 440.03 (9) (a) (intro.) and 2., 440.03 (13) (b) (intro.), 440.15, 448.01 (9s), 448.01 (12), 448.02 (3) (a) to (c), (e), (f) and (h), 448.02 (4) (a) and (b), 448.02 (5), 448.02 (6), 448.02 (8) (a), 448.02 (8) (c), 448.03 (1m), 448.05 (5r) (title), 448.07 (1) (b), 448.07 (1) (c), 448.07 (1) (d), 448.07 (2), 448.08 (1m), 448.08 (4), 448.12, 448.13 (1) (a), 448.13 (2), 448.13 (3) and 990.01 (28); to repeal and recreate 448.02 (3) (a), 448.07 (title), 448.07 (1) (title) and 448.07 (1) (a); to create 14.832, 440.03 (11m) (c) 2rm., 440.03 (13) (c) 1. m., 448.015 (2m), 448.04 (1) (im), 448.04 (2m), 448.05 (1) (e), 448.05 (5r) (b), 448.05 (6) (av), 448.06 (3) and subchapter XIV of chapter 448 [precedes 448.9886] of the statutes; Relating to: ratification of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. (FE)
Sponsored By: Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican), Patrick Testin (Republican)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 4 mixed.
Therapists face interstate discipline and suspensions
States retain disciplinary powers, and Wisconsin extends misconduct warnings and possible privilege limits, suspension, or revocation to compact therapists. Removing a privilege in one remote state makes the therapist ineligible for privileges in all remote states. A restricted home-state license ends remote privileges until the restriction ends, 2 years pass, and the therapist qualifies again. Wisconsin can immediately suspend or limit credentials to protect public health; when invoked, a show-cause hearing must occur within 20 days. States can recover investigation and case costs when state law allows, but cannot discipline therapists solely for conduct lawful where it occurred.
Respiratory therapists gain interstate practice options
Wisconsin joins the respiratory care compact, which takes effect when 7 states enact it. Therapists seeking interstate practice privileges need an active home-state license, a qualifying national credential, and no home-state license discipline within 2 years. They must notify the commission, pay applicable fees, and follow the other state's practice rules and legal-knowledge requirements. Wisconsin applicants must show the board they qualify; privilege renewals follow compact rules rather than Wisconsin's general renewal process. Therapists must update address changes and report specified nonmember-state disciplinary actions within 30 days, and accept mailed legal notices.
Patients gain recognized interstate respiratory care
Compact therapists count as practitioners under specified Wisconsin health-record and reporting laws. They can also meet respiratory staffing requirements for a child's aircraft transfer between hospitals. A service corporation issuing one bill for care from multiple people must identify each compact therapist who provided billed services.
Military therapists get licensing fee relief
Active military members and their spouses can choose a compact home state where they hold a current license in good standing. They can keep that choice throughout the service member's active duty. They do not pay the commission's compact privilege fee. Other member states can reduce or waive their own fees, but are not required to do so.
Therapists get notice before compact exit
When Wisconsin withdraws or is removed from the compact, it must notify affected licensees and privilege holders. Wisconsin must continue recognizing compact-granted licenses for at least 180 days after the required notice. Its licensing authority must keep reporting covered investigations and disciplinary actions involving matters from before withdrawal takes effect.
Interstate respiratory practice can carry fees
Wisconsin's licensing department can charge therapists who receive a compact privilege to practice in the state. It sets fees every two years and adjusts them to cover administrative and enforcement costs. The compact commission can also charge privilege holders and assess member states annually for operating costs. A commission rule sets how state assessments are divided; the law sets no fee or assessment amounts.
Interstate therapists must follow conduct rules
Therapists practicing through a Wisconsin compact privilege must follow the listed state requirements that also apply to certificate holders. Compact privilege holders cannot give or receive money or anything of value for referrals. They also cannot exchange compensation for professional services they neither personally provided nor directed.
Therapists face checks, not rules exams
The board cannot require a statutes-and-rules exam for initial Wisconsin respiratory care certification or renewal. It can require applicants to confirm they have read and understand the rules. Compact states must run criminal background checks for every new respiratory therapist at initial licensure. Wisconsin adds respiratory care certificate applicants to exceptions allowing authorized criminal-history checks and fingerprinting. The law sets no check fee; the fingerprinting exception does not itself require fingerprints from every applicant.
Respiratory licensing commission gains binding powers
The compact creates a joint commission; Wisconsin's medical board appoints its representative with advice from the respiratory care council. The commission can fund its operations through state assessments or licensee fees, with no amounts stated. Commission rules bind member states, while compatible state laws remain in force; rulemaking requires public notice and hearings. States and covered commission personnel have civil immunity for compact duties, except intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct. The commission must defend and cover qualifying claims against its personnel, but therapists remain liable for professional malpractice.
States share therapist records with safeguards
Member states must submit therapist licensing, discipline, denial, and significant investigation information to a shared system and monitor disciplinary reports. Wisconsin's licensing department can disclose information when the compact requires it. Criminal-history records are excluded from the shared system. Significant investigation information is available only to member states, and designated nonpublic data requires the contributing state's consent for release. Expunged data must be removed.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Rachael Cabral-Guevara
Republican • Senate
Patrick Testin
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Barbara Dittrich
Republican • House
Cindi Duchow
Republican • House
Rick Gundrum
Republican • House
Daniel Knodl
Republican • House
Paul Melotik
Republican • House
David Murphy
Republican • House
Jerry O'Connor
Republican • House
Sylvia Ortiz-Velez
Democratic • House
Jessie Rodriguez
Republican • House
Patrick Snyder
Republican • House
Lisa Subeck
Democratic • House
Chuck Wichgers
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Published 12-10-2025
12/10/2025SenateReport approved by the Governor on 12-9-2025. 2025 Wisconsin Act 76
12/10/2025SenatePresented to the Governor on 12-4-2025
12/4/2025SenateRepresentative Ortiz-Velez added as a cosponsor
12/1/2025SenateReport correctly enrolled
11/24/2025SenateLRB correction
11/24/2025SenateRepresentative Subeck added as a cosponsor
11/24/2025SenateReceived from Assembly concurred in
11/20/2025SenateOrdered immediately messaged
11/19/2025HouseRead a third time and concurred in
11/19/2025HouseRules suspended
11/19/2025HouseOrdered to a third reading
11/19/2025HouseRead a second time
11/19/2025HouseRules suspended to withdraw from Senate message and take up
11/19/2025HouseRead
11/19/2025HouseReceived from Senate
11/19/2025HouseOrdered immediately messaged
11/18/2025SenateRead a third time and passed
11/18/2025SenateRules suspended to give bill its third reading
11/18/2025SenateOrdered to a third reading
11/18/2025SenateSenate Amendment 1 adopted
11/18/2025SenateRead a second time
11/18/2025SenatePlaced on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
11/14/2025SenateAvailable for scheduling
10/28/2025SenateReport passage as amended recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 5, Noes 0
10/28/2025Senate
Bill Text
Senate Amendment 1
10/28/2025
Bill Text
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