The Wisconsin State Capitol dome in Madison. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — The Wisconsin State Senate passed several noteworthy bills Tuesday before adjourning for the 2025-27 session.
Lawmakers have no plans to reconvene until the new term begins next January.
Each bill now head to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk for final approval.
Here is a breakdown of some of the bills:
Legalizing online sports gambling
The Wisconsin State Senate passed a bill to legalize a form of online sports gambling. The legislation allows patrons to place mobile sports bets from anywhere in Wisconsin on platforms administered by Tribal nations. Currently, patrons can only place sports wagers on their phones while on the property of a Tribal nation or Tribal casino.
The bill passed 21-12 with mixed partisan support.
- Voted to pass: 12 Democrats, nine Republicans
- Voted to reject: Nine Republicans, three Democrats
The bill was passed by the Assembly last month and now needs approval from Evers.
Lawmakers expect the state tax revenue would increase another $6-12 million, in addition to the $60 million the state takes each year on gaming, according to state Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D-Appleton), a co-sponsor of the bill.
“[Online sports gambling] already exists,” said Dassler-Alfheim in the Senate hearing. “It exists on the edges, behind closed doors. It’s already there. And it’s already being abused by some, and that’s not going to change. I would rather us put as many parameters around it as we can to take care of our consumers and keep the revenue in with the family, or our local tribes, who are also then sharing that to the state.”
It is going to happen in Wisconsin. I think taking control of it at this point is a smarter play for all of us.
About two-thirds of the 50 U.S. states allow legal online sports betting. Right now, Wisconsinites have to go to a casino — or to Michigan, Illinois or Iowa — to place sports bets in person or online.
Multiple opponents of the bill cited how easy it could become to place sports bets with fewer parameters.
“A person has to make a deliberate choice to go somewhere to engage and eventually leave,” said Sen. Andre Jacque, R-New Franken. “That friction matters. It creates natural limits. This bill removes those limits. It puts a sportsbook in every pocket — turns every game, every play, every moment into an opportunity to bet. And in doing so, it accelerates a pattern that we already know can become dangerous — the slide from casual betting into compulsive behavior.”
It’s unclear whether Evers will support the bill.
PFAS cleanup
The Wisconsin State Senate signed two bills to release $125 million allocated in previous budgets to clean up so-called forever chemicals. It’s mostly for communities whose drinking water is contaminated by PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS are manmade chemicals that don’t easily break down in nature. They’re found in a variety of products and have been linked to health problems like low birth weight in babies, cancer and liver disease. PFAS have also been shown to make vaccines less effective.
“It’s wrong to hold landowners financially and legally responsible for pollution they didn’t cause,” said State Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Gillett. “The bills now satisfy both the governor’s enforcement concerns and my concern for the innocent.”
The PFAS cleanup bills are expected to be passed by Evers.
“Folks should be able to trust that the water coming from their tap is clean and safe,” said Evers. “I’m incredibly proud we were able to work across the aisle to get this done — and get it done right.”
The Senate overwhelmingly passed both bills, approving one 33-0 and the other on a voice vote with virtually no discussion.
‘Next of kin’ legislation
In a 28-5 vote, the Wisconsin State Senate passed “next of kin” legislation that would make it easier for incapacitated patients to receive appropriate post-acute care.
Many families, including spouses, do not realize that without a pre-established medical power of attorney, they are unable to assist their incapacitated loved ones when they need to be transferred from an acute-care hospital to a post-acute care rehab facility. This bill would allow for family members, including spouses, to have limited authority to make necessary patient care decisions without waiting weeks or months, and spending thousands of dollars, for a court to determine guardianship.
“This is a significant step forward for patients and their families,” said Wisconsin Hospital Association President and CEO Kyle O’Brien. “By creating a clear and practical pathway to identify a patient’s next-of-kin for care transition decisions, this legislation will help ensure patients can move more quickly to the most appropriate setting for their recovery, while also improving hospital capacity for those who need hospital care.”
According to the American Bar Association, at least 46 U.S. states already have similar “next-of-kin” laws,
NIL funding
The Wisconsin State Senate barely approved a bill to provide taxpayer funding for athletic facility debt service and formalize rules around name, image and likeness, commonly known as NIL.
This means the Wisconsin Badgers are a step closer to getting taxpayer support. It comes as the university’s athletic department tries to adapt to the changing landscape of collegiate sports. Under the bill, UW-Madison would receive $14.6 million for its athletic facilities, allowing it to reallocate money to pay its athletes.
The bill also provides $200,000 dollars for UW-Green Bay.
- Voted to pass: 11 Republicans, six Democrats
- Voted to reject: Seven Republicans, nine Democrats
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