Cryptocurrency scams, school bus safety among Wisconsin bills in July

It’s been a whirlwind month in Wisconsin politics, from the sprint to pass the state budget at the beginning of July to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announcing he wouldn’t seek reelection near the end.

That means lawmakers haven’t been quite as busy introducing legislation and holding hearings in the state Capitol. After all, many of their goals ended up in the budget, such as infrastructure improvements to help bring Buc-ee’s to DeForest or funding for the War Memorial Center in Milwaukee.

Still, lawmakers have pitched a handful of standalone bills this month. We’ve already covered some of them, including bills to cap UW System tuition increases, increase penalties for defacing public monuments and create a task force for missing and murdered Black women and girls.

Here’s a roundup of other notable bills from July. None have received public hearings yet. Around 400 pieces of legislation have been introduced this session, and only a fraction will end up becoming law.

You can read our June roundup here.

‘Born alive’ protections after attempted abortion

This bill would require physicians to provide lifesaving care if a child is born alive after an abortion or attempted abortion. That means the baby is breathing, has a beating heart or muscle movement, for example.

Providers would need to give the same care as they would for a child born at the same gestational age and immediately transport the child to a hospital. Providers who violate the requirement could face penalties up to $10,000 or six years in prison.

Evers vetoed identical legislation in 2021 and 2019, so it’s highly unlikely the bill will become law while he remains governor. Evers said current law already gives legal status and rights to children born alive after an abortion.

Another bill Republicans introduced in July would requiring documenting information on sex and fetal anomalies for the state’s annual report on induced abortions. The same proposal passed the state Senate but not the Assembly last year.

Authors: Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto; Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart

Preventing cryptocurrency kiosk scams

Lawmakers are seeking to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks, which provide a convenient way to purchase cryptocurrency but have become easy vehicles for scam and fraud.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office is cracking down on the kiosks and working with lawmakers on the legislation. The department has executed search warrants on Bitcoin Depot kiosks and says the company is victimizing individuals in the community.

The bill would require kiosks to be licensed through the state Department of Financial Institutions as a money transmitter, like banks and ATMs. It would also require an onscreen warning about the potential for fraud and limit transaction and fee amounts.

Authors: Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison; Rep. Ryan Spaude, D-Ashwaubenon

Improving school bus safety and easing driver shortage

One measure in this package would allow school districts to record audio, not just video, on school buses as long as they notify students and families. Recording devices can monitor student behavior, prevent bullying and help investigate incidents, lawmakers said.

Another bill would require driver education courses to include instruction on student crossings, school bus lights and when stopping is required for school buses — rules that change on divided highways or multilane roads.

The third bill, written in collaboration with the Wisconsin School Bus Association, would ease regulations for bus drivers over 70 years old. The frequency of CDL testing and a medical review process is “deterring these drivers from entering, re-entering or staying in the profession,” lawmakers say.

Lawmakers have taken other steps toward easing the bus driver shortage in Wisconsin, including a bipartisan law in 2023 that allowed school board members to volunteer as drivers, something previously outlawed in state statute.

Authors: Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp; Rep. William Penterman, R-Hustisford; Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers

Repealing Evers’ 400-year veto

Remember the “400-year veto” in the previous budget Evers signed, which locked in school funding increases for four centuries?

Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to repeal that law, arguing “school districts could and probably will continue to raise (property) taxes indefinitely.”

In April, the state Supreme Court ruled Evers didn’t overstep his authority. Republicans have introduced other proposals aimed at reducing the governor’s partial veto power.

Authors: Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield; Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater; Rep. Dave Maxey, R-New Berlin; Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, R-Huburtus

Funding for veterans homes not included in budget

Democrats again proposed $1.9 million for two Veterans Housing and Recovery Program facilities, in Green Bay and Chippewa Falls, which offer temporary housing, training and support for homeless veterans.

Evers blasted Republicans for leaving the funding out of the state budget, which Democrats tried to add back during debate. This legislation represents another attempt, though it’s unclear if Republicans will consider it.

Republicans said the budget included investments in other areas for veterans, just not a requested doubling of the program’s budget. They also said Evers didn’t bring up the topic during budget negotiations.

Authors: Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick; Sen. Jamie Wall, D-Green Bay; Rep. Jodi Emerson, D-Eau Claire; Rep. Ryan Spaude, D-Ashwaubenon; Rep. Christian Phelps, D-Eau Claire; Rep. Christine Sinicki, D-Milwaukee; Rep. Brienne Brown, D-Whitewater; Rep. Amaad Rivera-Wagner, D-Green Bay; Rep. Maureen McCarville, D-DeForest; Rep. Angelito Tenorio, D-West Allis

Expanding eligibility for a veterans ID

This bipartisan bill would expand eligibility for obtaining a Wisconsin driver’s license or ID card with a military veteran designation, an easy way to show proof of military service without carrying around a form.

Some veterans had their requests denied at the DMV because they don’t meet the active duty requirements in state law, lawmakers say.

The bill would allow the designation for any former member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces, or the National Guard who meets the eligibility requirements for a veterans home loan under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Authors: Sen. Andre Jacque, R-New Franken; Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska; Rep. Benjamin Franklin, R-De Pere; Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers; Rep. Christine Sinicki, D-Milwaukee

Banning apps from certain countries on state devices

This legislation builds upon an executive order Evers issued in 2023 that banned TikTok and other software on state-owned devices.

Republicans introducing the bill say a company-by-company ban is an “outdated approach” because foreign adversaries quickly develop new applications to harvest data and conduct surveillance.

Instead, the bill proposes banning all applications, software and devices from “countries of concern” identified by the U.S. Department of Commerce, including China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

Authors: Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton; Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown; Rep. Nate Gustafson, R-Fox Crossing

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