MADISON, WI – The Assembly met for what may be its final floor session of the 2025-2026 legislative session on February 19, which continued February 20. As is usually the case at the end of session, the Assembly passed a very long list of proposals across a wide range of subjects.
“The final session day is often a tsunami of legislation,” State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) said. “While some of the proposals will now go to Governor Evers for his approval, others still need to go to the Senate, which is likely to complete its business in March.”
The following are just some of the bills the Assembly passed:
- Senate Bill 23 extends Medicaid coverage for postpartum women to a full year, up from the current 60 days.
- Senate Bill 264 requires health insurance policies, including Medicaid, to cover diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast screening examinations for women with increased risk for breast cancer or with dense breast tissue.
- Senate Bill 480, on which Representative Armstrong was the Assembly lead, allows communities to create residential tax incremental districts to help defray the costs of infrastructure – streets, sidewalks, sewers, etc. – in residential developments, reducing the purchase price for the homebuyer. Restrictions on house and lot sizes ensure that modest, affordable homes will benefit.
- Assembly Bill 453, which Representative Armstrong introduced, helps reduce inconsistencies between a community’s comprehensive plan and its residential zoning ordinances. Such inconsistencies can be time-consuming and expensive negotiations to sort out, delaying residential development and driving up costs.
- Assembly Bill 670, which Representative Armstrong introduced, equalizes sales-tax treatment for certain biotech or manufacturing research, regardless of whether it is in-house or outsourced. This would benefit not only contract research facilities, but also the businesses that hire them and Wisconsin’s reputation for innovation.
- A legislative package based on the work of the Speaker’s Task Force on Protecting Kids, including warning labels for explicit content, parental consent and oversight for minors’ social media accounts, and additional positions in the Department of Justice to combat Internet crimes against children.
The Assembly also concurred in a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit the Governor from using his or her partial veto to create or increase taxes or fees. This amendment was inspired by the 2023-2025 state budget, when Governor Evers abused his veto power and imposed a shocking 400-year tax increase on Wisconsin property owners. The proposed amendment will now go to Wisconsin voters in a statewide referendum this November.
“I am proud of what my colleagues and I have been able to accomplish during the 2025-2026 legislative session,” Representative Armstrong said. “It has been an honor to represent the residents of Barron, Dunn, and Chippewa counties this session. And even if this is the last time the Assembly meets this year, my Capitol office will remain open to assist constituents.”
