Reviewing the 2025-26 Legislative Session

Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) members from across the state made their voices heard throughout the 2025-26 State Legislative session on the issues that impact Wisconsin’s family farmers and rural communities. The session began in January 2025 and came to a close in March 2026 with the passage of key legislation that WFU members advocated for.

In January 2026, WFU members traveled to Madison for WFU’s annual Farm & Rural Lobby Day for a day of meetings with local legislators. Sixteen Lobby Day priority bills formed the basis of member conversations with legislators and advanced the work of WFU through the rest of the legislative session. Overall session results, outcomes for select Lobby Day priority legislation, and other bills of interest are detailed below.

OVERALL RESULTS

In total, WFU weighed in on 40 bills during the 2025-26 legislative session. This included 30 Republican authored bills, 8 Democrat authored bills, and

2 bipartisan bills. WFU registered in support of 23 bills, opposed to 7 bills, and took an informational “other” stance on 10 bills.

WFU’s legislative activity is informed by the grassroots policy book and Special Orders of Business, serving as a guide for responding to the pressing issues of the moment. This session, topics like immigration, healthcare, and more rose to the top.

Graph is equal to >100%. Some bills fall into more than one topic area.

OUTCOME OF WFU OPPOSED BILLS

WFU registered in opposition to 7 bills during the 2025-26 Legislative Session. Each of the bills that WFU opposed either stalled in committee or were vetoed by the Governor. These strong results are a testament to impactful advocacy by WFU members on key pieces of legislation related to cottage foods, 287(g) agreements and more!

SB 739/ AB 748: Food Product Licensing Exemptions

This bill attempted to create a regulatory system for home-bakers, often referred to as cottage bakers. The bill would have set unfair and arbitrary limitations on cottage bakers that would ultimately hurt the growth of these businesses. WFU was proud to work with the Wisconsin Cottage Food Association to oppose this bill and work towards the protection of food freedom in our state.

WFU Stance: Opposed | Outcome: Stalled in Committee

Future Outlook: WFU plans to proactively work bipartisanly into the 2027-28 Legislative Session to create a new bill that supports the ability for the Wisconsin cottage foods community to maintain and grow profitable businesses, regardless of size.

SB 450/ AB 448: Alternative Agricultural Health Benefits

Through this legislation, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation was requesting an exception from state insurance regulation to allow them to sell their alternative health plan to farmers and other consumers in Wisconsin. This bill stalled in committee, ensuring that these alternative health benefit products, which destabilize existing insurance risk pools, remain out of Wisconsin’s insurance market for another year.

WFU Stance: Opposed | Outcome: Stalled in Committee

Future Outlook: WFU will work with partners and elected officials to make aspects of healthcare more affordable for families in our state. We will advocate for legislation that caps prescription drug costs, and explore other avenues of lower healthcare costs such as expanding the eligibility limit for BadgerCare for more people to access public coverage, and opening group plan options for small business employees.

SB 57/ AB 24: Statewide Expansion of 287(g) Ordinances

Under this bill, all Wisconsin Sheriffs would be required to notify federal officials if an individual’s citizenship status cannot be verified, and hold an individual pursuant to the federal detainer request. Sheriffs that fail to comply would be subject to a reduction in shared revenue payments to their county. This bill threatens rural public trust in law enforcement, threatens the stability of our agricultural workforce, and puts the dignity of our neighbors at risk.

WFU Stance: Opposed | Outcome: Vetoed

Future Outlook: Governor Evers vetoed this bill on the basis that it micro-managed our state’s local law enforcement, while hanging valuable shared-revenue dollars in the balance. WFU supports the executive branch and legislators protecting local shared-revenue, local law enforcement, first responders, and communities.

OUTCOME OF WFU SUPPORTED BILLS

WFU registered in support of 23 bills during the 2025-26 Legislative Session. Key wins include the passage of bills related to PFAs remediation, Medicaid extension for postpartum women, and expansion of occupational credentials for DACA recipients.

SB 127/AB 130 & SB 128/ AB 131: PFAs Remediation Programs

Collectively, the two bipartisan bills will (1) release $125 million

from the PFAS Trust Fund, which was first set aside in the 2023 state budget; (2) protect innocent landowners; and (3) provide staffing resources at the DNR for PFAS management and water conservation efforts. The bills are a result of multiple sessions of strong coalition efforts that WFU has proudly been a part of.

WFU Stance: Supported

Outcome: Signed into Law

SB 23/ AB 97: Medical Assistance Program Eligibility for Postpartum Women

This bipartisan bill, which extended postpartum health care coverage from 60 days to 12 months, was already passed by the Senate on April 22nd, 2025 and signed into law by the Governor on March 18, 2026. This is a huge win, as Wisconsin joins 48 other states in extending this coverage to new mothers on Medicaid. The passage of this legislation will amend our State’s plan as a new entitlement, and the costs of this coverage will be incorporated into our State budgets moving forward. The passage of this legislation will amend our State’s plan as a new entitlement, and the costs of this coverage will be incorporated into our State budgets moving forward. 

WFU Stance: Supported

Outcome: Signed into Law

SB 745/ AB 759: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program Participant Eligibility for Occupational Credentials

This bill expands eligibility for recipients of deferred action under the federal Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as “Dreamers,” to receive occupational credentials. Wisconsin has nearly 6,000 DACA recipients. This bill opens more workforce opportunities for DACA recipients and addresses labor shortages in our state.

WFU Stance: Supported

Outcome: Signed into Law

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