A new bill authored by State Rep. Robert Brooks in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to protect savings and income for Medical Assistance recipients without affecting their eligibility, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “independence accounts. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates the Department of Health Services to permit individuals to deposit up to $15,000 of their gross earnings per year into an independence account without affecting their eligibility for Medical Assistance under the Medical Assistance purchase plan. Independence accounts, which include savings and income earned from employment while receiving Medical Assistance, are not counted towards the $15,000 asset limit for maintaining eligibility. Additionally, the bill excludes assets obtained through inheritance from being considered in eligibility assessments. The measure requires the department to pursue any necessary federal approvals to implement these provisions effectively, contingent upon non-disapproval from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
The bill was co-authored by Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District), Representative David Murphy (Republican-56th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), along two other co-sponsors.
Robert Brooks has co-authored or authored another 47 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Brooks, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state’s 59th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Ty Bodden.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB253 | 05/08/2025 | Independence accounts. (FE) |
| AB252 | 05/08/2025 | The notice of an investigation of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse provided to appropriate authorities of the U.S. Department of Defense. (FE) |
| AB251 | 05/08/2025 | Jurisdiction over juveniles on federal enclaves. (FE) |
| AB244 | 05/02/2025 | Posting the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline in school buildings. (FE) |
| AB228 | 04/29/2025 | Tax incremental financing districts containing qualified data centers. (FE) |
| AB217 | 04/23/2025 | Local government competitive bidding thresholds. (FE) |
| AB202 | 04/17/2025 | Voidable provisions in residential rental agreements and the application of the Wisconsin Consumer Act to leases. (FE) |
| AB194 | 04/15/2025 | Modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE) |
| AB188 | 04/15/2025 | Reduction of penalty surcharge when certain fines or forfeitures reduced. (FE) |
| AB174 | 04/14/2025 | Transmission facilities; installation of large wind energy, large solar energy, and battery energy storage systems; installation of light-mitigating technology systems; and prioritizing nuclear energy resources. (FE) |
| AB163 | 04/08/2025 | Redeterminations of eligibility for the Medical Assistance program and database confirmation for public assistance program eligibility. (FE) |
| AB140 | 03/17/2025 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Port Washington. (FE) |
| AB51 | 02/20/2025 | Participation in interscholastic athletics and application of the public records and open meetings laws to interscholastic athletic associations |
| AB45 | 02/17/2025 | Ratification of the Dietitian Licensure Compact. (FE) |
| AB8 | 02/06/2025 | Agreements for direct primary care |
