The new bill authored by State Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara seeks to modernize licensure requirements and expand practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes a new licensure system for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in Wisconsin, delineating specific requirements for obtaining such a license. APRN candidates must hold or apply for a registered nurse license, complete an accredited education program, maintain malpractice liability insurance, and meet additional criteria. The bill recognizes four APRN roles: certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, and nurse practitioner. It allows APRNs to practice collaboratively with physicians or independently after meeting certain experience requirements, except those with a nurse-midwife designation, who must file a care plan for delivering babies outside hospitals. Additionally, APRNs gain authority to issue prescription orders without needing separate certification, and former nurse-midwives or RNs with existing practice are seamlessly transitioned into the new system. The legislation also mandates continuing education in pharmacology. Effective for the 2025-26 legislature, the bill seeks to modernize and enhance the regulatory structure for nursing professionals in the state, potentially impacting healthcare delivery and scope of practice for these roles.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Tony Kurtz (Republican-41st District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), and Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District), along 38 other co-sponsors.
Rachael Cabral-Guevara has authored or co-authored another 77 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Cabral-Guevara graduated from Mount Mary University in 2000 with a BS and again in 2004 from the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh with a BS.
Cabral-Guevara, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 19th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Roger Roth.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB258 | 05/16/2025 | Advanced practice registered nurses, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) |
| SB256 | 05/15/2025 | Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. (FE) |
| SB243 | 05/09/2025 | The age at which an infant is covered under the safe haven law |
| SB230 | 04/29/2025 | Requiring retail sellers to accept cash and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB228 | 04/29/2025 | Prohibiting school boards and independent charter schools from providing food containing certain ingredients in free or reduced-price meals |
| SB221 | 04/25/2025 | All-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles with out-of-state registrations |
| SB218 | 04/25/2025 | The amount and distribution of the real estate transfer fee, grants under the land information program, real property recording notification systems, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB196 | 04/14/2025 | Various changes to the unemployment insurance law. (FE) |
| SB195 | 04/14/2025 | Serving maple syrup in a public eating place |
| SB190 | 04/14/2025 | Ratification of the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. (FE) |
| SB189 | 04/14/2025 | An optional final hearing by affidavit for the dissolution of a marriage |
| SB170 | 04/03/2025 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) |
| SB165 | 03/27/2025 | Eliminating daylight saving time in Wisconsin |
| SB164 | 03/27/2025 | Use of certified seed potatoes in planting potatoes and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB154 | 03/21/2025 | Requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE) |
| SB152 | 03/21/2025 | Financial eligibility for the Alzheimer’s family and caregiver support program. (FE) |
| SB147 | 03/21/2025 | Interpreter action by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil or criminal proceedings |
| SB139 | 03/21/2025 | Transfer of nursing home beds |
| SB137 | 03/14/2025 | The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE) |
| SB129 | 03/14/2025 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB128 | 03/14/2025 | Programs and requirements to address PFAS |
| SB127 | 03/14/2025 | Exempting certain persons from PFAS enforcement actions under the spills law. (FE) |
| SB94 | 03/07/2025 | Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty |
| SB83 | 02/26/2025 | Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE) |
| SB74 | 02/26/2025 | Ratification of the Social Work Licensure Compact. (FE) |
| SB70 | 02/26/2025 | A minor’s authority to consent to health care |
| SB58 | 02/21/2025 | Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) |
| SB51 | 02/21/2025 | Flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
| SB44 | 02/12/2025 | Local regulation of fowl |
| SB43 | 02/12/2025 | Allowing advanced practice nurse prescribers to pronounce the date, time, and place of a patient’s death for purposes of the preparation of death records |
| SB42 | 02/12/2025 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB31 | 02/12/2025 | State agency status for certain physician assistants and advanced practice nurses who provide services without compensation for local health departments or school districts. (FE) |
| SB30 | 02/12/2025 | Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE) |
| SB29 | 02/12/2025 | Requiring school boards to adopt policies to prohibit the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time |
| SB27 | 02/07/2025 | Requiring state employees to perform their work at the offices of their employer. (FE) |
| SB19 | 02/05/2025 | Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE) |
| SB13 | 02/03/2025 | Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE) |
| SB12 | 02/03/2025 | A sales and use tax exemption for the sale of gun safes. (FE) |
| SB11 | 02/03/2025 | Allowing representatives of certain federally chartered youth membership organizations to provide information to pupils on public school property |
| SB10 | 02/03/2025 | Access to public high schools for military recruiters |
| SB7 | 01/24/2025 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state |
| SB4 | 01/24/2025 | Agreements for direct primary care |
