The new bill authored by State Rep. Robyn Vining in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to ensure comprehensive mental health coverage in all health insurance policies and government plans, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “coverage of treatment for mental health or substance use disorders under health insurance policies and plans”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that all health insurance policies and self-insured governmental health plans in Wisconsin provide coverage for mental health or behavioral health services, ensuring at least 28 appointments or visits with a mental health care provider per policy year. The bill also prohibits these plans from requiring prior authorization for such appointments. It requires the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to prepare a preliminary actuarial estimate of the average cost impact of this coverage for all qualified health plans. If this estimate projects an increase of over 10%, the office cannot enforce the mandatory coverage. The act becomes effective on the first day of the fourth month following its publication.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Kelda Roys (Democrat-26th District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Brienne Brown (Democrat-43rd District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), and Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), along 29 other co-sponsors.
Robyn Vining has co-authored or authored another 51 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Vining graduated from James Madison University in 1999 with a BA and again in 1999 from James Madison University with a BS.
Vining, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state’s 13th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Tom Michalski.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB338 | 07/08/2025 | Coverage of treatment for mental health or substance use disorders under health insurance policies and plans |
| AB337 | 07/08/2025 | Training to address student mental health and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB336 | 07/08/2025 | Funding for University of Wisconsin System student health services and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB335 | 07/08/2025 | Stipend payments for school social worker interns and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB334 | 07/08/2025 | Requiring bicycle and pedestrian facilities in highway projects and granting rule-making authority. (FE) |
| AB316 | 07/08/2025 | Grants for LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and school social workers and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB98 | 03/03/2025 | Pupils wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event |
