Provisions for Mental Health Care
Wisconsin ranked 19th nationally for mental well-being last year, above the national average but highlighting that there is work yet to be done. The recent state budget made several investments through various agencies to support those who are struggling with mental health. Topline items include:
- $30M in new grants for school-based mental health services
- $10M to fund grants to Rogers Behavioral Health to develop an integrated mental health campus in the Chippewa Valley
- $10M to fund grants for crisis urgent care and observation facilities
- $7M for 988 suicide and crisis lifeline grants
- $3.5M for a two-year pilot program to provide virtual mental health services to Universities of Wisconsin Students
- $4M for grants to Child Advocacy Centers
- $1.79M for grants to psychiatric residential treatment facilities
- $1M grant to support the purchase and renovation of the Libertas Treatment Center in Chippewa Falls to provide a 50-bed treatment center for men with substance use disorders who need services
- $200,000 for farmer mental health assistance
Making these sound investments to care for those who need the resources is an important step for creating a healthier and happier state.
Ramifications of Rule-Making Authority
This week, the Evers Administration continued its advancement of uniform legal changes without legislative input via the rulemaking process. The Department of Health Services proposed a rule with language changes that would replace the words “mother” and “woman” with “member” and replace “father” with “other parent.” The Department of Safety and Professional Services is currently drafting a rule for a new building code, which, if similar to a previously halted proposal, would add to construction costs.
After the State Supreme Court decision to eliminate the long-standing practice of legislative oversight of rulemaking authority, the legislature’s authority to prevent the adoption of such rules was gutted.
One passage in the DHS proposed rule seeks to change the definition of a successful pregnancy to mean the “birth of a healthy infant to a healthy member” rather than a “healthy mother.” Another section changes language to “pregnant member’s identified risk factors” instead of “pregnant woman’s.”
The attempt to update the building code in 2023 would have introduced new requirements, such as a “special inspector” to be on hand during construction, adding an estimated $20,000 in construction costs throughout the state.
Be it a fiscal or social rule change, these are the consequences of the Court decision undermining procedural safeguards that ensured appropriate supervision from a democratized branch of government over impactful regulations. This concentration of power is detrimental to our state, damaging to governance, and it’s incredibly disappointing that the Evers Administration has chosen to utilize this authority in such a manner.
2025 First Responder of the Year
I’ll be accepting nominations for the 2025 First Responder of the Year Award for two more weeks. If you know any deserving first responders in the 4th Assembly District, please consider submitting a nomination on their behalf before the deadline on September 19, 2025.
This is a unique opportunity to honor a deserving member of the community with a ceremony in our Sate Capitol. Nominees can include police and sheriff officers, firefighters (paid and volunteer), and EMS personnel (paramedics/EMTs/volunteer first responders).
Nominations can be predicated on a variety of things, including a specific heroic action, a significant professional achievement, the person’s body of work overtime, something special they do for the community relating to their work, and/or their length of service.
Fill out the nomination form by clicking the image below and send it to my office via mail or email for submission.
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Want to hear more about what’s going on in Madison and the district? Follow my Facebook page for weekly updates and to learn more about bills, events, and efforts I’m involved in. Find my Facebook page here: facebook.com/RepSteffen/.
Contact Me
My office is always available to help with any state-related questions or concerns you may have. You can reach my office at (608) 237-9104, or email me at Rep.Steffen@legis.wisconsin.
