Andre Jacque, Wisconsin State Senator for 1st District | Official website
Andre Jacque, Wisconsin State Senator for 1st District | Official website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill modifies the conditions of liability for workers' compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners, and their staff, as well as medical examiners and their staff diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previously, such individuals needed to demonstrate a diagnosis based on stress beyond normal day-to-day emotional strain. The bill aligns the standard for these professionals with that of law enforcement officers and full-time firefighters, allowing them to claim workers' compensation for PTSD without an accompanying physical injury. However, compensation for the mental injury is limited to three times over their lifetime, regardless of changes in employer or job. The bill's applicability will begin alongside the effective date of new workers' compensation insurance rates approved by the commissioner of insurance.
The bill was co-authored by Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Senator Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), Senator Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), and Representative Joan Fitzgerald (Democrat-46th District), along 16 other co-sponsors.
André Jacque has authored or co-authored another 79 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.
Jacque graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2003 with a BS.
Jacque, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2019 to represent the state's 1st Senate district, replacing previous state senator Caleb Frostman.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB168 | 04/03/2025 | Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE) |
| SB156 | 03/26/2025 | Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE) |
| SB153 | 03/21/2025 | Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE) |
| SB146 | 03/21/2025 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty |
| SB143 | 03/21/2025 | The nomination of presidential electors |
| SB138 | 03/21/2025 | Prostitution crime surcharge and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB134 | 03/14/2025 | Alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders |
| SB131 | 03/14/2025 | Calculation of miles for purposes of relocation of a child 100 miles or more from the other parent in an action affecting the family |
| SB129 | 03/14/2025 | The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB123 | 03/14/2025 | Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code |
| SB120 | 03/07/2025 | School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns |
| SB114 | 03/07/2025 | Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE) |
| SB112 | 03/07/2025 | Hunting of sandhill cranes, programs related to sandhill crane damage, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB104 | 03/07/2025 | Providing safe drinking water in public and private schools. (FE) |
| SB92 | 03/07/2025 | Theft crimes and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB91 | 03/07/2025 | Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB90 | 03/07/2025 | The sales and use tax exemption for electricity and natural gas sold for residential use. (FE) |
| SB86 | 03/06/2025 | Authorization for tribal governments to copy certified copies of vital records for administrative use |
| SB85 | 03/06/2025 | Pupils wearing traditional tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony or school-sponsored event |
| SB80 | 02/26/2025 | Statutory recognition of specialized treatment court and commercial court dockets |
| SB79 | 02/26/2025 | A disclaimer of parental rights and payments allowed in connection with an adoption |
| SB78 | 02/26/2025 | The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE) |
| SB77 | 02/26/2025 | Entering certain places with intent to commit battery and providing a penalty |
| SB63 | 02/21/2025 | Ratification of the Driver License Compact. (FE) |
| SB59 | 02/21/2025 | Tuition and fee remission for certain veterans and their dependents enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System or a technical college. (FE) |
| SB58 | 02/21/2025 | Referendum questions for certain referenda that affect property taxes. (FE) |
| SB57 | 02/21/2025 | County sheriff assistance with certain federal immigration functions. (FE) |
| SB52 | 02/21/2025 | Copies of and inspection or disclosure of information contained in certain vital records. (FE) |
| SB37 | 02/12/2025 | Local regulation of vegetable gardens |
| SB36 | 02/12/2025 | An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE) |
| SB35 | 02/12/2025 | Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) |
| SB33 | 02/12/2025 | Representations depicting nudity and providing a penalty |
| SB20 | 02/05/2025 | Allowing certain married persons to claim the earned income tax credit when filing a separate return. (FE) |
| SB19 | 02/05/2025 | Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE) |
| SB15 | 02/05/2025 | Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty |
| SB14 | 02/03/2025 | Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients |
| SB8 | 01/24/2025 | Repair and replacement of implements of husbandry under warranty |
| SB7 | 01/24/2025 | Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state |
| SB6 | 01/24/2025 | Impoundment of vehicles used in certain traffic offenses |
| SB2 | 01/24/2025 | Expanding veterans benefits to individuals who served in Laos in support of the United States during the Vietnam War |
Alerts Sign-up