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Green Bay Reporter

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Rep. Sortwell authors bill to restructure Wisconsin Assembly nursing board

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Shae Alan Sortwell, Wisconsin State Representative for 2nd District | Official Website

Shae Alan Sortwell, Wisconsin State Representative for 2nd District | Official Website

The new bill authored by State Rep. Shae A. Sortwell aims to diversify and enhance expertise on the nursing board by adjusting its member composition, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "membership on the Board of Nursing".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the composition of the Board of Nursing in the Department of Safety and Professional Services. It changes the board structure from nine members consisting of five currently licensed registered nurses, one licensed practical nurse, one nurse who is either, and two public members, to include three currently licensed registered nurses, one licensed practical nurse, one certified advanced practice nurse prescriber, one nurse educator, one nurse who is either, and two public members. The bill mandates that the two registered nurse positions with the earliest expiring terms be replaced by an advanced practice nurse prescriber and a nurse educator. The new structure aims to diversify and enhance the expertise on the board, with the changes taking effect following the expiry of the current nurse members' terms.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Representative Joy L. Goeben (Republican-5th District), Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), Representative Rob Kreibich (Republican-28th District), Representative Vincent Miresse (Democrat-71st District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), along three other co-sponsors.

Shae A. Sortwell has co-authored or authored another 49 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Sortwell graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2006 with a BA.

Sortwell, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2019 to represent the state's 2nd Assembly district, replacing previous state representative André Jacque.

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.

Bills Introduced by Shae A. Sortwell in Wisconsin Assembly During 2025 Regular Session

Bill NumberDate IntroducedShort Description
AB29405/30/2025Membership on the Board of Nursing
AB28205/30/2025Local government rules of proceedings and consideration of ordinances or resolutions for which enactment or adoption previously failed. (FE)
AB27005/19/2025A school psychologist loan program. (FE)
AB23205/02/2025Transferring adjudicatory functions for worker’s compensation from the Division of Hearings and Appeals in the Department of Administration to the Department of Workforce Development. (FE)
AB18704/15/2025Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE)
AB17204/09/2025Consumer data protection and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB14903/17/2025The nomination of presidential electors
AB13203/13/2025Creating a board to organize, promote, and host a Wisconsin nuclear power summit. (FE)
AB12703/11/2025The duty of a pharmacist to dispense lawfully prescribed drugs and devices. (FE)
AB10803/11/2025A nuclear power siting study and time limits for taking final action on certain certificate of public convenience and necessity applications. (FE)
AB8802/28/2025Civil 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
AB8702/28/2025Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE)
AB8602/28/2025Imposing the penalty of life imprisonment for the crime of child trafficking and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB4202/17/2025Local regulation of fowl
AB4102/17/2025Local regulation of vegetable gardens
AB2602/17/2025Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty
AB1702/06/2025Creating an employee ownership conversion costs tax credit, a deduction for capital gains from the transfer of a business to employee ownership, and an employee ownership education and outreach program. (FE)

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