Howard L. Marklein, Wisconsin State Senator for 17th District | Facebook
Howard L. Marklein, Wisconsin State Senator for 17th District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill establishes grants for technical colleges offering emergency medical services (EMS) courses to train individuals for initial certification or licensure as EMS responders or practitioners, ensuring no preferential admission for residents based on district. It requires the Higher Educational Aids Board to reimburse individuals or their employers for tuition and material costs related to these certifications, contingent upon course completion and licensing. Furthermore, a live 911 pilot program is introduced via the Department of Military Affairs, providing grants for real-time video and multimedia communication between emergency callers and dispatchers. The program mandates an annual performance report highlighting outcomes, altered dispatch responses due to enhanced information, and cost savings. No report is required if no grants are awarded in a given year.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Tony Kurtz (Republican-41st District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), Senator Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District), and Senator Patrick Testin (Republican-24th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), and Representative Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), along with 22 other co-sponsors.
Howard L. Marklein has authored or co-authored another 21 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Marklein graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater in 1976 with a BBA.
Marklein, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2015 to represent the state's 17th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dale Schultz.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB182 | 04/14/2025 | Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) |
| SB181 | 04/14/2025 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| SB172 | 04/03/2025 | Prohibiting filing or recording contracts for services or materials that do not improve real estate and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB170 | 04/03/2025 | Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE) |
| 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) |
| SB160 | 03/27/2025 | Designating the Tom Diehl Memorial Highway. (FE) |
| SB126 | 03/14/2025 | The effective date of certain provisions contained in 2023 Wisconsin Act 126 |
| SB96 | 03/07/2025 | Exempting certain electric vehicle charging stations located at a residence from the electric vehicle charging tax. (FE) |
| SB84 | 02/26/2025 | Exempting certain conveyances between grandparents and grandchildren from the real estate transfer fee. (FE) |
| SB3 | 01/24/2025 | Requiring local approval for certain wind and solar projects before Public Service Commission approval |
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