Todd Novak, Wisconsin State Representative of 51st District | Facebook
Todd Novak, Wisconsin State Representative of 51st District | Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "grants to child advocacy centers. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates the Department of Justice to award grants annually to specified child advocacy centers, enhancing their multidisciplinary response to suspected child maltreatment. It removes the previous allocation of $17,000 per center and expands the list of beneficiaries to include the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center in Sheboygan County and Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin. The bill also updates the names of existing centers eligible for funds. This initiative aims to bolster efforts in education, training, medical advice, and quality assurance activities related to child protection services across the state.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), Representative Ben DeSmidt (Democrat-65th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), and Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), along 25 other co-sponsors.
Todd Novak has authored or co-authored another 46 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Novak, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2015 to represent the state's 51st Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Howard Marklein.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AB233 | 05/02/2025 | Grants to child advocacy centers. (FE) |
| AB219 | 04/23/2025 | A tax credit for rail infrastructure modernization. (FE) |
| AB198 | 04/15/2025 | Emergency medical services education, tuition and materials reimbursement for emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners, and a live 911 pilot program. (FE) |
| AB190 | 04/15/2025 | Obtaining attorney fees and costs under the state’s public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court |
| AB185 | 04/15/2025 | Property tax exemption for nonprofit theaters. (FE) |
| AB173 | 04/09/2025 | Regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, fiduciary and disclosure requirements on pharmacy benefit managers, and application of prescription drug payments to health insurance cost-sharing requirements. (FE) |
| AB159 | 04/02/2025 | Creating a rural creative economy development grant program. (FE) |
| AB137 | 03/13/2025 | Maximum life and allocation period for Tax Incremental District Number 9 in the village of DeForest and the total value of taxable property that may be included in tax incremental financing districts created in the village of DeForest. (FE) |
| AB129 | 03/13/2025 | Providing safe drinking water in public and private schools. (FE) |
| AB120 | 03/11/2025 | Positions for the Office of School Safety. (FE) |
| AB118 | 03/11/2025 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB54 | 02/24/2025 | Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE) |
| AB22 | 02/06/2025 | Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE) |
| AB1 | 01/31/2025 | Changes to the educational assessment program and the school and school district accountability report. (FE) |
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