Jesse L. James, Wisconsin State Senator for 23rd District | Official Facebook
Jesse L. James, Wisconsin State Senator for 23rd District | Official Facebook
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. (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 Wisconsin Department of Health Services to seek federal approval to extend Medical Assistance benefits for postpartum women from 60 days to 365 days after pregnancy. This extension aims to provide lasting health support to women eligible for these benefits during pregnancy. Currently, postpartum benefits last until the 60th day, with a previous attempt extending it to 90 days under a previous act. The bill’s implementation depends on approval by the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Medical Assistance program is a joint federal-state initiative providing health services to individuals with limited financial resources.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Patrick Snyder (Republican-85th District), Senator Julian Bradley (Republican-28th District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), and Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), along 85 other co-sponsors.
Jesse L. James has co-authored or authored another four bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
James graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College in 2001.
James, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 23rd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Kathy Bernier.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB23 | 02/05/2025 | Extension of eligibility under the Medical Assistance program for postpartum women. (FE) |
| SB21 | 02/05/2025 | Creating 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) |
| SB17 | 02/05/2025 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty |
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