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: "permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives to individuals aged 18 and older. It mandates the Pharmacy Examining Board to develop procedures, in consultation with various health boards, including a self-assessment questionnaire based on guidelines from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Patients must complete the questionnaire and undergo a blood pressure screening before obtaining the prescribed contraceptive. Pharmacists must communicate prescription information to primary healthcare providers. Additionally, pharmacists must maintain malpractice insurance. The Department of Health Services is required to ensure these contraceptives are covered and reimbursed under the Medical Assistance program when prescribed by pharmacists. The bill becomes effective on January 1, 2026.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Joel Kitchens (Republican-1st District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), Senator Melissa Ratcliff (Democrat-16th District), Senator Mark Spreitzer (Democrat-15th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Tyler August (Republican-31st District), Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), and Representative Jill Billings (Democrat-95th District), along 35 other co-sponsors.
Jesse L. James has authored or co-authored another 10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB42 | 02/12/2025 | Permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB41 | 02/12/2025 | School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB39 | 02/12/2025 | Establishment of a Palliative Care Council. (FE) |
| 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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