Jesse L. James, Wisconsin State Senator for 23rd District | www.facebook.com
Jesse L. James, Wisconsin State Senator for 23rd District | www.facebook.com
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "a levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill creates an exemption to local levy limits in Wisconsin for regional emergency medical services, allowing cities, villages, towns, or counties to levy amounts without being restricted by current limits, provided the service area is at least 232 square miles or includes at least eight municipalities. The bill specifies that these funds must be used for costs related to regional emergency medical services, either through joint emergency service districts or intergovernmental agreements. Additionally, the bill exempts these levied amounts from being considered in eligibility calculations for the expenditure restraint incentive program. The bill states that the levy increase must align with specified inflation adjustments. This provision becomes applicable to levies imposed in December following the next January 1 after the bill's effective date.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Tony Kurtz (Republican-41st District), Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), Senator Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), Senator Brad Pfaff (Democrat-32nd District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Deb Andraca (Democrat-23rd District), and Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), along 24 other co-sponsors.
Jesse L. James has authored or co-authored another 47 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB181 | 04/14/2025 | A levy limit exemption for regional emergency medical systems and eligibility for the expenditure restraint incentive program. (FE) |
| SB179 | 04/03/2025 | Applying the motor vehicle fuel tax supplier’s administrative allowance to diesel fuel, a motor vehicle fuel tax refund for evaporation losses, and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB178 | 04/03/2025 | Changes to the low-income housing tax credit. (FE) |
| SB171 | 04/03/2025 | Requiring child sexual abuse prevention education. (FE) |
| SB163 | 03/27/2025 | Income change notifications for child support or maintenance orders |
| SB140 | 03/21/2025 | Provisional social worker certificates and licenses |
| SB132 | 03/14/2025 | Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty |
| SB119 | 03/07/2025 | Positions for the Office of School Safety. (FE) |
| SB113 | 03/07/2025 | A transition to grazing pilot program and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB83 | 02/26/2025 | Utilization management controls for antipsychotic prescription drugs under the Medical Assistance program. (FE) |
| SB75 | 02/26/2025 | Venue for actions in which there is a governmental party |
| SB73 | 02/26/2025 | Prosecuting or adjudicating delinquent a person under the age of 18 for committing an act of prostitution |
| SB72 | 02/26/2025 | Creating an individual income tax deduction for certain income earned by an individual from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. (FE) |
| SB62 | 02/21/2025 | Financing the operating costs and certain out-of-state projects of nonprofit institutions and compensation of employees of the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. (FE) |
| 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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