A new bill authored by State Sen. Johnson in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to mandate minimum mental health coverage in insurance plans to support treatment goals, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “coverage of treatment for mental health or substance use disorders under health insurance policies and plans”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill mandates that health insurance policies and self-insured governmental health plans in Wisconsin, which provide coverage for mental health or behavioral health items or services, must cover a minimum of 28 appointments or visits with a mental health care provider per year or as many as necessary to meet the insured’s treatment goals for mental health or substance use disorders. It prohibits requiring prior authorization for such coverage. Additionally, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance must prepare a preliminary actuarial estimate of the average cost increase for all qualified health plans due to this coverage. If this estimate surpasses a 10% increase, the enforcement of the coverage requirements may be suspended. The bill applies to new policy years beginning on the effective date, which is the first day of the fourth month after publication.
The bill was co-authored by Representative Robyn Vining (Democrat-13th District), Senator Tim Carpenter (Democrat-3rd District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District), Senator Chris Larson (Democrat-7th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Clinton M. Anderson (Democrat-45th District), Representative Margaret Arney (Democrat-18th District), and Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), along 29 other co-sponsors.
LaTonya Johnson has authored or co-authored another 33 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with all of them being adopted.
Johnson graduated from Tennessee State University in 1997 with a BS.
Johnson, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2017 to represent the state’s 6th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Nikiya Harris Dodd.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB342 | 06/27/2025 | Coverage of treatment for mental health or substance use disorders under health insurance policies and plans |
| SB340 | 06/27/2025 | Stipend payments for school social worker interns and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB336 | 06/19/2025 | Sales and transfers of firearms and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB332 | 06/19/2025 | Prohibition against undetectable firearms, possessing a frame or receiver of a firearm without a serial number, and providing a penalty |
| SB330 | 06/19/2025 | Waiting period for purchase of handguns |
| SB329 | 06/19/2025 | Extreme risk protection temporary restraining orders and injunctions, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE) |
| SB250 | 05/09/2025 | Prohibiting abandonment of a boat and providing a penalty |
| SB187 | 04/14/2025 | Study of guaranteed employment grant program and making an appropriation. (FE) |
