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Monday, October 6, 2025

Sen. Bradley authors Wisconsin Senate bill on hospital pricing transparency

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Marc Julian Bradley, Wisconsin State Senator for 28th District | Official Website

Marc Julian Bradley, Wisconsin State Senator for 28th District | Official Website

A bill authored by State Sen. Julian Bradley in the Wisconsin Senate aims to increase hospital pricing transparency by requiring accessible online lists of standard charges and enforcement by the Department of Health Services, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "price transparency in hospitals, restricting certain debt collection actions against patients, 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 mandates that hospitals provide transparent pricing information through publicly accessible digital files. Each hospital must maintain a list of standard charges applicable to various services and make it available online without user restrictions. Definitions such as "standard charge," to include gross charge, specific charges negotiated with payers, and discounted cash prices, are provided. The Department of Health Services (DHS) is tasked with enforcement, ensuring compliance with both state and federal transparency laws. The bill also establishes criteria for updating and accessing these lists yearly and requires consumer-friendly lists of charges for at least 300 shoppable services. Hospitals failing to comply may face penalties, including notifications, corrective action requests, and public listings of non-compliance. Additionally, parties seeking to collect hospital-related debts must certify hospital compliance before obtaining a court judgment. The effective date is set for the first day of the fourth month following publication.

The bill was co-authored by Rep. Robert Wittke (Republican-63rd District), Sen. Rob Hutton (Republican-5th District), Sen. Chris Larson (Democrat-7th District), Sen. Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District), and Sen. Cory Tomczyk (Republican-29th District). It was co-sponsored by Rep. Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Rep. Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), and Rep. Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), along with eight other co-sponsors.

Julian Bradley has authored or co-authored another 54 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with two of them being enacted.

Bradley graduated from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse in 2014 with a BS.

Bradley, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2021 to represent the state's 28th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Dave Craig.

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.

Bills Introduced by Julian Bradley in Wisconsin Senate During 2025 Regular Session

Bill NumberDate IntroducedShort Description
SB38308/11/2025Price transparency in hospitals, restricting certain debt collection actions against patients, and providing a penalty. (FE)
SB37107/09/2025Explaining pregnancy, prenatal development, and childbirth as part of a human growth and development instructional program. (FE)
SB33806/19/2025Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act
SB33306/19/2025Increasing certain court fees and surcharges and indexing those amounts for inflation. (FE)
SB29505/30/2025The use of artificial intelligence or other machine assisted translation in court proceedings and of telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials. (FE)
SB28905/30/2025Requirements for proposed administrative rules that impose any costs
SB28805/30/2025Authorized lights for funeral procession vehicles
SB28005/23/2025Interest earned on coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds. (FE)
SB27905/22/2025Grants to law enforcement agencies for data-sharing platforms
SB27705/21/2025The expiration of administrative rules. (FE)
SB27605/21/2025Challenges to the validity of administrative rules and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB27505/21/2025Statements of scope for administrative rules. (FE)
SB26705/20/2025The fee for filing limited liability company articles of organization with the Department of Financial Institutions. (FE)
SB25605/15/2025Delivery network couriers and transportation network drivers, Department of Financial Institutions’ approval to offer portable benefit accounts, providing for insurance coverage, modifying administrative rules related to accident and sickness insurance, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
SB25405/09/2025Funding for the War Memorial Center and making an appropriation. (FE)
SB24905/09/2025Vacancies in appointive state offices
SB24405/09/2025Modifying the sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers. (FE)
SB24005/09/2025Workforce literacy grant program. (FE)

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