Repealing expired programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs; definition, terminology, and grammatical changes for the Department of Veterans Affairs, mental health services for post-traumatic stress disorder; re, the official text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-5996/2
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2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 935
January 28, 2026 - Introduced by Law Revision Committee. Referred to Committee on Rules.

An Act to repeal 45.03 (13) (j) and 45.03 (13) (k); to amend 45.01 (9), 45.03 (2m), 45.03 (3) (a), 45.03 (3) (b), 45.03 (13) (f) 2., 45.03 (15), 45.03 (21) (d), 45.04 (2), 45.07 (1), 45.10 (2), 45.40 (1m) (a), 45.40 (2) (c), 45.44 (2), 45.44 (3) (intro.), 45.44 (4), 45.51 (3) (b), 45.51 (4) (am) 2., 45.51 (4) (bm), 45.51 (13) (intro.), 45.55, 45.60 (1) (b), 45.60 (2), 45.61 (5), 45.62 (1) (g), 45.81 (2) and 45.85 (1); to create 45.01 (4m) of the statutes; relating to: repealing expired programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs; definition, terminology, and grammatical changes for the Department of Veterans Affairs, mental health services for post-traumatic stress disorder; reporting on rules proposed by the Department of Veterans Affairs; asset calculation for determining eligibility for veterans assistance payments; and deceased veterans’ graves (suggested as remedial legislation by the Department of Veterans Affairs).

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes the following terminology and grammatical changes to the statutory provisions regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs:
1. The bill defines “council” to mean the Council on Veterans Programs.
2. The bill updates references to DVA.
3. The bill changes various references to DVA’s website from “Internet website” to “website” to conform to current style and clarifies what information must be published on the website.
4. The bill changes “armed forces of the United States” and “armed forces of the U.S.” to “U.S. armed forces.”
5. The bill clarifies the meaning of “life insurance” for purposes of calculating the value of a veteran’s assets when determining eligibility for veteran assistance payments.
6. The bill changes several instances of “shall not” to “are not” or “may not” to conform with current statutory drafting conventions.
7. The bill makes grammatical changes to the statute regarding eligibility requirements for admission to a skilled nursing facility at a veterans home.
8. The bill makes grammatical changes to the statute regarding a county veterans service commission chairperson.
The bill also repeals two grant programs, one that expired in 2007 and one that expired in 2011, from the statutes governing DVA.
The bill clarifies that DVA, in providing information to service members and veterans on the availability of post-traumatic stress disorder services, may provide information on and referrals to either medical services or mental health services.
The bill changes the procedure that the Board of Veterans Affairs must follow with respect to reporting on rules proposed by DVA.
The bill makes a clarifying change to the statute regarding information that the Department of Veterans Affairs may compile about deceased veterans’ graves.
The bill updates outdated references to federal law concerning disabled veterans.
For further information, see the Notes provided by the Law Revision Committee of the Joint Legislative Council.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Law Revision Committee prefatory note: This bill is a remedial legislation proposal, requested by the Department of Veterans Affairs and introduced by the Law Revision Committee under s. 13.83 (1) (c) 4. and 5., stats. After careful consideration of the various provisions of the bill, the Law Revision Committee has determined that this bill makes minor substantive changes in the statutes, and that these changes are desirable as a matter of public policy.

Section 1. 45.01 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

45.01 (4m) “Council” means the council on veterans programs created under s. 15.497 (2).
Note: Section 1 creates the definition “council” for the Council on Veterans Programs, a body currently housed within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Section 2. 45.01 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.01 (9) “Permanently and totally disabled veteran” means a person who is receiving 100 percent disability compensation from the U.S. department of veterans affairs under 38 USC 1101 to 1115 1104, 1110 to 1120, 1131 to 1137, and 1151 to 1162 1163, due to a permanent and total service-connected disability.
Note: Section 2 updates outdated references to federal law.
Section 3. 45.03 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.03 (2m) Rule-making Rule making; board comments. The secretary shall provide the board with a copy of any rule that the department is preparing as a proposed rule under s. 227.14 (1). The board may prepare submit a report to the department containing written comments and its opinion regarding the proposed rule. In preparing the proposed rule, the department shall include in the analysis under s. 227.14 (2) a copy of any such written comments and opinion.
Note: Section 3 makes clarifying changes regarding the procedure for the Board of Veterans Affairs to report on rules proposed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Section 4. 45.03 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.03 (3) (a) The council on veterans programs created under s. 15.497 shall advise the board and the department on solutions and policy alternatives relating to the problems of veterans.
Note: Section 4 replaces an existing reference to the Council on Veterans Programs with “council” because it is a defined term.
Section 5. 45.03 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

45.03 (3) (b) The council on veterans programs and the department, jointly or separately, shall submit a report regarding the council on veterans programs to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) by September 30 of every odd-numbered year. The report shall include a general summary of the activities and membership over the past 2 years of the council and each organization on the council.
Note: Section 5 replaces existing references to the Council on Veterans Programs with “council” because it is a defined term.
Section 6. 45.03 (13) (f) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
45.03 (13) (f) 2. Information on the availability of post-traumatic stress disorder medical or mental health services and referrals to those services.
Note: Under current law, the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide certain services related to post-traumatic stress disorder to service members and veterans. To fulfill this requirement, the department may provide information on the availability of medical services and referrals. Section 6 specifies that the department may instead fulfill this requirement by providing information on the availability of mental health services and referrals.
Section 7. 45.03 (13) (j) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Section 7 repeals an obsolete grant program to identify, train, and place volunteers to assist certain persons who return to this state after serving on active duty. The program expired on July 1, 2011.
Section 8. 45.03 (13) (k) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Section 8 repeals an obsolete grant program for certain housing authorities to supplement the housing costs of chronically homeless veterans and their families. The program expired after the 2006-07 fiscal year.
Section 9. 45.03 (15) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.03 (15) Deferral of payments and interest on loans. When a veteran or a member of the veteran’s family makes application for deferment of payment of monthly installments and waiver of interest charges on veterans loans made under this chapter, showing that the ability of the veteran to make payment is materially
and adversely affected by reason of military service, the department may, with the approval of the board, defer payment of monthly installments and waive interest charges on veterans loans made under this chapter for the duration of any period of service in the U.S. armed forces of the United States during a national emergency or in time of war or under P.L. 87-117 and 6 months from date of discharge or separation and the time for payment may be extended for the same period.
Note: Section 9 conforms a military reference to current style.
Section 10. 45.03 (21) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.03 (21) (d) Create information on the Internet department’s website about the health effects of depleted uranium exposure, the detection programs that are available to determine if a national guard member or veteran has been exposed to depleted uranium, the federal treatment programs that are available to those who may have been exposed to depleted uranium, and the federal and state benefits that are available to those national guard members or veterans who have been exposed to depleted uranium.
Note: Section 10 conforms a website reference to current style.
Section 11. 45.04 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
45.04 (2) Separation documents. Separation documents and copies of separation documents evidencing service in the U.S. armed forces of the U.S. are confidential and privileged. Examination of these records in the possession of the department or service office is limited to authorized employees of the department or service office and information entered in these records may be disclosed only to veterans and their duly authorized representatives or to interested governmental agencies for the purpose of assisting veterans and their dependents to obtain the rights and benefits to which they may be entitled.
Note: Section 11 conforms a military reference to current style.