Wisconsin Senate Bill SB274

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/21/25
• Refer: 5/21/25
• Report Pass: 10/10/25
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 15.405 (5g) of the statutes; Relating to: the membership of the Controlled Substances Board.

Summary

SB274 would amend Wisconsin law governing the Controlled Substances Board by adding the chairperson of the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board to the board’s membership. The Controlled Substances Board is the state body involved in scheduling and regulating controlled substances and overseeing aspects of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Under current law, the board includes several state officials and professional board chairpersons, along with one psychiatrist and one pharmacologist. This bill would expand that membership from nine to ten by explicitly including physician assistants through their credentialing board’s chairperson, giving that profession a formal seat in the board’s decision-making structure.

Impact

The bill would make a narrow but meaningful change to section 15.405 (5g) of the Wisconsin statutes by revising the composition of the Controlled Substances Board within the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Its practical effect would be to add physician assistant representation to a board that influences controlled substance scheduling, regulation, and prescription monitoring policy, potentially affecting how those policies are informed and administered for prescribers and patients.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote debate, so there is no detailed public discussion to gauge support or opposition. The bill’s introduction and cosponsorship suggest at least some legislative interest in broadening professional representation on the board, but the measure ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. Overall, the sentiment appears neutral to mildly supportive in concept, but insufficient to advance through the legislative process.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. The likely issue, based on the bill text, would be whether physician assistants should receive formal representation on a board that already includes other health-profession leaders and state officials. Any disagreement would likely center on board size, professional balance, and whether adding another seat would materially improve controlled-substance policy oversight.