Bill Number Act Number Date Approved
Sincerely,
TONY EVERS
Governor
Pursuant to s. 35.095 (1)(b), Wisconsin Statutes, the following 2023 Act(s) have been published: Act Number Bill Number Publication Date
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State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
April 4, 2024
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist195195I am vetoing Senate Bill 145 in its entirety. This bill creates a new license for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), administered by the Board of Nursing attached to the Department of Safety and Professional Services. This bill specifies certain requirements for APRN licensure, defines specialty designations associated with the APRN license, and sets forth certain requirements and restrictions related to APRN practice.
I am vetoing this bill, which received bipartisan opposition in both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature, in its entirety because I object to new licensure and practice standards for APRNs, especially those APRNs practicing independently, that do not provide adequate experience requirements, titling protections, and safeguards for patients who may be treated for chronic pain management. Certainly, nurses are critical to the healthcare system in Wisconsin and help fill gaps in access to healthcare services resulting from a lack of healthcare providers generally. Ensuring we have qualified professionals who have the appropriate education, training, experience, and supervision to provide care to Wisconsinites is critically important.
According to the state Department of Health Services, in 2022, 1,464 Wisconsinites died by an opioid overdose. Tragically, more people die of opioid overdoses than car crashes in Wisconsin. Effective interventions for pain management and high-quality healthcare treatments are critical for patients' quality of life and well-being, especially during difficult phases of life", as is balancing these obligations with the safety and long-term health of those same patients.
I support creating an APRN license and allowing for independent practice of APRNs, and have previously pursued measures to do so that were rejected by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance. Nevertheless, several concerns I consistently raised throughout this and previous legislative sessions, which could well have been addressed during the legislative process, remain unresolved in the bill before me today.
I welcome the opportunity to sign a version of this proposal that addresses these outstanding issues, and I look forward to working with nurses, doctors, and legislators toward a bipartisan proposal I am hopeful to enact during the next legislative session.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
