Committee signals support for cryptocurrency education bill, 988 immunity and other legislative updates

The Milwaukee Common Council Judiciary and Legislation Committee on June 2, 2025, reviewed multiple legislative items and signaled support or requested staff to register the city for several state and federal measures, including a cryptocurrency education and consumer-protection bill, proposed protections for dispatchers transferring calls to the 988 lifeline, a package addressing gun-violence policy, LGBTQ-related bills and a state resolution honoring Anna Mae Robinson.

Alderman Mark Chambers introduced Item 8, which the committee recorded as expressing city support for a Wisconsin Innovation Network bill that would authorize the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions to establish a unit focused on cryptocurrency education and consumer protection. Committee members highlighted education and added consumer-protection language.

Legislative affairs staff summarized an “equality agenda” package — including bills to update marriage-recognition law and other measures — and a gun-violence “safe summer” package with proposals such as expanded background checks, a handgun waiting period, extreme-risk protection orders and a ban on unserialized “ghost guns.” Staff noted some measures had not received public hearings in prior sessions but asked the committee to signal support where appropriate.

The committee also recommended support for AB309/SB309, a proposal to provide immunity to 911 call centers and dispatchers when transferring mental-health crisis calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; city emergency communications leadership told the committee that such immunity would help the city implement transfers to 988 and could reduce PSAP call times by quickly routing callers to mental-health professionals.

Finally, the committee supported a resolution asking the state to honor the life of Anna Mae Robinson. Several aldermen urged outreach to other municipalities and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities when lobbying on measures that could benefit multiple older communities.

Why it matters: The items combine public-safety, consumer-protection and community-recognition priorities. The 988 immunity proposal has direct operational impacts for the city’s PSAP; the crypto-education bill and gun-violence measures could prompt longer-term state-level debates. Committee referrals will be handled by intergovernmental relations and legislative affairs staff.