Milwaukee committee backs state bills to extend postpartum Medicaid and allow pharmacists to prescribe some contraceptives; supports tribute resolution

The Milwaukee Common Council Judiciary and Legislation Committee on Feb. 24 voted to support multiple state-level measures, including expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage and allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, and supported a ceremonial resolution honoring a local figure.

Jordan Primico, Intergovernmental Relations Division director, and colleagues presented three legislative items and recommended committee positions. The body voted to support the items and to transmit its guidance to the city’s lobbyists who will carry the city’s positions to the state capitol in Madison.

Why it matters: The committee’s support signals municipal backing for state policy changes that would affect public-health access and could affect the city’s constituents if state lawmakers pass the bills.

Items and committee action

- Postpartum Medicaid extension (Senate Bill 023): The committee voted to support a bill that would extend BadgerCare coverage for postpartum care from 60 days to 12 months, with a review option after 12 months. Primico said the City of Milwaukee Health Department strongly supports the measure and that it would have no direct fiscal impact on city operations. The motion to support carried with no recorded objections.

- Pharmacist-prescribed contraception (AB43 / SB42): The committee voted to support legislation that would permit pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives, expanding access where primary-care services are limited. City health staff and legislative presenters said the measure would reduce barriers and improve outcomes by making contraception more affordable and accessible. The motion to support carried with no recorded objections.

- Senate Joint Resolution 006: The committee supported a joint resolution honoring the life of Bob Euchre, described by sponsors as a Milwaukee icon. The committee recorded full support.

Other legislative communication

- Assembly Bill 10 (gun safe sales-tax exemption): The committee received a communication about an item in the city’s legislative package proposing a sales-and-use tax exemption for gun safes. Members asked clarifying questions about the statutory definition of a “gun safe,” the likely presenters and the scope of exemptions; the item was kept as a communication file for further tracking by the intergovernmental relations team.

Proceedings and next steps

The committee’s positions will be transmitted by the city’s intergovernmental relations and legislative affairs staff to the Wisconsin Legislature. Committee members asked staff to follow up on statutory definitions and fiscal notes where appropriate so aldermen can sign on when the measures are formally introduced in Madison.

Closed session

Alderman Andrea Pratt moved the committee into closed session under Wisconsin Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) to consult with the city attorney about litigation matters; the motion passed with no objections and roll call support, and the committee then recessed into closed session.

Speakers

- Jordan Primico, Director, Intergovernmental Relations Division (government) - Katie Yager, Intergovernmental Relations (government) - Justin Morales, Legislative Affairs (government) - Calvin Lee, Legislative Affairs (government) - Deandre Jackson, Chair, Judiciary and Legislation Committee (government) - Alderman Andrea Pratt (government)

Authorities

- bill: Senate Bill 023 (postpartum BadgerCare extension); referenced_by: ["committee support"] - bill: AB43 / SB42 (pharmacist-prescribed contraception); referenced_by: ["committee support"] - bill: Assembly Bill 10 (gun safe sales-tax exemption); referenced_by: ["communication"] - statute: Wisconsin Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) (closed-session authority); referenced_by: ["closed session motion"]

Actions

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"SB023"},"motion":"Support Senate Bill 023 to extend postpartum BadgerCare coverage from 60 days to 12 months","mover":"Alderman Pratt","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Alderman Pratt","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Chair Deandre Jackson","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":4,"no":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"City health department supports; no fiscal impact to city operations stated"}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"AB43_SB42"},"motion":"Support AB43/SB42 permitting pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Committee supported to improve contraceptive access"}

- {"kind":"other","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"SJR006"},"motion":"Support Senate Joint Resolution 006 honoring Bob Euchre","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[],"tally":{},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Committee voiced full support"}

- {"kind":"executive_session","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"closed_session_022425"},"motion":"Convene into closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g)","mover":"Alderman Pratt","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Deandre Jackson","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":4,"no":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Committee recessed into closed session for attorney consultation"}

Clarifying details

- Postpartum coverage: expands from 60 days to 12 months with a medical-review option after 12 months (presenter Jordan Primico). - Gun safe exemption: fiscal note exists; city sales tax is 2% and the Department of Revenue prepared a fiscal note (presenters noted further follow-up needed on statutory definition).

Proper_names

[{"name":"BadgerCare","type":"program"},{"name":"Milwaukee Common Council","type":"agency"},{"name":"Milwaukee Health Department","type":"agency"},{"name":"Department of Revenue","type":"agency"}]

Community relevance

- geographies: ["Milwaukee","Madison (state legislature)"] - funding_sources: ["state Medicaid/BadgerCare"] - impact_groups: ["postpartum women","people seeking contraception access"]

Meeting context

- engagement_level: {"speakers_count":6,"duration_minutes":85,"items_count":5}, - implementation_risk":"low","history":[{"date":"2025-02-24","note":"Committee carried city positions to be forwarded to state lobbyists"}]

searchable_tags:["postpartum_medicaid","contraception_access","gun_safes","intergovernmental_relations","closed_session"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"s_4610.7754","local_start":0,"local_end":140,"evidence_excerpt":"Good afternoon, Alders. Jordan Primico, Intergovernmental Relations, Division Director. Joined, by my colleague Katie Yager.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"s_5237.105","local_start":0,"local_end":58,"evidence_excerpt":"So Agreed. So item 17 will be held by auto woman Pratt to the call of the chair. Item 241692. Hearing no objections to order. Thank you for your time.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}