Dianne Hesselbein, Wisconsin State Senator for 27th District | Official Website
Dianne Hesselbein, Wisconsin State Senator for 27th District | Official Website
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "creating a refundable individual income tax credit for the parent of a stillbirth and making an appropriation. (FE)".
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes a refundable income tax credit of $2,000 for parents in Wisconsin who experience a stillbirth, defined as a birth in the state necessitating a fetal death report. The credit applies to the taxable year in which the stillbirth occurs and can be refunded if it exceeds the tax liability. Restrictions include ineligibility for part-year residents or nonresidents, and the credit cannot be claimed for tax periods under 12 months unless due to taxpayer death. Married couples filing jointly qualify for $2,000 per stillbirth, while separate filers or unmarried parents qualify for $1,000 each. Eligibility requires submitting a fetal death report, and the enactment is set for tax years beginning January 1 of the following year if it takes effect after July 31.
The bill was co-authored by Rep. Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), Sen. Julian Bradley (Republican-28th District), Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Sen. Sarah Keyeski (Democrat-14th District), and Sen. Steve L. Nass (Republican-11th District). It was co-sponsored by Rep. David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Rep. Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), and Rep. Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), along with 28 other co-sponsors.
Dianne H. Hesselbein has authored or co-authored another 58 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.
Hesselbein graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh in 1993 with a BS.
Hesselbein, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2023 to represent the state's 27th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Jon Erpenbach.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB379 | 07/16/2025 | Creating a refundable individual income tax credit for the parent of a stillbirth and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| SB377 | 07/16/2025 | Identification of the Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial on state highway maps. (FE) |
| SB369 | 07/09/2025 | Prohibiting the state from sharing data with the federal government that contains personally identifiable information if the data is not first masked or otherwise anonymized and authorizing a civil cause of action for negligent violations of that prohibition. (FE) |
| SB356 | 06/27/2025 | Perimenopause and menopause education. (FE) |
| SB332 | 06/19/2025 | Prohibition against undetectable firearms, possessing a frame or receiver of a firearm without a serial number, and providing a penalty |
| SB268 | 05/20/2025 | Prohibiting corporal punishment in public and private schools |
| SB265 | 05/20/2025 | Waiver of fees for admission to state parks on Earth Day. (FE) |
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