What Will The State Senate Take Up During Its Last Session Of 2014?

The Wisconsin State Senate is scheduled to convene on Tuesday morning for the last regular floor session in 2014. Here are some of notable bills scheduled for consideration:

• SB 300, which limits how much insurance companies can charge for oral chemotherapy. The Senate previously voted 30-2 for a bill that would require insurance companies to charge the same for all types of chemotherapy, whether delivered at a clinic intravenously or at home with a pill. On Tuesday, the Senate is expected to approve a change the Assembly insisted on that would let insurance companies charge $100 monthly copays for oral chemo.

• AB 726, which legalizes CBD, a marijuana byproduct. CBD is different than medical marijuana because it contains extremely low levels of the substance in cannabis that gives users a high. The plan cleared the Assembly on a unanimous voice vote.

• AB 693, which spends state money on Milwaukee’s “Shot Spotter” program. The program uses microphones to pinpoint gunshots.

• AB 409, which requires outside investigators for deaths that occur under police watch.

• SB 373, which limits whom police can take DNA samples from. A new Wisconsin law allows police officers to take DNA samples from someone as soon as they are arrested. Under the bill up for a vote in the Senate today, officers could only take DNA samples from alleged violent criminals at the time of arrest.

All indications are that today will be the Senate’s last regular session day this year. The state Assembly has already adjourned.