Republicans Relent on Postpartum Medicaid and Gail’s Law

MADISON, Wis – In the final days of the 2025-2026 legislative session, Assembly Republicans have finally agreed to hold votes on legislation they spent multiple sessions blocking, including postpartum Medicaid expansion and Gail’s Law to expand access to breast cancer screenings. After years of pressure from families, advocates, and legislative Democrats, these bills are now moving forward.

“For multiple sessions, we pushed relentlessly to get postpartum Medicaid expansion and Gail’s Law to the floor. We built bipartisan support. We worked across the aisle. We forced the conversation. And now, after repeated refusals to act, Republicans have finally agreed to vote,” said Rep. Anderson. “That is a win for Wisconsin families.”

For years, the Speaker used his power to stall these proposals, even when they had the support of a majority of the Assembly. Postpartum Medicaid expansion was shuffled between committees to avoid a vote. Gail’s Law, a common-sense expansion of cancer screening access, was held back despite broad bipartisan backing.

“Change does not happen by accident in this building. It happens because people refuse to give up,” Anderson said. “We kept showing up. We kept organizing support. We kept demanding a vote. Today, that persistence paid off.”

While Republican leadership has signaled that Capitol business may conclude early despite remaining session days, the decision to finally move these long-stalled bills marks a significant shift from years of obstruction.

“We have spent this session fighting to lower costs for families and expand access to health care,” Anderson said. “Getting these bills to the floor proves that when we push hard enough and stand together, we can break through gridlock. This is what winning for Wisconsin looks like.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.