Protecting your family and neighbors from domestic abuse is the goal of three bills championed by State Senator André Jacque that were passed by the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety this week. The bills would increase penalties for crimes against at-risk adults, establish a sexual assault survivor bill of rights, and protect domestic abuse victims among military families.

Jacque worked with organizations like the sexual assault victim rights group RISE, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Wisconsin Nurses Association, and the Department of Defense (DoD) State Liaison Office to form the legislation. He says it is important to bring other people into the process in order to paint the whole picture, especially if the legislation does not have a direct impact on him.

It was part of a busy legislative session for Jacque, who expects at least one bill in the family law area to be signed into law by Governor Tony Evers next week, as well as other pieces of legislation involving honoring Hmong veterans and addressing retail theft to be approved by the Assembly before the end of the year.

Jacque made headlines late last month when he was attached to a bill that would require patients to capture medical waste produced by abortion pills. Opponents said the legislation amounted to government overreach, while Jacque reiterated that it does not apply to women who have miscarriages and is part of his larger efforts to address water quality concerns.