As Previewed in 2025 State of the State Address, Gov. Evers Approves DHS Emergency Rule to Strengthen Standards to Prevent Further Hazardous Lead Exposure to Wisconsin Kids

Gov. Tony Evers, as previewed in his 2025 State of the State address, announced approval of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' (DHS) emergency rule to strengthen standards to protect more kids from further lead exposure. In Wisconsin, lead poisoning or exposure is defined in state law, which also permits DHS to promulgate rules with a different value based on blood lead level recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The emergency rule lowers Wisconsin's lead poisoning threshold from 5 to 3.5 micrograms per 100 milliliters to align with the CDC's recommendations. This change allows more kids and their families to be eligible for services to identify sources of lead exposure through an environmental investigation of the child's home, as well as other nursing and medical follow-up actions.

"Investing in the health, well-being, and safety of our kids must continue to be a top priority. We know that too many kids across the state are facing serious, long-term health consequences as a result of lead exposure. There's no excuse for that—we must do better," said Gov. Evers. "As part of our efforts to kick off 2025, the Year of the Kid, this emergency rule is a step in the right direction to help strengthen our state's lead standards, combat childhood lead poisoning, and connect the dots to protect more kids and families."

The governor previewed his plans to invest over $6 million in the 2025-27 executive budget to support lead poisoning intervention and response efforts. Last year, providers tested over 95,000 children for lead in Wisconsin, more than any other year of the past decade. DHS estimates that in 2025, about 1,400 kids are expected to have a blood lead level between 3.5 and 4.9 micrograms per 100 milliliters.

"Preventing children from lead poisoning can be challenging because you cannot tell if an object they are playing with or the places they crawl around on have lead just by looking at it," said DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson. "Early identification through testing is the key to preventing further exposure and we encourage all parents and caretakers concerned about the possible lead exposure to contact their child's health care provider to be tested."

In January 2024, DHS recommended universal lead testing to ensure all children get at least two lead tests by age 2. The only way to know if a child is experiencing lead poisoning is with a blood lead test. Children may not show the effects of lead poisoning until later in life, and it is hard to tell if a child is being exposed to lead hazards.

Lead poisoning can impact:

• Brain development
• Behavior
• Growth
• Learning potential
• Lifelong health

Children are at risk for lead poisoning when they're exposed to lead hazards. The primary source of lead exposure in Wisconsin is lead in paint or varnish in household dust. It can also be found in the soil and air from car, plane, and factory emissions—and it's been found in drinking water in some parts of the state. Children are most at risk for exposure to lead-based paint found in homes and child care centers before 1978.

You can learn more about testing your child for lead and how to prevent lead poisoning by visiting Lead-Safe Wisconsin on the DHS website.