AB 795 requires Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction to create a free online portal where the public can search for license holder information. The portal must include the names of license holders under investigation, the outcome of those investigations (including voluntary license surrender), and the names of individuals whose licenses were revoked. This affects licensed professionals (like educators or healthcare workers) whose records are accessed through the portal, as well as the Department of Public Instruction, which must maintain and update the portal. The bill mandates specific data points be included, such as investigation dates and reasons, without disclosing confidential details during active cases. It does not change investigation procedures but increases public access to existing disciplinary records.
SB 788 creates an independent Office of Internal Audit within the Department of Employee Trust Funds to oversee management of public employee benefit funds. The bill establishes that an internal auditor, appointed by the Employee Trust Funds Board, will report directly to the Board and conduct audits to ensure assets are safeguarded and benefit commitments are met. Key provisions require the auditor to review department activities, monitor legal compliance, and plan audits under Board policies. This office directly affects the Department of Employee Trust Funds' oversight of retirement and benefit systems for public employees. The bill does not change benefit payments or funding levels, only adding a dedicated internal audit function.
AB 791 makes it illegal to intentionally send false text messages to 911 reporting a non-existent emergency. It directly affects individuals who send such deceptive messages, imposing fines ($100-$600) or up to 90 days in jail for a first offense. For repeat offenses within four years, the penalty escalates to a Class H felony charge. The bill targets misuse of emergency services by adding specific penalties for text-based false reports, which previously lacked clear legal consequences. This law aims to deter non-emergency text spam that wastes critical resources.
AB 800 standardizes procedures for handling absentee ballots in Wisconsin municipalities. It requires absentee ballots to be delivered to election inspectors or the municipal board of absentee ballot canvassers by 8 p.m. on election day, clarifying that in some communities, ballots must be canvassed by a designated board rather than at polling places. The bill also specifies that municipal clerks must securely handle ballots in carrier envelopes and ensures military and overseas voters can submit applications up to election day. These changes directly affect municipal clerks and election officials managing absentee voting processes.
AJR 124 is a proposed constitutional amendment requiring Wisconsin's legislature to approve spending from conservation bond funds or specially created funds for nature-based recreation. It would mandate legislative approval (via joint resolution or committee) for any expenditure exceeding a threshold amount set by law. This amendment responds to a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that struck down similar spending approval rules as unconstitutional. If passed, it would require two successive legislative approvals and voter ratification before becoming effective. The bill directly affects state agencies managing conservation funding.
SB 775 creates a state program reimbursing corn farmers for nonlethal seed coating costs to prevent sandhill crane damage. Eligible farmers (with at least $6,000 in annual farm revenue) can receive up to 50% of seed coating costs, capped at $6,250 per season. The program prioritizes farmers with federal crane permits, prior reimbursement recipients, or land identified as high-risk for crane damage. It is funded by a new $1.875 million annual appropriation for the Department of Agriculture.
AB 792 modifies how Wisconsin calculates state funding for public school districts by excluding certain costs funded through local voter-approved referenda (like bond elections) from the "shared cost" formula. This directly affects school districts receiving state equalization aid, as it prevents referendum-funded expenses from reducing their state aid eligibility. The bill adds specific rules to exclude referendum-authorized levies and related debt service from the calculation, ensuring districts aren’t penalized for using locally raised funds. These changes aim to align funding formulas with how school districts actually finance projects through voter-approved measures.
SB 795 requires the Department of Transportation to ask license and ID card applicants if they want to voluntarily provide contact information for up to three people they care for as primary caregivers. The bill creates a system where this information is stored in the applicant's file and can be electronically accessed by law enforcement agencies that reasonably identify a person. It does not change existing requirements but adds this optional caregiver contact field to applications, with strict limits on who can access the data (only the applicant or law enforcement under defined conditions). The bill directly affects individuals applying for driver's licenses or state ID cards who choose to share caregiver contacts.
AB 796 creates a $5 million annual grant program to help nonprofit religious organizations improve security. It directly affects religious groups facing bias-motivated threats or crime, prioritizing those at higher risk. Grants can cover physical security upgrades (like surveillance or fencing), staff/volunteer training, or emergency planning. No single organization can receive more than $500,000 per biennium, though umbrella groups may apply for multiple members. The program is administered by the Department of Military Affairs with additional staffing.
SB 762 creates a state grant program to fund testing and mapping of privately owned wells to assess groundwater quality and contamination. It provides up to $10,000 per grant to counties, cities, villages, or towns for well testing and geologic studies, and up to $10,000 to health departments for public education on well testing. The bill requires grant recipients to submit anonymized testing results to the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, while directing municipalities to inform residents about well testing importance. The program is funded with $2.5 million annually from the environmental fund, with rule-making authority granted to the Department of Natural Resources.
AB 799 establishes a voluntary, confidential health professional assistance program for licensed health care providers (like doctors and nurses) in Wisconsin who may have conditions affecting their ability to practice safely. The bill requires credentialing boards to participate in the program for specific licenses, charges a $70 fee per participating credential (paid with license fees), and mandates the program to provide science-based support, including evaluation and treatment. It protects participants from civil liability and ensures confidentiality, while allowing colleagues or boards to report concerns without legal risk. The program operates through a contracted entity meeting specific qualifications, focusing on early intervention rather than disciplinary action.
SB 781 modifies how Wisconsin calculates state aid for public school districts by excluding costs funded through voter-approved referendums from the "shared cost" formula. Specifically, it removes referendum-funded expenditures (like those for capital projects or debt service) when determining eligibility for general equalization aid, which directly affects school districts relying on such local funding. The bill creates new rules to exclude referendum-authorized levies and related debt service from the calculation, ensuring these costs don't reduce state aid payments. This change aims to prevent school districts from losing state funding due to referendum-based spending.
