AB 297 creates performance grants for regional probation and parole offices based on improving employment rates for individuals on supervision (probation, parole, or extended supervision). Offices earn grants by increasing employment rates above a 2021-2024 baseline, with "eligible employment" defined as 130+ wage-earning hours monthly. Funds must be used for employee bonuses, and the department tracks outcomes like employment duration, recidivism rates, and cost savings tied to reduced incarceration. Offices are disqualified from grants if their region saw increased revocations for new crimes in the prior year. Annual reports will detail regional employment trends and program impacts for public transparency.
SB 257 requires manufacturers of electronic vaping devices sold in the state to certify annual compliance with new rules starting July 1, 2025. It creates a specific exemption for devices containing hemp (as defined by state law) without nicotine, which manufacturers must document via lab analysis. To comply, sellers must submit FDA marketing authorization proof, evidence of pending applications, or independent lab results confirming the device meets the hemp/nicotine exemption. This directly affects vaping device manufacturers and distributors operating in the state.
AJR 34 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Wisconsin's child support program on its 50th anniversary, specifically recognizing January 4, 2025 - the anniversary of the federal law that established the program. It highlights the program's impact, noting it served 341,000 children and collected $841 million in fiscal year 2023 while ranking third nationally in support collection. The resolution commends the work of county, state, and tribal child support agencies and their staff, who help enforce support orders, connect parents to services, and promote financial security for families. As a joint resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the program's role in reducing child poverty and supporting Wisconsin families.
SB 229 transfers the handling of worker's compensation appeals from the Division of Hearings and Appeals (within the Department of Administration) to the Department of Workforce Development. This change affects workers, employers, and insurers who file or contest compensation claims, as all hearings and decisions will now be processed by the new department. The bill amends over 50 sections of statutes to update references from the old division to the Department of Workforce Development, ensuring consistent application of procedures like appeal processes and evidence rules. The policy change does not alter eligibility rules or benefit amounts - it only shifts administrative responsibility for adjudicating disputes. This is a procedural reorganization, not a substantive change to worker's compensation law.
SB 256 creates state-approved "portable benefit accounts" for app-based delivery and rideshare drivers (defined as "application-based drivers" earning at least $750 quarterly from one company). It allows drivers to deduct contributions to these accounts from state taxable income while imposing a 10% penalty on distributions used for non-permissible purposes (like non-health expenses). The bill modifies tax code sections to treat these accounts similarly to tax-advantaged savings vehicles and requires Department of Financial Institutions approval for their structure. This directly affects gig workers in delivery and rideshare services who meet the earnings threshold.
SB 236 is a technical amendment to update the bill's language from "broadband service" to "wireless service" in multiple sections. It does not create new penalties or change existing legal requirements for tampering with telecommunication or electric wires. The bill directly affects how the law references service types in its text, aligning terminology with modern technology. This is a procedural correction with no substantive policy impact, as the bill only adjusts wording in existing legal references. The measure was reported out of committee unanimously but was later laid on the table without further action.
This Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 65) is a ceremonial resolution congratulating Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for winning the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. It recognizes the college's national award, which honors its success in student outcomes - particularly for historically underserved groups - and its programs like work-based learning and employer partnerships. The resolution formally commends the college's faculty, staff, students, and community partners for their contributions to Wisconsin's higher education. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new policy or affect any legal obligations.
SB 95 changes voting rights restoration rules for people with felony convictions by requiring full payment of all financial obligations - including restitution, fines, costs, and fees - before voting rights are restored. For human trafficking convictions (specifically under sections 940.302(2) or 948.051), courts must order immediate restitution payments, with enforcement options like property execution if unpaid. This affects individuals barred from voting due to felony convictions who have completed sentences but still owe financial penalties. The bill updates two statutes to ensure voting rights restoration is tied directly to resolving all court-ordered financial responsibilities.
Senate Bill 71 ratifies the Dietitian Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement designed to streamline the licensing process for dietitians. This bill allows licensed dietitians in participating states to practice in other compact member states by obtaining a "compact privilege" instead of a full separate license. It establishes a dietitian licensure compact commission and amends various state statutes to recognize this new privilege, affecting dietitians and their ability to practice across state lines.
SB 64 increases penalties for harming police or fire department animals used in official duties. It creates three escalating offenses: intentional injury causing harm is a Class A misdemeanor, intentional injury causing death is a Class H G felony, and intentional injury causing death is a Class I H felony. The law specifically targets individuals who knowingly harm working animals (like police dogs or fire department horses) while aware of their official role. This directly affects anyone who intentionally harms these animals during their service, with penalties based on the severity of the outcome (injury or death). The bill does not cover accidental harm or animals not performing official duties.
SB 93 requires state departments to recommend revoking extended supervision, parole, or probation when a person under those programs is charged with a crime. It directly affects individuals supervised by the department after release from incarceration. The bill mandates this recommendation as a standard step in the process, without altering the existing revocation procedures or hearing requirements. The change applies to criminal charges filed on or after the bill's effective date.
AJR 67 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Representative Richard A. Flintrop, who served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1973 to 1983. It formally recognizes his legislative service, including his work on the Children's Code and early LGBTQ+ advocacy, and extends condolences to his family. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely expresses the legislature’s commemoration of his life and public service. This procedural bill affects only the Wisconsin Legislature’s symbolic actions, not any constituents or laws.
