Wisconsin Bills

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 675: Relating to: funding for identity verification under the unemployment insurance law and making an appropriation. (FE)

SB 675 amends a statute to establish biennial funding for identity verification processes under Wisconsin's unemployment insurance program, directly affecting applicants and the state's unemployment agency. It specifies that funds must cover identity proofing costs (to prevent fraud) and related expenses, with any unspent balance from odd-numbered years automatically transferred to the "unemployment program integrity fund." The bill does not change eligibility rules or benefit amounts but ensures dedicated funding for verification systems and manages leftover funds. This is a procedural funding measure focused on administrative processes, not policy changes to unemployment benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 445: Relating to: consideration of a certain definition of antisemitism for purposes of laws, ordinances, policies, or criminal penalty enhancers concerning discrimination based on race, religion, color, or national origin.

SB 445 requires state agencies and local governments (including cities, counties, and school districts) to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) 2016 definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination cases involving race, religion, color, or national origin under state laws, ordinances, or criminal penalty enhancements. It specifically applies when assessing whether a victim was targeted due to their actual or perceived identity. The bill clarifies it does not override First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal or state antidiscrimination laws. This is a procedural requirement for consistent application of the IHRA definition in relevant legal contexts.

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 667: Relating to: whole grade sharing grants for school boards. (FE)

SB 667 creates a state grant program to support school districts that enter into whole grade sharing agreements (where two or more districts share facilities for specific grade levels, such as both using the same 5th-grade building). Eligible school boards receive $500 per enrolled student in each shared grade level for four consecutive school years, starting in 2026-27. The bill requires participating school boards to report how they use the funds annually, and the state education department must report grant details to the legislature. This policy directly affects school districts forming such agreements, providing them with ongoing funding tied to student enrollment in shared grade levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 679: Relating to: prohibiting a law enforcement agency from accessing personal data in exchange for payment without a warrant.

SB 679 prohibits law enforcement agencies from obtaining personal data from third parties (like tech companies or data brokers) in exchange for payment without a court warrant. It covers data such as location history, health records, financial details, browsing habits, and biometric information. Exceptions allow access if police have a warrant, face an emergency involving immediate danger, the data is publicly available, or the individual consented. This directly affects how police can legally acquire personal information from private entities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 676: Relating to: various changes to the worker’s compensation law, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. (FE)

SB 676 amends Wisconsin's worker's compensation law to update benefit rates, strengthen fraud prevention, and clarify administrative procedures. It establishes new requirements for insurers to report suspected fraud involving misclassified employees (e.g., incorrect job category assignments to lower insurance costs), sets specific maximum compensation rates for permanent partial disability injuries based on injury dates, and grants the Department of Workforce Development authority to create rules for processing claims. The bill directly affects employers (through classification rules), insurers (with fraud reporting duties), and injured workers (via updated benefit calculations). These changes aim to improve transparency and enforcement within the worker's compensation system without altering core eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 668: Relating to: supplemental state aid for consolidated school districts. (FE)

SB 668 creates a new state aid program for school districts formed by consolidation after July 1, 2026. It provides supplemental aid to districts that would otherwise face higher property tax rates after merging, calculated by comparing pre-consolidation tax rates of the original districts to the merged district's projected rate. Eligible districts receive full aid in the first year after consolidation, then 80% the next year, 60% the following year, and 40% the year after that. The state funds this aid from annual appropriations, with payments prorated if funding falls short.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 666: Relating to: adopting the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act.

SB 666 adopts the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, creating a legal tool to quickly dismiss lawsuits that challenge free speech on public issues. It directly affects individuals or organizations sued for expressing views in government proceedings, on matters of public concern, or under constitutional rights (like speech or assembly). The key provision allows defendants to file a "special motion" within 60 days of being sued, triggering a court hearing within 60 days to dismiss the case if the plaintiff fails to prove their claim is valid. The law excludes government employees acting officially, lawsuits about commercial sales, and cases involving imminent public health/safety threats. This is procedural, focusing on streamlining court processes for speech-related cases rather than changing substantive policy.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 618: Relating to: a sales and use tax exemption and an income and franchise tax credit for nuclear energy facilities. (FE)

AB 618 creates tax credits for nuclear energy facilities in Wisconsin, directly affecting electric utilities, cooperatives, municipal companies, and qualified wholesale providers. It provides a credit against income/franchise tax for wages paid to full-time nuclear facility workers (defined as 2,080 hours/year at 150% federal minimum wage) and capital expenditures for facility construction, maintenance, or operation (excluding land purchases). The credit can be transferred to other taxpayers subject to certain taxes, though partnerships and LLCs must pass the credit amount to owners rather than claiming it directly. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 628: Relating to: notifying counties and tribes of an exceedance of groundwater protection standards or standards for PFAS. (FE)

SB 628 requires the state environmental department to notify county health departments, tribal health departments, and county land conservation departments within 7 business days whenever groundwater pollution levels exceed safety standards or PFAS chemical limits. It mandates that the department create a public notification system to alert affected local governments about these exceedances, including adjacent counties that might be impacted. The bill directly affects local health and environmental agencies in counties where pollution incidents occur, ensuring they receive timely information to address potential public health or environmental risks. This is a procedural requirement focused on transparency and rapid communication, not on changing pollution standards or enforcement actions.

Topics ✓ Environment

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 390: Relating to: access to an original impounded birth record. (FE)

This bill, AB 390, aims to provide access to original impounded birth records. However, the provided context does not include the bill's specific provisions, mechanisms, or who it directly affects. Without the full text or committee summary, concrete policy details cannot be described. The bill is still in early committee stages (referred to Children and Families Committee, with a fiscal estimate received), but no substantive changes are outlined in the given information.

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 188: Relating to: reduction of penalty surcharge when certain fines or forfeitures reduced. (FE)

AB 188 requires courts to reduce the 26% penalty surcharge proportionally when a fine or forfeiture is reduced or suspended. It applies to most state and local fines (excluding specific traffic violations, financial responsibility cases, and safety belt offenses). This ensures individuals with reduced fines pay a lower surcharge based on the adjusted amount. The bill directly affects people who have their fines lowered by courts, making the surcharge calculation automatic and fairer.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 394: Relating to: driver education instruction related to school bus safety.

AB 394 requires all California public school driver education programs to include specific instruction on school bus safety. This directly affects students enrolled in driver education courses, ensuring they learn about bus stopping procedures and blind spots. The bill mandates that curricula cover how to safely approach stopped school buses and recognize hazards around them. These changes aim to improve student awareness and safety when near school buses.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Bill results