AB 562 requires the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) to erect signs marking the Mississippi River Trail after municipalities along the route approve the trail's path. Once municipalities adopt resolutions supporting the trail, the DOT must notify the legislative bureau and erect signs within 18 months. The bill allows the DOT to request supplemental funding from the finance committee without needing to declare an emergency. This procedural bill directly affects local governments (through approval requirements) and the DOT (through signage implementation), focusing solely on physical trail signage.
AB 657 exempts sales and use taxes for specific equipment and materials used exclusively in qualified nuclear fusion technology projects. It covers over 70 listed items, including plasma heating systems, superconductors, diagnostic tools, specialized materials like lithium and tungsten, and safety equipment. The exemption applies to businesses conducting fusion projects focused on energy generation, medical isotope production, research, or other fusion-related applications as defined in the bill. This policy directly reduces costs for companies developing nuclear fusion technology by eliminating taxes on qualifying purchases.
AB 238 prohibits hotels, motels, and inns from discriminating against dog handlers accompanied by certified search and rescue dogs. The law bans refusing entry, charging extra fees, or publishing discriminatory notices based on a handler’s dog. To qualify, the dog must wear a visible harness or cape, be leashed, and the handler must provide certification. Hotels must modify policies to allow these dogs in public areas (without separation from handlers) unless accommodation would cause a fundamental change to services or pose safety risks. Handlers remain responsible for sanitation and damage caused by the dog.
AB 659 modifies Wisconsin's tuition benefit policies for veterans and their families. It reduces the required residency period from 5 to 3 consecutive years in the state before enrollment for veterans themselves and their dependents (spouses or children) to qualify for tuition exemptions or grants at University of Wisconsin System schools, technical colleges, or private nonprofit institutions. The bill applies to veterans who served honorably, died on duty or from service-connected disabilities, or have a 30% service-connected disability rating, and to dependents who meet the revised residency requirement. It does not change eligibility for veterans who were Wisconsin residents at the time of military entry. The policy change takes effect for the first semester or session beginning after the bill's effective date.
AB 679 creates a new permit system for trucks carrying grain, feed, or commercial fertilizer that exceed standard weight limits. It allows vehicles with 6 or more axles to operate at up to 91,000 pounds gross weight on state highways, provided they meet axle weight distribution rules and follow department-specified routes. The bill directly affects agricultural haulers and trucking companies transporting these materials, requiring a $325 permit for such operations. Permits are invalid on interstate highways (except as permitted by federal law) and may be suspended during spring thaw conditions. This bill does not change base weight limits but establishes a regulated pathway for heavier agricultural transport.
AB 596 creates a state matching grant program that allocates $950,000 to provide state funds matching federal per diem payments received by eligible non-state entities. It directly affects organizations or programs receiving federal per diem payments (such as those supporting veterans) by allowing them to access additional state funding. The bill establishes this program under the Veterans Affairs department budget, requiring the state to match federal payments without changing eligibility criteria or adding new requirements for recipients.
AB 597 creates a state matching grant program that provides $25 per day per veteran to eligible housing providers who receive federal per diem payments under 38 USC 2012. It directly affects organizations housing veterans who qualify for federal per diem payments, such as veteran service nonprofits or shelters. The program funds up to 365 days per year per veteran, with quarterly payments based on the previous quarter's housing. Grants are limited to $25/day and require annual applications through the state department.
AB 696 updates licensing requirements for certified public accountants (CPAs) in the state. It requires applicants to complete 150 semester hours of education (including accounting and business coursework) and gain work experience involving accounting, tax, or consulting skills, verified by the Accounting Examining Board. The bill also clarifies that out-of-state CPAs with equivalent licenses can continue practicing without reapplying, as long as they met prior requirements. These changes modify both statute law and administrative rules governing CPA licensure and education standards.
This bill creates a grant program to help school districts build or upgrade playgrounds to be accessible for students with disabilities. It allocates $1 million for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund these projects. The program requires school districts to match the grant amount with their own spending on playground construction or upgrades. Only school districts can apply for these grants, and the funding is intended specifically for making playgrounds accessible to pupils with disabilities.
This bill establishes priority rules for locating specific types of high-voltage electric transmission infrastructure, including mega transmission systems, consolidated utility corridors, and high-voltage direct current systems. It directs that these facilities be sited within existing high-voltage transmission line rights-of-way or along the corridors of interstate highways, U.S. numbered highways, state trunk highways, or railroad rights-of-way. The legislation defines a mega transmission system as a high-voltage line designed to operate at more than 400 kilovolts and renumbers an existing statute section to accommodate this new provision.
This bill creates a revolving loan program to help municipalities and homeowners along the Mississippi River address shoreline erosion that threatens their buildings. The Department of Natural Resources would administer the program, using $2 million in state funding to provide loans to eligible applicants who meet income and other criteria. The legislation also grants the department authority to create rules for the program and allows it to use emergency rule procedures without needing to prove an immediate public safety emergency. Additionally, the bill extends the time emergency rules remain in effect to 25 months and authorizes the creation of half a full-time equivalent position to manage the program.
This bill establishes a state grant program to help school districts provide safe transportation for high school students attending school-sponsored events. The legislation creates new funding categories in the state budget, allocating $500,000 for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to the Department of Public Instruction for distribution to eligible school districts. The program is designed to assist districts with transportation costs for events such as sports competitions, academic competitions, and other organized activities. The funding is authorized through June 30, 2027, after which the grant program will expire unless renewed by the legislature.
