AB 1049 strengthens residents' rights in mobile or manufactured home communities by requiring owners to provide 12 months' notice before closing and 14 days' notice for sales or foreclosure, while granting residents a 90-day window to form a group (with 51% approval) to purchase the community. The bill also creates tax incentives for owners by excluding income from sales to resident groups from taxable income for years after 2025. Additionally, it establishes new operational standards, including annual inspections, defined maintenance responsibilities (like roads and utilities), and mandatory evacuation plans for emergencies. These changes directly affect mobile home community owners and residents in the state.
SB 1041 creates an Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the Department of Financial Institutions to assist student loan borrowers in the state. The office will handle complaints, resolve issues with loan servicers, analyze borrower data, and provide information about borrowers' rights under student education loans. It directly affects student loan borrowers (including residents and those sharing repayment responsibility) and student loan servicers (non-state entities managing loans). Key provisions require the ombudsman to monitor loan servicing practices, collaborate with schools and servicers, and make recommendations to improve borrower protections.
SB 956 authorizes three new staff positions within the Department of Justice to strengthen Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) enforcement. It adds 2.0 full-time criminal analyst positions, 1.0 outreach specialist position, and 1.0 digital evidence examiner position. These roles will be funded using existing appropriations designated under section 20.455(2)(a). The bill directly affects the Department of Justice's staffing capacity for ICAC investigations and victim support.
SB 925 creates a system for automatic voter registration by requiring the election commission to match driver's license and ID data from the Department of Transportation with existing voter registration lists. It directs the commission to obtain names, addresses, birth dates, license numbers, and verified citizenship proof from the DMV to identify eligible voters not yet registered. The bill mandates that the commission contact voters to resolve discrepancies, add eligible unregistered individuals to the list, and send multilingual notices informing them of their registration and providing opt-out instructions. Voters can request removal from the list, and the commission must send notices for any removals (except for duplicates or deceased individuals). This law directly affects all state residents who interact with the DMV and meet voter eligibility requirements.
SB 934 requires municipalities to obtain governing body approval after a public hearing before discontinuing a polling place location. It also mandates that municipal clerks or election boards send written notice to all affected residents at least 30 days before an election if a polling place is discontinued after the previous election. This bill directly affects local election officials and municipalities managing polling locations. The key changes are: 1) requiring public hearings for proposed discontinuations, and 2) enforcing advance mail notifications to voters. These provisions aim to improve transparency and voter awareness about polling place changes.
SB 941 creates a joint legislative committee to conduct a study on how state agencies share data and manage information systems. The committee will hire an independent firm to assess current practices, identify barriers to efficient data sharing, review best practices from other states, and recommend improvements like standardized systems or a dedicated data office. All state agencies must cooperate with this study, which will conclude with a report by December 31, 2026, including specific recommendations for policy or funding changes. This bill directly affects all state agencies that handle data, aiming to improve efficiency through better data management. The study itself is procedural and does not enact new laws.
SB 923 reduces the residency requirement for voting in Wisconsin from 28 consecutive days to 10 consecutive days before an election. It directly affects voters who move within the state shortly before an election, allowing them to vote in their new district if they meet the 10-day requirement, or at their previous address if they cannot. The bill also creates a special affidavit process for voters with less than 10 days of residency to vote only for president and vice president, while maintaining the 10-day standard for all other elections. Key provisions include updated registration forms and penalties for false statements on residency affidavits. This bill modifies existing voting statutes to shorten the residency period for most voting purposes.
SB 972 requires the Council on Early Literacy Curricula to recommend evidence-based literacy curricula and materials for kindergarten through third grade starting in the 2025-26 school year. The Department of Education must submit these recommendations, along with any departmental suggestions, to legislative committees within 14 days. If the legislature’s finance committee does not schedule a review meeting within 14 days, the recommendations automatically take effect for the next school year. This bill directly affects K-3 public schools by shaping the literacy resources they use, while establishing a clear timeline for legislative input or automatic adoption.
SB 954 requires the Department of Justice to create and run a public awareness campaign focused on children's online safety. The campaign will educate parents and caregivers about internet risks for children and share practical steps to prevent exposure to harmful content, using digital platforms (websites, social media, newsletters) and print materials. Schools, as defined by statute, can request free copies of the campaign materials upon request. The bill does not create new funding or penalties, but mandates existing agency resources for this specific outreach effort.
SB 953 defines sexual extortion involving child victims as a violation under existing statute 942.095. It specifically applies when the victim is a child, as defined in statute 948.01(1), clarifying that such cases fall under this legal category. The bill creates a new statutory reference (165.505(1)(bg)3.) to ensure these offenses are properly categorized under current law. This procedural change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors handling internet crimes against children.
SB 1008 creates a baby bond program for newborns in the state, automatically enrolling infants through birth records submitted to the Department of Financial Institutions. It establishes a "baby bond fund" funded by state agency deposits, donations, and investment earnings, which will provide distributions to account beneficiaries when they reach adulthood. Funds can be used for specific eligible expenses like college tuition, home purchases, starting a business, childcare, or retirement savings. The program directly affects newborns born in the state, with distributions administered by the Department of Financial Institutions based on defined eligibility criteria.
SB 927 clarifies the difference between pet insurance and wellness programs, directly affecting pet insurance companies, their sales agents, and pet owners. The bill prohibits marketing wellness programs as insurance or bundling them with insurance sales, requiring separate pricing, terms, and clear disclosures that wellness programs are not insurance. It mandates training for sellers on topics like preexisting conditions and the distinction between insurance and wellness services, and requires insurers to disclose policy details like exclusions, waiting periods, and coverage limits. These rules aim to prevent consumer confusion and ensure transparent, accurate information about pet insurance products.
