SB 924 creates a state grant program to help municipalities purchase election supplies and equipment, such as electronic poll books and accessibility tools. It provides tiered funding based on population: up to $2.5 million for cities over 250,000 residents, $1 million for 100,000-250,000, $500,000 for 50,000-100,000, and $250,000 for smaller communities. Municipalities must agree to random inspections of purchased equipment and apply before general elections, with a minimum grant of $250. The bill appropriates $5 million biennially for this program, administered by the Elections Commission.
SJR 130 is a ceremonial joint resolution celebrating Wisconsin athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Italy. It formally recognizes the state's athletes, including those in cross-country skiing, biathlon, wheelchair curling, sled hockey, and other sports, by urging the Wisconsin Legislature to honor their participation. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes; it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of support. It directly affects Wisconsin athletes by acknowledging their representation of the state on an international stage.
AB 1036 prohibits local governments and data centers from using nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to hide details about data center development or prevent public review of such facilities. It defines a "data center" as a facility primarily for storing, managing, or processing digital data, including associated infrastructure like servers and security systems. The law specifically bans agreements intended to conceal development details or block public oversight, with an exception for NDAs protecting trade secrets. This directly affects local governments approving data center projects and data center operators themselves.
AB 1035 expands Wisconsin's deflection initiative by providing $400,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to existing participating sites. It allows these sites to use grants for hiring staff, contracting vendors for program evaluations, or purchasing technology that meets privacy standards like HIPAA. Vendors must have at least five years of experience with similar programs and comply with legal requirements. The bill also adds $107,100 for one additional full-time position to support this expansion.
AB 1002 allocates $1 million for economic support specialist positions at resource centers in the 2025-26 fiscal year, as defined under state law. This new funding replaces the previous allocation method for these roles, creating a dedicated budget line item (20.435(7)(f)). The bill directly affects resource centers providing economic support services, such as job training or financial counseling. It specifies no funding for 2026-27 and takes effect immediately upon passage, with the old funding mechanism repealed July 1, 2027.
AB 1001 creates a new grant program to fund community emergency medical services (EMS) programs that employ community paramedics or practitioners, appropriating $600,000 for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. It also separately increases funding for falls prevention initiatives by $200,000 annually for the same fiscal years. The bill replaces an existing statutory provision (which it subsequently repeals effective July 1, 2027), directing funds specifically to these two community health initiatives. These grants directly support local EMS providers and community health programs focused on emergency response and fall prevention.
SB 1014 expands Wisconsin's existing deflection initiative by providing grants to current participating sites during 2025-27. The bill allows grants for hiring staff, contracting vendors for evaluations, or acquiring care coordination technology that meets legal privacy standards. It increases annual funding by $400,000 for two years and adds $107,100 to support an additional staff position for the Department of Justice. This directly affects current deflection initiative sites, the Department of Justice, and qualified technology vendors.
SB 981 creates an expedited process for state agencies to repeal outdated rules they no longer have authority to create. It defines "restricted agencies" as those inactive for 10+ years or delinquent in reporting, requiring them to submit overdue reports before creating new rules. Agencies must now petition a joint committee for review to fast-track rule repeals, replacing older processes. This directly affects state agencies managing regulations, streamlining removal of obsolete rules while adding new reporting requirements.
SB 958 creates a dedicated "Water Fund for Our Future" with $250 million transferred from the general fund for state water infrastructure and emergency response. It establishes a rapid response account within the fund to cover costs for natural disasters and public health emergencies, including remediation, relocation, and assistance for affected individuals. A joint legislative committee oversees fund spending, ensuring money is only used for clean water activities and requiring written recommendations for funding requests. The fund also includes provisions for transferring unspent balances to the budget stabilization fund during fiscal shortages.
SB 1023 requires University of Wisconsin System institutions to base undergraduate admission decisions "predominantly" on standardized test scores (ACT, SAT, or equivalent) for the 2027-28 academic year onward. It applies directly to all UW System undergraduate applicants, excluding those admitted through the existing guaranteed admission program. The bill adds a new requirement to statutes, mandating that admission criteria prioritize objective test performance over other factors. This change modifies current policies but does not affect existing bans on race, religion, or sex-based admission tests. The law becomes effective for applications submitted for the 2027-28 academic year.
SJR 137 is a non-binding resolution recognizing January 27, 2026, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Wisconsin. It formally acknowledges the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and commemorates the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, along with millions of other persecuted groups. The resolution encourages Wisconsin citizens to reflect on Holocaust history, participate in educational activities, and support efforts to combat antisemitism and hatred. It does not create new laws, programs, or funding, but serves as a symbolic commitment to honoring survivors and preventing future atrocities through remembrance.
SB 979 modifies state rules for reviewing proposed regulations that could impose significant costs. It lowers the cost threshold triggering a review from $10 million to $4 million over two years for businesses, local governments, and individuals. The bill specifically prevents agencies from avoiding this review by splitting a single rule into multiple rules or creating interdependent rules on the same topic. Agencies must halt work on rules exceeding the threshold or revise them to reduce costs, requiring a new economic analysis before proceeding. This directly affects state agencies creating regulations and the entities subject to those rules.
