SB 895 creates a new funding mechanism for Wisconsin's battery collection and recycling program by directing existing fees collected from battery sales (under section 287.175 (3) (b)) to the environmental fund. This bill specifically allocates those moneys to support the program's operations, directly affecting the state's battery recycling efforts and the environmental fund. The law requires that the program be implemented using these redirected fees, without creating new taxes or fees. The bill's effectiveness depends on either Assembly Bill 713 or Senate Bill 702 being enacted during the 2025-26 legislative session.
This bill prevents Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture from quarantining certain animals solely because they were exposed to chronic wasting disease (CWD). It specifically protects farm-raised fallow deer (*Dama dama*) and any animal species not susceptible to CWD. The law amends statutes to remove quarantine requirements for these animals after exposure incidents, directly affecting deer farmers and animal owners who previously faced such restrictions. This creates a clear policy change: quarantine is prohibited unless CWD infection is confirmed.
SB 885 clarifies that digital asset staking and staking-as-a-service are excluded from the state's securities laws. It defines "staking" as locking digital assets to support blockchain security (e.g., via validator nodes) and "staking as a service" as third-party technical support for stakers. The bill directly affects blockchain participants, staking providers, and custodians by removing regulatory burdens under securities rules. This creates a clear regulatory boundary, ensuring staking activities are not treated as investment products under existing state law.
SB 886 eliminates jury trials in child protection cases (CHIPS proceedings) for all children, requiring these hearings to be decided solely by a judge. It also changes rules for termination of parental rights cases by limiting requests for a new judge to only the parent and the state petitioner, with strict limits on how many times this request can be made. The bill directly affects parents and children involved in child welfare or parental rights cases, removing a legal option for jury trials in CHIPS cases and restricting judge substitution requests. Key provisions include amending statutes to require judge-only hearings in CHIPS matters and creating new limits on judge substitution requests in termination proceedings. These changes apply to all new petitions filed after the bill's effective date.
This bill establishes new rules for gift certificates, gift cards, and similar gift obligations to protect consumers from expiration dates and unexpected fees. It requires that these gift obligations cannot expire within five years of purchase or last reload, and it strictly limits when and how fees can be charged, allowing them only after a year of inactivity with clear disclosure and a maximum of one fee per month. The legislation also creates penalties for violations, allowing affected individuals to recover double the lost amount or $200 per violation, while giving state agencies the authority to seek injunctions and fines. Additionally, the bill assigns legal support responsibilities to the Department of Justice for enforcing these new consumer protection provisions.
This bill changes how birth records are handled for children born through surrogacy. It requires that if a child is born to a surrogate mother, the birth record must include the surrogate's information and omit the father's details. Courts can only establish legal parentage for these children through adoption, unless a biological father petitions for rights. The bill also creates a process for courts to update birth records if parental rights are legally determined, requiring the state registrar to replace the original record. This directly affects children born via surrogacy and their legal parentage determination.
SB 897 defines specific threats against health care workers as criminal offenses. It makes it illegal to threaten a current or former health care provider, staff member, or their family member when the threat occurs in response to work at a health care facility or actions taken in an official capacity. The law specifies two key conditions: the threatener must know the victim works in health care, and the threat must relate to the victim's professional role. This bill uses existing statutory definitions for "health care facility" and "health care provider" to clarify when such threats violate the law, creating a new criminal penalty for these specific circumstances.
SB 899 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to or influencing referendum committees that support or oppose ballot measures. It directly affects referendum committees (groups organizing campaigns for or against voter-approved measures) and their contributors. The bill requires committees to obtain written affirmations from contributors confirming they are not foreign nationals and have not received over $100,000 from foreign sources in the past four years. Committees must also attest in reports that they have not accepted foreign funds and will not do so before the referendum vote.
SB 894 creates a new grant program to fund crime victim protective services, directly benefiting crime victims and the agencies serving them. It allocates $2.57 million biennially (starting 2025-26) from the Justice Department budget to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. These grants will cover services like temporary housing for victims of crime. The bill also authorizes one new full-time position at the Justice Department to administer the program.
AB 914 expands the authority of Wisconsin-registered interior designers by allowing them to legally supervise interior construction projects and sign off on required construction documents. The bill amends statutes to clarify that "practice of interior design" includes responsible supervision of interior alterations or construction, and permits registered designers to seal interior technical submissions for public records. This directly affects licensed interior designers working on interior projects (like office remodels or retail spaces) that don't require structural changes or additional exits. The key change removes barriers preventing designers from overseeing construction work they’ve prepared plans for, aligning their role with safety and building code requirements.
SB 803 expands state funding for workforce training grants to specifically support programs preparing individuals to become teachers. It directly affects teacher training programs - especially dual enrollment initiatives - and aspiring educators seeking classroom careers. The bill requires these programs to include research-backed training, leadership development, hands-on job experience, and additional support services. This change modifies existing grant guidelines by adding a new subsection (106.27(1)(b)1.b) to mandate these specific components. The bill is currently pending in committee review after its January 2026 introduction.
SB 802 creates a voluntary health professional assistance program to support licensed health care providers experiencing conditions that could impair their ability to practice safely. The program, funded by a $70 fee paid by providers when obtaining or renewing a participating credential, offers confidential screening, evaluation, treatment, and ongoing monitoring services. Credentialing boards can choose to participate for specific licenses, and providers or colleagues may report concerns without civil liability for good-faith reports. The program is operated by a contracted entity meeting specific requirements and complements existing disciplinary processes without affecting boards' authority over unrelated conduct.
