This bill creates a new fund and loan program to help first-time home buyers in Wisconsin cover costs like down payments, closing costs, and mortgage insurance. The program is managed by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and provides interest-free loans up to $35,000 or 10 percent of the home's purchase price, whichever is less. Eligible borrowers must be first-time home buyers or those who lost their home to foreclosure, have household income at or below 100 percent of the area median income, complete a home buyer education course, and agree to live in the home as their primary residence. The loans are forgiven in installments over ten years if the borrower keeps the home as their primary residence, with larger forgiveness amounts at five and ten-year intervals. The bill also appropriates $150 million for the fund in the 2025-26 fiscal year and allows the authority to invest unused funds in safe, low-risk investments.
This bill establishes 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 that grant amounts cannot exceed the actual costs school districts spend on construction or upgrades. School districts apply through the state department of public instruction to receive funding for making playgrounds more inclusive.
This bill creates the WisEARNS program, a state-administered retirement savings plan designed for employees who do not have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. It establishes a new WisEARNS board attached to the state treasurer, composed of representatives from various sectors including investments, small business, employees, and employers, with specific requirements to ensure diverse expertise and independence from securities dealers. The board will oversee the selection of a vendor to manage the program, which will automatically enroll eligible employees and allow them to make contributions to retirement savings accounts. The legislation also grants the board rule-making authority and includes an appropriation to fund the program's initial implementation.
This bill would allow Wisconsin school districts to increase their revenue limits when they spend money on energy efficiency projects. If a school board chooses to participate, the district's spending on energy-saving measures, including debt payments for bonds or loans used to finance those projects, would count toward raising the revenue cap for that school year. To qualify, projects must reduce energy or operational costs, follow a performance contract, and have financing terms of 20 years or less. The legislation also defines eligible projects as facility upgrades, training programs, or services that lower energy use, conserve water, or improve metering accuracy.
SB 959 sets new requirements for community-based residential facilities that use the "memory care" designation in their name, advertising, or communications. It requires these facilities to serve residents with irreversible dementia (like Alzheimer’s) and provide staff with comprehensive dementia care training, including dementia basics, person-centered care strategies, communication techniques, non-drug behavioral interventions, and supporting independence. Facilities must complete initial training for administrators and resident care staff by July 1, 2027, and provide annual refresher training on these topics. Existing facilities using "memory care" before July 1, 2027, must comply with these rules by that date to continue the designation.
SB 1064 requires all new motorboats with enclosed sleeping/galley compartments (defined as "enclosed accommodation compartments") to have certified marine carbon monoxide detection systems installed before sale. It also mandates that cabin motorboat owners display a visible carbon monoxide warning sticker and ensures the state department provides free safety information and stickers during boat registration. Violating these requirements carries a $300 penalty for repeat offenses. The law applies to new boats sold, registered, or operated after its effective date.
SB 1021 requires adult family homes and residential care apartment complexes to implement specific safety measures. It mandates fall prevention and recovery training for all staff and residents within 30 days of move-in (unless medically certified otherwise), and requires facilities to maintain at least one certified CPR provider, one certified first aid provider, and one staff member trained in fall recovery and safe lifting techniques on-site at all times. The bill also establishes a duty for facilities to provide immediate CPR or first aid during medical emergencies (pending emergency services) and to attempt safe lifting of fallen, uninjured residents before calling for help. These requirements directly affect staff and residents in these residential care facilities.
SB 826 allows healthcare providers to vaccinate minors aged 16 or older without parental consent if the minor requests it. The bill requires providers to obtain the minor’s consent before billing insurance or other third parties for the vaccination. If the minor declines third-party billing, they are responsible for payment directly to the provider, following existing fee guidelines. This applies specifically to medically appropriate vaccines and affects minors aged 16+, healthcare providers, and third-party payers. The bill does not change parental rights for minors under 16.
SB 842 creates a program to fund violence prevention initiatives using tax revenue from vapor products. It directs local health departments and tribal health centers to apply for grants to run violence prevention programs or award subgrants to community organizations, while explicitly prohibiting funds from going to law enforcement agencies or entities working with them. The bill appropriates $30,000 for administrative staffing in fiscal year 2025-26 and $120,000 for 2026-27 to manage the program, with grant applications due annually by June 30. This policy change directly affects local health entities and tribal health centers by providing dedicated funding streams for community-based violence prevention work.
AB 916 creates a state-funded home repair program to address habitability issues and improve energy efficiency in affordable housing. It provides grants of up to $25,000 per unit to eligible homeowners (income ≤100% of area median income who own or occupy their homes) and interest-free loans of up to $25,000 to eligible landlords (owning ≤5 properties/15 units of affordable housing). The program prioritizes repairs for homes with health/safety hazards, energy efficiency upgrades, and accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities or young children. Properties must be between 10 and 40 years old to qualify, and funds are administered by the state authority or contracted counties/nonprofits with strict reporting requirements.
AB 984 sets new standards for community-based residential facilities that use the "memory care" designation in their name, advertising, or communications. It requires these facilities to serve only individuals with irreversible dementia (like Alzheimer’s) and to provide mandatory staff training on dementia care. The training must cover dementia basics, person-centered care, communication techniques, non-drug behavioral interventions, and supporting residents’ independence - both for initial hiring and annually thereafter. These requirements take effect July 1, 2027, with existing facilities needing compliance by that date to continue using the designation.
This bill modifies how the Wisconsin Blue Book and highway maps are distributed to state legislators, changing from automatic distribution to a request-based system. Under the new rules, legislative offices must request copies of the Blue Book before printing, with each Senator allowed up to 600 copies and each Assembly Representative up to 350 copies. Highway service maps will be provided free of charge to each legislator and officer, with a limit of 50 copies per person, while folded highway maps will be distributed without charge to each legislator and officer with a limit of 500 copies per person. The bill also requires the department to contact legislators to determine their specific needs before distributing these documents, ensuring that distribution matches actual demand rather than being automatically sent to all members.
