SB 871 creates a $2.5 million grant program to help Wisconsin farmers adopt sustainable practices that reduce fossil fuel use and store carbon. Eligible activities include installing renewable energy systems, planting trees/vegetation to capture carbon, and improving soil health through cover cropping or no-till farming. The program prioritizes projects offering the greatest carbon reduction per dollar, with special focus on small farms and diverse agricultural regions across the state. Grant recipients must allow project monitoring and report on environmental impacts, with funds requiring matching non-state support for maximum climate benefit.
AB 885 limits how cities can regulate land development outside their official boundaries. It prevents municipalities from denying approval for land plats or surveys based solely on the proposed land use, unless the denial follows specific, pre-approved rules related to: (1) land use itself, (2) public improvements, (3) land division standards, or (4) annexation agreements. This directly affects developers and landowners seeking to build in areas adjacent to cities but not yet within city limits. The bill ensures cities can only block development for clearly defined reasons, not arbitrary concerns about how land might be used.
AB 878 creates a tax credit for businesses that pay certain sales and use taxes on services sold through amusement devices (like arcade games or interactive machines). Specifically, it allows businesses to claim a credit equal to the county and municipal sales taxes paid on those services, reducing their Wisconsin income or franchise tax liability. The credit cannot be claimed directly by partnerships, LLCs, or tax-option corporations, but must be passed through to their owners based on ownership share. Unused credit can be carried forward for up to 20 years to offset future tax bills.
SB 873 limits a municipality's ability to deny land subdivision approvals (plats) for areas outside its city limits but within its planning jurisdiction. It prevents cities from blocking such approvals based solely on the proposed land use, instead requiring denials to be based on four specific, pre-approved criteria: land use type, public improvement specifications, land division standards, or annexation agreements. The bill also allows municipalities to recover attorney fees if they successfully sue to enforce these rules. This directly affects developers seeking to build in areas adjacent to incorporated cities and the municipalities reviewing those projects.
SB 866 expands Wisconsin's sex offender registration requirements by adding specific crimes to the list of offenses that trigger registration. It requires registration for violations of certain statutes involving minors (like 948.051 or 948.06) when the perpetrator is not the victim's parent. The law applies to crimes committed on or after the bill's effective date, directly affecting individuals convicted of these newly listed offenses.
SB 865 creates a new tax credit for businesses that pay sales or use tax on services purchased through amusement devices (like arcade games or video game machines). The credit allows eligible businesses to reduce their Wisconsin income or franchise tax by the amount of county and municipal sales taxes paid on qualifying services sold via these devices, effective for taxable years after December 2024. Partnerships, LLCs, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly but must allocate it to owners based on their ownership share. Unused credit amounts can be carried forward for up to 20 years to offset future state tax liabilities. This bill directly affects businesses operating amusement devices, such as arcades or game centers, by potentially lowering their state tax burden.
AB 876 creates a new $10 million annual grant program for Wisconsin school districts to fund energy efficiency projects in school buildings, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The program prioritizes projects focused on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for schools. The Department of Public Instruction will administer the grants and may develop rules to implement the program. This directly affects public school districts seeking funding for building upgrades to reduce energy costs.
SB 879 requires proxy advisors (firms that advise shareholders on voting) to disclose whether their recommendations against company management are based on a written financial analysis. If recommendations lack this analysis, advisors must clearly state this to shareholders, company boards, and publicly on their website. If analysis is used, advisors must provide it upon request to shareholders and company boards. The bill directly affects proxy advisors, companies in the state, and shareholders receiving voting guidance, aiming to increase transparency in proxy voting recommendations.
SB 869 increases the required funding for energy efficiency programs from 1.2% to 2.4% of energy utilities' annual operating revenues. It explicitly includes residential energy storage systems (like home battery systems) within eligible energy efficiency programs. The bill defines "energy storage system" as commercially available technology for storing energy, such as batteries. This change directly affects energy utilities, requiring them to allocate more funds toward programs that support residential energy storage adoption. The policy change focuses on expanding access to energy storage solutions for home customers through utility-funded programs.
SB 877 requires local governments (cities, towns, counties, school districts) to notify and consult with neighboring jurisdictions when federal refugee resettlement is proposed in their area. It mandates written reports to chief elected officials within 7 days of initial contact, followed by 10-day notifications to nearby governments, 30-day meetings to appoint local representatives, and 45-day county-level committee meetings with refugee resettlement organizations. The bill also requires public hearings with 15-day newspaper notices and written recommendations to local governing bodies about refugee placement plans. This directly affects all local governments within 100 miles of proposed refugee resettlement sites, creating a structured consultation process before final decisions are made.
AB 886 creates a $2 million pilot program to fund grants for local governments and nonprofits that provide non-medication, non-talk therapy mental health treatments for children. The program allocates up to $50,000 per grant to expand access to research-based alternatives, such as art or play therapy, for children in need. Grants are limited to a two-year duration from the program's effective date, with applications open to cities, towns, counties, or qualifying nonprofits. The bill directly affects community organizations serving children by providing targeted funding for specific treatment approaches.
SB 876 creates a new green jobs training program funded with $1.5 million annually for grants to public or private organizations. These grants support training for workers in clean energy sectors like solar, wind, and renewable resource management, with organizations required to provide matching funds. The bill exempts the program from standard emergency rule procedures, allowing faster implementation, and mandates annual reports tracking participants, job placements, and wage changes. It directly affects workforce development organizations, unemployed/underemployed workers, and employers in emerging green industries. The program is administered by the Department of Workforce Development, with reporting requirements detailing outcomes like job placements and wage increases.
