SB 715 requires state correctional institutions and county jails to maintain indoor temperatures between 68°F and 76°F year-round in all housing units. It mandates detailed temperature logging during extreme weather (below 10°F or above 90°F) and annual reporting of temperature data to the legislature. The bill appropriates $65 million for installing and operating HVAC systems, with phased implementation across state facilities by 2029, 2031, and 2035. It directly affects all state prisons and county correctional facilities by establishing enforceable climate control standards and funding their compliance.
SB 727 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with access to essential personal hygiene products at capped prices and a monthly $25 stipend. It mandates commissaries to sell 18 standard hygiene items (like shampoo, toothpaste, and razors) at no more than 125% of the benchmark retailer’s price, plus culturally sensitive options (e.g., hair care for types 2-4 hair and cocoa-butter lotion) at no more than 100% of the benchmark price. Inmates in state facilities receive the stipend immediately, while those in county jails receive it after 90 days of confinement. The bill appropriates $6.45 million annually for these stipends, funded through state corrections and county jail budgets. This policy directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county detention facilities across the state.
AB 741 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with access to essential personal hygiene products at capped prices based on a leading retail chain's sales. It mandates commissaries to sell 18 standard items (like soap, toothpaste, and razors) at no more than 125% of retail price, plus culturally specific items (e.g., hair products for diverse hair types and cocoa-butter lotion) at no more than 100% of retail price. The bill also provides a $25 monthly stipend for state inmates immediately and for county jail inmates after 91 days of confinement to purchase these products. This legislation, funded by a $6.45 million annual appropriation, directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county detention facilities.
SB 728 requires state correctional institutions and county jails to provide free menstrual products that are free from harmful chemicals to inmates experiencing menstruation. It mandates at least three brands of tampons (including one with a plastic applicator) and three brands of pads, plus one brand of reusable menstrual cup, all selected from a list of verified products. Facilities must also ensure they can sanitize reusable cups as needed, with verification procedures developed by the department and sheriffs. The bill focuses on ensuring access to safe, affordable menstrual products without specifying funding mechanisms.
SB 784 bans state law enforcement agencies from providing, arranging, or reimbursing "warrior-style training" for officers. This type of training is defined as instruction that dehumanizes people, encourages aggressive conduct, or de-emphasizes human life or constitutional rights, potentially increasing the likelihood of deadly force use. The bill prohibits state agencies from contracting with organizations offering such training and denies certification or reimbursement for any training involving warrior-style methods. However, it explicitly allows training in aikido (a specific martial art) to continue without restriction.
AB 726 requires all inmates in state correctional institutions and county jails to be paid a minimum wage of at least the hourly rate specified in statute 104.035(3)(a)1, with an immediate $2.33 per hour increase effective upon enactment. The bill mandates that wages must be based on productivity but cannot fall below this minimum rate, applies to all labor performed by inmates, and prohibits wage reductions without board approval. It also appropriates $58.9 million for 2025-26 and $88.4 million for 2026-27 to cover the increased inmate wages in state facilities, plus smaller sums for correctional enterprises. The law directly affects incarcerated individuals by guaranteeing a minimum wage for their labor, while ensuring funds are allocated to cover these new payment obligations.
AB 738 requires the decertification (removal of professional certification) of law enforcement, jail, juvenile detention, and tactical emergency medical services officers within 30 days for specific actions, including resigning to avoid termination for cause or violating training rules. It also mandates that officers terminated while under investigation for misconduct cannot be recertified without a waiver from a police commission or local governing body. The bill directs the licensing board to develop and update biennially model "best practices" use-of-force policies, emphasizing de-escalation, limiting force against vulnerable populations (like those with disabilities or mental health conditions), and requiring officers to use the least force necessary. This applies directly to certified officers in law enforcement, jail, and juvenile detention roles across the state.
AB 724 requires the Department of Corrections to create a public, interactive website that updates complaint data from state correctional institutions every 72 hours. The system must display the total annual complaints per facility and show all complaint details broken down by category (without personal information about inmates or staff). The bill appropriates $70,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 to establish the system and $30,000 for 2026-27 to operate it. This affects state correctional institutions (which must submit data) and the public (which gains access to the searchable complaint information).
AB 734 establishes specific temperature standards for state correctional institutions and county jails, requiring indoor temperatures to stay between 68°F and 76°F at all times in housing units. It mandates facilities to record temperatures in common areas and random cells during extreme weather (below 10°F or above 90°F) and submit annual reports to the legislature. The bill appropriates $65 million for 2026-27 to install and operate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, with phased implementation: one-third of facilities by 2029, another third by 2031, and the final third by 2035. This directly affects all state prisons and county jails/houses of correction in Wisconsin, requiring them to meet new climate control requirements and report compliance data.
AB 729 requires all state correctional institutions and county jails to install transparent windows in inmate cells by October 2030 that are at least 1.5 square feet and provide 92% visibility to the outdoors. It mandates that every inmate must have access to view outdoors through such windows for at least 3 hours daily (unless in lockdown or solitary), achievable via time outdoors, in-cell viewing, or shared facility windows. The bill directly affects all state prisons and county jails in the state, requiring physical modifications to cell structures. Funding of $500,000 for 2025-26 and $3 million for 2026-27 is allocated specifically for window installation under this law.
