Rep. Christine Sinicki

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Wisconsin statutes to allow hospitals, fire stations, emergency medical services stations, and law enforcement agencies to install newborn infant safety devices for surrendering babies. The law defines these devices as wall-mounted units with separate exterior and interior access points and requires them to be monitored 24 hours a day with surveillance cameras. It also permits parents unable to reach a designated surrender location to call 911 for assistance in relinquishing custody of their newborn. The bill establishes specific operational requirements for facilities that choose to use these devices, including regular physical checks and alarm system testing.

Maddy summaryAB 1178 amends Wisconsin statutes to update definitions and procedures for regional transit authorities, ensuring they are recognized as eligible entities for various state programs including highway relocation orders, right-of-way applications, and employer classifications for employee benefits. The bill creates new funding mechanisms by establishing appropriation accounts to collect and distribute taxes imposed by transit authorities that choose to levy them, with a portion of those revenues retained for administrative costs. Additionally, the legislation clarifies which organizations qualify as municipalities and employers under existing laws, explicitly including transit authorities created under the specified chapter while excluding cultural arts districts from certain employer definitions. This bill does not mandate tax collection but provides the legal framework for transit authorities to adopt resolutions imposing taxes if they choose to do so.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and private elementary and secondary schools and licensed child care centers with fuel-burning appliances to install carbon monoxide detectors in rooms containing those appliances. The law specifies that detectors must be battery-powered or permanently wired with monitoring for older buildings, while newer buildings must have permanently wired, monitored detectors certified by an independent safety organization. Schools can apply for up to $3,000 grants to purchase and install these detectors, and the Department of Justice will provide annual reports on grant usage. The bill also updates maintenance requirements and allows authorized inspectors to check detector functionality in covered facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires operators of licensed runaway homes to notify child welfare agencies and a child's parents, guardians, or legal custodians when a child is sheltered there without consent. The law mandates that intake workers inform parents within 72 hours, while home operators must attempt contact every six hours until successful if the child's safety is deemed best served by notification. Additionally, if parents do not consent to the child's placement, a court hearing must be held within 24 hours to determine whether the child can remain in the home. These provisions apply specifically to licensed facilities sheltering runaway children and aim to establish clearer communication protocols between operators, welfare agencies, and families.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes cities, villages, towns, and counties to establish fair housing departments to educate residents about housing discrimination rights and enforce local fair housing ordinances. It creates a grant program that provides up to $10 million in state funding to help local governments set up these departments, with grants distributed across state regions to ensure equitable access. The legislation includes specific rules for grant applications, limits each region to receiving no more than 12.5 percent of available funds, and restricts grant usage to supporting fair housing department operations. The bill also establishes a sunset provision that prevents new grants from being awarded after June 30, 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the rules for selling alcoholic beverages in public parks operated by counties or municipalities in Wisconsin. It specifies that such sales must be conducted by county or municipal officers or employees under rules or regulations approved by the governing body. The legislation also reinforces that municipalities cannot sell alcohol except under the specific conditions outlined for public parks and existing municipal stores. This change provides clearer legal authority for local governments to manage alcohol sales in their public spaces.

Maddy summaryAB 1008 clarifies eligibility for Wisconsin's child care subsidy program (Wisconsin Shares) by expanding "relative" definitions to include "like-kin" caregivers. It allows non-relatives who provide care as family (e.g., close family friends) to qualify for subsidies if they meet specific criteria, such as having a court order and receiving payments under certain statutes. The bill also adjusts income calculations for eligibility, including court-ordered support payments exceeding $1,250 monthly. This directly affects caregivers of children under 13 (or 19 if disabled) who seek child care assistance through Wisconsin Shares.

Maddy summaryAB 1023 creates a dedicated $500,000 annual appropriation (for 2025-26 and 2026-27) specifically for training and technical assistance for tribal child care providers. The bill directs the Department of Children and Families to use this funding to contract with agencies or award grants aimed at improving the quality of child care services provided by tribal organizations. This funding is separate from other child care funding streams and must be used exclusively for these tribal provider support activities. The bill directly affects tribal child care programs in Wisconsin by providing a new, dedicated resource for their professional development and operational support.

Maddy summaryAB 1029 creates Wisconsin's first state-level estate tax, applying to estates of Wisconsin residents and non-residents owning property within the state. It taxes the "Wisconsin taxable estate" (based on federal estate valuation rules, adjusted for Wisconsin-specific exclusions) at rates tied to federal tax exclusion amounts. The tax applies to transfers from decedents who were Wisconsin residents at death or to property with a "situs" (location) in Wisconsin, with specific exemptions for certain intangible property. This bill directly affects estates of Wisconsin residents and non-residents holding in-state assets, imposing tax where federal estate tax would not apply.

Maddy summaryAB 1028 authorizes Wisconsin counties and municipalities to impose a local income tax on the portion of a resident's Wisconsin taxable income exceeding $1 million for single filers, $500,000 for separately filing married individuals, or $1 million for jointly filing married couples. Localities must adopt the tax via a referendum and apply it only to taxpayers who reside, own property, or work in the jurisdiction for at least 30 days annually. The state Department of Revenue would administer the tax, with 1.75% of collected revenue funding administrative costs.