Rep. Lori Palmeri

Maddy summaryAB 659 modifies Wisconsin's tuition benefit policies for veterans and their families. It reduces the required residency period from 5 to 3 consecutive years in the state before enrollment for veterans themselves and their dependents (spouses or children) to qualify for tuition exemptions or grants at University of Wisconsin System schools, technical colleges, or private nonprofit institutions. The bill applies to veterans who served honorably, died on duty or from service-connected disabilities, or have a 30% service-connected disability rating, and to dependents who meet the revised residency requirement. It does not change eligibility for veterans who were Wisconsin residents at the time of military entry. The policy change takes effect for the first semester or session beginning after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a tuition loan program for Wisconsin residents enrolled in higher education who commit to working full-time in teaching, firefighting, or law enforcement for at least 10 years after completing their training. The program provides loans covering total tuition costs for up to four years of undergraduate study at University of Wisconsin System institutions or two years at technical colleges, with funds allocated equally among the three career fields. Eligible students must maintain satisfactory academic progress, apply annually, and repay loans at a 5 percent annual interest rate, though repayment is deferred while they work in their chosen profession and 50 to 100 percent of the loan is forgiven if they remain in the state and profession for seven or ten years respectively. The bill also grants the Higher Educational Aids Board authority to create rules for administering the program and includes a $1.5 million appropriation for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Wisconsin school districts to increase their revenue limits when they spend money on energy efficiency projects. The adjustment applies to districts that adopt a resolution authorizing the increase and meet specific requirements, including using performance contracts for the project and financing it with bonds or loans of 20 years or less. Eligible projects must reduce energy or operational costs, conserve water, or improve metering accuracy, and the revenue limit increase would last for each school year the district pays debt service on the financing. The bill updates existing statutes to clarify how these adjustments are calculated and applies to resolutions adopted on the effective date of the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires unregulated pregnancy centers to obtain written authorization from individuals before disclosing their personal health information, with specific requirements for what the authorization must include and how long it remains valid. The law defines unregulated pregnancy centers as facilities that do not provide abortions or emergency contraception and are not covered by existing medical privacy laws, while also establishing rules for when information can be shared without consent, such as for legal compliance or law enforcement cooperation. Centers must notify individuals if their health data is breached and face penalties for violating these privacy protections, while also being prohibited from discriminating against people who refuse to authorize information sharing. The bill creates a new section in the state statutes to establish these requirements and specifies that the law takes effect three months after publication.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits grocery retailers from using personalized algorithmic pricing for essential consumer goods like food and household products. It requires clear disclosure when prices are set by algorithms using personal data and bans displaying such prices on electronic screens within stores. The law also prevents retailers from using consumer data to set prices that vary based on protected characteristics like race, sex, or disability. Grocery retailers face penalties of up to $2,000 per violation and could be subject to investigations and civil lawsuits from affected consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school boards to pay teachers for time spent on nonclassroom duties, such as grading, planning, or administrative tasks, rather than expecting this work to be done without compensation. The key provision states that no school board can require teachers to perform services outside regular classroom instruction unless they are compensated for that time. The law applies to all teachers affected by collective bargaining agreements or contracts, taking effect when their current agreements expire or are modified. This change aims to ensure teachers are paid for all professional time they spend supporting students and school operations.

Maddy summaryAB 1075 changes the age threshold for juvenile court jurisdiction by reclassifying 17-year-olds as adults for criminal prosecution purposes. It amends definitions to define "adult" as 17 years or older (instead of 18) for investigating and prosecuting criminal violations, while keeping 17-year-olds under juvenile court jurisdiction for specific cases. The bill also creates a new funding mechanism to reimburse counties for costs related to 17-year-olds accused of crimes starting in 2026. This directly affects 17-year-olds facing criminal charges and county juvenile justice systems managing their cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase state funding for passenger rail operations by $10 million and allocate an additional $5.2 million for feasibility studies on rail expansion projects. The funds would be directed to the department of transportation for fiscal year 2026-27 to support existing rail services and evaluate potential new routes. The legislation affects state transportation budgets and rail service providers by authorizing these specific appropriations. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add a nonvoting teacher representative to school boards in Wisconsin's common and union high school districts. The teacher representative would be selected through a secret ballot vote by teaching staff members and would serve a three-year term, attending all board meetings including closed sessions but without voting rights. The legislation also updates procedures for school board reorganization and special meetings to include notification requirements for the teacher representative.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers operating full-service pharmacies or major grocery stores to provide at least 60 days advance written notice to employees before permanently closing their business. The law defines a full-service pharmacy as one that dispenses prescriptions with an on-site pharmacist and a major grocery store as a licensed food establishment selling fresh produce and staples that occupies at least 15,000 square feet. If an employer fails to give timely notice, affected employees may recover up to 60 days of pay and the value of lost benefits through a claims process administered by the state department. The bill also requires employers to notify local workforce development boards and municipal officials, and provides for attorney fees if employees successfully pursue legal action against non-compliant employers.