Sen. André Jacque

Maddy summarySB 8 creates a "lemon law" for new farm machinery (like tractors or harvesters) sold with an express warranty. It directly affects farmers who purchase or lease new equipment, requiring manufacturers or dealers to repair defects covered by warranty. If the same defect isn't fixed after four repair attempts or the equipment is unusable for 30+ days total due to warranty issues, the buyer is entitled to a replacement or full refund. The law applies within the warranty period or one year after first delivery, whichever comes first.

Maddy summarySB 582 simplifies residency verification for students continuing in Wisconsin's private school choice program. It eliminates the requirement for parents to submit new residency documents when a student re-enrolls in the same participating private school the following school year, unless their address has changed since the last verification. This applies directly to families using the parental choice program and affects all participating private schools in the state. The rule change takes effect for applications submitted for the 2026-27 school year.

Maddy summarySB 399 limits annual increases to resident undergraduate tuition at the University of Wisconsin System to the previous year's consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate. This directly affects UW System resident undergraduate students, as their tuition hikes will now be tied to inflation rather than board discretion. The bill defines "resident undergraduate tuition" to include academic fees, differential tuition, and other mandatory fees beyond instructional costs. It creates a new rule requiring the Board of Regents to cap tuition increases at the CPI rate, while maintaining existing policies for non-resident tuition and special programs like summer sessions.

Maddy summarySJR 70 is a ceremonial resolution designating June 12, 2025, as "Women Veterans Day" in Wisconsin. It directly recognizes Wisconsin's over 29,000 women veterans, who currently make up about 10% of the state's veteran population. The resolution commemorates the anniversary of President Truman signing the Women's Armed Services Integration Act (June 12, 1948) and acknowledges women veterans' service and unique challenges like higher rates of PTSD and unemployment. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new programs or alter existing laws - it simply urges the state legislature to formally honor women veterans on this date.

Maddy summarySJR 96 is a proposed resolution that would officially recognize October 2025 as "Careers in Construction Month" in Wisconsin. It highlights the construction industry's significance to the state's economy - employing roughly 6% of Wisconsin's workforce - and emphasizes career pathways that allow workers to advance without student debt. The resolution encourages employers, schools, and community groups to host events like job fairs during October 2025 to promote construction careers to students. This is a ceremonial recognition, not a law creating new requirements or funding.

Maddy summarySB 434 regulates prior authorization processes for health insurance plans by requiring greater transparency and standardizing procedures. It directly affects health insurers, self-insured employer plans, and utilization review entities (like insurance companies) that manage pre-approval for medical services. Key provisions include defining "prior authorization" and "adverse determination," mandating that adverse decisions be made by qualified healthcare providers (physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners), and setting timeframes for non-urgent cases. The bill also establishes new requirements for notifying enrollees about coverage decisions. This focuses on clarifying the process for patients seeking covered treatments, not altering coverage benefits.

Maddy summarySB 59 expands Wisconsin's tuition assistance program to include veterans and their dependents attending private nonprofit colleges, not just University of Wisconsin System or technical college students. It creates a new grant program under Section 39.49, allowing eligible students enrolled in bachelor's or graduate programs at private institutions to receive tuition coverage (up to the amount charged) when maintaining a 2.0 GPA. The grant funds are paid directly to the private college to offset tuition costs, rather than to the student. This policy change specifically affects veterans and dependents seeking higher education at qualifying private institutions across Wisconsin.

Maddy summarySB 555 requires Wisconsin's executive branch agencies to submit biennial budget requests using "zero-based budgeting" for 20% of agencies each fiscal biennium, starting in 2027-29. This means agencies must justify every budget line item based on current needs and goals, rather than relying on previous funding levels. The bill also mandates that agencies analyze whether past appropriations met their intended goals and explain any shortfalls, with these reports posted online. It directly affects all state executive agencies submitting budget requests, shifting how they justify spending. The changes take effect for the 2027-29 budget cycle.

Maddy summarySB 567 updates Wisconsin's voter registration rules to improve address verification and remove ineligible voters. It requires election officials to send postcards to verify a voter's current address when registration changes are reported, and to automatically remove voters from the list if addresses can't be confirmed or if they register in another state. The bill also mandates timely notifications to voters and election commissions when registration status changes from "eligible" to "ineligible." These changes directly affect voters who move or update their address, and election offices responsible for maintaining accurate registration lists.

Maddy summarySB 522 requires courts to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for a minor child in family court cases where a nonparent (like a grandparent) petitions for reasonable visitation rights under Section 767.43. The bill mandates a GAL appointment if the nonparent petitioner presents a basic legal case supporting visitation. This applies specifically to cases seeking visitation rights, not custody or other family matters. The law directly affects minors involved in such visitation disputes and ensures courts consider the child's perspective through a dedicated representative.