Sen. André Jacque

Maddy summarySB 467 requires municipalities and counties to hold voter referendums before imposing or continuing local annual registration fees on motor vehicles kept within their boundaries. The bill mandates that new fees must be approved by a majority of voters in a regular election, with the referendum question specifying the fee amount. For existing fees implemented before the law's effective date, a referendum must be held within 18 months, allowing voters to decide whether to continue the fee. This directly affects local governments seeking to collect such fees and vehicle owners in those jurisdictions.

Maddy summarySB 227 repeals Section 164.05 of the statutes, which previously established a "law enforcement officers’ bill of rights" in the state code. This bill removes the existing statutory provision without creating new rights or procedures for law enforcement officers. It directly affects the legal framework governing officers' rights by eliminating the specific section referenced in the repeal. As a procedural bill, it does not alter policy or impact any other laws, merely deleting the cited statute from the code.

Maddy summarySB 394 amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify which historical properties are protected from damage or graffiti and to establish penalties for violations. It specifies that protected property includes structures, plaques, statues, paintings, or monuments of historical significance that are maintained by the state, county, or municipality, or located on publicly owned land. The bill expands the definition of protected property by explicitly including such monuments listed on a historical registry or deemed historically significant. This change ensures that vandals face legal consequences for damaging government-maintained historical sites, such as monuments in public parks or historic buildings.

Maddy summarySB 635 creates a refundable tax credit for married couples who complete premarital counseling before their wedding. It allows couples filing jointly to claim $600 in their first married year, $300 in the second, and $100 in the third, with reduced amounts for separate returns. To qualify, couples must obtain written certification from a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or clergy member confirming the counseling occurred before marriage. The credit is funded through a new state appropriation and must be claimed within specific time limits after the marriage year.

Maddy summarySB 171 requires all public school districts to implement age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention education for students in 4-year-old kindergarten through 12th grade starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The law mandates specific curriculum content, including anatomical terms, setting personal boundaries, identifying safe/unsafe touch, recognizing abuse signs, and reporting procedures. Schools must provide parents with program outlines, timing details, and educational materials about abuse prevention and vulnerability factors before instruction begins. Parents may opt their child out of the program with a written request, but schools must still share the educational resources with them.

Maddy summarySB 341 changes how Wisconsin school districts receive state funding for the 2024-2030 school years. It gradually increases the percentage of annual aid paid in September (from 15% to 25%) while decreasing the June payment (from 35% to 25%), with fixed 25% payments in December and March each year. This affects all Wisconsin school districts that receive state equalization aid. The bill does not change the total annual funding amount, only the timing of payments.

Maddy summarySB 185 is a technical correction bill that updates specific dates in existing property tax exemption law for nonprofit theaters. It changes the effective date from October 1, 1990, to June 1, 1995, and adjusts the reference year from 2025 to 2026. This bill does not create new exemptions or alter eligibility rules - it only corrects administrative dates in current law. The change directly affects nonprofit theaters operating under the existing tax exemption framework. The bill was recently passed by the Senate with committee recommendations.

Maddy summarySB 650 defines "transnational repression" as actions by foreign agents targeting individuals (like activists or journalists) to silence them due to political views. It creates three key provisions: (1) requires Wisconsin's Department of Justice to develop law enforcement training, public awareness campaigns, and a reporting portal for transnational repression cases; (2) increases penalties for crimes committed as transnational repression (e.g., raising a Class B felony to a Class A felony); and (3) criminalizes enforcing foreign laws without federal or state approval, punishable as a Class E felony with a minimum 3-year prison term. The bill directly affects foreign government agents, law enforcement, and individuals targeted by transnational repression. It focuses on prevention, awareness, and stricter penalties for specific foreign interference tactics.

Maddy summarySB 553 clarifies that certain medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life do not count as "abortion" under state law. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "anembryonic pregnancy," "ectopic pregnancy," and "molar pregnancy," and explicitly states that abortion does not include procedures like emergency cesarean sections, removal of a dead fetus, or treatment for these specific conditions when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. This directly affects healthcare providers who perform these emergency procedures and pregnant patients facing medical crises. The law updates multiple statutes to ensure these scenarios are excluded from the legal definition of abortion.

Maddy summarySJR 101 is a symbolic resolution declaring November 2025 as Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Month in Wisconsin. It highlights Wisconsin's veteran suicide statistics (134 deaths in 2023, accounting for 15% of state adult suicides) and aims to raise awareness about mental health challenges veterans face during civilian transitions. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but encourages the state to recognize veterans' service and promote existing resources like the Veterans Crisis Line. It directly affects Wisconsin veterans by drawing attention to their mental health needs through official state recognition.