Sen. André Jacque

Maddy summarySB 936 requires major social media platforms (with $1 billion+ annual revenue) to estimate the age of users who spend significant time on their service. After 25 hours of use within six months, platforms must determine if a user is under 18 with 80% confidence; if unsure, they must treat the user as a minor. For minors, platforms must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information and disable features like infinite scrolling and profile-based feeds. The bill directly affects minors under 18 using covered platforms in the state, imposing specific data handling and feature restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJR 117) honoring the late Representative Rudolph L. "Rudy" Silbaugh, who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1991 to 1997 representing the 46th District. It recognizes his 30+ years of public service, including his work on committees related to aging, small business, and seniors' healthcare, as well as his community involvement. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely expresses the Legislature's commemoration of his life and service.

Maddy summarySB 873 limits a municipality's ability to deny land subdivision approvals (plats) for areas outside its city limits but within its planning jurisdiction. It prevents cities from blocking such approvals based solely on the proposed land use, instead requiring denials to be based on four specific, pre-approved criteria: land use type, public improvement specifications, land division standards, or annexation agreements. The bill also allows municipalities to recover attorney fees if they successfully sue to enforce these rules. This directly affects developers seeking to build in areas adjacent to incorporated cities and the municipalities reviewing those projects.

Maddy summarySB 879 requires proxy advisors (firms that advise shareholders on voting) to disclose whether their recommendations against company management are based on a written financial analysis. If recommendations lack this analysis, advisors must clearly state this to shareholders, company boards, and publicly on their website. If analysis is used, advisors must provide it upon request to shareholders and company boards. The bill directly affects proxy advisors, companies in the state, and shareholders receiving voting guidance, aiming to increase transparency in proxy voting recommendations.

Maddy summarySB 877 requires local governments (cities, towns, counties, school districts) to notify and consult with neighboring jurisdictions when federal refugee resettlement is proposed in their area. It mandates written reports to chief elected officials within 7 days of initial contact, followed by 10-day notifications to nearby governments, 30-day meetings to appoint local representatives, and 45-day county-level committee meetings with refugee resettlement organizations. The bill also requires public hearings with 15-day newspaper notices and written recommendations to local governing bodies about refugee placement plans. This directly affects all local governments within 100 miles of proposed refugee resettlement sites, creating a structured consultation process before final decisions are made.

Maddy summarySB 850 updates Wisconsin's rules for "no-sale event venue permits," which allow event spaces to host gatherings where attendees consume alcohol without it being sold (e.g., private parties). The bill permits event renters to bring their own alcohol for guests to consume without charge, and allows caterers with specific licenses to provide alcohol if the renter first purchases it face-to-face at the caterer’s retail location. It also sets clear limits: no more than 36 events per year, with no more than one event per month and each event lasting up to 36 hours. This directly affects property owners applying for these permits, event renters, and caterers holding Class B licenses.

Maddy summarySB 893 modifies procedures for terminating parental rights when a child's custody is relinquished under Wisconsin's safe haven law (s. 48.195). It requires the district attorney or designated official to file a petition to terminate parental rights within 30-60 days after a court finds probable cause that a parent relinquished custody. The bill specifically applies to cases where parents voluntarily gave up custody through the safe haven process, not general termination cases. It does not change the safe haven law itself but establishes a clear timeline for follow-up legal action to finalize parental rights termination.

Maddy summarySB 886 eliminates jury trials in child protection cases (CHIPS proceedings) for all children, requiring these hearings to be decided solely by a judge. It also changes rules for termination of parental rights cases by limiting requests for a new judge to only the parent and the state petitioner, with strict limits on how many times this request can be made. The bill directly affects parents and children involved in child welfare or parental rights cases, removing a legal option for jury trials in CHIPS cases and restricting judge substitution requests. Key provisions include amending statutes to require judge-only hearings in CHIPS matters and creating new limits on judge substitution requests in termination proceedings. These changes apply to all new petitions filed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how birth records are handled for children born through surrogacy. It requires that if a child is born to a surrogate mother, the birth record must include the surrogate's information and omit the father's details. Courts can only establish legal parentage for these children through adoption, unless a biological father petitions for rights. The bill also creates a process for courts to update birth records if parental rights are legally determined, requiring the state registrar to replace the original record. This directly affects children born via surrogacy and their legal parentage determination.

Maddy summarySB 899 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to or influencing referendum committees that support or oppose ballot measures. It directly affects referendum committees (groups organizing campaigns for or against voter-approved measures) and their contributors. The bill requires committees to obtain written affirmations from contributors confirming they are not foreign nationals and have not received over $100,000 from foreign sources in the past four years. Committees must also attest in reports that they have not accepted foreign funds and will not do so before the referendum vote.