Sen. André Jacque

Maddy summarySB 887 requires public school human growth and development classes to include instruction on adoption, parental responsibility, and the socioeconomic benefits of marriage for adults and their children. This policy change directly affects school curricula in Wisconsin public schools, specifically the required human growth and development program. The bill amends existing statute to add these three specific topics to the mandated subjects, replacing previous requirements. The legislation focuses on adding these educational components to existing classroom instruction without altering funding or creating new programs. It was introduced in the 2026 legislature and referred to the Education Committee.

Maddy summarySB 868 establishes rules for how Wisconsin public colleges and universities can adjust institutional gift aid (like grants or scholarships) when students receive private scholarships. It limits reductions to situations where total aid exceeds a student’s financial need (cost of attendance minus student aid index), requiring institutions to first try reducing loans or work-study before cutting gift aid. Students must be notified of potential reductions and can request a reassessment of their cost of attendance. The bill specifically applies to scholarships of $5,000 or less from Wisconsin-based entities and includes special provisions for student-athletes and constrained scholarship awards.

Maddy summarySB 839 requires Wisconsin schools to provide human trafficking and sextortion prevention instruction at least once in grades 6-8 and again in grades 9-12 starting in the 2026-27 school year as part of health education. The bill mandates that teachers receive training to identify children at risk of trafficking (under Wis. Stat. § 948.051) or sextortion, defined as threatening to release explicit material for money or more content. It directs the state to develop age-appropriate training courses in collaboration with child welfare and justice agencies. The law applies directly to public school students in those grade ranges and their educators, with implementation beginning in 2026-27.

Maddy summarySB 838 creates a state grant program providing $1.25 million biennially to fund support services for human trafficking victims. Nonprofit organizations (tax-exempt under IRS 501(c)(3)) must submit applications, provide 50% private matching funds, and coordinate with law enforcement to qualify. Grants are capped at $125,000 per biennium for organizations offering housing services or $50,000 for other support services like advocacy, medical care, or job training. The Department of Justice will administer the program, prioritizing applicants with strong law enforcement partnerships and capacity to serve many victims.

Maddy summarySB 883 allows minors aged 16 or older to operate pizza-dough rollers in workplaces, provided specific safety features are met. The bill requires machines to have enclosed gears, designs preventing finger/hand entanglement, automatic shut-off microswitches if parts are removed, and prohibits minors from setting up, adjusting, repairing, or cleaning the equipment. These provisions align with federal OSHA standards (29 CFR 570.62) and directly affect minor workers in food service businesses and their employers. The law creates a new statutory exception to existing child labor rules for this specific machinery.

Maddy summarySB 718 would provide free admission to Wisconsin state parks for veterans and gold star families. Specifically, it allows free entry for vehicles (excluding motor buses) occupied by individuals who can verify their status as a veteran (per federal law) or as a family member of a service member who died in action (a "gold star" family). The bill creates a new statute requiring parks to honor this exemption upon presentation of valid proof. It directly affects veterans, their families, and state park operations by adding this specific access benefit. The policy change is limited to admission fees, not other park services or costs.

Maddy summarySB 709 prohibits the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on outdoor ornamental plants, trees, or turf grown for noncommercial purposes (like home gardens or lawns) starting January 1, 2026. It allows exceptions for tree injections, applications by certified pesticide applicators, or uses directly tied to agricultural commodity production. This bill directly affects homeowners, landscapers, and gardeners who currently use these pesticides for non-farm purposes. The law creates a clear regulatory change in pesticide use without altering agricultural practices for commercial farming.

Maddy summarySB 721 adds a specific eligibility category for military funeral honors reimbursement: individuals naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 who were residing in the state at the time of their death. The bill establishes that certified veterans' organizations providing military funeral honors for these individuals are eligible for reimbursement of up to $85 per funeral, adjusted annually based on the U.S. consumer price index. This directly affects Hmong veterans who gained U.S. citizenship through the 2000 federal law and their families. The reimbursement rate replaces the previous $50 limit and ensures annual updates to match inflation. The bill modifies existing statutes to clarify this eligibility and funding mechanism.

Maddy summarySB 736 exempts volunteers serving on church security teams from private detective and security licensing requirements while they work on their church's place of worship. The bill defines "church" as a legally recognized religious organization with a congregation that holds regular services. This exemption applies only to the church's primary worship space and does not cover schools or other properties operated by the church. The law creates a specific statutory exemption to simplify volunteer participation in church safety efforts without requiring state licenses.

Maddy summarySB 734 requires physicians prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to schedule a follow-up visit within seven days and provide a catch kit and medical waste bag for safe disposal. It holds manufacturers of these drugs responsible for proper disposal and mitigating environmental harm from chemicals that interfere with hormones (endocrine disruptors), with fines up to $20,000 per violation. The bill also mandates wastewater treatment plants to test for these chemicals. It takes effect on May 1, 2026.