Sen. Steve Nass

Maddy summarySB 580 requires ticket sellers and resellers to clearly display all costs - including fees and surcharges - during ticket purchases, ensuring consumers see the total price upfront. It prohibits resellers from selling tickets above face value without the event operator’s written permission and bans price hikes after initial display (except for physical delivery fees). The bill affects operators (venue owners), ticket resellers, and online ticket platforms, with penalties of $1,000 per violation plus forfeiture of illegal profits. Small resellers earning under $10,000 annually annually are exempt from the "ticket reseller" definition.

Maddy summarySB 560 requires clear labeling for food products containing lab-grown meat (cultured animal cells/tissue), mandating the phrase "lab-grown meat" appear prominently on packaging in contrasting color and size. It prohibits restaurants from substituting lab-grown meat for traditional meat without a customer order and restricts its use in state institutions (like hospitals or prisons) except under specific health directives. Violations carry fines of $100-$500 for first offenses and up to $1,000 for repeat violations. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting food manufacturers, restaurants, and state institutions serving food.

Maddy summarySB 449 updates rules for county registers of deeds regarding land record-keeping. It revises how real estate deeds, transportation project survey maps ("plats"), and related documents must be recorded, including requiring clear documentation of transfer fees and unique numbering for each record. The bill directly affects county registers of deeds, real estate professionals, and transportation project developers who file land surveys. Key changes include clarifying definitions for "legal description," standardizing record-keeping procedures, and adding penalties for noncompliance with these updated rules.

Maddy summarySB 218 amends how counties retain and distribute real estate transfer fees and related grants under existing programs. It clarifies that counties must account for both fees collected from property transfers and grants received under the land information program (s. 16.967(7)(c)) when calculating retained funds. The bill makes technical adjustments to fee retention language but does not change tax rates, create new fees, or alter funding amounts for counties. It directly affects local governments managing real estate transaction records and land information grants. The bill is procedural and focuses on administrative accuracy, not policy changes.

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 600 would enable Wisconsin to participate in a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to deduct contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) from their state taxes. The bill requires the state education department to annually submit a list of qualifying SGOs meeting federal standards and certify Wisconsin's eligibility to the U.S. Treasury. It gives the governor until July 1, 2026, to decide whether to join the program, which would take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026. The bill does not create new tax benefits but establishes the state's administrative process to align with the federal program.

Maddy summarySB 545 revises Wisconsin's rules for manufactured home sales and title certificates. It requires dealers to provide buyers with a receipt for title and tax payments and submit title applications within seven business days of a sale. Owners must apply for a certificate of title when a manufactured home is situated in the state (with limited exemptions), and the Department of Safety and Professional Services must maintain public records indexed by county. These changes aim to clarify title processes, improve record-keeping, and ensure timely transfers of ownership for manufactured homes.

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 211 would exempt certain tobacco-focused venues from the state's public smoking ban. Specifically, it creates a new exemption for "tobacco bars" that opened after June 4, 2009, allow only cigar and pipe smoking (not cigarettes), and are not classified as food establishments. This change would directly affect new tobacco bars meeting all three criteria, allowing them to operate without complying with the general smoking ban that applies to most public spaces. The bill does not alter the smoking ban for other businesses or venues. It is currently pending in committee after being introduced in April 2025.

Maddy summarySB 287 requires state agencies, local governments, and contractors working with government to verify employees' work eligibility through the federal E-Verify program before hiring. It prohibits contracts with employers not enrolled in E-Verify or knowingly employing individuals flagged as ineligible by the program. The bill mandates written verification statements in all contracts and allows termination of violating agreements. This applies to all state procurement, construction contracts, and local government hiring starting from the effective date, with an exception if the federal E-Verify program ends.