Sen. Steve Nass

Maddy summarySB 596 requires tax assessors to provide property owners with written notice at least seven days before entering their property for tax assessments. This law directly affects property owners by mandating advance notice of assessment visits. The key provision specifies that the tax district must deliver written notice to the owner prior to entry, ensuring clear communication about assessment activities.

Maddy summarySJR 11 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit a governor's partial veto power over appropriation bills. It would restrict the governor to only rejecting entire bill sections that can stand alone as complete, workable laws, rather than allowing them to modify individual words or combine parts of sentences within a section. This change specifically affects how governors can amend or reject budget-related legislation during the approval process. The amendment aims to prevent governors from creating "new words" or "new sentences" by picking and choosing parts of existing bill language.

Maddy summarySB 203 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by requiring them to pay pharmacies within 30 days for electronic claims and 60 days for paper claims. It mandates that claims for 340B drugs (federally discounted medications) include specific identifiers for processing. The bill also prohibits PBMs from forcing pharmacies to join multiple networks or penalizing them for declining to join such networks. These provisions directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, and prescribers within the state’s health insurance system.

Maddy summarySB 612 requires school principals to notify parents in writing whenever a student is removed from a classroom in a way that reduces instructional time for the class. Notifications must be delivered electronically (or by mail if parents opt out) by 5 p.m. the same day and cannot include personal student information. Schools must report annual removal counts to their school board by October 1, and school boards must submit this data to the state superintendent by December 1. The bill directly affects parents of K-12 students, school principals, and school districts, creating a standardized process for transparency about classroom disruptions. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 607 modifies Wisconsin's firearm laws by expanding exemptions for law enforcement officers and adjusting hunting restrictions. It repeals existing limits on concealed carry licenses and creates new exemptions allowing peace officers to carry firearms in vehicles or aircraft while on duty. The bill also reduces the hunting restriction distance near schools and hospitals from 1,700 to 1,200 feet. These changes directly affect law enforcement personnel and hunters, while maintaining existing prohibitions for general firearm use in vehicles and near roadways.

Maddy summarySB 497 establishes new rules for compensating owners when outdoor advertising signs are removed or relocated due to highway projects. It directly affects sign owners (including those with signs that don’t meet local rules) and property owners where signs are located. Key provisions require government agencies to provide full appraisals showing compensation amounts, mandate specific payments for the sign itself, loss of other signs, and the right to display signs, and clarify that repositioning signs doesn’t change their "nonconforming" status. The bill also sets appraisal standards (e.g., offers must be within 85-115% of the owner’s appraisal) and allows separate legal appeals for compensation disputes. This bill changes how compensation is calculated and paid for signs affected by transportation projects.

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 160 designates a specific section of U.S. Highway 12 in Lake Delton, Sauk County, as the "Tom Diehl Memorial Highway." The bill requires the state department to officially mark this highway segment in honor of Tom Diehl. This is a ceremonial designation with no new policies or funding impacts, directly affecting only the road signage in that location. It does not alter traffic laws, funding, or regulations.

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 451 requires school districts to obtain certification from the Department of Public Instruction that they have submitted all required financial reports before adopting resolutions to exceed revenue limits through bonds or budget adjustments. This applies to school boards seeking to raise funds beyond established limits for capital projects (bonds) or budget overages. The bill mandates that districts must be certified compliant with financial reporting requirements (under statutes 119.44(1), 120.08, 120.14, and 121.05) at least 14 days prior to adopting such resolutions. If districts adopt resolutions without this certification, both the resolution and any subsequent referendum would be void. The bill directly affects school districts planning to exceed revenue limits for capital projects or budget adjustments.