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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 897 defines specific threats against health care workers as criminal offenses. It makes it illegal to threaten a current or former health care provider, staff member, or their family member when the threat occurs in response to work at a health care facility or actions taken in an official capacity. The law specifies two key conditions: the threatener must know the victim works in health care, and the threat must relate to the victim's professional role. This bill uses existing statutory definitions for "health care facility" and "health care provider" to clarify when such threats violate the law, creating a new criminal penalty for these specific circumstances.
Maddy summarySJR 114 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing December 25 as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals, groups, or policies; it is purely symbolic. The resolution states the Wisconsin Legislature's acknowledgment of Christmas as a sacred day honoring the birth of Jesus Christ, referencing biblical accounts of his birth in Bethlehem. This is a non-binding recognition, not a legislative action with practical consequences.
Maddy summarySB 763 requires Wisconsin’s state retirement system and Milwaukee’s city/county retirement systems to vote on securities solely based on participants’ economic interests, not environmental, social, or ideological goals. It mandates that voting decisions must maximize risk-adjusted investment returns for participants, with specific rules for handling shareholder proposals and proxy advisory firm recommendations. The bill prohibits using proxy advisors whose recommendations prioritize non-economic factors or conflict with issuer board advice, unless an economic analysis proves the vote serves participants’ financial interests. This directly affects how these retirement systems manage assets and cast votes on company shareholder proposals.
Maddy summarySB 706 modifies Wisconsin's sales tax exemption for personal farm property or household goods sold at auction, limiting the exemption to five or fewer auction events per year. The bill defines an "auction event" as consecutive days of bidding (including online), regardless of whether the property is physically located at one or multiple sites. It specifically applies to auctions conducted by licensed auctioneers, clarifying that "location" means a single building or store in shopping centers. This change directly affects auctioneers and sellers of farm equipment or household items who use online bidding platforms. The law creates new definitions for "auctioneer" and "location" to standardize the exemption rules.
Maddy summarySB 13 requires Wisconsin's public school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in parental choice programs to include cursive writing in their elementary school curriculum. The bill mandates that all students must be able to write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade, with this standard to be implemented by July 1, 2026. This applies specifically to elementary grades (not high school districts) and affects all schools receiving state funding or participating in choice programs. The requirement will be incorporated into state academic standards and school curriculum plans, starting with the 2026-27 school year for charter and private schools.
Maddy summarySB 53 requires all state and local government buildings, including public schools, to display the national motto "In God We Trust" in specified formats. Public buildings must show it in an 11x14 inch poster, framed document, or wall inscription (visible to the public), while schools must display it in every classroom starting the 2026-27 school year. The law mandates the motto be in English with a legible font, meeting specific size and placement rules. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, and all public school districts in the state.
Maddy summarySB 117 requires public and participating private schools to designate all athletic teams based solely on the sex assigned at birth (as recorded on a birth certificate), labeling them as "males" or "females." It prohibits students designated as male from participating on female-designated teams or using female-designated facilities like locker rooms. The bill allows female-identified students to sue schools for violations of these rules and creates legal protections against retaliation for reporting such violations. This directly affects school athletic programs and students participating in sports, particularly those whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.
Maddy summarySB 116 requires University of Wisconsin and technical college athletic programs to designate intercollegiate or club sports teams as "male" or "female" based solely on the sex assigned at birth (per birth certificate). It prohibits students assigned male at birth from participating on women's teams or using women's locker rooms. The bill allows female students to sue institutions for violations denying participation or causing harm, and permits institutions to sue organizations penalizing them for compliance. This law applies to all affected athletic teams starting in the first semester after its effective date.
Maddy summarySB 90 amends Wisconsin's tax code to limit the sales and use tax exemption for residential electricity and natural gas to the winter months of November through April. This change directly affects homeowners and renters who use these utilities for heating during the colder months. The bill modifies an existing statute to specify that the tax exemption applies only during these six months, rather than year-round. It does not alter the tax rate itself but restricts the period when the exemption applies. The bill is currently in committee review after being introduced in March 2025.