Sen. John Jagler

Maddy summaryThis bill updates eligibility criteria for highways seeking agricultural road improvement grants. It adds a new requirement that an engineering analysis by a licensed professional must confirm a highway cannot safely handle heavy agricultural traffic. Previously, eligibility was based on structural deficiencies or posted weight restrictions. The change directly affects farmers and rural communities relying on specific highways for transporting equipment and crops.

Maddy summarySB 452 would expand eligibility for Wisconsin's private school choice programs to students whose siblings or younger dependent children (e.g., younger siblings) attended participating private schools the previous year. Currently, only students themselves must have attended such schools to qualify. The bill applies to students in grades K-12 outside city school districts (under Section 118.60) and within cities (under Section 119.23). It would take effect for the 2026-27 school year.

Maddy summarySB 573 amends the legal definition of "bingo" in Wisconsin statutes to explicitly exclude games where participants do not pay to play and prizes are donated (e.g., free cards with donated prizes). This clarification directly affects community and charitable organizations hosting such games, ensuring they are not subject to standard bingo regulations. The bill specifies that "bingo" does not include games with no participant payment, regardless of whether the host covers prize costs. This is a definitional change only, not a new policy or tax. The bill focuses solely on clarifying regulatory boundaries for existing game formats.

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 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.

Maddy summarySB 588 requires Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction to create a two-year pilot program (2025-26 and 2026-27) providing free professional development for K-12 science teachers, in partnership with state nonprofit organizations. The program may also supply related science equipment at no cost to participating teachers for classroom use. By October 2027, the department must report to the legislature on program participation, equipment distribution, and partner organizations. The bill directly affects science teachers and nonprofit providers, focusing on enhancing classroom resources through structured training.

Maddy summarySB 414 requires animal testing facilities and breeders to offer dogs and cats for adoption to shelters or rescue groups for at least three weeks before euthanizing them, provided the animals pose no health or safety risk. Facilities must report annually on the number of animals they owned, used for testing, and transferred to adoption groups. Violations could result in fines up to $5,000 per animal. This bill directly affects facilities and breeders that handle dogs or cats for research, education, or breeding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 553 clarifies that certain medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life do not count as "abortion" under state law. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "anembryonic pregnancy," "ectopic pregnancy," and "molar pregnancy," and explicitly states that abortion does not include procedures like emergency cesarean sections, removal of a dead fetus, or treatment for these specific conditions when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. This directly affects healthcare providers who perform these emergency procedures and pregnant patients facing medical crises. The law updates multiple statutes to ensure these scenarios are excluded from the legal definition of abortion.

Maddy summarySB 472 amends state statutes to require local governments (cities, towns, and counties) to include specific elements in their comprehensive plans for residential development. Key provisions mandate that plans detail current land uses, analyze trends, project future residential densities in 5-year increments, and include maps showing environmentally sensitive areas. The bill also clarifies that enacting a comprehensive plan does not automatically make it a regulation and requires ordinances affecting residential development to align with the plan's approved density standards. These changes apply to local governments engaging in residential development programs, aiming to standardize planning processes and ensure consistency between zoning decisions and long-term land use goals.

Maddy summarySJR 87 is a resolution by the Wisconsin Legislature to commemorate the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary on November 10, 2025, marking the date the Continental Congress authorized its founding in 1775. It recognizes the Corps' historical service and acknowledges Marines training at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, including their role in activities like the Cold Weather Operations Course. The resolution expresses legislative appreciation but does not create new laws, funding, or legal obligations. It is a symbolic gesture celebrating military heritage without imposing concrete policy changes.