Sen. Sarah Keyeski

Maddy summarySB 469 creates a voluntary program allowing individuals to prohibit themselves from purchasing handguns by submitting forms to the Department of Justice. Participants can choose a 1-year (irrevocable), 5-year (first year irrevocable), or 20-year (first year irrevocable) prohibition period. The Department verifies requests, maintains a database of participants, and requires firearms dealers to check this database during background checks. If a person is listed, dealers receive a nonapproval number without disclosure of the reason; otherwise, they get an approval number. The program is funded with $150,000 annually for administration.

Maddy summarySB 477 creates a statewide suicide prevention program within the Department of Health Services, allocating $250,000 annually for its implementation. The program requires public awareness campaigns, training for law enforcement, healthcare providers, school staff, and others who interact with at-risk individuals, and coordination with community groups and crisis services. It mandates county-level advisory groups, enhanced crisis services, and annual reports to the legislature detailing program activities. The bill directly affects state agencies, community organizations, and professionals working with vulnerable populations like youth, rural residents, and Native Americans.

Maddy summarySB 507 repeals two sections of state law (108.04 (2) (h) and 108.04 (12) (f)) that previously prevented Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients from receiving unemployment insurance benefits simultaneously. This change would allow individuals receiving SSDI to also qualify for unemployment benefits during periods of job loss. The bill removes the existing legal barrier, enabling these recipients to access both forms of financial support concurrently. It takes effect for unemployment weeks beginning the first Sunday after the bill is published.

Maddy summarySB 446 creates a state grant program to fund immigration-related civil legal services for individuals and families, allocating $300,000 for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The Department of Administration will award grants to community-based organizations (including for-profit groups) that provide such services without regard to a client's immigration status, requiring applicants to have a history of offering these services. The bill also amends county funding rules to allow local governments to provide broader civil legal services to individuals and families through separate county grants, which are not limited to immigration matters.

Maddy summarySB 487 modifies training requirements for concealed carry license applicants and renewers in this state. It expands acceptable proof of training to include out-of-state licenses that document required training, and adds new mandatory training components like suicide prevention, de-escalation techniques, and firearm safety storage practices. The bill requires applicants to submit proof of continuing training (including specific topics like live-fire practice and de-escalation) when renewing licenses. These changes apply to all new applications or renewals submitted on the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 495 would require charter schools and private schools participating in state school choice programs (under sections 115.7915, 118.60, or 119.23) to comply with Wisconsin's public records and open meetings laws. This means these schools would need to follow rules for public access to meetings and certain records, such as financial documents. However, the bill explicitly exempts student pupil records from public inspection under state law. The legislation expands the scope of existing public records statutes to include these schools as "authorities" and "governmental bodies" for compliance purposes. This change directly affects participating schools by adding transparency requirements while maintaining confidentiality for individual student records.

Maddy summarySJR 90 is a symbolic resolution that declares January as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in Wisconsin. It aims to increase public awareness about human trafficking, which the resolution describes as modern-day slavery targeting vulnerable groups like youth (with an average victim age of 12-15), people with disabilities, and those disconnected from support networks. The resolution emphasizes statewide recognition of trafficking in all 72 counties and encourages education to identify victims and support prevention efforts. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves as a formal statement of the state's commitment to addressing human trafficking.

Maddy summarySB 463 would repeal Section 104.001 of the statutes, which currently allows local governments (like cities or counties) to establish their own minimum wage rates higher than the state minimum. This bill directly affects local jurisdictions that have enacted or plan to enact higher local minimum wage ordinances. The key mechanism is the removal of this statutory provision, effectively preventing cities or counties from setting their own minimum wage rates above the state level. If passed, it would eliminate the legal basis for local minimum wage ordinances across the state.

Maddy summarySB 530 removes restrictions that previously limited Wisconsin counties from holding advisory referendums on most issues. It amends statute 59.52(25) to eliminate the exception requiring specific approval for advisory votes, except for those about capital expenditures funded by property taxes, and repeals the related statute 66.0144. This change directly affects county boards, allowing them to seek voter input on a broader range of local policy matters through non-binding advisory votes. The bill makes no changes to binding referendums or voting outcomes, only expanding the scope of advisory input available to local governments.

Maddy summarySB 511 (2026 Legislature) amends Wisconsin statute 6.87(9) to clarify that municipal clerks must return absentee ballots with incomplete or missing voter certification to the voter. The bill requires clerks to return the ballot (inside its sealed envelope, if applicable) with a new envelope, allowing voters time to correct the error and resubmit before the deadline. This directly affects absentee voters who make mistakes on their ballot certificates and municipal clerks handling ballot processing. The change aims to reduce ballot disqualification due to minor administrative errors.