Sen. Sarah Keyeski

Maddy summarySB 429 prohibits most people from possessing a firearm on the grounds of a university or college, including buildings and land owned or leased by the institution. It designates this as a Class A misdemeanor, with specific exceptions for law enforcement officers, military personnel on duty, individuals leasing residential or business space on campus, and those using firearms for approved programs. The bill creates the first dedicated prohibition for campus firearm possession, replacing a previous exemption under unrelated statutes. This change directly affects students, staff, and visitors on campus who are not exempt, with violations treated as serious offenses under criminal law.

Maddy summarySB 581 amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify and strengthen shared governance roles for faculty, academic staff, and students at University of Wisconsin System institutions. The bill gives faculty primary responsibility for advising on academic matters and requires STEM representation in faculty governance structures. Academic staff gain defined roles in shaping policies affecting their work, while students gain formal input on student life policies and control over fees supporting campus activities. These changes directly affect all faculty, academic staff, and students across UW System campuses by defining their specific participatory roles in institutional decision-making.

Maddy summarySB 565 amends Wisconsin law to explicitly prohibit private schools participating in parental choice or scholarship programs (like the Special Needs Scholarship Program) from discriminating against students based on gender identity or gender expression. It specifically requires these schools, which may limit admission by sex, to admit students whose gender identity aligns with the sex they limit to. The bill adds a $1,000 penalty for school officials who intentionally violate these anti-discrimination rules and updates reporting requirements for school compliance. This directly affects students seeking enrollment in participating private schools and mandates new policies for school boards and governing bodies.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Wisconsin's school funding formulas by increasing state appropriations by $493.8 million for the 2025-26 school year and $699.9 million for 2026-27. It adjusts per-pupil revenue limits to add $325 for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, and establishes a new supplemental hold harmless aid provision to prevent school districts from receiving less state aid than calculated in the 2024-25 school year. These changes directly affect all public school districts in Wisconsin that receive state educational funding. The bill replaces previous funding mechanisms with updated formulas while maintaining specific financial adjustments for affected school years.

Maddy summarySB 336 establishes new rules for private firearm transfers in Wisconsin, primarily affecting individuals selling or gifting firearms to non-family members. The bill requires background checks for most private sales through a firearms dealer, including a $10 fee per check, and creates an exception for transfers to family members (spouse, parent, child, etc.) if the recipient is 18+ and not prohibited from owning firearms. Violating these rules results in a misdemeanor charge with fines up to $10,000 or a 2-year firearms possession ban. The law also mandates new forms requiring buyers to certify they won’t transfer firearms to prohibited individuals, with false statements classified as a felony.

Maddy summarySJR 70 is a ceremonial resolution designating June 12, 2025, as "Women Veterans Day" in Wisconsin. It directly recognizes Wisconsin's over 29,000 women veterans, who currently make up about 10% of the state's veteran population. The resolution commemorates the anniversary of President Truman signing the Women's Armed Services Integration Act (June 12, 1948) and acknowledges women veterans' service and unique challenges like higher rates of PTSD and unemployment. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new programs or alter existing laws - it simply urges the state legislature to formally honor women veterans on this date.

Maddy summarySB 513 requires public high school districts to provide voter registration forms and nonpartisan voting information to students who become eligible to vote (typically age 18). Schools must distribute the state-prescribed registration form along with materials explaining voting's role in democracy. This applies to students meeting voting eligibility criteria within their school district. The bill aims to increase voter registration accessibility during high school, directly affecting eligible students and school districts.

Maddy summarySB 572 establishes new rules for selling and reselling entertainment event tickets. It requires sellers to clearly disclose the total price (including all fees), seat details, and itemized costs before purchase. The bill bans selling tickets not in a seller’s possession ("speculative sales"), restricts reselling tickets before public sales or through fan clubs, and prohibits deceptive practices like using artist names without permission. It also mandates full refunds within 10 days for canceled events, counterfeit tickets, or tickets that don’t match descriptions.

Maddy summarySJR 102 is a symbolic resolution honoring the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to the United States. It commemorates the 1825 voyage of the sloop *Restauration*, which carried Norwegian immigrants seeking religious freedom to the U.S., and acknowledges that over 800,000 Norwegians emigrated to America between 1825 and 1925, with Wisconsin becoming home to 25% of Norwegian Americans by 1900. The resolution formally designates 2025 as the year to celebrate this bicentennial, recognizing the cultural impact of Norwegian immigrants on Wisconsin and U.S. history. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect or policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 518 requires all polling places to be accessible to voters with disabilities, mandating election officials to use a standardized accessibility checklist on election day to identify and address barriers. It also requires the election commission to submit annual reports (by June 30 in odd-numbered years) on voting barriers faced by elderly and disabled voters, consulting disability advocacy groups. Additionally, the bill creates uniform requirements for signs at polling places to notify voters with disabilities about available ballot assistance. These changes apply to election commissions, polling places, and voters with disabilities, taking effect before the 2027 spring election.