Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fund and loan program to help first-time home buyers in Wisconsin cover costs like down payments, closing costs, and mortgage insurance. The program is managed by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and provides interest-free loans up to $35,000 or 10 percent of the home's purchase price, whichever is less. Eligible borrowers must be first-time home buyers or those who lost their home to foreclosure, have household income at or below 100 percent of the area median income, complete a home buyer education course, and agree to live in the home as their primary residence. The loans are forgiven in installments over ten years if the borrower keeps the home as their primary residence, with larger forgiveness amounts at five and ten-year intervals. The bill also appropriates $150 million for the fund in the 2025-26 fiscal year and allows the authority to invest unused funds in safe, low-risk investments.
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Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to help school districts build or upgrade playgrounds to be accessible for students with disabilities. It allocates $1 million for each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years to fund these projects. The program requires that grant amounts cannot exceed the actual costs school districts spend on construction or upgrades. School districts apply through the state department of public instruction to receive funding for making playgrounds more inclusive.
Maddy summarySB 729 imposes annual fees on large energy customers (primarily large data centers) based on their peak electricity demand: $2 million for 100-250 MW, $3 million for 250-500 MW, and $1 million more for each additional 250 MW. Fifty percent of these fees fund the Green Innovation Fund via the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The bill also requires data centers to report actual water usage annually and certify compliance with sustainable building standards (like LEED or BREEAM) within three years of operation. It defines "large-scale data centers" as projects costing $250 million+ in construction or equipment over 60 months.
Maddy summarySB 1045 legalizes recreational cannabis possession for adults, establishes a new Division of Cannabis Regulation within the Department of Agriculture, and creates a Cannabis Conviction Review Unit to expunge or adjust past marijuana-related convictions. It allocates $30 million annually for cannabis regulation operations, funds a medical cannabis registry program with $5 million per year, and creates new tax revenue streams for enforcement and research. The bill repeals outdated marijuana laws, regulates cannabis production and sales through licensing, and sets up a system for individuals to seek conviction expungement. These changes directly affect all Wisconsin residents, particularly those with prior cannabis convictions, and establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the state's cannabis industry.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a joint resolution that formally honors the life and public service of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a civil rights activist and politician who passed away in February 2026. The resolution recognizes his contributions to the American civil rights movement, his founding of Operation PUSH, his political campaigns, and his advocacy for racial equity and social justice. It also acknowledges his connections to Wisconsin, including his visits to lead prayers in the state assembly. The bill expresses the legislature's condolences to Jackson's family and community while commemorating his legacy of pursuing freedom and justice.
Maddy summarySB 1153 amends Wisconsin campaign finance laws to adjust contribution limits for various election candidates and political entities. The bill establishes specific dollar caps on how much individuals, political action committees, other organizations, and political parties can donate to candidates for state and local offices. Key provisions set maximum amounts ranging from $500 for state representatives to $86,000 for governor candidates, with different limits for judicial positions and local offices based on population. The legislation also modifies how contribution limits are calculated for local office candidates, using a formula based on jurisdiction population with a $2,500 maximum cap. This bill was introduced in March 2026 but failed to pass the Senate.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes constitutional changes to establish direct democracy tools for voters, allowing them to reject laws passed by the legislature and propose new laws or amendments independently. Under the referendum provision, citizens could gather signatures equal to at least 4% of the last gubernatorial vote to place existing legislation on the ballot for public rejection. The initiative provision would let citizens propose new laws or constitutional amendments by collecting signatures ranging from 6% for laws to 8% for amendments, with strict rules requiring single-subject proposals and paper-based signature collection. Once approved, initiative laws would take effect 30 days after certification and could only be repealed by a two-thirds legislative vote or another initiative, while rejected initiatives could not be resubmitted for five years. The bill also prohibits payment based on the number of signatures collected for these petitions, though it allows compensation for signature gathering work itself.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for various hospital units, such as limiting registered nurses to no more than four patients in emergency units or two patients in intensive care units. It requires hospitals to create and publicly post annual staffing plans that include input from nursing staff, maintain detailed records of actual staffing levels, and establish committees with a majority of frontline nurses to oversee staffing decisions. The legislation also grants registered nurses the right to refuse work assignments that violate these ratios and prohibits mandatory overtime for nurses. Hospitals that fail to comply with staffing requirements or submit plans by the deadline face financial penalties, including a $25,000 forfeiture for missing deadlines and daily fines for non-compliance with corrective action plans.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state minimum wage of $15 per hour while allowing local governments to enact their own minimum wage ordinances. It creates a system where the state department of labor can set lower wages for specific groups like agricultural workers, camp counselors, and students, and can exempt certain casual employment arrangements. The minimum wage will automatically adjust annually based on changes in the consumer price index, unless inflation shows no increase. The legislation also prohibits the state from setting different minimum wages for men and women.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to how Wisconsin calculates and distributes state funding for special education and related school programs. It would adjust the reimbursement rate for special education costs to distribute the full appropriated amount, capping reimbursement at 60 percent of eligible costs, and modifies how certain special education funds are excluded from per-pupil payment calculations. The legislation also increases the general school aid appropriation by approximately $446 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year. These changes would affect the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and school districts receiving state education funding. The bill was introduced in March 2026 but failed to pass the Senate.