Sen. Sarah Keyeski

Maddy summarySB 882 amends Wisconsin sentencing laws to specifically address individuals under 18 convicted of crimes. It requires courts to consider designated mitigating factors and relevant information (such as youth-related circumstances) when determining release eligibility for "youthful offenders" under sections 973.014 and 973.018. The bill creates new procedural requirements for parole commissions, including mandatory consideration of these factors and written reasons for denials with reconsideration timelines. These changes apply to juvenile offenders sentenced under the specified statutes, focusing on release decisions rather than sentencing ranges.

Maddy summarySB 878 creates a new grant program to fund planning for regional biodigesters, which convert organic waste into renewable energy. It allocates $250,000 annually from the environmental fund for planning grants, specifically for establishing these facilities. The Department of Agriculture would administer the grants and develop rules for the program. This bill directly affects entities seeking to develop regional biodigester infrastructure, providing funding for initial planning stages. The legislation focuses on creating a structured process for grant distribution without specifying recipient eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 820 gives the state superintendent of public instruction (or their designee) the authority to issue subpoenas during investigations into revoking professional licenses for incompetency or immoral conduct. The bill creates new statute sections (115.31(2c) and 885.01(6)) allowing the superintendent to compel witness testimony or document production using subpoenas in the same format as those authorized under section 885.02. This directly affects license holders facing potential revocation and streamlines investigations by providing clear subpoena authority. The bill does not change license standards or revocation criteria, only the process for gathering evidence during investigations.

Maddy summarySB 881 increases annual funding for crime victim services by $17.1 million for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, directed to the Department of Justice. This appropriation supports statewide victim services programs, including counseling, legal advocacy, and emergency assistance for crime victims. The bill also allocates $4.0 million to convert 17 existing FED (funded employee) positions to GPR (general purpose revenue) positions within the Department. These changes directly affect crime victim service providers and the Department of Justice’s capacity to deliver support.

Maddy summarySB 812 amends a sales tax exemption to apply to "motion picture projectors" sold to "motion picture theaters" instead of "movie" terminology. It creates a temporary 25-month tax exemption for these purchases, ending 25 months after the law takes effect. The bill directly affects motion picture theaters purchasing new projectors during this limited window. This is a procedural update to existing tax code language, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summarySB 809 modifies Wisconsin's Opportunity Attraction and Promotion Program, administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). It creates new rules allowing grants for non-public events (like exclusive conferences) only if they bring national exposure or boost economic growth, with strict limits: no more than 25% of annual funds can support such events, and they must avoid regularly scheduled or rotating events. The bill requires applicants to provide cost-benefit analyses of economic impacts before funding, mandates matching contributions from non-state sources, and adds annual reporting to the legislature. This directly affects event organizers seeking WEDC grants to attract major events to Wisconsin.

Maddy summarySB 695 amends statutes to establish new administrative processes for local sales and use taxes collected by counties and municipalities. It creates specific funding accounts (20.566(1)(gj) and 20.835(4)(gj)) to manage revenue from municipal sales taxes under new Section 77.702. The bill requires 0.75% of tax revenues collected under these local ordinances to be allocated to these new administrative accounts. This directly affects counties and municipalities that impose local sales taxes for their own purposes, clarifying how these funds are distributed and administered.

Maddy summarySB 724 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with minimum weekly hours of recreational activities and structured programming, based on staffing levels. For state facilities, inmates must get at least 35 hours weekly (5 hours daily) if staffing is ≥80% (including 7 hours recreation and 14 hours structured programming), or 21 hours if staffing is lower. County jails must provide 10 hours weekly starting day 31 of confinement, increasing to 35 or 21 hours after day 90 based on staffing. The law prioritizes academic, vocational, reentry planning, and wellness programs, with exceptions for lockdowns (max 10 days). It directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county detention facilities.

Maddy summarySB 731 requires Wisconsin high schools to include instruction on blood and organ donation in at least one grade from 9 to 12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover the purpose of donations, the statewide and national need for donations, and how to participate. It directly affects high school students and school curricula, applying to the 2026-27 school year. The law creates a new requirement for school districts to integrate this topic into relevant courses.

Maddy summarySB 686 designates the Wisconsin natural pearl as the official state gem. The bill amends Wisconsin statutes to add a new section (1.10 (3) (w)) stating this designation and updates another section (1.10 (4)) to include "gem" in the list of state symbols required for the Wisconsin Blue Book. This is a ceremonial bill with no policy changes or direct impact on citizens or government programs. It simply adds the pearl to the state's official list of symbols, which will be reflected in the Blue Book.