Sen. Mark Spreitzer

Maddy summarySB 942 amends state tax statutes to clarify how the low-income housing tax credit is claimed by entities and their members. It specifies that partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly, but their individual partners, members, or shareholders may claim it based on the entity’s eligible costs. The bill requires entities to calculate and distribute credit amounts to members and mandates that individuals claiming credit under written agreements must submit those agreements with tax returns. It also adds a specific provision allowing insurers (as shareholders) to claim the credit based on costs incurred by the entity they are part of. This bill directly affects housing developers, investors, and insurers involved in low-income housing projects financed with tax-exempt bonds.

Maddy summarySB 1068 requires full-service pharmacies and major grocery stores (defined as stores over 15,000 sq ft selling fresh produce, meats, and dairy) to provide employees with 60 days' written notice before a permanent closure (over 90 days, excluding health emergencies or renovations). Employers must notify affected employees, union representatives, local officials, and county boards, including contact information for local workforce resources. If notice is not given on time, employees can recover up to 60 days' pay and lost benefits through the state department, with enforcement handled by the department of justice if needed. The bill directly affects workers at these specific retail businesses and aims to provide advance notice and support during job loss.

Maddy summarySB 1026 requires all Wisconsin public and private schools, including charter schools, to incorporate African American history into their social studies curriculum for all grades kindergarten through 12. The bill mandates a state-developed model curriculum covering African American contributions, experiences, and migration history within broader U.S. and state contexts, with grade-specific learning standards. It funds three education consultants to assist schools with implementation and adds a requirement for teacher licensure to include African American history study. The law applies to all schools starting with the school year following its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 1074 makes Wisconsin's additional child and dependent care tax credit fully refundable starting in 2026. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, taxpayers can claim the full credit amount against their state taxes, and if the credit exceeds their tax liability, the state will pay the difference directly. This affects Wisconsin residents who qualify for the federal child and dependent care tax credit and claim it on their state return, primarily low-to-moderate income families with childcare expenses. The bill creates a new state appropriation to fund these payments, ensuring the credit is refundable without interest on unused amounts.

Maddy summarySB 1013 requires all public and private schools, including charter schools, to maintain an on-site, easily accessible supply of opioid overdose reversal medication. Schools must ensure this supply is available at all times to address potential opioid overdoses on campus. The bill also appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026-27 to fund grants helping schools purchase this medication, effective September 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1073 would establish requirements for hospitals, fire stations, emergency medical services stations, and law enforcement agencies that choose to install newborn infant safety devices (secure containers for surrendering newborns). Facilities must meet criteria like 24-hour staffing, having a 24/7 surveillance system to monitor the device, and placing interior access points in visible areas for staff. The bill also allows parents to call 911 to surrender a newborn and have an officer or EMS provider meet them, while requiring facilities to monitor devices continuously, check them twice daily, and test alarms weekly.

Maddy summarySB 1065 requires all public and private elementary and secondary schools, as well as licensed child care centers, to install carbon monoxide detectors in rooms with fuel-burning appliances. Detectors must be battery-powered for older buildings or hardwired with fire alarm monitoring for newer buildings, and must meet safety certification standards. The bill also creates a $75,000 grant program to help schools purchase detectors, with grants up to $3,000 per school, and mandates annual reporting on grant usage. These requirements apply directly to schools and child care centers serving students or children, with the grants specifically targeting compliance costs.

Maddy summarySB 1071 requires election officials to verify a candidate's constitutional eligibility before placing their name on the ballot for federal office, such as president or vice president. The bill mandates that candidates must meet U.S. Constitution requirements (like age, citizenship, and residency) to be listed on ballots or have their votes counted by presidential electors. It directly affects candidates running for national office and election officials responsible for ballot preparation. The law creates new statutory requirements for verifying eligibility through nomination documents, candidate admission, or other conclusive evidence.

Maddy summarySB 1079 establishes income-based limits on out-of-pocket costs for families using Wisconsin Shares child care subsidies. It prevents families from paying more than 7% of their gross income in copayments and exempts those with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty line from any copayment. The bill also increases annual funding for the program by $22.93 million for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to cover these changes. These provisions directly affect low-income families receiving child care assistance under Wisconsin Shares.

Maddy summarySB 1078 designates "manoomin" (Ojibwe for wild rice) as Wisconsin's state native grain. The bill adds this designation to Wisconsin statutes and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to list "native grain" among other state symbols like the state song and tree. This is a symbolic, non-regulatory change that recognizes wild rice's cultural significance to Native American communities in Wisconsin.