Sen. Mark Spreitzer

Maddy summarySB 504 requires insurance plans that rent their dental provider networks to disclose this practice to dentists. Specifically, plans must include rental notifications in contracts and inform dentists within 45 days if their contract is rented to another entity. The bill also mandates that any entity renting a dental network must honor the original contract terms, including discounted rates, between the dentist and the insurance plan. Dentists can terminate participation with the renting entity without ending their original contract with the insurance plan.

Maddy summarySB 531 allows residential contractors to directly receive insurance payments for repairs after property damage, rather than homeowners having to collect and pay contractors. It specifically covers repairs, replacements, or reconstruction of residential properties, including roof systems and tree removal/repair. The bill includes penalties for violations of these insurance payment rules. This change primarily affects homeowners and contractors dealing with property damage claims, streamlining how repair funds flow. The bill passed its final reading on November 18, 2025, and was sent to the governor.

Maddy summarySB 575 clarifies which medical costs related to sexual assault forensic exams are covered by state compensation. It defines "examination costs" to include medical tests, HIV prevention medication (prophylaxis), and STI treatment provided during the exam process if related to the assault. The bill explicitly excludes administrative fees, attorney costs, or unrelated medical expenses from coverage. This directly affects sexual assault victims seeking reimbursement for specific, exam-related medical care under the state's compensation program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state and local government agencies to prioritize purchasing materials manufactured in the United States when all other factors are equal, unless federal law or international agreements prohibit it. It mandates that contracts for public works projects include provisions requiring contractors to use domestically manufactured materials, with exemptions for commercial resale, stationery, printing supplies, and situations where U.S. materials are unavailable or foreign nations offer similar purchasing preferences. Local municipalities are also restricted from using bidding methods that favor bidders based on geographic location, except when necessary to secure federal aid. The bill grants the relevant state department authority to define what constitutes U.S. manufacturing through rule-making.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Wisconsin statutes to allow local governments to set residency requirements for specific administrative and leadership roles within their departments. It permits police, fire, and protective services departments to require their chiefs to live within the jurisdiction, while cities, villages, and certain counties can impose similar requirements on their administrators. Additionally, the bill enables cities and villages that have or are selecting a city manager to require that manager to reside locally. The changes apply only to individuals hired on or after the effective date of the legislation, leaving existing employees unaffected.

Maddy summarySB 379 creates a $2,000 refundable individual income tax credit for Wisconsin parents who experience a stillbirth (defined as a birth requiring a fetal death report under state law). The credit applies to the taxable year of the stillbirth and is refundable, meaning parents who owe less in taxes than $2,000 will receive the difference as a cash payment from the state. Eligibility requires being a Wisconsin resident filing a joint or separate return, with specific limits: $2,000 total for married couples filing jointly, $1,000 each for unmarried parents or separate returns. Proof of eligibility, such as a fetal death report, must be submitted with the tax return.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program to help school districts install or upgrade emergency notification systems that are accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It authorizes $1 million in funding for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years to reimburse school districts for the costs of making these systems accessible. The bill establishes that grants cannot exceed the actual amount a district spends on installation or upgrades. Although the bill was introduced in March 2026, it failed to pass the Senate and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a home repair program that provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners and landlords for fixing habitability issues, improving energy efficiency, and making housing accessible for individuals with disabilities. The program offers grants of up to $25,000 to homeowners and interest-free loans of up to $25,000 to landlords who own no more than 15 affordable housing units. Eligibility is limited to individuals or landlords with incomes at or below 100 percent of the area median income, and assistance is restricted to homes built between 10 and 40 years ago. The state authority will administer the program, potentially contracting with counties or nonprofit organizations to distribute funds while maintaining oversight through reporting and audit requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts to include education about fentanyl and the use of opioid antagonists as part of their drug abuse prevention goals. The law specifically amends state statutes to mandate that awareness of these topics be integrated into school curricula starting in the 2026-27 school year. It affects all public school districts by adding fentanyl and opioid antagonist information to their required educational objectives on drug abuse prevention. The measure does not prescribe specific teaching methods or content beyond requiring this awareness to be included in district educational goals.

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.