Sen. Mark Spreitzer

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 summarySB 584 designates the wild turkey (meleagris gallopavo) as Wisconsin's state game bird and the ruffed grouse (bonasa umbellus) as the state upland game bird. The bill amends Wisconsin statutes to add these designations to the list of official state symbols included in the Wisconsin Blue Book. This is a symbolic change with no new policies or regulations; it simply updates the state's official records to recognize these birds. The bill affects state identity and official documentation but does not impact laws, funding, or citizen rights.

Maddy summarySB 560 requires clear labeling for food products containing lab-grown meat (cultured animal cells/tissue), mandating the phrase "lab-grown meat" appear prominently on packaging in contrasting color and size. It prohibits restaurants from substituting lab-grown meat for traditional meat without a customer order and restricts its use in state institutions (like hospitals or prisons) except under specific health directives. Violations carry fines of $100-$500 for first offenses and up to $1,000 for repeat violations. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting food manufacturers, restaurants, and state institutions serving food.

Maddy summarySB 562 requires recipients of economic development grants or loans exceeding $500,000 to submit detailed expenditure reports within 120 days after their fiscal year ends, including verification from an independent auditor. It mandates that these recipients provide supporting documents for inspection and includes these reporting requirements in grant contracts. The bill exempts local governments (cities, counties, tribes) and University of Wisconsin System institutions if they already include these funds in standard annual audits and submit those audits within 120 days of program completion. This change directly affects organizations receiving significant state economic development funding, adding reporting obligations unless they meet existing audit standards. The policy focuses on ensuring proper use of public funds through standardized financial reporting.

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 382 modifies the state's historic rehabilitation tax credit program. It requires that qualified rehabilitation expenditures for a building must total at least $50,000 over a 24-month period to count toward the credit. The bill also clarifies that state certification by the historic preservation officer is needed if taxpayers do not claim the federal credit for the same rehabilitation work. This directly affects property owners and developers seeking tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings. The changes standardize eligibility criteria and align with federal definitions for the credit.

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 summarySJR 96 is a proposed resolution that would officially recognize October 2025 as "Careers in Construction Month" in Wisconsin. It highlights the construction industry's significance to the state's economy - employing roughly 6% of Wisconsin's workforce - and emphasizes career pathways that allow workers to advance without student debt. The resolution encourages employers, schools, and community groups to host events like job fairs during October 2025 to promote construction careers to students. This is a ceremonial recognition, not a law creating new requirements or funding.

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.