Sen. Melissa Ratcliff

Maddy summarySB 991 creates a new annual appropriation of $500,000 for tribal child care training and technical assistance. It directly affects tribal child care providers by funding programs to improve child care quality through training and support. The bill modifies two statutes (49.137 and 49.257) to allow the Department of Children and Families to use this funding for contracts or grants with agencies serving tribal communities. This is a concrete policy change that establishes dedicated funding for tribal child care providers without altering eligibility or requirements for other child care services.

Maddy summarySB 965 modifies collective bargaining rules specifically for employees of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority (UWHCA). It allows multiple bargaining units at UWHCA to share a single representative if majority employees in each unit agree, streamlining negotiations under existing public employee bargaining laws. The bill also updates definitions and references to clarify that UWHCA employees are covered under collective bargaining agreements for benefits like health insurance and sick leave accrual. These changes directly affect UWHCA staff by adjusting how their workplace representation and benefit calculations are structured under state law.

Maddy summarySB 945 requires retail stores selling firearms to securely store all firearms when the business is unattended. It mandates one of five specific security methods: locked fireproof safes/cabinets, reinforced display cases with steel frames and anti-break-in features, steel rods/cables through trigger guards with secured locks, windowless rooms with deadbolts, or steel roll-down doors. Street-level stores must also install bollards or roll-down doors on perimeter openings. The bill directly affects firearm retailers operating in the state, imposing concrete storage requirements to prevent unauthorized access. These provisions aim to enhance security at retail locations without altering firearm ownership laws.

Maddy summarySB 948 requires anyone living in a household with a person banned from owning firearms (due to certain criminal convictions) to store all firearms securely - either in a locked container or with a trigger lock engaged. This applies to all firearms owned by household members who are not prohibited from possessing them. Violating this rule is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class I felony for subsequent violations. The bill directly affects households where one resident is legally barred from firearm possession due to specific felony convictions.

Maddy summarySJR 129 is a symbolic resolution recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as holidays in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or mandate time off, but aims to formally acknowledge these major Islamic holidays to promote inclusivity. The resolution highlights the religious significance of the holidays - Eid al-Fitr ending Ramadan and Eid al-Adha marking the Hajj pilgrimage - and encourages schools and employers to be mindful of these observances. It directly affects Wisconsin’s Muslim community (approximately 70,000 people) by affirming their cultural and religious practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new constitutional right to privacy. It would create Section 1m in Article I of the state constitution stating: "As a necessary part of a free society, the people have an individual and fundamental right to privacy." If approved by voters, this would establish a fundamental constitutional protection directly affecting all residents, requiring future laws to align with this privacy right. The proposal must be approved by voters in the next general election to become part of the constitution.

Maddy summarySB 1002 creates an annual grant program to improve health outcomes for economically disadvantaged minority group members. It authorizes grants of up to $50,000 per year from a specific state fund, requiring grantees to contribute at least 50% of the grant amount in cash or non-cash resources (like donated services or materials). Priority for funding is given to community health organizations that are not federally qualified health centers and those providing maternal and child health services. The bill directly affects community-based health providers serving minority populations in the state.

Maddy summarySB 1017 allocates $2.17 million annually for workforce training programs for child care providers and prospective providers. The bill creates a new funding line (20.437(2)(d)) to support contracts under section 49.137(4) focused specifically on training. This direct funding affects licensed child care facilities and individuals seeking to work in early childhood education. The measure provides concrete financial support for professional development but does not change eligibility rules or service requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1016 creates a new child care subsidy program specifically for custodial parents who work as child care employees in Wisconsin. It establishes separate eligibility rules (under section 49.155(2s)) allowing these parents to qualify for subsidies even if they don't meet standard income or asset requirements, provided they work for a child care provider. The bill appropriates $1.2 million for administrative costs to implement this new program. This directly affects low-income parents employed in the child care sector who need subsidized care for their own children.

Maddy summarySB 1011 expands eligibility for Wisconsin Shares child care subsidies to families with incomes above 200% of the federal poverty line but below 100% of the state median income for their family size. It creates a new eligibility category (via 20.437(2)(ct)) allowing subsidies for individuals who qualify under specific provisions but not under the standard 200% threshold, and adjusts income calculation rules to include certain child support payments. The bill modifies existing income guidelines in statutes to clarify eligibility for families who previously lost subsidies due to modest income increases. It appropriates an additional $1.25 million for fiscal year 2026-27 to fund these expanded subsidies. The changes directly affect low-to-moderate-income families seeking child care assistance in Wisconsin.