Sen. Melissa Ratcliff

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 65) is a ceremonial resolution congratulating Southwest Wisconsin Technical College for winning the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. It recognizes the college's national award, which honors its success in student outcomes - particularly for historically underserved groups - and its programs like work-based learning and employer partnerships. The resolution formally commends the college's faculty, staff, students, and community partners for their contributions to Wisconsin's higher education. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new policy or affect any legal obligations.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 71 ratifies the Dietitian Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement designed to streamline the licensing process for dietitians. This bill allows licensed dietitians in participating states to practice in other compact member states by obtaining a "compact privilege" instead of a full separate license. It establishes a dietitian licensure compact commission and amends various state statutes to recognize this new privilege, affecting dietitians and their ability to practice across state lines.

Maddy summarySB 314 modifies the enrollment cap for Wisconsin's state-funded private school choice program. It replaces the previous calculation method with a new rule setting the pupil participation limit at 10% of a school district's enrollment from the prior school year. This change directly affects all public school districts participating in the program, limiting the number of students they can send to private schools under the state's choice initiative. The bill updates the statute to apply this 10% cap through the 2025-26 school year, as specified in the amended sections.

Maddy summarySB 233 prohibits offering or giving anything of value (like money or items worth over $1, or $5 for specific petitions) to influence someone to sign or avoid signing certain political petitions during election periods. It directly affects individuals circulating or signing petitions related to candidate nominations, recall efforts, referendums, or propositions during defined election windows (e.g., spring, general, or special elections). Key provisions define "election period" and specifically ban inducements for petitions supporting or opposing candidates, referendums, or recall efforts. The bill creates new statutory language (12.11(1m)(a) 5-6) to clarify these restrictions and applies to nomination papers and recall petitions. It aims to prevent financial incentives from influencing petition participation in elections.

Maddy summarySB 251 requires specific health insurance plans - including those offered by state/local governments - to cover asthma prescription drugs and related medical supplies (like inhalers) without deductibles. It caps patient out-of-pocket costs at $25 per month for asthma medications and $50 per month for related supplies, preventing higher costs as treatment needs increase. This applies to limited service health organizations, preferred provider plans, and defined network plans covering asthma treatment. The bill takes effect for new policy years starting after its enactment, ensuring consistent affordability for covered asthma care.

Maddy summarySJR 69 is a non-binding joint resolution honoring the late Wisconsin State Representative Terrence A. "Terry" Willkom, who served in the Assembly from 1971-1976 and passed away in May 2025. It commemorates his public service, personal life, and career - including his roles as a business executive, family man, and advocate for bipartisan collaboration - without creating any new laws or affecting any policies. The resolution formally extends the Wisconsin Legislature’s condolences to his family and recognizes his legacy of "honesty, integrity, and ability to work with both sides of the aisle." As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect or direct impact on constituents or legislation.

Maddy summarySJR 74 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. It formally declares this date to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, referencing the historical event when Union troops announced freedom to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. The resolution highlights Wisconsin's longstanding Juneteenth celebration tradition, dating to Milwaukee's first observance in 1971, and acknowledges Juneteenth's national significance as a federal holiday since 2021. This resolution has no legal effect beyond symbolic recognition and does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summarySB 320 creates $2 million in annual state funding for grants to school boards to provide LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and social workers. The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to award these grants for training programs developed or approved by the department. It directly affects school counselors, social workers, and school boards across the state, with the training focusing on supporting LGBTQIA+ students. The legislation specifies that "LGBTQIA+" includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other nonheterosexual or noncisgender identities.

Maddy summarySB 334 designates the monarch butterfly as Wisconsin's official state butterfly. It adds a new section (1.10(3)(w)) to state statutes declaring this designation and amends another section (1.10(4)) to include "butterfly" in the list of symbols featured in the Wisconsin Blue Book. The bill directly affects state symbolism by formally recognizing the monarch butterfly alongside existing symbols like the state bird and flower. This is a procedural, non-regulatory change with no funding or policy impacts, solely updating official state identifiers.

Maddy summarySB 322 creates a new Child Care Quality Improvement Program within the Department of Children and Families. It provides $221 million in annual funding (for 2025-26) to make monthly payments and per-child payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and school-based child care programs. The bill establishes rules for eligibility, payment amounts, and how funds must be used, while repealing outdated sections of law related to child care funding. The program is funded through specific appropriations in the state budget, with rules to be developed by the Department of Children and Families.