Sen. Howard Marklein

Maddy summarySB 466 raises the age threshold for issuing a Missing Child Alert from under 10 to under 12 years. It directly affects minors aged 10 or 11 who go missing and are deemed unable to return home without assistance due to a disability or condition. The bill amends statute 175.51(1m)(a)2 to change the age requirement from "not attained the age of 10 years" to "not attained the age of 12 years." This adjustment ensures children in this age group qualify for alerts when their safety is at risk. The change applies to alerts issued when a minor's location is unknown and other alert criteria aren't met.

Maddy summarySB 413 provides legal immunity for individuals who assist sexual assault victims by calling 911, reporting the assault, or seeking help at a medical facility. It extends the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault prosecutions from 10 to 20 years for specific offenses under state law. The bill also allows tenants who are sexual assault victims to immediately terminate their lease by providing an injunction order, without liability for future rent, and requires landlords to change locks upon request. Additionally, it mandates 20-year storage of sexual assault kits to give victims more time to report incidents. These changes directly affect sexual assault victims, tenants in rental housing, and individuals seeking to assist victims without fear of drug-related charges.

Maddy summarySB 439 authorizes annual state funding to three local governments in Oregon: the Village of Oregon ($172,400), the Town of Oregon ($51,100), and the Town of Rutland ($1,100) for the 2026-27 fiscal year. It creates a new process where the Department of Revenue must distribute these specific amounts by June 30 each year as "levy adjustment grants" under statute 73.50. These grants are designed to offset local tax levy increases, providing direct financial support to these communities. The bill passed unanimously in November 2025 and establishes a recurring funding mechanism for these municipalities.

Maddy summarySB 673 requires all Wisconsin school boards to adopt written policies by July 1, 2026, governing appropriate communication between school employees and volunteers (acting in their official capacity) and students. The policies must cover both in-school and outside-school communications, specify standards for content and communication methods, and outline consequences for violations. This applies to all public school districts and students attending home-based private educational programs. The bill does not define "appropriate" communication but mandates school boards establish their own clear standards and enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating February 6, 2026, as "Ronald Reagan Day" in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies; instead, it formally recognizes the 114th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth through a symbolic observance. The resolution urges Wisconsin citizens to acknowledge the day, citing Reagan's historical roles as California governor and U.S. president, his economic policies, and his Cold War diplomacy. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect on residents or government operations.

Maddy summarySB 164 requires potato growers in Wisconsin to use certified seed potatoes (meeting state agricultural standards) when planting 5 or more acres of potatoes in a calendar year. The bill allows the state department to waive this requirement for specific potato varieties if certified seed is unavailable and disease risk is low, with conditions on where the waiver applies. Violations - such as planting uncertified seed or failing to comply with removal orders - carry penalties of up to $5,000 plus $5,000 per acre, with potential waivers if growers remove affected potatoes within 72 hours. The law directly affects commercial potato growers and aims to prevent disease spread through regulated seed use.

Maddy summarySB 158 updates Wisconsin's rules for county forest administration grants by setting new qualifications for the county forest administrator position. It requires applicants to have either a forestry degree from an accredited program, a related degree with 3+ years managing county forests, or an associate forestry degree with 3+ years of experience. The bill allows counties to use grants covering up to 50% of the administrator's salary and 40% of their benefits (capped at 40% of salary). This applies to all grant applications submitted on or after January 1, 2025, directly affecting counties seeking funding for forest management programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for appointing town clerks and treasurers, requires towns to publish budget summaries and public hearing notices, and creates procedures for closing or removing roads. It directly affects local governments by changing administrative processes for financial transparency and infrastructure decisions. The bill modifies how municipalities handle appointments, budget communications, and highway discontinuance without altering tax rates or funding levels. It passed unanimously and is now law.

Maddy summarySB 210 changes Wisconsin's academic excellence scholarship program for high school seniors. It adjusts how many students qualify based on school size: schools with 80-500 students can name one top-performing senior (highest GPA), while larger schools may name multiple scholars. The bill also adds new rules for handling tied GPAs, requiring faculty to select alternates if multiple seniors have identical high scores. These changes directly affect public and private Wisconsin high schools with 80+ students and their top academic performers. The bill repeals outdated criteria and creates new provisions to streamline scholarship designations.

Maddy summarySB 440 changes Wisconsin's requirements for the typeface used in legal notices published in newspapers. It replaces the previous standard (Times New Roman) with Arial sans serif typeface, mandating 6-point font size with specific formatting details. The bill directly affects newspapers publishing legal notices and government agencies placing such notices, requiring them to use Arial within specified parameters. It also allows for larger Arial sizes (up to 12-point) with proportional fee adjustments, which the Department of Administration will certify. This is a procedural change to standardize legal notice formatting, not a substantive policy shift.