Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim

Maddy summarySB 871 creates a $2.5 million grant program to help Wisconsin farmers adopt sustainable practices that reduce fossil fuel use and store carbon. Eligible activities include installing renewable energy systems, planting trees/vegetation to capture carbon, and improving soil health through cover cropping or no-till farming. The program prioritizes projects offering the greatest carbon reduction per dollar, with special focus on small farms and diverse agricultural regions across the state. Grant recipients must allow project monitoring and report on environmental impacts, with funds requiring matching non-state support for maximum climate benefit.

Maddy summarySB 882 amends Wisconsin sentencing laws to specifically address individuals under 18 convicted of crimes. It requires courts to consider designated mitigating factors and relevant information (such as youth-related circumstances) when determining release eligibility for "youthful offenders" under sections 973.014 and 973.018. The bill creates new procedural requirements for parole commissions, including mandatory consideration of these factors and written reasons for denials with reconsideration timelines. These changes apply to juvenile offenders sentenced under the specified statutes, focusing on release decisions rather than sentencing ranges.

Maddy summarySB 878 creates a new grant program to fund planning for regional biodigesters, which convert organic waste into renewable energy. It allocates $250,000 annually from the environmental fund for planning grants, specifically for establishing these facilities. The Department of Agriculture would administer the grants and develop rules for the program. This bill directly affects entities seeking to develop regional biodigester infrastructure, providing funding for initial planning stages. The legislation focuses on creating a structured process for grant distribution without specifying recipient eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 820 gives the state superintendent of public instruction (or their designee) the authority to issue subpoenas during investigations into revoking professional licenses for incompetency or immoral conduct. The bill creates new statute sections (115.31(2c) and 885.01(6)) allowing the superintendent to compel witness testimony or document production using subpoenas in the same format as those authorized under section 885.02. This directly affects license holders facing potential revocation and streamlines investigations by providing clear subpoena authority. The bill does not change license standards or revocation criteria, only the process for gathering evidence during investigations.

Maddy summarySB 881 increases annual funding for crime victim services by $17.1 million for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, directed to the Department of Justice. This appropriation supports statewide victim services programs, including counseling, legal advocacy, and emergency assistance for crime victims. The bill also allocates $4.0 million to convert 17 existing FED (funded employee) positions to GPR (general purpose revenue) positions within the Department. These changes directly affect crime victim service providers and the Department of Justice’s capacity to deliver support.

Maddy summarySB 844 creates a $2.5 million biennial grant program to help healthcare facilities recruit and retain providers who conduct forensic exams for sexual assault, domestic abuse, or strangulation cases. It requires facilities to establish new positions or programs for these exams and guarantees reimbursement to providers regardless of whether victims cooperate with law enforcement. The bill modifies reimbursement rules to cover all exam costs (including STI prevention treatments) up to a $3,000 maximum per exam, adjusted annually for inflation. This directly affects healthcare facilities providing these services in counties needing additional exam providers.

Maddy summarySB 894 creates a new grant program to fund crime victim protective services, directly benefiting crime victims and the agencies serving them. It allocates $2.57 million biennially (starting 2025-26) from the Justice Department budget to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. These grants will cover services like temporary housing for victims of crime. The bill also authorizes one new full-time position at the Justice Department to administer the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the amount patients can pay out of pocket for insulin by setting a maximum cost-sharing cap of $35 per one-month supply for disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans. It applies to plans that currently cover insulin and charge copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance, while allowing insurers to charge less than the cap or no cost at all. The legislation also clarifies that existing diabetes coverage requirements for insulin pumps and supplies remain unchanged, though pump coverage may still be limited to one per year. The changes would take effect on the first day of the fourth month after the bill is published.

Maddy summarySB 809 modifies Wisconsin's Opportunity Attraction and Promotion Program, administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). It creates new rules allowing grants for non-public events (like exclusive conferences) only if they bring national exposure or boost economic growth, with strict limits: no more than 25% of annual funds can support such events, and they must avoid regularly scheduled or rotating events. The bill requires applicants to provide cost-benefit analyses of economic impacts before funding, mandates matching contributions from non-state sources, and adds annual reporting to the legislature. This directly affects event organizers seeking WEDC grants to attract major events to Wisconsin.

Maddy summarySB 695 amends statutes to establish new administrative processes for local sales and use taxes collected by counties and municipalities. It creates specific funding accounts (20.566(1)(gj) and 20.835(4)(gj)) to manage revenue from municipal sales taxes under new Section 77.702. The bill requires 0.75% of tax revenues collected under these local ordinances to be allocated to these new administrative accounts. This directly affects counties and municipalities that impose local sales taxes for their own purposes, clarifying how these funds are distributed and administered.