Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara

Maddy summarySB 860 updates Wisconsin's audiology licensing rules by expanding the scope of practice for audiologists. It explicitly allows audiologists to prescribe, sell, and fit hearing aids (including over-the-counter options) and handle devices like cochlear implants and osseo-integrated systems. The bill also clarifies that audiologists cannot perform surgeries, interpret radiographic imaging, or conduct surgical procedures. Additionally, it changes the Hearing and Speech Examining Board composition to require one public member who uses hearing aids, cochlear implants, or osseo-integrated devices, and repeals outdated temporary license rules.

Maddy summarySB 686 designates the Wisconsin natural pearl as the official state gem. The bill amends Wisconsin statutes to add a new section (1.10 (3) (w)) stating this designation and updates another section (1.10 (4)) to include "gem" in the list of state symbols required for the Wisconsin Blue Book. This is a ceremonial bill with no policy changes or direct impact on citizens or government programs. It simply adds the pearl to the state's official list of symbols, which will be reflected in the Blue Book.

Maddy summarySB 759 sets a new maximum annual interest rate of 36% for most consumer loans made by licensed lenders in the state, replacing the previous 18% limit. It directly affects licensed lenders (including those operating as "special purpose vehicles" or structuring loans to avoid regulation) by requiring them to report detailed data on loans above 18% APR, including refinancing, repossessions, and defaults. The bill also adds anti-evasion provisions to prevent lenders from disguising loans as other transactions (e.g., property sales) to bypass the rate cap. Lenders must submit annual reports to the Department of Financial Institutions, with aggregated data shared with the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 760 modifies Wisconsin's payday loan regulations to increase borrower protections. It requires lenders to verify a borrower's ability to repay before issuing a loan (Section 7) and caps total debt from all lenders at $1,500 or 35% of monthly income (Section 14). The bill prohibits loans maturing in under 90 days (Section 16g) and mandates clear disclosures about payment plans and interest costs (Section 5). These changes directly affect payday lenders and borrowers by restructuring loan terms, limiting debt accumulation, and requiring transparency in financing terms.

Maddy summarySB 751 modifies how the University of Wisconsin System appoints leaders and governs faculty roles. It removes requirements that only tenured faculty or those with the highest academic degrees could be considered for positions like chancellor, dean, or department chair. The bill also expands faculty and academic staff input in governance, ensuring non-tenured faculty and academic staff with teaching/research roles can participate equally. These changes directly affect all UW System leadership appointments and institutional governance processes across the university system.

Maddy summarySB 795 requires the Department of Transportation to ask license and ID card applicants if they want to voluntarily provide contact information for up to three people they care for as primary caregivers. The bill creates a system where this information is stored in the applicant's file and can be electronically accessed by law enforcement agencies that reasonably identify a person. It does not change existing requirements but adds this optional caregiver contact field to applications, with strict limits on who can access the data (only the applicant or law enforcement under defined conditions). The bill directly affects individuals applying for driver's licenses or state ID cards who choose to share caregiver contacts.

Maddy summarySB 752 creates a Wisconsin program that automatically deposits $25 into college savings accounts for children born in Wisconsin whose parents resided here at birth, provided they're under age 10. The state uses birth record data to identify eligible children, allowing parents to opt out within 30 days. Annual deposits are capped at $2 million, and the program excludes children from safe haven births, adoption records, or "do not contact" flags. This expands the existing college savings program by adding state contributions without requiring new family contributions.

Maddy summarySB 753 redirects $2 million annually from the college savings program trust fund to the Department of Financial Institutions. It authorizes the department to deposit funds into college savings accounts for children born or adopted in the state, residing there, and designated as beneficiaries under existing law (s. 224.50). The bill adds one full-time position to administer these deposits and provides specific funding increases: $446,900 for 2025-26 implementation and $317,900 for 2026-27 ongoing operations. All funds must cover qualified higher education expenses for the children in these accounts.

Maddy summarySB 13 requires Wisconsin's public school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in parental choice programs to include cursive writing in their elementary school curriculum. The bill mandates that all students must be able to write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade, with this standard to be implemented by July 1, 2026. This applies specifically to elementary grades (not high school districts) and affects all schools receiving state funding or participating in choice programs. The requirement will be incorporated into state academic standards and school curriculum plans, starting with the 2026-27 school year for charter and private schools.

Maddy summarySB 30 requires all public and charter schools to include civics education in their curriculum, mandating at least 0.5 credits of civics instruction within high school social studies courses. The bill specifies that this instruction must cover foundational U.S. documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights), the Federalist Papers, civic participation, and comparisons with other governance systems like communism. Private schools participating in parental choice programs must also include this civics content and annually report compliance to the department. These requirements apply to the 2027-28 school year for curriculum, with graduation impacts beginning for students graduating in 2030-31. The bill establishes new reporting obligations for schools and creates a legislative reporting mechanism for the department.