Sen. Dan Feyen

Maddy summarySB 12 creates a sales and use tax exemption for gun safes and firearm safety devices. The bill defines qualifying items as locked containers (using combinations, keys, or biometrics) designed solely for secure storage - not display cases - and safety devices preventing unauthorized firearm access. It clarifies that firearms sold with safety devices already installed are taxed as firearms, not as safety devices. This exemption applies directly to consumers purchasing these specific storage or safety products.

Maddy summarySB 218 amends how counties retain and distribute real estate transfer fees and related grants under existing programs. It clarifies that counties must account for both fees collected from property transfers and grants received under the land information program (s. 16.967(7)(c)) when calculating retained funds. The bill makes technical adjustments to fee retention language but does not change tax rates, create new fees, or alter funding amounts for counties. It directly affects local governments managing real estate transaction records and land information grants. The bill is procedural and focuses on administrative accuracy, not policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 382 modifies the state's historic rehabilitation tax credit program. It requires that qualified rehabilitation expenditures for a building must total at least $50,000 over a 24-month period to count toward the credit. The bill also clarifies that state certification by the historic preservation officer is needed if taxpayers do not claim the federal credit for the same rehabilitation work. This directly affects property owners and developers seeking tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings. The changes standardize eligibility criteria and align with federal definitions for the credit.

Maddy summarySB 211 would exempt certain tobacco-focused venues from the state's public smoking ban. Specifically, it creates a new exemption for "tobacco bars" that opened after June 4, 2009, allow only cigar and pipe smoking (not cigarettes), and are not classified as food establishments. This change would directly affect new tobacco bars meeting all three criteria, allowing them to operate without complying with the general smoking ban that applies to most public spaces. The bill does not alter the smoking ban for other businesses or venues. It is currently pending in committee after being introduced in April 2025.

Maddy summarySB 252 amends eligibility rules for state benefit programs by excluding up to $40,000 in inherited assets when calculating an individual's total assets. It directly affects people applying for or receiving state benefits (like Medicaid or food assistance) who inherit assets, allowing them to retain more inheritance without losing eligibility. The bill modifies existing rules to clarify that inherited assets up to $40,000 will not count toward asset limits, while requiring individuals to deposit earned income into designated accounts. This is a procedural adjustment to benefit eligibility criteria, not a new program.

Maddy summarySB 410 allocates $450,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the Department of Health Services' budget to fund statewide falls prevention awareness and initiatives. The grant will be awarded to the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging to support programs reducing falls among older adults. This bill increases the department's appropriation by $450,000 each year to cover these specific grants. The funding supports education and community outreach efforts, not new regulations or direct services for individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new exception for certain retired Wisconsin Retirement System members. It allows former county jailers (not protective occupation) and protective occupation retirees to return to work for a participating employer without automatically becoming active retirement system participants. To qualify, they must not have a prior agreement to return, must formally elect not to rejoin the system using a department-provided form, and must have terminated employment without an agreement to return. The change specifically applies to rehires after the bill's effective date, giving these workers a clear path to return to work without automatic retirement system re-enrollment.

Maddy summarySB 544 updates cigarette tax rates to distinguish between traditional smoking products and "heating tobacco" products (which heat tobacco without burning). It creates a new tax category for heating tobacco products, charging 63 mills per cigarette for lighter products and 126 mills for heavier ones - half the rate applied to traditional cigarettes. Businesses selling these products will pay these new rates, with adjustments to offset federal taxes. The bill also requires a one-time inventory tax on existing stock when rates change, but the main policy change is reducing taxes for heating tobacco products compared to traditional cigarettes.

Maddy summarySB 578 allows designated patient representatives to consent to health care facility admissions for individuals who cannot manage their own health care decisions (incapacitated) without requiring a court-appointed guardian or protective placement petition. The bill mandates that incapacity be certified by two physicians or one physician and one advanced practice clinician, excluding individuals diagnosed with developmental disability or mental illness. Patient representatives can make health care decisions, enroll the individual in Medical Assistance, and authorize health care costs until the individual is no longer deemed incapacitated or a court appoints a guardian. This streamlines consent for eligible patients while maintaining medical oversight and avoiding traditional guardianship processes.

Maddy summarySB 130 removes the exception for "obscene material" from existing laws governing online distribution of certain content. It directly affects online platforms, content distributors, and users sharing material that meets the bill's definition. The key mechanism establishes civil penalties of $100-$10,000 per violation, allowing state departments to investigate violations and seek fines or injunctions to address non-compliance. The bill focuses on enforcement of existing online content standards without changing the core definition of prohibited material. (Note: This summary is based solely on the provided text; the bill's specific definition of "certain material" is not detailed in the context.)