Maddy summarySJR 26 is a procedural resolution that celebrates May 7, 2025, as Skilled Trades Day in Wisconsin. It highlights the importance of skilled trades and apprenticeship programs within the state.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 118 creates a $10,000 state income tax credit for eligible individuals who relocate to this state. This credit is available to U.S. citizens who moved from Los Angeles County, California, due to the January 2025 wildfires, or from North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene in 2024. To qualify, claimants must have filed a 2023 income tax return listing an address in the affected areas and cannot have a felony conviction. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and ending before January 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 241 creates special provisions for "data center districts" within tax incremental financing (TIF) districts. It exempts a TIF district from a standard 12 percent limit requirement if all its project costs are dedicated to a qualified data center located within its boundaries. This aims to streamline the creation or amendment of TIF districts specifically for data center development. However, districts receiving this exemption cannot later amend their project plans to include costs unrelated to the data center, and their value increment will not count towards the 12 percent limit calculation for other TIF districts.
Maddy summarySB 194 clarifies when public records requesters can recover attorney fees after suing a government agency. It applies directly to individuals or groups who file court cases seeking records and later get the records released. The bill adds that requesters "prevail" if a court orders the release or if the agency voluntarily shares the record *after* a lawsuit is filed, and the court finds the lawsuit was a key reason for the release. This change makes it easier for requesters to get fee awards without waiting for a full court ruling, streamlining the process under the state's public records law.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 201 requires state agencies and authorities to track and report standardized performance metrics for various state-funded workforce development programs. These metrics include participants' employment rates, median earnings, and attainment of postsecondary credentials after program exit. The bill mandates that this performance data be published annually on a single, state-maintained website. Additionally, it updates requirements for employers to provide information about local workforce development resources to employees affected by business closings or mass layoffs.
Maddy summarySB 280 redirects $172 million in interest earned from coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds to the general fund. It directly affects the state's budget by moving existing interest funds that would otherwise remain in the department of administration's appropriation. The bill's key mechanism is a fiscal adjustment under section 20.906(1), lapsing these funds to the general fund upon the bill's effective date. This is a procedural budget reallocation, not a new policy or program.
Maddy summarySB 231 creates a tax credit program for film production companies in Wisconsin, providing credits for eligible expenses like wages and capital investments incurred within the state. It establishes a State Film Office within the Department of Tourism to administer the program, set accreditation standards for productions (requiring minimum spending thresholds of $50,000 for short productions or $100,000 for longer ones), and issue tax credits. The bill caps annual program spending at $10 million total and $1 million per company, mandates that accredited productions include a state acknowledgment in the final product, and requires annual reports on program usage and efficiency. This directly affects film production companies operating in Wisconsin that meet the accreditation criteria and seek to reduce costs through state tax incentives.
Maddy summarySB 303 creates a grant program to fund technical colleges in developing detailed digital maps of their campus buildings for law enforcement use. These maps must include specific location details like room numbers, floors, and building layouts to help first responders during emergencies, and must work with existing public safety technology without requiring additional software purchases. The Office of School Safety will administer the grants, accepting applications from technical college leaders working with local law enforcement. The bill also requires an annual report tracking grant funding and how the maps are used.
Maddy summarySB 82 prohibits state and local governments from restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on their energy source (like gasoline, electric, or hydrogen power). It also bans similar restrictions on other devices that rely on specific energy sources for key functions. The law applies broadly to all government agencies and units, preventing them from enacting policies that target vehicles or devices solely by their power source. The only exception allows governments to maintain their own vehicle purchase policies for their own fleets.
Maddy summarySB 204 creates a 30% tax credit for video game companies in the state, allowing them to reduce their tax liability by 30% of wages paid for qualifying game development activities. The credit applies to wages paid for developing, producing, or creating video games (excluding gambling platforms, social media tools, political/religious content, or marketing sites) beginning in 2025. Companies can claim the credit against state taxes, with unused portions paid from a new appropriation fund. This directly affects video game developers operating within the state who meet the eligibility criteria.
