Sen. Van Wanggaard

Maddy summarySB 384 requires health care providers to provide the same standard of care and immediate hospital transport for any child born alive after an abortion or attempted abortion, as they would for any newborn of the same gestational age. Violating these requirements is a Class H felony, but the mother cannot be prosecuted for the incident. The bill also allows affected women to seek triple the cost of the abortion as civil damages, plus attorney fees, while protecting their identity through court confidentiality orders. It explicitly states the law does not create or recognize a right to abortion.

Maddy summarySB 75 creates a process for randomly assigning court venue in lawsuits where a government entity (such as a state official, agency, or legislative body) is a party. If filed in a first or second-class city, any party can request this random assignment within 5 days of filing or service, triggering a clerk to randomly select another circuit court. Once assigned, the venue is final and cannot be changed, and a fee applies for this option. The bill directly affects lawsuits involving government defendants or intervenors in specific cities, altering standard venue rules for these cases.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 123 amends sections of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) related to investment securities, affecting securities intermediaries, investors (entitlement holders), and their creditors. The bill clarifies that financial assets held by a securities intermediary for investors are generally not considered the intermediary's property and are protected from the intermediary's creditors. It also establishes that, in most situations, the claims of investors have priority over the claims of a securities intermediary's creditors for the same financial asset. Additionally, the bill modifies provisions concerning the local law that governs security entitlements.

Maddy summarySB 99 creates a Spinal Cord Injury Council to oversee research grants and allocates $2.5 million biennially for spinal cord injury research in Wisconsin. The council, composed of researchers, individuals with spinal cord injuries, veterans, family members, and medical professionals, develops grant criteria and reviews applications. Researchers receiving grants must present findings at department-hosted symposia every two years and report annual progress to the legislature. The bill specifically funds innovative treatments and rehabilitative approaches, with grants allowing up to 8% for administrative costs.

Maddy summarySB 312 prohibits changing the sex marker on a birth certificate to reflect a person's gender identity. It defines "biological sex" as the sex assigned at birth based on chromosomes, and bans courts from ordering such changes - even after gender-affirming surgery. The bill affects transgender individuals seeking to update their birth certificates to match their gender identity. Key provisions include creating new statutes (69.115, 69.12 (2m)) that prevent sex marker changes and amending existing laws to remove court authority for such updates. The bill does not affect name changes on birth records.

Maddy summarySB 206 makes certain terms in Wisconsin residential rental agreements void and unenforceable if they violate specific protections. It directly affects tenants and landlords by prohibiting clauses that allow retaliation for contacting services (e.g., law enforcement or health services), termination due to a tenant being a crime victim, or termination without required notice for crimes on property. Tenants can choose to void their entire lease or sever only the prohibited clause, with remedies including a periodic tenancy (renewable month-to-month) and double damages for financial losses caused by prohibited terms. The bill specifically targets provisions under sections 704.44(1m) to (10) of Wisconsin statutes, creating clear legal pathways for tenants to challenge unfair lease terms.

Maddy summarySJR 94 proposes adding Section 27 to the state constitution to prohibit government agencies from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. This would apply to public employment, education, contracting, and administration. The bill is a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval, with a ballot question scheduled for the November 2026 election. If approved by voters, it would create a new constitutional standard for state and local government actions. This is a second legislative attempt to submit this amendment to voters after a prior proposal in 2023.

Maddy summarySJR 99 is a symbolic resolution recognizing October 14, 2025, as "First Responders Appreciation Day" in Wisconsin. It honors all professional and volunteer police, fire, and emergency medical services personnel (including Wisconsin's over 4,800 career firefighters, 20,600 volunteer firefighters, 14,700 law enforcement officers, and 17,426 EMS personnel) for their daily service and risks. The resolution has no policy or legal effect - it merely declares a day of recognition through legislative proclamation. It does not create new requirements, funding, or changes to laws affecting first responders.

Maddy summarySJR 88 is a symbolic resolution honoring Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, following his assassination. It expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's gratitude for his dedication to "faith, liberty, and truth," his work inspiring young Americans, and his commitment to family. The resolution commends his legacy as a "beacon of conviction and courage" and joins in prayer for his family and the nation. As a commemorative measure, it has no binding policy changes or direct impact on constituents.

Maddy summarySB 454 creates a new income tax subtraction for Wisconsin taxpayers who earn qualified overtime compensation, directly affecting workers receiving overtime pay that meets federal tax definitions. It allows individuals to subtract up to $12,500 (or $25,000 for joint filers) of qualifying overtime income from their taxable income each year. The benefit phases out for higher earners: for single filers, the subtraction decreases by $100 for every $1,000 their modified federal adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000, and for joint filers, the threshold is $300,000. The bill specifies that "qualified overtime" excludes tips and aligns with federal definitions under the Internal Revenue Code.