Sen. Van Wanggaard

Maddy summarySB 65 clarifies legal terminology for vehicle impoundment in reckless driving cases by changing "citation" to "citation charge" in the law and adding "or making an arrest" to the arrest process. It does not alter penalties, enforcement procedures, or eligibility for impoundment. The bill directly affects law enforcement officers issuing citations and drivers cited for reckless driving under current impoundment rules. This is a procedural adjustment to existing legal language, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summarySB 77 amends Wisconsin statute 943.10(1m) to criminalize intentionally entering a place without consent when intending to commit theft or specific battery-related offenses (under statutes 940.19 or 940.195). It classifies this as a Class F felony, directly affecting individuals who enter premises unlawfully with such criminal intent. The key provision raises the penalty for these specific acts by defining them as a felony rather than a lesser offense. This change applies to locations like homes, businesses, or vehicles where entry occurs without permission for the purpose of committing theft or battery. The bill focuses solely on the legal penalty structure, not broader policy impacts.

Maddy summarySB 27 requires all state agency employees to perform their regular work duties at the agency's physical office during scheduled work hours, beginning July 1, 2025. This applies to employees of state agencies, including the University of Wisconsin System, legislature, courts, and other public bodies listed in the bill. Exceptions include telehealth services and work that was already performed off-site before March 1, 2020. The bill does not affect remote work arrangements established prior to the pandemic or certain health-related duties.

Maddy summarySJR 86 is a ceremonial resolution that commemorates the U.S. Navy's 250th anniversary on October 13, 2025, marking the date the Continental Congress authorized the first naval vessels in 1775. The resolution recognizes the Navy's historical service and legacy, with specific acknowledgment of Wisconsin's naval contributions, including shipbuilding history and vessels named after the state. It does not create new laws or affect any policies or groups - it is purely symbolic. The Wisconsin Legislature formally resolves to celebrate this milestone.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 22 requires school boards to make adopted textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by residents of the school district. Upon a written request, a resident can inspect these materials at a designated location without cost. School boards must fulfill these requests within 14 days and establish procedures to provide access more quickly. The bill also requires school boards to post a list of adopted textbooks on their website. These provisions do not require actions that would infringe on copyright law.

Maddy summarySB 115, as amended, requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to collect and report specific criminal case data. The bill mandates the DOJ to create an interactive dashboard, starting by January 1, 2026, to display a summary of this data. This dashboard will specifically include arrest charges from the arresting agency and will not contain any personally identifying information for criminal defendants. The goal is to provide accessible, summarized data on criminal cases.

Maddy summarySB 333 increases specific court filing fees for civil, criminal, and family court cases, with new amounts ranging from $55 to $239 (up from previous rates like $20 to $75). It requires these fees to be automatically adjusted every five years starting in 2030 based on the U.S. consumer price index for inflation, rounded up to the nearest dollar. The bill directly affects defendants and plaintiffs paying court fees, as well as county treasurers who collect and distribute the funds. For example, the fee for civil actions rises from $75 to $190, and family court filings increase from $20 to $55.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJR 91) that declares October 2025 and October 2026 as "Breast Cancer Awareness Months" in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or allocate funds - it is a symbolic gesture to promote public awareness, early detection, and treatment of breast cancer. The resolution cites Wisconsin-specific statistics on breast cancer incidence and mortality to highlight the issue. It directly affects Wisconsin residents by encouraging community-focused awareness efforts during those months.

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 582 simplifies residency verification for students continuing in Wisconsin's private school choice program. It eliminates the requirement for parents to submit new residency documents when a student re-enrolls in the same participating private school the following school year, unless their address has changed since the last verification. This applies directly to families using the parental choice program and affects all participating private schools in the state. The rule change takes effect for applications submitted for the 2026-27 school year.