Sen. Van Wanggaard

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new civil legal option for victims of sexual extortion to sue for damages without needing to go through criminal court proceedings. It allows individuals who suffer physical injury, emotional distress, or property loss due to sexual extortion to file a lawsuit against the perpetrator, with provisions for parents or guardians to sue on behalf of children. The law permits plaintiffs to use initials instead of their real names in court filings to protect their privacy and allows for recovery of emotional distress damages, punitive damages, and legal fees. Importantly, victims can pursue this civil action regardless of whether criminal charges were filed or the outcome of any criminal case.

Maddy summarySB 812 amends a sales tax exemption to apply to "motion picture projectors" sold to "motion picture theaters" instead of "movie" terminology. It creates a temporary 25-month tax exemption for these purchases, ending 25 months after the law takes effect. The bill directly affects motion picture theaters purchasing new projectors during this limited window. This is a procedural update to existing tax code language, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summarySB 862 revises Wisconsin statutes governing county sheriff offices and medical examiner appointments. It primarily updates rules for appointing and removing undersheriffs (including civil service considerations), clarifies who acts as sheriff during vacancies or incapacity (requiring county board petitions for incapacity declarations), and adds new provisions for service of process when the sheriff is a party. The bill directly affects county sheriffs, undersheriffs, county clerks, and circuit courts in administering local law enforcement duties. It focuses on procedural changes to sheriff office operations rather than new policy initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 705 regulates "nonrecourse civil litigation advances," which are cash payments made to individuals (consumers) involved in legal disputes (like lawsuits or settlements) in exchange for a share of future proceeds, without requiring repayment if the case is lost. The bill requires written contracts with specific disclosures (including APR, prepayment rights, and cancellation options), caps finance charges at the weekly prime rate plus 10%, and limits advances to $100,000 per consumer. It prohibits companies from paying referral fees to attorneys or health care providers and ensures consumers can prepay advances with proportional finance charge reductions. Violations incur fines of $25-$5,000 per violation, and willful violations prevent companies from recovering advances or finance charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state income tax credit for out-of-pocket medical expenses related to in vitro fertilization (IVF), including consultations, procedures, and prescribed drugs. Individuals filing state taxes can claim up to $5,000 annually in eligible costs, but only if their income is below $100,000 (single or married filing separately) or $200,000 (married filing jointly). The credit excludes insurance-covered costs, travel, lodging, and expenses paid through health savings accounts or similar programs. It applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and requires claims to be filed with the state tax return.

Maddy summarySB 758 restricts how social media platforms handle users under 18 in the state, directly affecting platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook that allow minors to create profiles. The bill prohibits platforms from collecting or using minors' data for personalized content recommendations, algorithmic prioritization, or targeted advertising, while requiring age verification through approved methods. Platforms must also stop showing targeted ads to minors and may only use limited data for account maintenance. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, enforced by the state department of justice or affected individuals.

Maddy summarySB 738 creates a new Class H felony for using absentee ballot drop boxes, U.S. mail, or commercial carriers to commit election fraud under existing state laws. It directly affects individuals who attempt to manipulate absentee ballots through these specific methods. The bill’s key provision upgrades certain election fraud violations to a felony charge, imposing criminal penalties for misuse of these ballot submission channels. This is a policy change focused on enhancing penalties for election integrity violations, not on changing voting access.

Maddy summarySB 763 requires Wisconsin’s state retirement system and Milwaukee’s city/county retirement systems to vote on securities solely based on participants’ economic interests, not environmental, social, or ideological goals. It mandates that voting decisions must maximize risk-adjusted investment returns for participants, with specific rules for handling shareholder proposals and proxy advisory firm recommendations. The bill prohibits using proxy advisors whose recommendations prioritize non-economic factors or conflict with issuer board advice, unless an economic analysis proves the vote serves participants’ financial interests. This directly affects how these retirement systems manage assets and cast votes on company shareholder proposals.

Maddy summarySB 767 changes eligibility rules for Milwaukee's Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs. It requires applicants to not have filed for unemployment insurance benefits or to be ineligible for such benefits. This directly affects job seekers in Milwaukee who have recently applied for or been denied unemployment benefits. The bill amends statute 49.163(2)(am)5 to add this requirement, making it a concrete policy change for program access. The bill is currently pending in committee review after introduction in December 2025.

Maddy summarySB 768 clarifies the classification of healthcare workers using digital platforms to schedule shifts at facilities. It establishes 15 specific conditions that must be met for these workers to be treated as independent contractors (not employees) of either the platform or the facility. Key provisions include requiring written agreements, allowing workers to freely accept/reject shifts without penalties, setting hourly rates independently, and mandating that platforms provide work injury, general liability, and professional liability insurance. The bill directly affects healthcare workers using such platforms and the platforms themselves, ensuring their classification as independent contractors under these defined terms.