Sen. Bob Wirch

Maddy summarySB 348 requires school districts to provide training for staff on addressing student mental health, directly affecting public schools and their employees. The bill adds $500,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and another $500,000 for 2026-27 to the state’s existing budget for the Department of Public Instruction to fund these training programs. This funding is specifically designated to support mental health training initiatives in schools, with no changes to existing curriculum requirements. The bill takes effect after the 2025 biennial budget is published.

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 516 requires the state group insurance board to study the potential costs and savings for Wisconsin school districts and current health insurance plan participants if school districts were either required to join or could voluntarily join a state-offered group health insurance plan. The bill allocates $300,000 for these actuarial studies, which must be completed within six months and reported to the governor and legislature. It does not change current participation rules but examines two scenarios: mandatory statewide enrollment versus voluntary participation. The study will specifically analyze financial impacts on school districts and existing plan members. This bill is procedural, focusing solely on gathering data before any policy decisions.

Maddy summarySJR 78 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley upon her retirement from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The resolution formally expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's appreciation for her decades of service, including her historic role as the first woman elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court (1995) and her leadership as Chief Justice (2025). It recognizes her career milestones, community involvement, and global work advancing gender and human rights through judicial organizations. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to her service.

Maddy summarySB 581 amends Wisconsin statutes to clarify and strengthen shared governance roles for faculty, academic staff, and students at University of Wisconsin System institutions. The bill gives faculty primary responsibility for advising on academic matters and requires STEM representation in faculty governance structures. Academic staff gain defined roles in shaping policies affecting their work, while students gain formal input on student life policies and control over fees supporting campus activities. These changes directly affect all faculty, academic staff, and students across UW System campuses by defining their specific participatory roles in institutional decision-making.

Maddy summarySJR 70 is a ceremonial resolution designating June 12, 2025, as "Women Veterans Day" in Wisconsin. It directly recognizes Wisconsin's over 29,000 women veterans, who currently make up about 10% of the state's veteran population. The resolution commemorates the anniversary of President Truman signing the Women's Armed Services Integration Act (June 12, 1948) and acknowledges women veterans' service and unique challenges like higher rates of PTSD and unemployment. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new programs or alter existing laws - it simply urges the state legislature to formally honor women veterans on this date.

Maddy summarySB 513 requires public high school districts to provide voter registration forms and nonpartisan voting information to students who become eligible to vote (typically age 18). Schools must distribute the state-prescribed registration form along with materials explaining voting's role in democracy. This applies to students meeting voting eligibility criteria within their school district. The bill aims to increase voter registration accessibility during high school, directly affecting eligible students and school districts.

Maddy summarySB 572 establishes new rules for selling and reselling entertainment event tickets. It requires sellers to clearly disclose the total price (including all fees), seat details, and itemized costs before purchase. The bill bans selling tickets not in a seller’s possession ("speculative sales"), restricts reselling tickets before public sales or through fan clubs, and prohibits deceptive practices like using artist names without permission. It also mandates full refunds within 10 days for canceled events, counterfeit tickets, or tickets that don’t match descriptions.

Maddy summarySB 512 allows public high schools to serve as voter registration sites for enrolled students and school staff during regular school days. It requires municipal clerks to work with school boards to appoint special registration deputies at each high school, who collect completed forms and forward them to the municipal clerk. Students who register while under 18 will be automatically added to the voter rolls when they turn 18, provided they meet eligibility requirements. The bill directly affects high school students and staff in municipalities with public high schools, streamlining registration access during the school year. Private and tribal high schools with many local residents may also participate under specific conditions.

Maddy summarySJR 102 is a symbolic resolution honoring the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to the United States. It commemorates the 1825 voyage of the sloop *Restauration*, which carried Norwegian immigrants seeking religious freedom to the U.S., and acknowledges that over 800,000 Norwegians emigrated to America between 1825 and 1925, with Wisconsin becoming home to 25% of Norwegian Americans by 1900. The resolution formally designates 2025 as the year to celebrate this bicentennial, recognizing the cultural impact of Norwegian immigrants on Wisconsin and U.S. history. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect or policy changes.