Sen. Bob Wirch

Maddy summarySB 490 amends Wisconsin's prevailing wage laws to establish a statewide standard for construction projects funded by public entities. It creates new privacy protections (Section 1), prohibiting authorities from sharing employee names or personally identifiable information without consent on projects subject to prevailing wage rules. The bill also defines key terms like "prevailing wage rate" (Section 6), clarifies that local governments cannot impose stricter wage requirements than the state standard (Section 8), and specifies which projects qualify for prevailing wage coverage (Sections 2-9). These changes directly affect contractors bidding on public works projects and local governments administering construction contracts.

Maddy summarySB 617 designates November 11 (Veterans Day) as an official state holiday when offices of Wisconsin state government must close. It adds November 11 to the list of required closing days in state statute (230.35(4)(a)5m) and amends existing provisions to include Veterans Day as a paid holiday for state employees. The bill specifies that all state employees (except limited-term hires) will receive 9-10 paid holidays annually, with Veterans Day now counting toward that total. This change takes effect January 1 following publication, aligning Wisconsin state government operations with Veterans Day observance.

Maddy summarySB 410 allocates $450,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the Department of Health Services' budget to fund statewide falls prevention awareness and initiatives. The grant will be awarded to the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging to support programs reducing falls among older adults. This bill increases the department's appropriation by $450,000 each year to cover these specific grants. The funding supports education and community outreach efforts, not new regulations or direct services for individuals.

Maddy summarySB 586 creates a new "Tuition Promise Grant Program" to help Wisconsin residents cover the gap between other financial aid and the full cost of academic fees and course-related fees at University of Wisconsin campuses (excluding Madison). It directly affects eligible undergraduate students who are Wisconsin residents, enrolled in their first bachelor’s program at a non-Madison UW campus, and have household income at or below $71,000 annually. The program provides grants for up to 8 consecutive semesters (for freshmen) or 4 consecutive semesters (for transfer students), with initial funding of $11.86 million for 2025-26 and $28.11 million for 2026-27. The UW Board of Regents will administer the program and set rules, but grants cannot cover summer terms or be awarded to students with unaddressed child support liens or selective service registration issues.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 587 modifies the process for remitting educational fees for veterans and their dependents attending University of Wisconsin System institutions or technical colleges. It establishes a "sum sufficient" appropriation, ensuring that the state provides the necessary funds to fully reimburse these educational institutions for all remitted fees. The bill removes previous limitations on the amount the state's Higher Educational Aids Board can reimburse the universities and

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $10 million annually for student success and retention programs at University of Wisconsin System institutions and Wisconsin technical colleges. It creates dedicated funding streams (under statutes 20.285(1)(ct) and 20.292(1)(er)) to support existing efforts like academic advising and program administration. The funds are provided as a continuing appropriation, meaning they are guaranteed year-to-year without needing annual legislative approval. This directly affects students and institutions by providing sustained financial support for initiatives aimed at improving graduation rates and student persistence.

Maddy summarySB 208 prohibits hedge funds (defined as entities managing $50 million+ in pooled investor funds) from acquiring or owning single-family homes in the state. It specifically targets new acquisitions after the law's effective date, requiring any violation to forfeit the property to the state, enforced by the attorney general. Existing ownership before the effective date is not affected. The bill directly impacts hedge funds meeting its financial and structural criteria, not other investors or property types. It does not alter existing ownership rights but prevents new purchases by covered hedge funds.

Maddy summarySB 541 creates a new pathway for individuals or the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to file civil lawsuits in circuit court alleging employment discrimination, unfair honesty testing (like pre-employment lie detector tests), or unfair genetic testing. The bill sets a 300-day deadline to file such lawsuits and establishes damage caps based on employer size (ranging from $50,000 to $300,000), with automatic annual adjustments using the consumer price index. It clarifies that individuals don’t need to first pursue administrative complaints before suing, and courts must specify whether new damages replace or add to prior relief. This directly affects employees facing these violations and employers subject to such lawsuits.

Maddy summarySB 465 removes outdated restrictions on public construction contracts by repealing specific statutes (16.75(1p), 16.855(1p), 66.0901(1)(ae), (am), (6m), and (6s)). It amends Section 66.0901(6) to allow municipalities to set reasonable conditions for worker pay, hours, and qualifications in public building projects (excluding highways), and to classify contractors based on financial responsibility and ability. This directly affects cities and towns awarding construction contracts for public buildings, giving them more flexibility in contract terms. The bill makes no new policy changes but eliminates existing barriers to municipal oversight of worker conditions and contractor qualifications.

Maddy summarySB 464 repeals two state laws (statutes 103.007 and 109.09(3)) that previously prevented local governments from creating their own employment regulations. This bill directly affects cities and counties by removing the state's legal barrier to local workplace rules, such as minimum wage or scheduling requirements. The key mechanism is the removal of these preemption statutes, allowing local governments to establish employment standards without state override. The bill focuses solely on changing the legal framework to enable local regulation, without specifying new policies.