Sen. Jesse James

Maddy summarySB 832 establishes a new regulatory framework for pharmacies operating remotely without a pharmacist physically present on-site. It defines "remote dispensing sites" (now called "remotely supervised pharmacies") and allows the pharmacy board to create rules exempting these sites from standard pharmacy requirements. The bill clarifies that such remote operations are not classified as community or institutional pharmacies under existing rules. It repeals previous provisions requiring pharmacist presence and modifies licensing rules to specifically accommodate these remote pharmacy models.

Maddy summarySB 191 requires courts to serve subpoenas for law enforcement officers, tribal law enforcement officers, public officers, or public employees at their workplace address - not their home address - when their testimony relates to official duties. This applies to all witnesses in these roles whose testimony concerns actions taken in their official capacity or employment. The bill specifies that subpoenas must be delivered by giving a copy to the individual at work, leaving it at the workplace, or presenting it to them there. It updates legal procedures to streamline service for these officials while clarifying that "address" for such testimony means their employer’s street address under defined circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 391 clarifies that the requirement for school buses to be equipped with audiovisual recording devices applies to public school boards *and* the governing bodies of private or tribal schools. The bill amends existing law by replacing "board" with "board, or the governing body of a private school or tribal school" to explicitly include these entities. This change ensures all schools operating buses - public, private, or tribal - must comply with the recording device requirement. The bill does not create new requirements but specifies which school entities are subject to the existing mandate.

Maddy summarySB 485 allows residential care centers for children and youth, group homes, and shelter care facilities to use video surveillance in common areas, entrances, and exits without a child’s consent. Facilities must inform children and their parents/guardians about the monitoring and adopt written safety policies that may include video. The law prohibits using video as a substitute for one-on-one supervision of children at high risk for self-harm and requires all video data to remain confidential, with limited exceptions for department review. This directly affects staff and children in these facilities by standardizing monitoring practices while maintaining privacy protections.

Maddy summarySB 474 adds soybean-derived fire suppression products to the list of eligible costs for state fire grant programs. This means local fire departments and municipalities can now use state grant funds to purchase fire suppressants made from soybeans, rather than only traditional chemical-based products. The bill directly affects grant recipients by expanding their funding options for fire safety equipment under existing state grant programs. It creates a specific policy change without altering other grant requirements or imposing new costs.

Maddy summarySB 556 creates new annual payments to municipalities and counties for hosting energy storage facilities (like batteries or thermal systems) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities. For energy storage facilities with at least 1 megawatt capacity, payments are calculated as $2,000 per megawatt, split between the local city/town (two-thirds) and county (one-third) or town (one-third) and county (two-thirds). For LNG storage facilities, payments are based on the property's net book value at 6 mills for cities/villages or 3 mills for towns, with the county receiving the remaining share. The bill ensures payments continue even if some facility units cease operation, maintaining consistent support for local governments.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes rules for objections to video testimony in civil cases. It requires courts to use discretion when ruling on objections (instead of automatically sustaining them) for most civil proceedings, except for expert witness testimony in cases under chapters 51 or 55. The change directly affects defendants and respondents who object to video testimony, and applies to cases where physical courtroom presence isn’t required. Courts must now follow specific criteria in statute 885.56 when deciding such objections.

Maddy summarySB 926 creates a two-year pilot program (2026-27 and 2027-28 school years) to provide behavioral health prevention tools to at least 50,000 high school students across Wisconsin. The program allocates $3 million in funding, with up to $1.5 million per school year, to deliver an electronic tool meeting specific requirements: online education resources, moderated peer support, private sessions with mental health professionals, mobile/web accessibility, and English/Spanish language support. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will administer the pilot, potentially contracting with educational service agencies, and must select tools proven effective in rural and urban schools in other states. This program directly affects high school students by expanding access to preventive mental health services through a structured digital platform.

Maddy summarySB 935 prohibits probationary license holders (new drivers) and those with instruction permits from using wireless phones while driving, except to report emergencies. The bill amends existing law to specifically apply this restriction to these driver categories, expanding the current ban which previously covered only full license holders. Violations would incur penalties under the statute, though the bill text doesn't detail the specific penalty amount. This change directly affects new drivers learning to operate vehicles under supervision or with restricted licenses. The bill applies to violations occurring on its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 1000 prohibits education employers (like school boards, charter schools, and qualifying private schools) from including clauses in agreements (such as termination or severance contracts) that hide information about investigations into alleged immoral conduct by employees. It requires employers to retain such information unless findings are later deemed false or unsubstantiated. The bill also grants civil immunity to education employers who share verified information about an employee's conduct - including alleged immoral conduct - with prospective employers upon request. This protects employers from lawsuits when providing such information, while ensuring transparency about workplace conduct during employment transitions.