Sen. Jesse James

Maddy summarySB 833 creates a $2 million appropriation for school counseling grants starting in the 2026-27 school year. It directly affects licensed school counselors (those holding a department-issued license under Wis. Admin. Code PI 34.059) by providing funds for their continuing education in mental and behavioral health. The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to develop a program and promulgate rules to administer these grants. The funding is specifically allocated for counselor training costs, with no additional requirements or eligibility criteria detailed in the bill text.

Maddy summarySB 836 requires the Department of Justice to create and provide free prerecorded audio messages for schools to use during lockdowns. It directly affects all public, private, and tribal schools in the state by mandating that these standardized messages be incorporated into school safety plans if lockdown procedures are included. The bill’s key provision amends existing law to require schools to use this specific audio message for lockdown announcements, replacing potentially inconsistent or unclear verbal instructions. This creates a uniform, accessible communication method during emergencies without altering lockdown protocols themselves. The bill focuses solely on standardizing the announcement mechanism, not on changing safety procedures or funding.

Maddy summarySB 835 requires school districts in Wisconsin to add specific procedures to their safety plans. It mandates that schools must inform students and families when a safety event occurs, and hold debriefings with students, staff, and families after such events. These changes apply directly to all public school districts and their safety planning processes. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, updating existing guidelines for emergency response and communication.

Maddy summarySB 864 requires courts to seal the identifying information of child victims and witnesses in human trafficking cases, preventing public disclosure unless a judge holds a hearing and determines disclosure is necessary for justice after considering the child's safety and well-being. The bill also mandates that courts provide necessary courtroom supports - such as testimony accommodations - to protect the health, safety, and liberty of child victims or witnesses during legal proceedings. It directly affects minors involved in human trafficking prosecutions by ensuring their privacy and reducing trauma during court processes. The law applies specifically to cases under statutes addressing human trafficking crimes (940.302 and 948.051).

Maddy summarySB 893 modifies procedures for terminating parental rights when a child's custody is relinquished under Wisconsin's safe haven law (s. 48.195). It requires the district attorney or designated official to file a petition to terminate parental rights within 30-60 days after a court finds probable cause that a parent relinquished custody. The bill specifically applies to cases where parents voluntarily gave up custody through the safe haven process, not general termination cases. It does not change the safe haven law itself but establishes a clear timeline for follow-up legal action to finalize parental rights termination.

Maddy summarySB 897 defines specific threats against health care workers as criminal offenses. It makes it illegal to threaten a current or former health care provider, staff member, or their family member when the threat occurs in response to work at a health care facility or actions taken in an official capacity. The law specifies two key conditions: the threatener must know the victim works in health care, and the threat must relate to the victim's professional role. This bill uses existing statutory definitions for "health care facility" and "health care provider" to clarify when such threats violate the law, creating a new criminal penalty for these specific circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 802 creates a voluntary health professional assistance program to support licensed health care providers experiencing conditions that could impair their ability to practice safely. The program, funded by a $70 fee paid by providers when obtaining or renewing a participating credential, offers confidential screening, evaluation, treatment, and ongoing monitoring services. Credentialing boards can choose to participate for specific licenses, and providers or colleagues may report concerns without civil liability for good-faith reports. The program is operated by a contracted entity meeting specific requirements and complements existing disciplinary processes without affecting boards' authority over unrelated conduct.

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 845 repeals and amends specific sections of state law related to operating while intoxicated (OWI) and refusal to provide chemical tests, correcting provisions deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill removes penalties for refusal that were treated as separate offenses (e.g., repealing sections like 23.33 (4p) (a) 3. and 30.684 (1) (c)) and adjusts penalty structures for repeat OWI violations to align with the Court's ruling. It directly affects individuals charged with OWI or refusal, as well as law enforcement officers enforcing these laws, by ensuring refusal penalties are only applied alongside OWI violations rather than as standalone offenses. The changes clarify that refusal penalties now follow the same procedures as OWI violations, eliminating unconstitutional distinctions in the statutes.

Maddy summarySB 889 creates legal immunity for individuals who assist someone experiencing a drug overdose and for the person receiving that assistance. Aiders (those seeking help during an overdose) cannot lose parole/probation or face prosecution for drug possession charges if they seek help "as soon as practicable" after recognizing the overdose. Aided persons (overdose victims) can avoid prosecution or parole revocation by completing a treatment program or accepting a deferred prosecution agreement that requires treatment. The bill directly affects people involved in overdose situations and shifts consequences from criminal penalties toward treatment for related drug offenses.