Sen. Romaine Quinn

Maddy summarySB 308 allocates $1 million in state funding to Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to purchase and renovate an existing facility in Chippewa Falls. The grant will create a 50-bed treatment center specifically for men with substance use disorders who need recovery services. The bill directs the Department of Administration to award this grant in the 2025-26 fiscal year. It directly affects men in Chippewa Falls seeking substance use treatment by providing a dedicated facility. The key mechanism is the state grant covering facility acquisition and renovation costs.

Maddy summarySB 82 prohibits state and local governments from restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on their energy source (like gasoline, electric, or hydrogen power). It also bans similar restrictions on other devices that rely on specific energy sources for key functions. The law applies broadly to all government agencies and units, preventing them from enacting policies that target vehicles or devices solely by their power source. The only exception allows governments to maintain their own vehicle purchase policies for their own fleets.

Maddy summarySB 166 creates a new legal framework for consumer data protection by defining key terms like "personal data," "consent," "biometric data," and "dark patterns" in Wisconsin law. It directly affects businesses that collect personal data from Wisconsin residents (defined as individuals acting in personal, not commercial, contexts) by establishing standards for how they must handle such data. The bill’s key mechanism is setting clear definitions - such as requiring explicit consent for data processing, banning "dark patterns" that trick users, and excluding deidentified data or public records from coverage - to enable future enforcement. It does not yet impose new restrictions or penalties but provides the foundational definitions needed for implementing data protection rules.

Maddy summarySB 328 requires county fairs, agricultural societies, and similar organizations seeking state aid to submit two annual reports. Within 30 days after each fair, they must file an itemized statement confirming all gambling devices, alcohol sales (except fermented malt beverages and wine), and "immoral exhibitions" were prohibited at the event. By January 31 each year, they must also submit a finance report detailing receipts, disbursements, attendance, and other required data. State aid payments are tied to the timely submission of these reports. This bill directly affects fair organizers receiving state funding by establishing specific reporting obligations.

Maddy summarySB 363 allows certified child care operators to provide care for up to six children under age 7 without needing a full child care center license. This directly affects certified home-based providers who currently face licensing requirements for caring for four or more young children. The bill creates a new exception in state law, permitting certified operators to care for six children regardless of family relationship, with adjusted limits if three or more children are under age 2 (e.g., caring for three children under 2 allows a total of five children). It reduces regulatory barriers for small-scale, certified providers while maintaining safety thresholds based on children's ages. The change modifies existing licensing rules under Wisconsin statutes to expand permitted care capacity.

Maddy summarySB 41 establishes a program to administer school safety grants but removes the original appropriation language, meaning it does not allocate new state funds. The bill specifies how existing or future grant funds would be distributed to schools for safety improvements, such as security systems or emergency protocols. It passed the Senate 18-14 on June 18, 2025, and was referred to the Rules committee for further consideration. This procedural bill focuses on grant administration rules rather than creating new funding.

Maddy summarySB 219 limits foreign-owned entities from owning more than 50 acres of agricultural land in the state, targeting corporations, trusts, or partnerships with over 25% foreign ownership. It also prohibits foreign-owned entities from owning real property within 10 miles of military installations, with exceptions for inheritance, treaty rights, and agricultural research leases. Owners exceeding these limits must sell excess land within three years, and violations result in land forfeiture to the state. The bill affects foreign investors, corporations, and trusts holding agricultural land or property near military bases, aiming to restrict foreign control of sensitive land uses.

Maddy summarySB 384 requires health care providers to provide the same standard of care and immediate hospital transport for any child born alive after an abortion or attempted abortion, as they would for any newborn of the same gestational age. Violating these requirements is a Class H felony, but the mother cannot be prosecuted for the incident. The bill also allows affected women to seek triple the cost of the abortion as civil damages, plus attorney fees, while protecting their identity through court confidentiality orders. It explicitly states the law does not create or recognize a right to abortion.

Maddy summarySB 415 exempts qualifying farm owners from needing a campground license to operate small-scale camping on their agricultural land. It directly affects farmers who run campgrounds on their own property, limiting exemptions to farms with only one campground containing three or fewer campsites. The bill defines "farm" as land primarily used for agriculture, and specifies that only farms meeting these criteria can operate without a license under existing campground regulations. This change simplifies licensing for small, farm-based camping operations while maintaining regulatory oversight for larger or commercial campgrounds.

Maddy summarySB 226 clarifies venue rules for civil cases involving corporations. It creates two new statutory provisions: Section 801.50(3c) prevents courts from considering joined parties (like insurers under §803.04) when determining proper venue, and Section 801.50(3g) defines where corporations "reside" (place of incorporation) and where they "do substantial business" (only their principal county). This directly affects businesses and plaintiffs in civil lawsuits by limiting venue options based on corporate structure. The bill aims to standardize venue decisions for corporations, preventing claims of business activity in multiple counties to influence court location.