Sen. Kelda Roys

Maddy summarySB 409 updates traffic laws to require drivers to exercise caution when approaching stopped emergency or roadside service vehicles, or disabled vehicles (defined as vehicles showing warning lights, flares, or attended by people). Drivers must either safely change lanes away from the stopped vehicle if possible, or slow down and proceed at a reduced speed until clear. The law applies to all drivers approaching these stopped vehicles within 12 feet of a roadway. It creates clear, specific actions for drivers to improve safety around roadside stops without changing existing penalties.

Maddy summarySJR 87 is a resolution by the Wisconsin Legislature to commemorate the U.S. Marine Corps' 250th anniversary on November 10, 2025, marking the date the Continental Congress authorized its founding in 1775. It recognizes the Corps' historical service and acknowledges Marines training at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, including their role in activities like the Cold Weather Operations Course. The resolution expresses legislative appreciation but does not create new laws, funding, or legal obligations. It is a symbolic gesture celebrating military heritage without imposing concrete policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 552 increases annual funding for Wisconsin's birth defect prevention and monitoring system from $95,000 to $500,000. It also authorizes 3.3 additional full-time staff positions at the Department of Health Services to maintain this system. The bill allocates an extra $405,000 for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the state health services budget. This directly affects the Department of Health Services, which will use the funds to strengthen birth defect monitoring and prevention efforts. The changes are purely fiscal, with no new policy requirements beyond the specified funding and staffing adjustments.

Maddy summarySB 623 imposes a moratorium on issuing new permits for mining sulfide ore bodies (mining operations that extract minerals mixed with sulfide minerals) until specific environmental safety conditions are met. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to verify that similar mining operations in the U.S. or Canada have operated for at least 10 years without polluting water from acid drainage or heavy metals, or that such operations have closed safely for 10 years. This applies to all permit applications, regardless of when they were submitted, directly affecting mining companies seeking new sulfide ore permits in the state. The bill creates a new statute (293.50) to enforce this requirement while allowing permits to proceed once the conditions are satisfied.

Maddy summarySB 550 requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide metal containers for hunters to dispose of deer carcasses at state locations and mandates regular disposal of carcasses from these containers. It also allocates $500,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to fund these disposal sites and an additional $250,000 annually for hunter education about chronic wasting disease (a deer illness) and proper carcass disposal. The bill directly affects hunters who must use designated disposal sites and the Department of Natural Resources, which must implement and manage the program. Funding increases are specified in the state budget schedule under existing appropriation statutes.

Maddy summarySB 549 allocates $3 million annually from the general fund to research and manage chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk (cervids). The bill creates a new budget line item under the Department of Natural Resources specifically for CWD research, management, and testing. It authorizes the department to conduct studies, implement management strategies, and fund testing for the disease in wildlife. This funding directly supports state wildlife agencies and researchers working to address CWD, which affects deer and elk populations.

Maddy summarySB 619 allows drivers and ID card holders to obtain electronic copies of their license or ID card from the department. It requires the department to issue these electronic copies for a $10 fee, while permitting drivers to display them on phones or devices during traffic stops. The bill ensures officers can only view the license/ID image, not other phone content, and specifies that the $10 fee applies only to electronic copies (not physical duplicates). This directly affects individuals who choose to use digital versions of their license or ID instead of physical cards. The law creates new fee structures and privacy protections for electronic document display.

Maddy summarySB 657 prohibits noncompete clauses that restrict medical practitioners from working for more than 24 consecutive months after starting a job. It also makes all such noncompete agreements unenforceable if an employer terminates the practitioner’s employment for any reason. The law applies to defined medical practitioners, including physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, and advanced practice nurse prescribers. These provisions make affected noncompete agreements void and unenforceable under Wisconsin law. The bill takes effect after publication, with specific definitions updated to clarify the scope of "medical practitioner."

Maddy summarySB 548 establishes a state program for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing in deer. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to set up sampling stations - including self-service kiosks - where hunters can drop off deer tissue for CWD testing. The department may contract with private entities to conduct the testing, paying per sample. The bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $500,000 for 2026-27 to fund this program, directly affecting hunters who submit samples and the state agency administering the testing.

Maddy summarySB 629 allows students to sue private colleges that violate enrollment rules or provide false/misleading information about programs or costs. It directly affects students who paid fees to schools breaking these rules, enabling them to recover those fees plus legal costs and attorney fees. The bill amends existing law to add this civil remedy, specifically targeting schools that fail to meet standards or deceive students. It does not create new rules for schools but provides a legal tool for affected students. The bill applies to conduct occurring on or after its effective date.