Sen. Dianne Hesselbein

Maddy summarySB 708 requires state prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, and county jails to provide inmates and juveniles with free telecommunications access, including at least 180 minutes of weekly phone calls, 60 minutes of video calls, and 100 text messages. It creates new funding lines ($4.46 million for adult facilities, $517,500 for juvenile facilities in 2025-26) to cover these services and mandates centralized contracting to reduce costs. Counties must either join the state’s contracted telecom provider or submit detailed reports and cost data to the legislature. The bill prohibits charging inmates for basic service access and ensures facilities maintain existing service levels while allowing additional access if possible.

Maddy summarySB 720 increases funding to hire three additional full-time caretaker positions at the state's three veterans cemeteries. The bill allocates $131,800 for fiscal year 2025-26 and $170,800 for fiscal year 2026-27 under the Department of Veterans Affairs budget. These positions will directly support the maintenance and care of veterans cemeteries, addressing staffing needs for cemetery operations. The measure makes a concrete budget adjustment without altering eligibility or benefits for veterans.

Maddy summarySB 686 designates the Wisconsin natural pearl as the official state gem. The bill amends Wisconsin statutes to add a new section (1.10 (3) (w)) stating this designation and updates another section (1.10 (4)) to include "gem" in the list of state symbols required for the Wisconsin Blue Book. This is a ceremonial bill with no policy changes or direct impact on citizens or government programs. It simply adds the pearl to the state's official list of symbols, which will be reflected in the Blue Book.

Maddy summarySB 721 adds a specific eligibility category for military funeral honors reimbursement: individuals naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 who were residing in the state at the time of their death. The bill establishes that certified veterans' organizations providing military funeral honors for these individuals are eligible for reimbursement of up to $85 per funeral, adjusted annually based on the U.S. consumer price index. This directly affects Hmong veterans who gained U.S. citizenship through the 2000 federal law and their families. The reimbursement rate replaces the previous $50 limit and ensures annual updates to match inflation. The bill modifies existing statutes to clarify this eligibility and funding mechanism.

Maddy summarySB 727 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with access to essential personal hygiene products at capped prices and a monthly $25 stipend. It mandates commissaries to sell 18 standard hygiene items (like shampoo, toothpaste, and razors) at no more than 125% of the benchmark retailer’s price, plus culturally sensitive options (e.g., hair care for types 2-4 hair and cocoa-butter lotion) at no more than 100% of the benchmark price. Inmates in state facilities receive the stipend immediately, while those in county jails receive it after 90 days of confinement. The bill appropriates $6.45 million annually for these stipends, funded through state corrections and county jail budgets. This policy directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county detention facilities across the state.

Maddy summarySB 764 sets a $60 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for two doses of epinephrine delivery systems (like EpiPens) under health insurance policies and self-insured plans. It directly affects people with severe allergies who rely on these devices and their insurers. The bill requires coverage for medically necessary epinephrine delivery systems with cost-sharing limited to $60 for two doses, regardless of device type, while allowing plans to charge less or nothing. This applies to disability insurance policies, state/local government health plans, and all health insurance plans covering these devices. The law takes effect four months after publication, with transitional rules for existing policies and collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summarySB 774 allocates $3.525 million annually for wolf monitoring and nonlethal abatement projects through the Department of Natural Resources. It directly affects wildlife management efforts by funding ongoing tracking of wolf populations and implementing nonlethal methods (like fencing or deterrents) to prevent conflicts with livestock. The bill creates a permanent funding line (20.370 (1) (js)) in state statutes to cover these activities. This is a procedural funding measure with no voting record or policy changes beyond the specified appropriations.

Maddy summarySB 746 repeals a specific statute (252.03 (2j)) that currently grants local health officers the authority to mandate business closures during communicable disease outbreaks. This bill directly affects local health officials and businesses by removing their legal power to order closures for disease control. The key mechanism is simply the deletion of the existing provision from state law, eliminating this specific tool for public health responses. The bill does not create new requirements or exceptions - it solely removes an existing authority.

Maddy summarySB 747 creates a state grant program that matches counties' previous-year investments in healthcare and public health workforce development. Counties receive state funds to match their spending on recruiting, retaining, and supporting workers in healthcare, public health, child care, long-term care, and mental health services. The grant amount for each county cannot exceed $1.11 multiplied by its population. This policy directly affects all Wisconsin counties by providing financial support for local workforce initiatives in critical care sectors. The bill establishes a clear, per-capita funding limit to ensure predictable state spending.

Maddy summarySB 769 authorizes up to $274.95 million in state bonding to fund lead service line replacement for private water users connected to public water systems. It creates a program allocating $200 million from these bonds as forgivable loans covering up to 50% of replacement costs for homeowners and property owners. The bill directly affects private users of public water systems who own lead service lines, addressing a public health hazard identified by the legislature. Key mechanisms include state bonding authority, allocation through the environmental improvement fund, and forgivable loans administered by the Department of Administration. This policy provides direct financial assistance for replacing hazardous lead pipes in residential water connections.