Sen. Dianne Hesselbein

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a tuition exemption for certain nonresident students at University of Wisconsin System institutions. It would allow individuals with approved deferred action status under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to qualify for in-state tuition rates if they have lived in Wisconsin for 12 months before enrolling. The exemption would apply to students registering in semesters following the bill's effective date. This legislation directly affects eligible nonresident students and the state's higher education funding structure.

Maddy summarySB 569 requires private schools participating in the Special Needs Scholarship Program to implement each student's most recent individualized education program (IEP) or services plan, adjusted through agreement between the school and the student's parent. It also mandates that these schools share all IEP-related records with the student's public school district within 5 days of a formal request. The law directly affects private schools in the scholarship program, parents of students with disabilities, and public school districts seeking IEP documentation. These requirements will take effect for the 2026-27 school year. The bill focuses on ensuring consistent educational planning and record-sharing between private and public schools for scholarship program participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Wisconsin school boards to provide age-appropriate, medically accurate instruction on human growth and development in grades K-12, covering topics like puberty, reproductive anatomy, gender identity, and healthy relationships. It mandates that schools teach abstinence as the most reliable way to prevent pregnancy and STIs while also including information on contraceptives, consent, and digital safety. The legislation defines key terms such as "age-appropriate" and "medically accurate" to ensure content is scientifically based and recognized by leading health organizations. School boards must decide whether to separate students by gender during instruction and include specific subjects like enthusiastic consent and parental communication. The bill also connects marriage and parenting to parental responsibility while addressing bullying and stereotyping prevention.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to help school districts pay student teachers an hourly wage of at least $15 for the hours they spend teaching in district schools. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, school boards must compensate student teachers enrolled in approved teacher preparation programs, with the state reimbursing districts based on the number of hours taught. The legislation also gives the state department authority to create rules for administering the program and includes an appropriation to fund the payments.

Maddy summarySB 387 amends state license and ID laws to allow veterans to indicate their service status on driver's licenses or state ID cards. It defines eligible veterans as former U.S. armed forces members discharged honorably, or reserve/guard members who completed their service with honorable conditions. This change directly affects veterans applying for or renewing licenses/ID cards in this state. The bill updates specific sections of the law (343.14 and 343.17) to implement this requirement, with no new benefits or costs specified.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state and local government agencies to prioritize purchasing materials manufactured in the United States when all other factors are equal, unless federal law or international agreements prohibit it. It mandates that contracts for public works projects include provisions requiring contractors to use domestically manufactured materials, with exemptions for commercial resale, stationery, printing supplies, and situations where U.S. materials are unavailable or foreign nations offer similar purchasing preferences. Local municipalities are also restricted from using bidding methods that favor bidders based on geographic location, except when necessary to secure federal aid. The bill grants the relevant state department authority to define what constitutes U.S. manufacturing through rule-making.

Maddy summarySB 379 creates a $2,000 refundable individual income tax credit for Wisconsin parents who experience a stillbirth (defined as a birth requiring a fetal death report under state law). The credit applies to the taxable year of the stillbirth and is refundable, meaning parents who owe less in taxes than $2,000 will receive the difference as a cash payment from the state. Eligibility requires being a Wisconsin resident filing a joint or separate return, with specific limits: $2,000 total for married couples filing jointly, $1,000 each for unmarried parents or separate returns. Proof of eligibility, such as a fetal death report, must be submitted with the tax return.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a home repair program that provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners and landlords for fixing habitability issues, improving energy efficiency, and making housing accessible for individuals with disabilities. The program offers grants of up to $25,000 to homeowners and interest-free loans of up to $25,000 to landlords who own no more than 15 affordable housing units. Eligibility is limited to individuals or landlords with incomes at or below 100 percent of the area median income, and assistance is restricted to homes built between 10 and 40 years ago. The state authority will administer the program, potentially contracting with counties or nonprofit organizations to distribute funds while maintaining oversight through reporting and audit requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school districts to include education about fentanyl and the use of opioid antagonists as part of their drug abuse prevention goals. The law specifically amends state statutes to mandate that awareness of these topics be integrated into school curricula starting in the 2026-27 school year. It affects all public school districts by adding fentanyl and opioid antagonist information to their required educational objectives on drug abuse prevention. The measure does not prescribe specific teaching methods or content beyond requiring this awareness to be included in district educational goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fund and loan program to help first-time home buyers in Wisconsin cover costs like down payments, closing costs, and mortgage insurance. The program is managed by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and provides interest-free loans up to $35,000 or 10 percent of the home's purchase price, whichever is less. Eligible borrowers must be first-time home buyers or those who lost their home to foreclosure, have household income at or below 100 percent of the area median income, complete a home buyer education course, and agree to live in the home as their primary residence. The loans are forgiven in installments over ten years if the borrower keeps the home as their primary residence, with larger forgiveness amounts at five and ten-year intervals. The bill also appropriates $150 million for the fund in the 2025-26 fiscal year and allows the authority to invest unused funds in safe, low-risk investments.