Sen. Dianne Hesselbein

Maddy summarySB 377 adds the Brooklyn Area Veterans Memorial in Brooklyn, Green County, to state highway maps as a designated location. This procedural bill updates map references to formally identify the memorial's location on state transportation maps. It directly affects state highway map publications but does not change any policies, benefits, or obligations for residents or veterans. The change applies to maps published after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 356 requires the state department to partner with healthcare providers (including obstetricians/gynecologists) and community health centers to educate women about perimenopause and menopause symptoms, management, and related issues. The bill mandates creation of informational materials covering symptoms, treatments, biological processes, when to consult a provider, and communication strategies for family/friends. These materials - available electronically and physically - will be distributed through healthcare providers to women identified as experiencing or nearing perimenopause or menopause. The law directly affects women navigating these health transitions by providing standardized, accessible education resources.

Maddy summarySJR 101 is a symbolic resolution declaring November 2025 as Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Month in Wisconsin. It highlights Wisconsin's veteran suicide statistics (134 deaths in 2023, accounting for 15% of state adult suicides) and aims to raise awareness about mental health challenges veterans face during civilian transitions. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but encourages the state to recognize veterans' service and promote existing resources like the Veterans Crisis Line. It directly affects Wisconsin veterans by drawing attention to their mental health needs through official state recognition.

Maddy summarySB 445 requires state agencies and local governments (including cities, counties, and school districts) to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) 2016 definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination cases involving race, religion, color, or national origin under state laws, ordinances, or criminal penalty enhancements. It specifically applies when assessing whether a victim was targeted due to their actual or perceived identity. The bill clarifies it does not override First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal or state antidiscrimination laws. This is a procedural requirement for consistent application of the IHRA definition in relevant legal contexts.

Maddy summarySB 631 requires private colleges seeking state approval to maintain a reserve fund equal to 25% of their highest annual revenue from the past five years (or projected first-year revenue for new schools). This fund would compensate students who suffer financial loss due to school fraud, failure to fulfill contracts, or closure. The bill also establishes a $3 per $1,000 fee on schools' annual revenue to build this protection fund, which stops collecting once the fund reaches $5 million. It directly affects private postsecondary schools needing state approval to operate in the state.

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 630 requires private postsecondary schools enrolling Wisconsin residents to derive at least 20% of their annual revenue from non-federal sources in 2 of their last 3 fiscal years. This rule directly affects private colleges and universities in Wisconsin that seek to enroll state residents. The bill establishes a clear funding threshold to ensure schools have diversified revenue streams beyond federal education assistance. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will create rules to implement this requirement, which takes effect for the 2028-29 academic year.

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.