Sen. Cory Tomczyk

Maddy summarySB 65 clarifies legal terminology for vehicle impoundment in reckless driving cases by changing "citation" to "citation charge" in the law and adding "or making an arrest" to the arrest process. It does not alter penalties, enforcement procedures, or eligibility for impoundment. The bill directly affects law enforcement officers issuing citations and drivers cited for reckless driving under current impoundment rules. This is a procedural adjustment to existing legal language, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summarySB 77 amends Wisconsin statute 943.10(1m) to criminalize intentionally entering a place without consent when intending to commit theft or specific battery-related offenses (under statutes 940.19 or 940.195). It classifies this as a Class F felony, directly affecting individuals who enter premises unlawfully with such criminal intent. The key provision raises the penalty for these specific acts by defining them as a felony rather than a lesser offense. This change applies to locations like homes, businesses, or vehicles where entry occurs without permission for the purpose of committing theft or battery. The bill focuses solely on the legal penalty structure, not broader policy impacts.

Maddy summarySB 27 requires all state agency employees to perform their regular work duties at the agency's physical office during scheduled work hours, beginning July 1, 2025. This applies to employees of state agencies, including the University of Wisconsin System, legislature, courts, and other public bodies listed in the bill. Exceptions include telehealth services and work that was already performed off-site before March 1, 2020. The bill does not affect remote work arrangements established prior to the pandemic or certain health-related duties.

Maddy summarySB 151 requires employers to respond in writing to unemployment insurance agencies' requests about benefit claims within 12 business days. It directly affects employers who receive unemployment claims filed against them, giving them a clear deadline to provide information on eligibility disputes. The bill also clarifies that agencies may directly seek information from employees about their eligibility, employment, or wages. This change streamlines the process for verifying claims by setting a specific timeframe for employer responses, starting for claims filed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySJR 86 is a ceremonial resolution that commemorates the U.S. Navy's 250th anniversary on October 13, 2025, marking the date the Continental Congress authorized the first naval vessels in 1775. The resolution recognizes the Navy's historical service and legacy, with specific acknowledgment of Wisconsin's naval contributions, including shipbuilding history and vessels named after the state. It does not create new laws or affect any policies or groups - it is purely symbolic. The Wisconsin Legislature formally resolves to celebrate this milestone.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 22 requires school boards to make adopted textbooks, curricula, and instructional materials available for inspection by residents of the school district. Upon a written request, a resident can inspect these materials at a designated location without cost. School boards must fulfill these requests within 14 days and establish procedures to provide access more quickly. The bill also requires school boards to post a list of adopted textbooks on their website. These provisions do not require actions that would infringe on copyright law.

Maddy summarySB 115, as amended, requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to collect and report specific criminal case data. The bill mandates the DOJ to create an interactive dashboard, starting by January 1, 2026, to display a summary of this data. This dashboard will specifically include arrest charges from the arresting agency and will not contain any personally identifying information for criminal defendants. The goal is to provide accessible, summarized data on criminal cases.

Maddy summarySB 365 amends vehicle registration rules to require certain commercial vehicles with dual weight class decals to display them on both the front and rear license plates, as directed by the department. This affects commercial fleet operators whose vehicles require two separate weight class decals. The bill specifies that these decals must be placed on both front and rear plates, rather than just the rear, to improve visibility for law enforcement and other drivers. The change applies to vehicles registered under specific weight classification rules already in place. The bill passed committee unanimously and is now pending final passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates eligibility criteria for highways seeking agricultural road improvement grants. It adds a new requirement that an engineering analysis by a licensed professional must confirm a highway cannot safely handle heavy agricultural traffic. Previously, eligibility was based on structural deficiencies or posted weight restrictions. The change directly affects farmers and rural communities relying on specific highways for transporting equipment and crops.

Maddy summarySB 554 bans municipalities from using physical drop boxes or other receptacles for receiving absentee ballots in any election, requiring all absentee ballots to be submitted by mail instead. This bill directly affects local election offices and voters who currently use drop boxes to return absentee ballots. The key provision, added to statute 6.87 (4) (b) 1m., prohibits the use of any physical drop box for voted absentee ballots. It applies to all elections and would eliminate an existing voting method in affected jurisdictions. The bill was introduced on October 17, 2025, and referred to committee.