Sen. Tim Carpenter

Maddy summarySJR 69 is a non-binding joint resolution honoring the late Wisconsin State Representative Terrence A. "Terry" Willkom, who served in the Assembly from 1971-1976 and passed away in May 2025. It commemorates his public service, personal life, and career - including his roles as a business executive, family man, and advocate for bipartisan collaboration - without creating any new laws or affecting any policies. The resolution formally extends the Wisconsin Legislature’s condolences to his family and recognizes his legacy of "honesty, integrity, and ability to work with both sides of the aisle." As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect or direct impact on constituents or legislation.

Maddy summarySJR 74 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth Day in Wisconsin. It formally declares this date to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, referencing the historical event when Union troops announced freedom to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. The resolution highlights Wisconsin's longstanding Juneteenth celebration tradition, dating to Milwaukee's first observance in 1971, and acknowledges Juneteenth's national significance as a federal holiday since 2021. This resolution has no legal effect beyond symbolic recognition and does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summarySB 320 creates $2 million in annual state funding for grants to school boards to provide LGBTQIA+ rights training for school counselors and social workers. The bill requires the Department of Public Instruction to award these grants for training programs developed or approved by the department. It directly affects school counselors, social workers, and school boards across the state, with the training focusing on supporting LGBTQIA+ students. The legislation specifies that "LGBTQIA+" includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other nonheterosexual or noncisgender identities.

Maddy summarySB 334 designates the monarch butterfly as Wisconsin's official state butterfly. It adds a new section (1.10(3)(w)) to state statutes declaring this designation and amends another section (1.10(4)) to include "butterfly" in the list of symbols featured in the Wisconsin Blue Book. The bill directly affects state symbolism by formally recognizing the monarch butterfly alongside existing symbols like the state bird and flower. This is a procedural, non-regulatory change with no funding or policy impacts, solely updating official state identifiers.

Maddy summarySB 322 creates a new Child Care Quality Improvement Program within the Department of Children and Families. It provides $221 million in annual funding (for 2025-26) to make monthly payments and per-child payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and school-based child care programs. The bill establishes rules for eligibility, payment amounts, and how funds must be used, while repealing outdated sections of law related to child care funding. The program is funded through specific appropriations in the state budget, with rules to be developed by the Department of Children and Families.

Maddy summarySB 350 creates state funding to help schools increase mental health staff. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, school districts, charter schools, and participating private schools can receive 50% reimbursement for additional spending on counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses compared to the prior year. The bill adds $16.5 million for 2025-26 and $18 million for 2026-27 to this program. This directly supports schools seeking to expand mental health services for students.

Maddy summarySJR 67 is a resolution honoring Anna Mae Robertson, a Milwaukee resident and member of the historic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (the "Six Triple Eight") during World War II. It recognizes her service in clearing a 17-million-piece mail backlog in England in 1945, her post-war work as a nurse's aide in Milwaukee, and her legacy as one of the last surviving members of the all-Black, all-female battalion. The resolution formally acknowledges her contributions, extends condolences to her family following her death at age 101, and commemorates her recognition with service medals and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2025.

Maddy summarySJR 72 is a non-binding resolution that officially designates June 2025 as "Immigrant Heritage Month" in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic proclamation to honor the contributions of immigrants to Wisconsin's history, economy, and communities. The resolution highlights that immigrants contribute significantly to Wisconsin's workforce, economy (including $1.2 billion in annual state/local taxes), and key sectors like agriculture and technology. This designation applies statewide and aims to foster unity and recognition of immigrant contributions, without altering legal status or creating new programs.

Maddy summarySB 353 creates a procedure for Wisconsin to pause state payments to the federal government if federal aid to the state is withheld under a presidential executive order or court order. The state secretary must calculate the lost federal aid, report it to the governor and legislature within 60 days, and then withhold up to that amount from upcoming state payments to the federal government over the next year. Payments to the federal government are restored once the withheld federal aid is fully returned. This bill directly affects state financial transactions with the federal government and applies when federal aid is blocked through specific legal or executive actions.

Maddy summarySB 355 creates a new legal pathway for individuals whose constitutional rights (under U.S. or state law) were violated by government actors acting "under color of law" (e.g., police, officials). It allows affected people to sue for damages, injunctions, or other relief against the violating party, including government entities. The bill specifically requires courts to award reasonable attorney fees to winning plaintiffs and sets a 6-year deadline to file such lawsuits. This directly affects anyone facing rights violations by government officials, providing a clear legal remedy where none existed previously under the cited statutes.