Sen. Tim Carpenter

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to join an interstate compact that would allow states to elect the U.S. president and vice president based on the national popular vote rather than the Electoral College. It would take effect only when enough states have joined the agreement to collectively hold a majority of Electoral College votes. The bill amends state election laws to implement the compact's provisions, which require member states to count all popular votes nationwide and award all Electoral College votes to the candidate who wins the most popular votes across all participating states. The agreement includes provisions for state withdrawal, dispute resolution in case of ties, and termination if the Electoral College is abolished.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a basic health plan option for individuals with household incomes up to 200% of the poverty line and establishes a purchase option program allowing eligible individuals with higher incomes to buy coverage through the state program instead of private insurance. The program would offer benefits equal to existing state coverage, use premium rates similar to managed care plans, and allow enrollment during standard open enrollment periods while seeking federal waivers to ensure financial stability. Additionally, the bill directs the state to develop a state-based insurance exchange that would allow access to these purchase options and grants officials authority to create necessary rules for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definition of a political action committee for campaign finance purposes in the state statutes. It specifies that a group qualifies as a PAC if it spends more than $1,000 in a 12-month period on express advocacy, referendum support or opposition, or contributions to candidates, legislative committees, or political parties. The definition explicitly excludes fundraising and administrative expenses from the spending calculation. This change affects how organizations are classified and regulated under campaign finance laws without altering existing spending limits or reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires political committees and candidates to report the name and address of the principal place of employment for individual contributors who donate more than $100 in a calendar year, down from the previous $200 threshold. The change applies to contributions made to candidate committees, political parties, legislative campaign committees, political action committees, independent expenditure committees, recipient committees, referendum committees, and recall committees. By lowering the reporting threshold, the bill expands the number of donors whose employment information must be publicly disclosed in campaign finance records. The legislation directly affects political organizations and committees that collect and report contribution data to state election authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow corporations, cooperatives, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes to contribute up to $12,000 per year to political segregated funds, while maintaining a ban on contributions to other types of political committees. The law applies to both foreign and domestic entities and specifically permits these groups to support candidates through segregated funds, which are different from independent expenditure or referendum committees. The provision is designed to clarify and codify existing rules about political contributions from these specific types of organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wisconsin election laws to clarify how mass communications are defined and regulated in relation to political campaign spending. It creates new definitions for "mass distribution," "mass electronic communication," and "mass telephoning," each requiring 500 or more substantially identical messages, while excluding bona fide polls from these definitions. The legislation updates rules on when independent groups must report coordinated spending by clarifying that coordination occurs when a candidate or their party has control over or engages in substantial discussions about the content, timing, or other details of the communication. Additionally, it prohibits certain mass communications that reference clearly identified candidates during the 60-day period before an election if they are coordinated with the candidate or their party in violation of contribution limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state goal to achieve 100 percent clean electricity and net zero carbon emissions by 2050, creating a new Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy to oversee implementation. It sets specific milestones requiring the state to reach at least 50 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030, 65 percent by 2035, 80 percent by 2040, 90 percent by 2045, and full carbon-free status by 2050. The legislation also directs the state to develop a detailed decarbonization roadmap using sector-based modeling and provides funding for technology needed to meet these targets. Additionally, the bill clarifies definitions for renewable and carbon-free resources and includes provisions for agencies to consider technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness when meeting these energy standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes reporting requirements for political committees that make mass communications, such as distributing 500 or more identical pieces of material, sending 500 or more identical emails, making 500 or more identical phone calls, or disseminating messages during the 60 days before an election. It requires political action committees, independent expenditure committees, political parties, and legislative campaign committees to file registration statements and detailed expenditure reports when they spend money on these mass communications. The bill defines specific thresholds and timing for when committees must register and report, ensuring transparency around spending on large-scale communications that appeal to voters to support or oppose candidates.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state minimum wage that increases annually from 2026 through 2034, with lower rates for small employers defined as those with 50 or fewer employees. It allows local governments to enact their own minimum wage ordinances and grants the state department authority to set wages for specific job categories like agricultural workers, camp counselors, and tipped employees. The law also gives the department power to exempt certain workers, such as casual domestic helpers and student workers, from minimum wage requirements. Starting in 2031, the minimum wage will be adjusted each year based on changes in the consumer price index to account for inflation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 20 percent purchasing goal for state agencies and local governments to buy products and services from businesses with a principal place of business in Wisconsin. It requires state departments and purchasing agents to attempt to meet this target each fiscal year, while also ensuring the percentage does not fall below the previous year's level. The legislation mandates that agencies collect and publicly report data on vendor locations and evaluate their progress toward meeting these goals. Local governments are given the option to opt out of the reporting requirements through a formal resolution. The bill also defines "local products or services" and includes exemptions for commercial resale items and situations where foreign vendors face similar government purchasing restrictions.