Maddy summarySB 1001 establishes a state-run family and medical leave insurance program requiring employers with 50+ employees to provide up to 14 weeks of paid leave annually for qualifying reasons like caring for a newborn, a seriously ill family member, or a family member on active military duty. The bill creates a dedicated trust fund financed through employee and employer contributions to cover leave benefits and amends statutes to define key terms like "family member" and "serious health condition." It also allows local governments to adopt stricter leave requirements and exempts the program from standard rule-making procedures. This policy directly affects employees seeking leave for family or medical needs and employers meeting the 50-employee threshold.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retail sellers from using artificial intelligence or other computational systems to set personalized prices for individual consumers when selling packaged consumer goods. It defines "dynamic price gouging" as using consumer data, such as information from data brokers or surveillance technology, to create customized prices for specific buyers. Retailers who violate this rule could face warnings, civil penalties of up to $10,000, or legal injunctions preventing them from continuing the practice. The law applies to goods intended for personal or household use and takes effect four months after publication.
Maddy summarySB 773 increases funding by $5 million for the University of Wisconsin System's freshwater collaborative for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. This appropriation directly supports the collaborative's work, which focuses on freshwater research and solutions within the UW System. The bill modifies existing budget allocations to provide this specific, dedicated funding for two consecutive fiscal years. It does not change program requirements or create new policies, only adjusting the financial allocation.
Maddy summarySB 294 prohibits retailers and plant providers from labeling plants as "beneficial to pollinators" if the plants were treated with systemic insecticides that carry specific pollinator warnings on their product labels (such as a "pollinator protection box" or bee/honeybee precautionary statements). The bill directly affects nurseries, garden centers, and other businesses selling plants at retail. It creates a clear requirement: if an insecticide label warns about pollinator harm, the plant cannot be marketed as pollinator-friendly. This policy change aims to prevent misleading marketing by aligning product claims with actual pollinator safety.
Maddy summarySB 74 ratifies the Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing social workers licensed in one participating state to practice in other compact states without reapplying for a new license. The bill creates a commission to manage the compact and amends multiple statutes to align licensing requirements across participating states, ensuring social workers meet standardized qualifications. This directly affects social workers seeking to practice across state lines, child welfare agencies (which must employ licensed social workers per amended statutes), and licensing boards. Key provisions include standardizing definitions for "social worker" and "licensed treatment professional" in statutes governing employment and service delivery. The compact aims to streamline licensure for social workers while maintaining consistent professional standards.
Maddy summarySJR 21 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Senator Timothy Francis Cullen, a longtime Wisconsin State Senator and public servant who passed away in December 2024. It commemorates his career, including service as Senate Majority Leader (1982-1986), advocacy for workers' rights and consumer protections, and efforts to promote bipartisan governance and fair redistricting. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely serves to recognize Cullen’s life and public service through formal acknowledgment by the legislature. It was formally passed by both chambers and deposited with the Secretary of State on November 25, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 837 creates a new state grant program providing $1.6 million annually to counties and tribes for mental health treatment alternatives to prosecution and incarceration. It directly affects low-to-medium risk individuals with mental illness who interact with the criminal justice system, excluding violent offenders as defined by law. Key provisions require grantees to establish programs using restorative justice principles, integrate mental health services, and meet evidence-based treatment standards while tracking outcomes like reduced jail populations and recidivism. Grantees must submit annual reports on program impact to the Department of Justice and an oversight committee, with data shared monthly for state evaluation. The bill mandates collaboration between courts, prosecutors, public defenders, and health agencies to coordinate care and services.
Maddy summarySB 884 modifies Wisconsin law to allow audiovisual recordings of children's statements to be admitted as evidence in court for children aged 12 to 18 (previously 12 to 16). The bill requires courts to consider specific factors - such as the child's maturity and whether the recording was made appropriately - before admitting such evidence. It directly affects child witnesses in legal cases, particularly in matters like abuse or neglect where their statements might be recorded. The key change raises the upper age limit for this evidence rule from 16 to 18 years old. The bill does not alter the requirement that recordings must be made before the child's 18th birthday.
Maddy summarySB 366 amends rules for technical education equipment grants to clarify how funds can be used and require matching contributions. It allows grant recipients (primarily school districts) to use funds for facility improvements, tools, equipment, or instructional software in construction and advanced manufacturing programs. The bill requires recipients to provide matching funds equal to the grant amount, which can be cash or in-kind contributions like equipment or software. This change directly affects school districts seeking these grants by adding a funding match requirement.
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.