Sen. Jamie Wall

Maddy summarySB 1063 prohibits landlords from charging prospective tenants application fees for reviewing rental applications. It also limits credit and background check fees to $25 per report, requires landlords to provide copies of these reports within 7 business days if charged, and allows tenants to submit their own recent (under 6 months) credit or background reports to avoid paying. The bill directly affects landlords and prospective renters in rental housing applications. It takes effect for applications submitted on its effective date, which is three months after publication.

Maddy summarySB 925 creates a system for automatic voter registration by requiring the election commission to match driver's license and ID data from the Department of Transportation with existing voter registration lists. It directs the commission to obtain names, addresses, birth dates, license numbers, and verified citizenship proof from the DMV to identify eligible voters not yet registered. The bill mandates that the commission contact voters to resolve discrepancies, add eligible unregistered individuals to the list, and send multilingual notices informing them of their registration and providing opt-out instructions. Voters can request removal from the list, and the commission must send notices for any removals (except for duplicates or deceased individuals). This law directly affects all state residents who interact with the DMV and meet voter eligibility requirements.

Maddy summarySB 927 clarifies the difference between pet insurance and wellness programs, directly affecting pet insurance companies, their sales agents, and pet owners. The bill prohibits marketing wellness programs as insurance or bundling them with insurance sales, requiring separate pricing, terms, and clear disclosures that wellness programs are not insurance. It mandates training for sellers on topics like preexisting conditions and the distinction between insurance and wellness services, and requires insurers to disclose policy details like exclusions, waiting periods, and coverage limits. These rules aim to prevent consumer confusion and ensure transparent, accurate information about pet insurance products.

Maddy summarySB 931 allows student identification cards issued by accredited Wisconsin universities, colleges, or technical colleges to be used as valid voter ID. The bill requires these cards to include the cardholder's signature, date of issuance, and an expiration date no later than two years after issuance. If a card is expired, voters must prove current student enrollment at the time of voting. This applies to all University of Wisconsin System institutions and technical colleges, which must issue qualifying IDs by August 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 933 requires social media platforms serving users in this state to display a clear mental health warning each time a user accesses the platform. The warning must note potential negative mental health effects and provide access to crisis resources like the 988 suicide hotline. Platforms cannot hide the warning, make it less visible, or disable it except under specified conditions. Violations could result in fines up to $5,000 per incident or lawsuits by affected users seeking damages or injunctions.

Maddy summarySB 1004 ratifies the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact), enabling licensed massage therapists to practice across state lines in participating states without needing separate licenses. It creates an interstate commission and defines key terms like "multistate license" (allowing therapists to practice in compact states) and "authorization to practice" (for license holders from other compact states). The bill also updates licensing rules to prevent employment discrimination based on certain criminal convictions when granting multistate licenses and adjusts fingerprinting requirements for credentialing. This directly affects licensed massage therapists, the state credentialing board, and healthcare providers seeking cross-state practice opportunities.

Maddy summarySB 1003 updates licensing and regulation for massage therapy and bodywork therapy businesses. It creates new definitions for "mobile massage service" (using vehicles/mobile units) and "out-call service" (traveling to client locations), while clarifying that "sole practitioner" businesses have no employees or other providers. The bill also establishes reduced licensing fees for certain establishments under common ownership or operated by sole practitioners, and clarifies that fingerprinting is generally not required for licensure except in specific cases. This directly affects massage therapy businesses, practitioners, and their establishments by changing how they are licensed and regulated.

Maddy summarySB 938 requires distributors (like businesses selling explicit content for profit) and digital platforms to display clear warning labels before users access explicit content. For print materials, labels must appear prominently on covers in bold 20-point Arial text. For digital content, labels must occupy two-thirds of the screen, stay visible for 10 seconds, and include specific language stating the content is "not intended for minors." Violations incur fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenses, with a 50% surcharge added to each fine, collected and deposited into the state general fund. The bill directly affects businesses distributing explicit content in Wisconsin, mandating these warnings to protect minors and provide clear consumer notice.

Maddy summarySB 804 prohibits government funding for investigations into pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion) when the person experiencing the outcome is the alleged crime suspect. It bans law enforcement from treating pregnancy outcomes as criminal matters and requires consent before investigating cases where a crime relates to another person's pregnancy. The bill also exempts women from civil or criminal liability for their own pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage or abortion, and clarifies that legal definitions of "corpse" do not apply to fetal tissue from non-live births. These provisions directly affect women experiencing pregnancy outcomes and law enforcement agencies handling such cases.

Maddy summarySB 852 adjusts the state's reimbursement rate for special education and school-age parent programs costs. For the 2025-26 school year, eligible costs will be reimbursed at 42% of total costs; starting in 2026-27, this rate increases to 45%. The bill directly affects school districts and programs that provide special education services and school-age parent programs under specific statutes. This change modifies how state funds are distributed to cover these eligible costs, without altering the total appropriation amount.