Sen. Jamie Wall

Maddy summarySB 824 requires the state Department of Transportation to include specific goals in the long-range statewide transportation plan, affecting statewide transportation planning and implementation. The bill mandates a vision for five key areas: low-carbon public transit, transportation electrification, cost-effective charging infrastructure, equitable clean transportation incentives, and solutions for underserved rural, low-income, and minority communities. It also requires the department to submit a report within six months detailing current efforts, gaps, and future strategies for meeting these requirements. These provisions directly shape how transportation funding and projects are prioritized across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the amount patients can pay out of pocket for insulin by setting a maximum cost-sharing cap of $35 per one-month supply for disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans. It applies to plans that currently cover insulin and charge copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance, while allowing insurers to charge less than the cap or no cost at all. The legislation also clarifies that existing diabetes coverage requirements for insulin pumps and supplies remain unchanged, though pump coverage may still be limited to one per year. The changes would take effect on the first day of the fourth month after the bill is published.

Maddy summarySB 697 requires the state group insurance board to study the costs and savings for Wisconsin school districts if they join a state-run health insurance plan, either voluntarily or mandatorily. The bill directs the board to conduct two specific analyses: one on mandatory participation by all school districts, and another on voluntary participation, focusing on impacts for districts and current plan members. The studies must be completed within six months of the bill's effective date, with a report submitted to the governor and legislature. The bill appropriates $300,000 from the public employee trust fund to fund these actuarial studies. This is a procedural measure to gather data before any policy changes, not a direct implementation of new insurance requirements.

Maddy summarySB 758 restricts how social media platforms handle users under 18 in the state, directly affecting platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook that allow minors to create profiles. The bill prohibits platforms from collecting or using minors' data for personalized content recommendations, algorithmic prioritization, or targeted advertising, while requiring age verification through approved methods. Platforms must also stop showing targeted ads to minors and may only use limited data for account maintenance. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, enforced by the state department of justice or affected individuals.

Maddy summarySB 749 changes the renewal rules for three specific "in-training" certifications: substance abuse counselor-in-training, clinical supervisor-in-training, and prevention specialist-in-training. It establishes a 2-year renewal period for these certifications and limits renewal to only two times. This directly affects individuals holding these trainee-level credentials who seek to maintain their status without full certification. The bill amends existing statute to clarify these renewal terms, overriding previous provisions for these specific trainee categories.

Maddy summarySB 764 sets a $60 annual cap on out-of-pocket costs for two doses of epinephrine delivery systems (like EpiPens) under health insurance policies and self-insured plans. It directly affects people with severe allergies who rely on these devices and their insurers. The bill requires coverage for medically necessary epinephrine delivery systems with cost-sharing limited to $60 for two doses, regardless of device type, while allowing plans to charge less or nothing. This applies to disability insurance policies, state/local government health plans, and all health insurance plans covering these devices. The law takes effect four months after publication, with transitional rules for existing policies and collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summarySB 771 creates a Multifamily Housing Innovation Council within the Department of Safety and Professional Services to develop safety guidelines for apartment buildings. The bill allows local governments to permit multifamily dwellings up to six stories to use a single central staircase (instead of multiple staircases) if they follow a safety guidebook created by the council. The council will establish building specifications meeting National Fire Protection Association standards, develop a model ordinance for local adoption, and recommend code changes to facilitate such housing. This affects developers, local governments, and residents in communities adopting the new guidelines, with the council required to meet monthly until completing its guidebook. The bill does not mandate single-stair buildings but provides a framework for localities to adopt them safely.

Maddy summarySB 684 establishes a long-term care insurance assessment (a fee) on certain long-term care insurance policies and creates a corresponding tax credit to offset this cost for eligible individuals. The bill directly affects policyholders purchasing long-term care insurance and insurers administering these policies. Key provisions include setting the assessment amount and defining who qualifies for the tax credit to reduce the financial burden of the fee. The bill is procedural, focusing on the structure of the assessment and credit rather than broader policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 779 prohibits restaurants, food vendors, and vending machine operators from serving food or beverages in foam polystyrene packaging (like takeout containers), effective 13 months after publication. Exemptions include pre-sealed containers from outside the state and packaging for raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. Violations after 90 days of written notice incur a $250 penalty, increasing to $500 for subsequent offenses after 180 days. The bill directly affects retail food businesses operating in the state, with limited waivers available for undue hardship. It creates a clear policy change to reduce foam polystyrene waste without specifying environmental outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 769 authorizes up to $274.95 million in state bonding to fund lead service line replacement for private water users connected to public water systems. It creates a program allocating $200 million from these bonds as forgivable loans covering up to 50% of replacement costs for homeowners and property owners. The bill directly affects private users of public water systems who own lead service lines, addressing a public health hazard identified by the legislature. Key mechanisms include state bonding authority, allocation through the environmental improvement fund, and forgivable loans administered by the Department of Administration. This policy provides direct financial assistance for replacing hazardous lead pipes in residential water connections.