Sen. Jeff Smith

Maddy summarySB 511 (2026 Legislature) amends Wisconsin statute 6.87(9) to clarify that municipal clerks must return absentee ballots with incomplete or missing voter certification to the voter. The bill requires clerks to return the ballot (inside its sealed envelope, if applicable) with a new envelope, allowing voters time to correct the error and resubmit before the deadline. This directly affects absentee voters who make mistakes on their ballot certificates and municipal clerks handling ballot processing. The change aims to reduce ballot disqualification due to minor administrative errors.

Maddy summarySJR 20 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late Representative Jim Soletski, who served Wisconsin's 88th Assembly District as a Democrat from 2006-2010. It commemorates his career as a legislator (including committee leadership roles on Energy, Clean Energy Jobs, and Tribal Relations), his work in the energy industry, and his community service. The resolution formally recognizes his life, public service, and passing on August 20, 2024, and extends condolences to his family. It has no policy impact or direct effect on constituents, as it is purely symbolic.

Maddy summarySB 520 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing money to referendum committees and bans referendum committees from accepting such contributions. The bill adds a specific provision (11.1208(4)(b)) to state law, defining "foreign national" per federal election regulations (11 CFR 110.20(a)(3) and 52 USC 30121(b)). This directly affects referendum committees organizing ballot measure campaigns and foreign nationals seeking to influence state-level referendums. The policy change explicitly bars foreign funding in referendum committee finances without altering broader campaign finance rules.

Maddy summarySB 510 requires state elected officials (including governors, legislators, and statewide officeholders) to serve as election officials during elections. Specifically, they must serve for at least 8 hours on election day during their first full term and every three years thereafter, unless medically unable (with physician certification). Officials must complete required training but cannot be paid for this service, and their appointment does not count toward municipal staffing limits. The bill applies to all nonjudicial elected state officials holding office, excluding elections where they are candidates. This mandate aims to involve elected leaders directly in election administration.

Maddy summarySB 506 modifies state civil service rules to clarify and streamline veteran hiring preferences. It removes age restrictions for veterans applying for civil service positions and updates how preference points are applied to veterans and their spouses during hiring processes. Key changes include revising sections to ensure veterans and spouses receive preference points without adding them to certification lists prematurely, while maintaining that their grades plus points must equal or exceed the lowest grade on the list. The bill directly affects veterans seeking state civil service jobs and state hiring boards managing eligibility lists. These revisions aim to simplify compliance with existing veteran preference laws under statutes like 230.16 (7).

Maddy summarySB 458 would eliminate the state's right-to-work law, removing a provision that allowed employees to work without joining a union. The bill requires employers to obtain majority worker approval before implementing union security agreements (where union membership is mandatory for all employees in a workplace). It also mandates that employees personally authorize dues deductions, rather than automatic withholding. These changes directly affect private-sector employees, employers, and labor organizations across the state.

Maddy summarySB 483 requires property tax bills sent to homeowners to include specific information about reductions in state aid to their local school district. It mandates details on the dollar amount and percentage change of any aid reduction from the previous year and current year, and if the reduction stems from state choice programs (like Milwaukee or Racine Choice) or scholarship payments, it requires a clear statement about that cause. The bill also notes that school districts could choose to offset such aid cuts by raising local property taxes. This applies only in years when a state aid reduction actually occurs. The summary focuses solely on the mandated disclosure in property tax bills, not on policy impacts or advocacy.

Maddy summaryWisconsin would designate the last full week of September as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Awareness Week through this symbolic resolution. It aims to raise public awareness about FTD - a misdiagnosed condition affecting behavior, language, and emotional expression in people aged 45-64 - with no new policies or funding attached. The resolution references FTD’s $120,000 annual economic burden per family and its lack of cure, aligning with global awareness efforts. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy impact but seeks to highlight the condition’s challenges.

Maddy summarySB 540 bans employers from asking job applicants about their past pay or using that information in hiring decisions. It also protects employees’ right to discuss, share, or ask about their own or coworkers’ pay without employer interference. Violations can be reported to the labor department or pursued in court, with remedies including back pay, reinstatement, and capped damages up to $300,000 based on employer size. The law directly affects all employers and employees in the state, aiming to reduce pay discrimination by promoting transparency.

Maddy summarySB 150 requires the state legislature to create and pass a plan by the 2025-26 session to reduce the state's carbon emissions by 52% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The bill directly affects the state government, which must develop this plan, and will impact all residents and businesses through new emission regulations. Key provisions include setting specific emission reduction targets and mandating that the plan prioritize improvements in economic and racial equity. The bill focuses on establishing concrete, time-bound goals rather than detailing specific regulatory mechanisms.