Sen. Jeff Smith

Maddy summarySB 570 creates a statewide registry to collect anonymized data on Parkinson’s disease and related movement disorders (parkinsonisms) in Wisconsin. Health care providers and facilities must report patient diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Population Health Sciences by a specified deadline. The registry will store this data securely, remove identifying information, and share it only for research or public health purposes with strict confidentiality safeguards. The state must publish annual reports on disease incidence and prevalence through a public website, making this data accessible to the public and researchers. This bill directly affects health care providers who must submit reports and Wisconsin residents living with Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonisms.

Maddy summarySB 586 creates a new "Tuition Promise Grant Program" to help Wisconsin residents cover the gap between other financial aid and the full cost of academic fees and course-related fees at University of Wisconsin campuses (excluding Madison). It directly affects eligible undergraduate students who are Wisconsin residents, enrolled in their first bachelor’s program at a non-Madison UW campus, and have household income at or below $71,000 annually. The program provides grants for up to 8 consecutive semesters (for freshmen) or 4 consecutive semesters (for transfer students), with initial funding of $11.86 million for 2025-26 and $28.11 million for 2026-27. The UW Board of Regents will administer the program and set rules, but grants cannot cover summer terms or be awarded to students with unaddressed child support liens or selective service registration issues.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 587 modifies the process for remitting educational fees for veterans and their dependents attending University of Wisconsin System institutions or technical colleges. It establishes a "sum sufficient" appropriation, ensuring that the state provides the necessary funds to fully reimburse these educational institutions for all remitted fees. The bill removes previous limitations on the amount the state's Higher Educational Aids Board can reimburse the universities and

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $10 million annually for student success and retention programs at University of Wisconsin System institutions and Wisconsin technical colleges. It creates dedicated funding streams (under statutes 20.285(1)(ct) and 20.292(1)(er)) to support existing efforts like academic advising and program administration. The funds are provided as a continuing appropriation, meaning they are guaranteed year-to-year without needing annual legislative approval. This directly affects students and institutions by providing sustained financial support for initiatives aimed at improving graduation rates and student persistence.

Maddy summarySB 208 prohibits hedge funds (defined as entities managing $50 million+ in pooled investor funds) from acquiring or owning single-family homes in the state. It specifically targets new acquisitions after the law's effective date, requiring any violation to forfeit the property to the state, enforced by the attorney general. Existing ownership before the effective date is not affected. The bill directly impacts hedge funds meeting its financial and structural criteria, not other investors or property types. It does not alter existing ownership rights but prevents new purchases by covered hedge funds.

Maddy summarySB 541 creates a new pathway for individuals or the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to file civil lawsuits in circuit court alleging employment discrimination, unfair honesty testing (like pre-employment lie detector tests), or unfair genetic testing. The bill sets a 300-day deadline to file such lawsuits and establishes damage caps based on employer size (ranging from $50,000 to $300,000), with automatic annual adjustments using the consumer price index. It clarifies that individuals don’t need to first pursue administrative complaints before suing, and courts must specify whether new damages replace or add to prior relief. This directly affects employees facing these violations and employers subject to such lawsuits.

Maddy summarySB 465 removes outdated restrictions on public construction contracts by repealing specific statutes (16.75(1p), 16.855(1p), 66.0901(1)(ae), (am), (6m), and (6s)). It amends Section 66.0901(6) to allow municipalities to set reasonable conditions for worker pay, hours, and qualifications in public building projects (excluding highways), and to classify contractors based on financial responsibility and ability. This directly affects cities and towns awarding construction contracts for public buildings, giving them more flexibility in contract terms. The bill makes no new policy changes but eliminates existing barriers to municipal oversight of worker conditions and contractor qualifications.

Maddy summarySB 601 creates a Wisconsin income tax deduction for payments on qualified education loans, allowing taxpayers to subtract up to $5,130 annually (adjusted yearly for inflation) for principal or interest paid. It directly affects Wisconsin residents with qualifying education loans who meet federal definition (per IRS Section 221(d)). Key provisions exclude amounts withdrawn from college savings accounts (Sec. 224.50) and prevent double-deduction with federal tax filings. The deduction amount increases annually based on U.S. August CPI changes from the prior year, rounded to the nearest $10. This is a state tax policy change, not a federal one.

Maddy summarySB 641 allows counties, cities, villages, and towns to create local ordinances for fire detection, prevention, and suppression in residential buildings. Specifically, it enables local governments to adopt rules for "public buildings that contain a dwelling" (as defined by state law), directly affecting residential building owners and local fire safety planning. The bill repeals an existing statute and adds a new provision (101.02 (7r) (h)) to permit these local ordinances without overriding state requirements. This change gives communities more flexibility to address fire safety needs in multi-unit residential structures.

Maddy summarySB 464 repeals two state laws (statutes 103.007 and 109.09(3)) that previously prevented local governments from creating their own employment regulations. This bill directly affects cities and counties by removing the state's legal barrier to local workplace rules, such as minimum wage or scheduling requirements. The key mechanism is the removal of these preemption statutes, allowing local governments to establish employment standards without state override. The bill focuses solely on changing the legal framework to enable local regulation, without specifying new policies.