Sen. Brad Pfaff

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJR 17), not a policy bill. It formally honors April 22, 2025, as the 55th anniversary of Earth Day by urging the Wisconsin Legislature to recognize this milestone. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any specific group; it is purely symbolic, referencing Earth Day's history and encouraging citizens to support environmental preservation. It was introduced by multiple legislators and passed as a commemorative gesture.

Maddy summarySB 90 amends Wisconsin's tax code to limit the sales and use tax exemption for residential electricity and natural gas to the winter months of November through April. This change directly affects homeowners and renters who use these utilities for heating during the colder months. The bill modifies an existing statute to specify that the tax exemption applies only during these six months, rather than year-round. It does not alter the tax rate itself but restricts the period when the exemption applies. The bill is currently in committee review after being introduced in March 2025.

Maddy summarySJR 19 is a commemorative resolution honoring the late Representative Jonathan Brostoff, who served in the Wisconsin Assembly (2014-2023) and Milwaukee Common Council (2022-2024). The resolution recognizes his advocacy for criminal justice reform, disability rights, and community service, including his volunteer work with youth and veterans' organizations. It formally expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's condolences to his family and extends recognition for his public service. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy.

Maddy summarySJR 10 is a ceremonial resolution proposing that the Wisconsin Legislature officially proclaim February 2025 as Black History Month. It does not create new laws or allocate funding; instead, it formally recognizes the significance of Black History Month through symbolic legislative action. The resolution cites historical context, including Wisconsin's early African American presence, and highlights local contributions by figures like Milwaukee community leader Elisterine Clayton and Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Paul Higginbotham. This resolution directly affects the state's official recognition of Black History Month but has no binding policy impact.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 2) designates March 2025 and March 2026 as "Women’s History Months" in Wisconsin. It is a ceremonial resolution with no new policies, funding, or direct impact on specific groups or legislation. The resolution uses historical context about women's contributions in Wisconsin (including suffrage milestones and notable figures) to support the symbolic designation. It does not change any laws or create new obligations. As a procedural resolution, it serves only to recognize and honor women's historical and ongoing roles in the state.

Maddy summarySB 142 bans the use of algorithmic software by landlords to set rental rates or occupancy levels in residential housing. It prohibits selling, licensing, or providing such software (defined as tools using private competitor data on rent/occupancy to inform pricing decisions) to landlords, with exceptions for aggregated rental data publications and affordable housing tools. The law imposes penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per unit, allowing tenants to sue for actual damages or $1,000 per violation, and enables state enforcement through the attorney general. It directly affects landlords, property management companies, and software providers that develop or sell such tools.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 148 establishes a "right to repair" for agricultural equipment. It requires manufacturers of farm machinery, such as tractors and combines, to make available repair information, parts, and tools to equipment owners and independent repair shops. Manufacturers must provide diagnostic documentation, embedded software, and replacement parts at fair costs and under fair terms. This aims to allow farmers and unaffiliated technicians to diagnose, maintain, and repair their own equipment.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 129 establishes a "right to repair" for motor vehicles, aiming to give owners and independent repair facilities greater access to necessary information and tools. It prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers from creating technological or legal barriers that prevent owners and repairers from accessing vehicle-generated data and critical repair information, including diagnostics, software, and parts catalogs. The bill requires manufacturers to provide this data and information directly and wirelessly, and at a fair cost, while also preventing them from mandating specific brands of parts or tools for repairs. This allows owners and independent repair shops to diagnose, service, and maintain vehicles in a manner similar to manufacturers or dealerships.

Maddy summarySJR 15 is a symbolic resolution passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature expressing disapproval of pardons and sentence commutations granted to individuals convicted of assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officers during the January 6, 2021, attack. It specifically condemns President Trump's 2025 actions pardoning or commuting sentences for those involved in violent assaults against law enforcement. The resolution states the legislature believes such individuals should be held accountable and aligns with support from police organizations. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect anyone but formally records the legislature's position.

Maddy summarySJR 12 designates the month of March as Endosalpingiosis Awareness Month in Wisconsin. This resolution aims to increase public understanding of Endosalpingiosis, a rare disease primarily affecting women, and support those impacted by it.