Sen. Dora Drake

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Wisconsin's school funding formulas by increasing state appropriations by $493.8 million for the 2025-26 school year and $699.9 million for 2026-27. It adjusts per-pupil revenue limits to add $325 for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, and establishes a new supplemental hold harmless aid provision to prevent school districts from receiving less state aid than calculated in the 2024-25 school year. These changes directly affect all public school districts in Wisconsin that receive state educational funding. The bill replaces previous funding mechanisms with updated formulas while maintaining specific financial adjustments for affected school years.

Maddy summarySB 336 establishes new rules for private firearm transfers in Wisconsin, primarily affecting individuals selling or gifting firearms to non-family members. The bill requires background checks for most private sales through a firearms dealer, including a $10 fee per check, and creates an exception for transfers to family members (spouse, parent, child, etc.) if the recipient is 18+ and not prohibited from owning firearms. Violating these rules results in a misdemeanor charge with fines up to $10,000 or a 2-year firearms possession ban. The law also mandates new forms requiring buyers to certify they won’t transfer firearms to prohibited individuals, with false statements classified as a felony.

Maddy summarySJR 70 is a ceremonial resolution designating June 12, 2025, as "Women Veterans Day" in Wisconsin. It directly recognizes Wisconsin's over 29,000 women veterans, who currently make up about 10% of the state's veteran population. The resolution commemorates the anniversary of President Truman signing the Women's Armed Services Integration Act (June 12, 1948) and acknowledges women veterans' service and unique challenges like higher rates of PTSD and unemployment. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new programs or alter existing laws - it simply urges the state legislature to formally honor women veterans on this date.

Maddy summarySB 572 establishes new rules for selling and reselling entertainment event tickets. It requires sellers to clearly disclose the total price (including all fees), seat details, and itemized costs before purchase. The bill bans selling tickets not in a seller’s possession ("speculative sales"), restricts reselling tickets before public sales or through fan clubs, and prohibits deceptive practices like using artist names without permission. It also mandates full refunds within 10 days for canceled events, counterfeit tickets, or tickets that don’t match descriptions.

Maddy summarySB 425 establishes an annual sales tax holiday for specific school-related items, directly affecting families purchasing back-to-school supplies. The bill defines "eligible property" to include clothing (excluding accessories like belts), school supplies (e.g., notebooks, calculators), school art supplies (e.g., paints, sketch pads), and instructional materials (e.g., textbooks), while excluding items like protective gear or computer accessories. It creates new statutory provisions (77.54 (76)) to clarify qualifying items and mandates state reimbursement to counties/municipalities for lost tax revenue (via 20.835 (4)(a)). The holiday applies annually during a designated period, allowing tax-free purchases of these defined items.

Maddy summarySB 375 allows first-class cities to use traffic control photographic systems (red-light cameras) to automatically detect vehicles running red lights at intersections. The bill requires cameras to be placed only at intersections with a documented annual accident rate of 1.0 or higher, mandates clear signage, and requires photographs to focus on license plates from the rear. Vehicle owners receive written notices with photos within 30 business days, and fines range from $20 to $40 for first offenses, with proceeds funding system costs and traffic safety programs. This directly affects drivers in first-class cities who violate red-light laws, as cities may implement the system at no more than five intersections per aldermanic district.

Maddy summarySB 590 establishes new rules for faculty tenure and probationary appointments at University of Wisconsin System institutions. It defines "probationary appointment" as a position before a tenure decision and sets a maximum of seven consecutive academic years for such appointments (excluding leaves of absence). The bill requires the University of Wisconsin System board to create rules governing tenure decisions, performance reviews, and faculty dismissals, ensuring recommendations avoid impermissible factors. It also mandates that faculty with tenure or probationary appointments can only be dismissed for just cause after due process.

Maddy summarySJR 42 is a ceremonial resolution that declares 2025 as "the Year of the Snake" to honor the Lunar New Year and celebrate Asian American cultural traditions in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or policies; instead, it symbolically recognizes the significance of the Lunar New Year in Asian cultures and the positive traits associated with the snake in Chinese tradition. The resolution aims to foster appreciation for Wisconsin's diverse Asian American communities and their contributions to the state's cultural fabric. This is a non-binding proclamation with no direct impact on legislation or affected populations.

Maddy summarySB 272 amends Wisconsin's Family Care eligibility rules to directly include individuals who are deaf-blind, as defined by federal law (29 U.S.C. § 1905). This change means deaf-blind individuals will now qualify for Family Care services without needing to undergo a separate assessment of their care needs. The bill updates the statute to establish deaf-blindness as a clear, standalone eligibility category, simplifying access to this state-supported care program for this specific group.

Maddy summarySJR 55 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary on June 14, 2025. It symbolically honors the Army's history of service, sacrifice, and dedication since its founding in 1775, with specific emphasis on Wisconsin's connections - including over 10,000 Army personnel stationed in the state, 100,000 veterans, and Fort McCoy's $1.4 billion economic impact. The resolution has no binding policy changes or financial obligations; it serves only as a formal statement of appreciation from the Wisconsin Legislature. It does not directly affect any individuals or programs, as ceremonial resolutions like this typically express support without altering laws or funding.