Sen. LaTonya Johnson

Maddy summarySB 894 creates a new grant program to fund crime victim protective services, directly benefiting crime victims and the agencies serving them. It allocates $2.57 million biennially (starting 2025-26) from the Justice Department budget to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. These grants will cover services like temporary housing for victims of crime. The bill also authorizes one new full-time position at the Justice Department to administer the program.

Maddy summarySB 695 amends statutes to establish new administrative processes for local sales and use taxes collected by counties and municipalities. It creates specific funding accounts (20.566(1)(gj) and 20.835(4)(gj)) to manage revenue from municipal sales taxes under new Section 77.702. The bill requires 0.75% of tax revenues collected under these local ordinances to be allocated to these new administrative accounts. This directly affects counties and municipalities that impose local sales taxes for their own purposes, clarifying how these funds are distributed and administered.

Maddy summarySB 730 requires law enforcement, jail, juvenile detention, and tactical EMS officers to be decertified within 30 days if they resign to avoid termination, are terminated for just cause, or violate board rules regarding training or conduct. It also mandates decertification for officers terminated while under investigation for misconduct, barring future certification without a waiver. The bill creates a new requirement for the board to develop and update best practices for use-of-force policies, specifically addressing interactions with vulnerable populations like those with mental health conditions, disabilities, or limited English proficiency. These changes apply to all affected officers and agencies, with the decertification rules taking effect upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summarySB 718 would provide free admission to Wisconsin state parks for veterans and gold star families. Specifically, it allows free entry for vehicles (excluding motor buses) occupied by individuals who can verify their status as a veteran (per federal law) or as a family member of a service member who died in action (a "gold star" family). The bill creates a new statute requiring parks to honor this exemption upon presentation of valid proof. It directly affects veterans, their families, and state park operations by adding this specific access benefit. The policy change is limited to admission fees, not other park services or costs.

Maddy summarySB 728 requires state correctional institutions and county jails to provide free menstrual products that are free from harmful chemicals to inmates experiencing menstruation. It mandates at least three brands of tampons (including one with a plastic applicator) and three brands of pads, plus one brand of reusable menstrual cup, all selected from a list of verified products. Facilities must also ensure they can sanitize reusable cups as needed, with verification procedures developed by the department and sheriffs. The bill focuses on ensuring access to safe, affordable menstrual products without specifying funding mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 713 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide immediate access (within 24 hours) to certain oversight personnel for facility tours. It directly affects legislators on committees related to corrections and county employees responsible for overseeing county jails, granting them access to residential areas, cells, meal spaces, and prisoner discussions. Key provisions include a limit of 12 facility tours per year per person and restrictions on visits between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., with access required during daylight hours instead. The bill does not change prison operations but establishes a structured process for oversight access.

Maddy summarySB 725 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with at least two in-person visiting periods per week, with exceptions during lockdowns or solitary confinement (up to 10 days). The bill mandates that inmates may physically embrace visitors for 20 seconds at the start and end of each visit, and facilities must provide paper, pens, and art supplies upon request, allowing inmates to keep original visitor-made artwork. It directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county jails, as well as correctional staff (state department or sheriff’s office) responsible for implementing these visiting rules. The law also establishes a formal process for inmates or visitors to appeal unauthorized removal from a visitor registry.

Maddy summarySB 691 clarifies that "painting art studios" (establishments primarily offering painting instruction with food/beverage service) qualify for standard alcohol retail licenses. The bill amends statutes to explicitly include these studios in definitions and licensing categories alongside businesses like restaurants, movie theaters, and bowling centers. This change directly affects art studio owners seeking to serve alcohol during instructional sessions, aligning them with existing license eligibility rules. It does not create new licensing requirements but removes ambiguity about their status under current law. The bill also defines "candlemaking" as an art form but focuses primarily on enabling alcohol service in painting studios.

Maddy summarySB 716 adds a new provision (973.017(8m)) to sentencing guidelines, allowing courts to consider post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed from military service as a mitigating factor during sentencing for veterans. It specifically applies to individuals who served in the U.S. armed forces and have a documented PTSD diagnosis linked to their military service. The bill does not change sentencing ranges but gives judges discretion to weigh this factor when determining penalties for eligible veterans convicted of crimes. This affects veterans with service-connected PTSD who are facing sentencing in criminal cases. The bill takes effect for offenses committed on its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 708 requires state prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, and county jails to provide inmates and juveniles with free telecommunications access, including at least 180 minutes of weekly phone calls, 60 minutes of video calls, and 100 text messages. It creates new funding lines ($4.46 million for adult facilities, $517,500 for juvenile facilities in 2025-26) to cover these services and mandates centralized contracting to reduce costs. Counties must either join the state’s contracted telecom provider or submit detailed reports and cost data to the legislature. The bill prohibits charging inmates for basic service access and ensures facilities maintain existing service levels while allowing additional access if possible.