Sen. LaTonya Johnson

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 134) is a symbolic proclamation designating February 2026 as Black History Month in Wisconsin. It honors the contributions of eight notable African American Wisconsinites - such as civil rights leader Lloyd Barbee, first Black state legislator Marcia Coggs, and community leaders Clinton and Bernice Rose - while recognizing the historical significance of Black history in the state and nation. The resolution has no binding legal effect but serves to formally acknowledge these figures and the broader observance of Black History Month.

Maddy summarySB 958 creates a dedicated "Water Fund for Our Future" with $250 million transferred from the general fund for state water infrastructure and emergency response. It establishes a rapid response account within the fund to cover costs for natural disasters and public health emergencies, including remediation, relocation, and assistance for affected individuals. A joint legislative committee oversees fund spending, ensuring money is only used for clean water activities and requiring written recommendations for funding requests. The fund also includes provisions for transferring unspent balances to the budget stabilization fund during fiscal shortages.

Maddy summarySB 1068 requires full-service pharmacies and major grocery stores (defined as stores over 15,000 sq ft selling fresh produce, meats, and dairy) to provide employees with 60 days' written notice before a permanent closure (over 90 days, excluding health emergencies or renovations). Employers must notify affected employees, union representatives, local officials, and county boards, including contact information for local workforce resources. If notice is not given on time, employees can recover up to 60 days' pay and lost benefits through the state department, with enforcement handled by the department of justice if needed. The bill directly affects workers at these specific retail businesses and aims to provide advance notice and support during job loss.

Maddy summarySB 1026 requires all Wisconsin public and private schools, including charter schools, to incorporate African American history into their social studies curriculum for all grades kindergarten through 12. The bill mandates a state-developed model curriculum covering African American contributions, experiences, and migration history within broader U.S. and state contexts, with grade-specific learning standards. It funds three education consultants to assist schools with implementation and adds a requirement for teacher licensure to include African American history study. The law applies to all schools starting with the school year following its effective date.

Maddy summarySB 1062 creates a new program to help residents in unserved broadband areas pay for connecting to existing broadband infrastructure. It allocates $1.75 million for 2025-26 and $3.5 million for 2026-27 to provide financial assistance grants of up to $4,000 per household. Applicants must participate in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, and priority is given to primary residences. The program is funded through the universal service fund and administered by the Public Service Commission.

Maddy summarySB 1079 establishes income-based limits on out-of-pocket costs for families using Wisconsin Shares child care subsidies. It prevents families from paying more than 7% of their gross income in copayments and exempts those with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty line from any copayment. The bill also increases annual funding for the program by $22.93 million for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to cover these changes. These provisions directly affect low-income families receiving child care assistance under Wisconsin Shares.

Maddy summarySB 1046 updates Wisconsin's firearm laws by requiring courts to notify the Department of Justice when ordering someone not to possess firearms, ensuring accurate background checks and restrictions. It creates a new permit requirement for firearm dealers (20.455 (2) (gs)) and mandates law enforcement agencies to submit recovered firearms to the eTrace system within 48 hours for ballistics analysis. The bill also revises court notification procedures across multiple statutes to limit disclosure of court records to only necessary firearm restriction information. These changes directly affect courts, law enforcement, firearm dealers, and individuals subject to firearm restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 1030 revises the membership structure of the Cosmetology Examining Board within the Department of Safety and Professional Services. The bill requires the board to have exactly nine members: four licensed cosmetologists/aestheticians, one public member, one private cosmetology school representative, one public cosmetology school representative, one licensed electrologist, and one licensed manicurist. It also prohibits more than four board members from having financial ties to cosmetology schools. This change directly affects who serves on the board and the composition of the licensing oversight body for cosmetology professionals.

Maddy summarySB 1077 requires health insurance plans - including self-insured plans operated by state/local governments - to cover prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces when medically necessary for daily activities, job functions, or bathing. It mandates coverage equal to federal standards (42 USC 1395k-1395m), including materials, repairs, and replacement without lifetime restrictions if repairs exceed 60% of replacement costs. The law applies to all covered individuals (enrollees in private plans or government self-insured plans) and requires insurers to provide written explanations for coverage denials based on medical necessity. It also ensures access to at least two in-network providers for these devices.

Maddy summarySB 804 prohibits government funding for investigations into pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion) when the person experiencing the outcome is the alleged crime suspect. It bans law enforcement from treating pregnancy outcomes as criminal matters and requires consent before investigating cases where a crime relates to another person's pregnancy. The bill also exempts women from civil or criminal liability for their own pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage or abortion, and clarifies that legal definitions of "corpse" do not apply to fetal tissue from non-live births. These provisions directly affect women experiencing pregnancy outcomes and law enforcement agencies handling such cases.