Sen. Chris Larson

Maddy summarySB 1050 requires school boards to pay teachers for time spent on nonclassroom duties, such as staff meetings, grading, or administrative tasks outside regular teaching hours. It directly affects public school teachers in Wisconsin school districts covered by collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts. The law prohibits school boards from mandating such nonclassroom work without providing compensation. This policy change applies to teachers when their current contracts expire or are renewed, starting from the effective date specified in the bill. The legislation aims to ensure fair payment for work outside standard classroom instruction.

Maddy summarySB 1052 requires Wisconsin school districts to include at least 45 minutes of daily self-directed preparation time in teachers' schedules, or one full class period if longer. This applies to teachers in 1st class city school districts under collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts. The requirement takes effect when current contracts expire or are renewed, whichever comes first. The bill establishes this as a new statutory standard (120.12(30)) without specifying funding or enforcement details.

Maddy summarySB 1051 establishes minimum annual salaries for full-time public school teachers based on experience. It requires school boards to pay teachers at least the state legislator's annual salary (as defined in the bill), plus $15,000 for those with 10+ years of service, and a flat $100,000 for those with 20+ years. These salary requirements cannot be altered by collective bargaining agreements. The bill applies when current teacher contracts expire or are renewed.

Maddy summarySB 1053 requires common and union high school districts to add a non-voting teacher representative to their school boards. This representative, selected annually by secret ballot among teaching staff in the district, attends all school board meetings (including closed sessions) but cannot vote. The bill creates new procedures (Section 120.065) for selecting the representative, who serves a 3-year term starting April 4th. The change applies only to school boards in common/union high school districts, not all school districts.

Maddy summarySB 942 amends state tax statutes to clarify how the low-income housing tax credit is claimed by entities and their members. It specifies that partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly, but their individual partners, members, or shareholders may claim it based on the entity’s eligible costs. The bill requires entities to calculate and distribute credit amounts to members and mandates that individuals claiming credit under written agreements must submit those agreements with tax returns. It also adds a specific provision allowing insurers (as shareholders) to claim the credit based on costs incurred by the entity they are part of. This bill directly affects housing developers, investors, and insurers involved in low-income housing projects financed with tax-exempt bonds.

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 summarySJR 127 is a ceremonial resolution celebrating the 115th anniversary of Scouting America's founding. It expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's support for Scouting America's values - such as duty to God and country, leadership development, and community service - and encourages all citizens and organizations to recognize its contributions. The resolution directs the Senate clerk to send a copy to Scouting America in Wisconsin. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws, allocate funding, or alter existing policies.

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 1061 imposes a moratorium on new data center operations in the state until specific requirements are met. It directly affects data center operators and developers by requiring: a statewide planning authority, prohibitions on shifting energy/water costs to residential customers, mandatory public reporting of water/electricity usage, and 100% renewable energy sourcing from newly built, directly accessible projects. The bill also mandates prevailing wages for construction workers, local referendum approval for new sites, and environmental safeguards for air, water, and noise. These provisions must be enacted by law before any new data center can operate.

Maddy summarySB 1074 makes Wisconsin's additional child and dependent care tax credit fully refundable starting in 2026. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, taxpayers can claim the full credit amount against their state taxes, and if the credit exceeds their tax liability, the state will pay the difference directly. This affects Wisconsin residents who qualify for the federal child and dependent care tax credit and claim it on their state return, primarily low-to-moderate income families with childcare expenses. The bill creates a new state appropriation to fund these payments, ensuring the credit is refundable without interest on unused amounts.