Sen. Chris Larson

Maddy summarySB 1013 requires all public and private schools, including charter schools, to maintain an on-site, easily accessible supply of opioid overdose reversal medication. Schools must ensure this supply is available at all times to address potential opioid overdoses on campus. The bill also appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026-27 to fund grants helping schools purchase this medication, effective September 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1065 requires all public and private elementary and secondary schools, as well as licensed child care centers, to install carbon monoxide detectors in rooms with fuel-burning appliances. Detectors must be battery-powered for older buildings or hardwired with fire alarm monitoring for newer buildings, and must meet safety certification standards. The bill also creates a $75,000 grant program to help schools purchase detectors, with grants up to $3,000 per school, and mandates annual reporting on grant usage. These requirements apply directly to schools and child care centers serving students or children, with the grants specifically targeting compliance costs.

Maddy summarySB 1071 requires election officials to verify a candidate's constitutional eligibility before placing their name on the ballot for federal office, such as president or vice president. The bill mandates that candidates must meet U.S. Constitution requirements (like age, citizenship, and residency) to be listed on ballots or have their votes counted by presidential electors. It directly affects candidates running for national office and election officials responsible for ballot preparation. The law creates new statutory requirements for verifying eligibility through nomination documents, candidate admission, or other conclusive evidence.

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 1078 designates "manoomin" (Ojibwe for wild rice) as Wisconsin's state native grain. The bill adds this designation to Wisconsin statutes and requires the Wisconsin Blue Book to list "native grain" among other state symbols like the state song and tree. This is a symbolic, non-regulatory change that recognizes wild rice's cultural significance to Native American communities in Wisconsin.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates clear rules for rent reductions when rental properties have health or safety hazards, requiring the state agency to establish a standardized schedule for how much rent can be reduced based on specific issues. It also strengthens tenant protections by making it illegal for landlords to retaliate - such as by raising rent, cutting services, or threatening eviction - after a tenant legally requests repairs or rent abatement within the past year. The law specifies that landlords cannot use these actions to punish tenants for exercising rights under the new rules. These changes apply to all residential rental properties in the state.

Maddy summarySB 1054 creates a Medical Assistance coordination working group to improve statewide program coordination and recipient experience. The working group, requiring specific members including department staff, resource centers, tribal bodies, legislators, healthcare providers, and a recipient, must convene by June 1, 2026. It will study the program's coordination and recipient experience following changes from P.L. 119-21, then submit a report to the department and legislature within seven months. The bill directly affects Medical Assistance recipients and the agencies managing the program, focusing on process improvement rather than altering benefits or eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 1038 establishes a legislative study committee to examine implementation strategies for a "Dig Once Law," which would require installing empty conduit lines during infrastructure projects to support future fiber-optic internet expansion. The committee will focus on practical details like communication protocols between municipalities and contractors, ownership of conduit infrastructure, maintenance cost responsibilities, and optimal installation timing during road or utility work. It must submit recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2027, addressing how such a law could be structured. This bill does not create new law but prepares for potential future legislation.

Maddy summarySB 1037 establishes requirements for state broadband expansion grants to improve internet access in underserved areas. It defines "broadband infrastructure" as requiring minimum speeds of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload (or federal standards), and mandates that grant recipients report construction progress and service speeds after completion. If projects fail to meet these speed standards or aren’t completed, recipients must reimburse the state. The bill also requires biennial performance audits of the grant program starting in 2027 to ensure accountability. This directly affects grant applicants (like internet providers or local governments) and residents in areas designated as lacking adequate broadband service.

Maddy summarySB 1029 repeals Section 66.0104 of the statutes, which previously allowed local governments to regulate landlords. This bill directly affects cities and counties that had authority under this statute to create local rules for rental housing. The key provision is the removal of this specific legal authority, meaning local governments would no longer be able to enact ordinances under this section. The bill does not create new regulations but eliminates an existing framework for local landlord oversight.