Sen. Chris Larson

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 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 712 requires state correctional institutions and county jails to provide inmates with 3 hours of outdoor access per week, beginning after a 30-day (county) or 91-day (state) period of incarceration. It applies to all inmates except those in lockdown, solitary confinement, or subject to specific state facility restrictions under Section 302.01(1)(i) during their first 90 days. The bill mandates this access for facilities like Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility starting January 1, 2028, with exceptions for safety-related restrictions. This policy directly affects incarcerated individuals in Wisconsin's state prisons and county detention centers.

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.

Maddy summarySB 715 requires state correctional institutions and county jails to maintain indoor temperatures between 68°F and 76°F year-round in all housing units. It mandates detailed temperature logging during extreme weather (below 10°F or above 90°F) and annual reporting of temperature data to the legislature. The bill appropriates $65 million for installing and operating HVAC systems, with phased implementation across state facilities by 2029, 2031, and 2035. It directly affects all state prisons and county correctional facilities by establishing enforceable climate control standards and funding their compliance.

Maddy summarySB 714 establishes minimum bathing standards for inmates in state correctional facilities and county jails or houses of correction. It requires each facility to provide at least four bathing periods per week, with each period including a minimum of 10 minutes of heated running water and 15 minutes of total time. The bill directly affects all inmates in these facilities by setting concrete, measurable requirements for hygiene access. It creates a new statute (302.072) to implement these standards, applying equally to both state and county custody settings.

Maddy summarySJR 113 proposes a constitutional amendment to clarify that county sheriffs hold sole custody of county jails and inmates, unless a county board of supervisors delegates that responsibility to another public official or agency. The bill directly affects sheriffs, county boards, and any entities designated by the board to manage jail operations. It creates a new constitutional provision (Article VI, Section 4(3)(c)) explicitly stating the sheriff's default authority while allowing counties to transfer custody through formal delegation. This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a substantive law, and does not change current sheriff duties but formalizes delegation options.

Maddy summarySB 724 requires state correctional facilities and county jails to provide inmates with minimum weekly hours of recreational activities and structured programming, based on staffing levels. For state facilities, inmates must get at least 35 hours weekly (5 hours daily) if staffing is ≥80% (including 7 hours recreation and 14 hours structured programming), or 21 hours if staffing is lower. County jails must provide 10 hours weekly starting day 31 of confinement, increasing to 35 or 21 hours after day 90 based on staffing. The law prioritizes academic, vocational, reentry planning, and wellness programs, with exceptions for lockdowns (max 10 days). It directly affects all inmates in state prisons and county detention facilities.