Sen. Chris Larson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires political committees and candidates to report the name and address of the principal place of employment for individual contributors who donate more than $100 in a calendar year, down from the previous $200 threshold. The change applies to contributions made to candidate committees, political parties, legislative campaign committees, political action committees, independent expenditure committees, recipient committees, referendum committees, and recall committees. By lowering the reporting threshold, the bill expands the number of donors whose employment information must be publicly disclosed in campaign finance records. The legislation directly affects political organizations and committees that collect and report contribution data to state election authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Civil Legal Aid overseen by a nine-member Civil Legal Aid Board, which would be appointed by the state supreme court and include at least five attorneys. The legislation guarantees that residential tenants facing eviction have the right to be represented by a state-appointed lawyer, unless they voluntarily give up that right. Landlords would be required to include a notice in their rental agreements and eviction notices informing tenants of this right and explaining how to request legal representation. The bill also establishes procedures for the board to manage attorney appointments, handle budget approvals, and enter into agreements with legal organizations to support the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow corporations, cooperatives, labor organizations, and federally recognized American Indian Tribes to contribute up to $12,000 per year to political segregated funds, while maintaining a ban on contributions to other types of political committees. The law applies to both foreign and domestic entities and specifically permits these groups to support candidates through segregated funds, which are different from independent expenditure or referendum committees. The provision is designed to clarify and codify existing rules about political contributions from these specific types of organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wisconsin election laws to clarify how mass communications are defined and regulated in relation to political campaign spending. It creates new definitions for "mass distribution," "mass electronic communication," and "mass telephoning," each requiring 500 or more substantially identical messages, while excluding bona fide polls from these definitions. The legislation updates rules on when independent groups must report coordinated spending by clarifying that coordination occurs when a candidate or their party has control over or engages in substantial discussions about the content, timing, or other details of the communication. Additionally, it prohibits certain mass communications that reference clearly identified candidates during the 60-day period before an election if they are coordinated with the candidate or their party in violation of contribution limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new authority for the Wisconsin attorney general to investigate and sue individuals or entities for civil rights violations in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations. It allows the attorney general to conduct investigations requiring sworn statements, access to documents, and subpoenas when there is reasonable cause to believe a pattern of rights violations or a denial of rights with public importance has occurred. If violations are found, courts can order injunctive relief, award damages, and impose civil forfeiture penalties of up to $50,000 for first violations or $100,000 for subsequent violations within seven years. The bill also permits the attorney general to accept voluntary compliance agreements instead of pursuing litigation, though violations of such agreements remain subject to penalties.

Maddy summarySB 1108 establishes a framework for reimbursing certified doulas under the Medical Assistance program and requires hospitals and birthing centers to allow these doulas to accompany patients during labor and childbirth. The bill defines a certified doula as someone certified by a department-recognized organization and authorizes the state to seek federal waivers to cover doula services for pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum support. It mandates that healthcare facilities adopt policies permitting Medical Assistance recipients to have a doula of their choice present, while exempting doulas from facility guest quotas and requiring hospitals to publish relevant policies online. The legislation also includes liability protections for hospitals and requires doulas to provide written proof of certification when requested by healthcare facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state goal to achieve 100 percent clean electricity and net zero carbon emissions by 2050, creating a new Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy to oversee implementation. It sets specific milestones requiring the state to reach at least 50 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030, 65 percent by 2035, 80 percent by 2040, 90 percent by 2045, and full carbon-free status by 2050. The legislation also directs the state to develop a detailed decarbonization roadmap using sector-based modeling and provides funding for technology needed to meet these targets. Additionally, the bill clarifies definitions for renewable and carbon-free resources and includes provisions for agencies to consider technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness when meeting these energy standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a clause to the state constitution that explicitly prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime where the person has been duly convicted. The amendment would modify the existing constitutional language to clarify that the exception for criminal punishment remains in place. If approved by voters, it would codify a long-standing legal principle into the state's fundamental law. The measure is currently in the legislative process and has not yet been adopted.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending the state constitution to require that all stationery and printing contracts for state use be awarded to the lowest bidder operating within the state, unless federal law or international agreements prohibit it. It allows the legislature to set a maximum price for these contracts and prohibits any state legislators or officers from having a financial interest in such agreements. The measure would be submitted to voters at the next general election after a three-month public notice period.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes reporting requirements for political committees that make mass communications, such as distributing 500 or more identical pieces of material, sending 500 or more identical emails, making 500 or more identical phone calls, or disseminating messages during the 60 days before an election. It requires political action committees, independent expenditure committees, political parties, and legislative campaign committees to file registration statements and detailed expenditure reports when they spend money on these mass communications. The bill defines specific thresholds and timing for when committees must register and report, ensuring transparency around spending on large-scale communications that appeal to voters to support or oppose candidates.