Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin

Maddy summarySB 507 repeals two sections of state law (108.04 (2) (h) and 108.04 (12) (f)) that previously prevented Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients from receiving unemployment insurance benefits simultaneously. This change would allow individuals receiving SSDI to also qualify for unemployment benefits during periods of job loss. The bill removes the existing legal barrier, enabling these recipients to access both forms of financial support concurrently. It takes effect for unemployment weeks beginning the first Sunday after the bill is published.

Maddy summarySB 446 creates a state grant program to fund immigration-related civil legal services for individuals and families, allocating $300,000 for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The Department of Administration will award grants to community-based organizations (including for-profit groups) that provide such services without regard to a client's immigration status, requiring applicants to have a history of offering these services. The bill also amends county funding rules to allow local governments to provide broader civil legal services to individuals and families through separate county grants, which are not limited to immigration matters.

Maddy summarySJR 90 is a symbolic resolution that declares January as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in Wisconsin. It aims to increase public awareness about human trafficking, which the resolution describes as modern-day slavery targeting vulnerable groups like youth (with an average victim age of 12-15), people with disabilities, and those disconnected from support networks. The resolution emphasizes statewide recognition of trafficking in all 72 counties and encourages education to identify victims and support prevention efforts. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves as a formal statement of the state's commitment to addressing human trafficking.

Maddy summarySB 463 would repeal Section 104.001 of the statutes, which currently allows local governments (like cities or counties) to establish their own minimum wage rates higher than the state minimum. This bill directly affects local jurisdictions that have enacted or plan to enact higher local minimum wage ordinances. The key mechanism is the removal of this statutory provision, effectively preventing cities or counties from setting their own minimum wage rates above the state level. If passed, it would eliminate the legal basis for local minimum wage ordinances across the state.

Maddy summarySB 407 creates a grant program to fund Rogers Behavioral Health's new integrated mental health facility in the Chippewa Valley. The bill requires Rogers to submit detailed certification plans for all service levels (inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient care) to meet state licensing requirements before receiving funds. It also mandates that the facility accept Medical Assistance recipients (Wisconsin's Medicaid program), admit involuntary patients within two years, and provide annual reports to the Department of Health Services for five years. This bill directly affects Rogers Behavioral Health and mental health patients in the Chippewa Valley region seeking comprehensive care.

Maddy summarySB 444 requires law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves during arrests or detentions by verbally stating their role, displaying their surname and badge number with high-contrast visibility, and showing agency insignia in specific sizes. It mandates officers to provide the legal authority for the detention and prohibits face covering except for health/safety reasons or tactical teams. Violating these requirements is a Class D felony, though courts cannot impose jail time. The bill directly affects all officers employed by law enforcement agencies and individuals subject to arrests or detentions.

Maddy summarySB 506 modifies state civil service rules to clarify and streamline veteran hiring preferences. It removes age restrictions for veterans applying for civil service positions and updates how preference points are applied to veterans and their spouses during hiring processes. Key changes include revising sections to ensure veterans and spouses receive preference points without adding them to certification lists prematurely, while maintaining that their grades plus points must equal or exceed the lowest grade on the list. The bill directly affects veterans seeking state civil service jobs and state hiring boards managing eligibility lists. These revisions aim to simplify compliance with existing veteran preference laws under statutes like 230.16 (7).

Maddy summarySB 458 would eliminate the state's right-to-work law, removing a provision that allowed employees to work without joining a union. The bill requires employers to obtain majority worker approval before implementing union security agreements (where union membership is mandatory for all employees in a workplace). It also mandates that employees personally authorize dues deductions, rather than automatic withholding. These changes directly affect private-sector employees, employers, and labor organizations across the state.

Maddy summarySB 483 requires property tax bills sent to homeowners to include specific information about reductions in state aid to their local school district. It mandates details on the dollar amount and percentage change of any aid reduction from the previous year and current year, and if the reduction stems from state choice programs (like Milwaukee or Racine Choice) or scholarship payments, it requires a clear statement about that cause. The bill also notes that school districts could choose to offset such aid cuts by raising local property taxes. This applies only in years when a state aid reduction actually occurs. The summary focuses solely on the mandated disclosure in property tax bills, not on policy impacts or advocacy.

Maddy summarySB 540 bans employers from asking job applicants about their past pay or using that information in hiring decisions. It also protects employees’ right to discuss, share, or ask about their own or coworkers’ pay without employer interference. Violations can be reported to the labor department or pursued in court, with remedies including back pay, reinstatement, and capped damages up to $300,000 based on employer size. The law directly affects all employers and employees in the state, aiming to reduce pay discrimination by promoting transparency.