Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin

Maddy summarySB 639 allocates $5 million in state funds specifically for veterans' mental health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires the department to promote veterans' access to community-based mental health care and provide grants to organizations offering these services. The bill also streamlines rulemaking by allowing the department to issue emergency rules for administering these services without usual requirements for emergency rule justification. This directly affects veterans seeking mental health support and community organizations delivering those services. The funding and program structure are established for the 2026 biennium.

Maddy summarySB 579 standardizes collective bargaining processes for employees of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System, directly affecting faculty, staff, and other workers covered by existing union contracts. The bill requires that pay increases align with approved compensation plans or collective bargaining agreements, and it establishes funding mechanisms to cover costs for grievance arbitrations and training related to bargaining disputes. Key provisions update statutes to clarify that bargaining agreements govern pay decisions and define "governmental body" to exclude bargaining committees. The bill also creates new appropriation accounts to fund administrative functions of the state's employment relations system, including mediation and arbitration services.

Maddy summarySB 203 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by requiring them to pay pharmacies within 30 days for electronic claims and 60 days for paper claims. It mandates that claims for 340B drugs (federally discounted medications) include specific identifiers for processing. The bill also prohibits PBMs from forcing pharmacies to join multiple networks or penalizing them for declining to join such networks. These provisions directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, and prescribers within the state’s health insurance system.

Maddy summarySB 539 removes legal barriers that previously prevented cities, towns, and counties from creating their own family and medical leave policies. It repeals restrictions (like Section 103.10 (1m)) that blocked local governments from requiring employers to provide such benefits. The bill amends Section 103.12 to explicitly allow local ordinances on employment benefits, meaning cities like Madison or Milwaukee could set their own rules for paid leave. This directly affects employers in municipalities that adopt such local ordinances, requiring them to comply with local standards instead of only state-level rules. The bill does not specify leave details but enables local governments to establish their own requirements.

Maddy summarySB 170 creates a new option for Wisconsin state retirees who return to work: they can choose to keep receiving their retirement annuity for up to 60 months (non-consecutive) instead of having it automatically suspended. To qualify, retirees must have separated from a state job at least 75 days prior, not have a pre-existing agreement to return to work, and elect not to become a participating employee. If they choose this option, their new employer must pay the Wisconsin Retirement System the same contributions they would have made as an active employee. This bill directly affects retirees who return to state employment after separation, changing the default rule from automatic annuity suspension to this voluntary arrangement.

Maddy summarySB 566 requires most health insurance plans to cover infertility treatment and fertility preservation services, directly affecting individuals seeking these services and their insurers. It mandates coverage for diagnosis and treatment of infertility (defined as failure to conceive after specified timeframes) and standard fertility preservation (like egg freezing before cancer treatment), including at least four egg retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers per medical guidelines. Insurers cannot impose stricter cost-sharing or exclusions for infertility care compared to other pregnancy-related benefits. The bill applies to group health plans and self-insured plans, excluding certain disability policies and state/local self-insured plans.

Maddy summarySB 589 establishes a statutory right for individuals to obtain contraception and for health care providers to offer it, directly affecting patients, providers, and local governments. It prohibits state or local governments from restricting access to FDA-approved contraceptives (like pills, condoms, or IUDs) through laws, regulations, or policies that single out contraception or impede access. The bill allows individuals or providers to sue if a policy violates these rights, and courts can block such policies and award attorney fees to winning parties. It explicitly does not change health insurance coverage requirements or override existing constitutional protections.

Maddy summarySJR 108 is a non-binding resolution recognizing the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day in Wisconsin. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group legally, but formally acknowledges the historical and ongoing presence of Wisconsin's eleven federally recognized tribes. The resolution highlights the state's responsibility to honor Indigenous contributions and work toward reconciliation, referencing the history of dispossession and resilience of Native nations. It serves as a symbolic gesture to promote appreciation and partnership with Indigenous communities. The resolution was introduced by multiple legislators and referred to a committee for further consideration.

Maddy summarySB 414 requires animal testing facilities and breeders to offer dogs and cats for adoption to shelters or rescue groups for at least three weeks before euthanizing them, provided the animals pose no health or safety risk. Facilities must report annually on the number of animals they owned, used for testing, and transferred to adoption groups. Violations could result in fines up to $5,000 per animal. This bill directly affects facilities and breeders that handle dogs or cats for research, education, or breeding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 356 requires the state department to partner with healthcare providers (including obstetricians/gynecologists) and community health centers to educate women about perimenopause and menopause symptoms, management, and related issues. The bill mandates creation of informational materials covering symptoms, treatments, biological processes, when to consult a provider, and communication strategies for family/friends. These materials - available electronically and physically - will be distributed through healthcare providers to women identified as experiencing or nearing perimenopause or menopause. The law directly affects women navigating these health transitions by providing standardized, accessible education resources.